“We’ve had a chance to see the unintended consequences” is how one of the articles in today’s National Review begins. The article is titled “Remove Children from Sex Offender Registries” and it talks about the 1994 Crime Bill, which created many ‘tough on crime’ initiatives that, after 25 years, appear to have failed miserably… foremost among them are sex offender registries. it explains that, “At the time, experts advised that sex offenders never reformed. To protect the community from those found guilty of such offenses after their return to society, registries would require them to identify themselves (sometimes even with signs in their windows). Understandably, penalties were particularly harsh for anyone who harmed a child sexually.” We know that to be very FALSE at this time.
This article focuses on the tragedy of “imposing lifelong pariah status on children”, but the same is true for ALL persons required to register. As this administration is taking a second look at criminal justice, we need to do all we can to get the FACTS to the forefront. We hope that our attendance at the SMART conference, along with representatives of other sister organizations, will help achieve that goal.
Interestingly, the National Review ran another story today about a 16 year old girl who is facing charges for taking a nude selfie of herself. I think this excerpt from the story speaks volumes:
The prosecutor, however, argued that S.K. needs “some guidance, rehabilitation for something deeper” and that she should probably have to undergo a mandatory health evaluation and serve time on probation. What’s more, the prosecutor also insisted that the state “is just trying to help” S.K.
Now, I have absolutely no doubt that a young girl who takes a video of herself performing a sex act and then sends it to people very well might be in need of “some guidance.” What I don’t understand is this: Just how in the hell does anyone actually think that a criminal charge is going to be something that will “help her” in any way at all?
I wasn’t really sure where to post this, but I thought it was a really good article pertaining to the Gundy case.
https://thinkprogress.org/the-two-most-important-supreme-court-cases-youve-never-heard-of-5a86a9dbf201/
Unintended is a misnomer. Unconsidered would be more accurate.
Most heartening thing here to me is the comment section on each of these articles. So far no calls for ‘kill ’em all,’ and one commenter actually had their mind changed about recidivism rates. Probably a product of the demographic that reads the National Review, but I was glad to read the public reaction to these articles.
I have been seeing in the news lately they have started an animal abuse registry. Two things about that that stuck with me. First off, that registry is private and can only be accessed by sellers of animals to prevent abusers from buying another animal. And yet ours which if it exists, at least should be for law enforcement use only.
Secondly, this opens the door for every American to be on a registry of some sorts and eventually we can have bad judges registries. Cops who are accused of physical abuse of detainees. Registry for people who owe back taxes. How about an LGBTQ registry. If you are a Republican or a democrat or did not vote at all, hey you have to be on a registry for all to see. Ever been fired from a job? We have a registry for that as well.
See where I am going with this? Of course things like this could help our cause, once people of importance refuse to be on some sort of registry and are caught skirting the system, lawsuits abound. I will probably be long dead before we prevail but, in the words of Yoda fight on we must.
Help! Want to Punish!
Well if that was a male that would be very harsh but since it was female she needs help well maybe the men needed help were drugs booze involed they won’t tell ya that just stick them in prision then bran them so how is this right us female aren’t perfect either where was parents registery they claim is to keep children and teens safe. So she did her thing now send her where she gets help why didnt they check others out alot of them have no victims never had a recorder tells court when ask what started his her day to end up their so i don’t think she should get lean it start making example out of her like you do males see comes to show teen girls do what they want no one will take male over female see female do beat up on their spouse but alot of time blame male they need to get real
I think anyone that engages in innapropriate behaviour should be evaluated and put through phycological treatment to help them understand why and how to fix there deviant behavior. The younger the better; and because if they do something sexual while young and nothing is done then they probably will go through life doing innapropriate behavior until they are caught doing something much worse!. But also an adult that has done something innapropriate they also should get treatment rather than jail time or prison, depending on the crime. I’m sure that all innapropriate behavior is from some type of mental illness and probably a very high percentage can be helped to the point they know how to keep from acting out again. Putting someone in prison for violent sexual behavior is probably doing the right thing. But why did they do it?. There are probably a lot of possible reasons. But it is still mental illness from the start. They never got evaluated until it was to late. Now the non violent offenders are mentally unstable also!. If they don’t get the help they needed earlier on they act out; as the 16 year old girl did!. A non violent offender shouldn’t go to prison especially if they are mentally ill. It’s not good for there development as far as getting “Well”. They need to get Phycological help at in patient or out patient facilities. There victims should get the help they need also. And they should be told that there abuser are getting help and will not be off of probation until they are deemed fit to be released into society. Hopefully that will help the victim feel like:: Well good I hope they get what they need and while at the same time the victim is hopefully getting through the ordeal. The way it is right now isn’t right!!. To take some one ” mentally ill, go to court, and found guilty mentally ill or not. Sent to jail or prison for years, get out and maybe probation, do all they need to do!. And then register for the rest of there lives. A lot of children go through a lot of difficulty, some as soon as they are born, Violence between parents, alcoholics, one or both parents, drugs, sex abuse, parents separating. All has a devastating impact on children that leads to unhealthy development and problems including innapropriate sexual behavior. I know this because I am my own example!!. Now I am tired and want to move on with what few years I have left. I am 68 in August. My offense was 31 years ago. I have completed my probation 2006. Some other people were done how long ago?. 40 or 50 years ago! Thanks, FAC for all that you do!.
I am replying on my post on May 31st. at 3:36 pm
I just wanted to say my mental illnes diagnosis, is Depression and Anxiety, PTSD. I was raised in a Alcoholic home with lots of violence. I may have been born with anxiety after being conceived while my Father was drinking heavily. The violence went on for many years until my parents separated when I was 12 or 13. I did not do well in school because of ADD. I quit ate age 16 and went to work. I worked hard because I liked making money and buying cars and having fun. I guess it was an escape from the depression earlier. I still suffer from anxiety and PTSD. If I would have sought help at an earlier age I probably would not have acted out sexually later on!! I am sure of it. Now I suffer from all the above. Life would be much easier without the registry.
This system is broken. Any sex crime is guilty until proven innocent. All it takes is a point of a finger and you are guilty with no chance of proving your innocence. How many men I met that I know for a fact that they did not commit the crimes that they were accused of but on the other hand there were those that did commit those heinous crimes that they were accused of and do not deserve to breathe another breath of free air again. In Pennsylvania the parole system is broken beyond repair. I saw offenders released and came right back on more than one occasion. Others that had to serve their maximum sentence and never got chance at parole are still out and not committing any crimes. I know because I check all the time where and how they are doing today. I often wondered where the crystal ball was that let them know who was going to come back and who wasn’t I met one individual that was a repeat offender that victimized the same victim twice. He had a sentence that had a maximum of 40 years and yet somehow he got paroled and came back on a parole violation and has been released again. There is something wrong with a system that releases a violent repeat offender and yet keeps others that would never commit another crime.
One other instance of parole releasing the wrong person was an inmate that I knew would not stay out was released and the first week he went to his girlfriends home and raped her and murdered her 9 year old son, stole her car and ran off out of state. They caught him but why was he ever let out in the first place. When I could see what kind of a person he was, who do they have on that parole board could not see the anger and hatred in that mans eyes. I just do not know where this will end. Probably not in a goo place for sure.
What is ironic, I took a polygraph and if you fail of course it is “Ah ha, see I knew you did it”. However, if you pass, they say ” Well you are just a good liar, we have other evidence”. Really? then why did you give me a polygraph if they are not accurate?
sadly prison time = money. thats the truth of the matter… we live in an era where the state gets money from putting people in prison and they dont care who it is – or even if they committed a crime or not.
maybe it means taking from mentally ill, poor, stupid people in order for some people to make money in the profession they are in. Come on seat belt violations. Not reporting workplace how is it anyones business where a “free man” lives other than to enslave him and make money under false pretenses. End slavery!