Education over punishment is being proactive over reactive. It’s incredibly rare that “these people” as you say go on to commit more sex crimes yet all get treated as if they are or will.

Your last comment, “As a society we can’t take that risk of them reoffending” is a reactive solution. A bandaid rather than an antibiotic to address the actual issue. Even with the overwhelming evidence that the vast majority do NOT go on to commit other sex crimes the current laws focus on punishment long after the fact. New laws are introduced yearly, yet how many are aimed at prevention? Education? Ever ask yourself how much of this is for political gain and/or profit? You’d think for a society that is constantly being told “even if it saves just one child” that we would benefit far more from prevention measures BEFORE instead?

@Mr. D
Yes, unfortunately, there are some heinous acts upon children, and adults, that result in life-long stains and trauma on there lives.
However, to say that many turn to drugs, prostitution, etc., I personally want to see those facts and where you got them.
There are many people I personally encountered during my life that had been sexually abused, raped, etc. that are leading normal, healthy, happy lives.
Also, you talk as though EVERY sex offense is heinous and cruel.
There are many sex offenses were done by two people in agreement and both knew what they were doing or going to do and had no violence whatsoever and was only a matter of one being 18 and another 15.
Some were done by ‘Sexting’, etc.-not all sex crimes are of a heinous nature.
Also, for you to say these people just get a slap on the wrist is bogus and I would like to see the evidence that we just get a slap on the wrist.
Show me the money, Mr. D!!
Lastly, you said ‘ As a society we can’t take that risk of them re-offending.’
1) Fact-Only around 5% ever re-offend.
2) Fact Around 95% of all sex offenses are done by people NOT on the registry and these are doctors, teachers, gym coaches, clergy, family members, and even law enforcement.
No one walks into a police station and says “i’ve decided to become a sex offender and I want to register first before I commit my crime(s) -No one!!- Registration is an after-the-fact obligation!!
3) Fact 93%-95% of all sex offenses are done by someone the victim knows-not by a stranger.
4) Less than 1% of all child abductions are done by a stranger.
You, like others are barking up the wrong tree while the greatest majority of people( which are not on the registry) are committing sex offenses right under your noses and that is really sad!!
What are you and others doing to stop the 95+-% of sex offenses done by people NOT on the registry??

True! —— Every society, apparently, needs to have a class or group to hate.
And the government must tacitly approve of that hatred.

The registry is government-sponsored hatred!

I’m not so sure that comparing sex offender registration to Christianity is going to prove all that persuasive. I could be wrong, though.

Murder is a heinouscrime that robs life and inflicts grief on family and friends. Same with Drunk drivers, school shooters, dug overdoses….yet no registry for those. Do you know why? Because registries do not work. They do not prevent crime, they do not solve crimes, they do cause crime, they do create homelessness, and they do tear families apart. What is the point? So some emotionally unregulated members of the public can feel good about their blood lust? There is no argument, not one, that can justify a registry.

I respectfully disagree with you, Mr. D.

I agree that sexual abuse of children is, indeed, a heinous and terrible crime. And those who are prosecuted should face severe consequences!

But, I also believe that you are exaggerating the trauma. I believe that you are helping to feed a public hysteria. You are creating a system of merciless retribution for what is a very human failing.

Rape, child molestation, grooming, and child trafficking have (unfortunately) been occurring for thousands (if not millions) of years of human history. But, only in the last 40 (or so) years has there been such a hysteria; such a feeling a irredemption and permanent hurt. Such an exaggerated response!

While completely agreeing with you that child molestation is a terrible crime, I respectfully disagree with your exaggerated assessment of the harms caused.

People CAN and DO heal and move on with their lives. I believe that we all must learn to heal and move on with our lives. But nursing an “unhealable” wound is not healthy; nor is it realistic or truthful.

“Not mention a Just us system that gives these people a slap on the wrist and release them into the community to possibly repeat the same again.”
A lifetime of registration punishment for a one off offense is hardly a slap on the wrist especially since many of us have completed our court ordered sanctions. I was a young man with a young girlfriend who had no ill will or predatory behavior towards anyone. It was a dumb childish decision, I was barely out of high-school myself and now, almost 20 years later still am under this black cloud of registration requirements. So I disagree, it’s far from just a “slap on the wrist.”