Why is the Registry Punishment?
I can’t believe that we are still having to answer this common sense question. Isn’t it obvious?
Apparently to the judges of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, who recently overturned a lower court’s decision that the registry was cruel and unusual punishment, it’s not so clear. Neither was it clear to the judge in the Southern District of Florida who felt that forcing people into homelessness due to Miami-Dade county’s harsh residency restrictions isn’t punishment either. Incredible given that two of the original defendants on that case had died homeless on the streets of Miami by the time the Court heard the case. How is this possible?
Well what is common sense to us isn’t necessarily common sense to a judge. We must remember that judges, like all of us, live in their own world, socialize with their own friends and exist in their own preconceived notions about society, crime and the law. In other words, they have no clue what’s it like to live one day in our shoes. If, just for a week, one judge could have his name, photo and information listed on the Florida Sex Offender Registry, make him go out and find a job, a place to live while raising two kids or try to find a partner to spend life with, then have him come back and make the decision as to whether or not the registry is punishment. Wouldn’t that be glorious?
Residency restrictions, going to our kid’s schools, having a shot at keeping a job, finding a place to live, going to church, all of these things can continue to be denied us because our presence on the registry isn’t punishment. This is hogwash. You know it but the Court’s don’t see it because apparently we have yet to make our case crystal clear.
In an effort to do that we want to compile a list describing in detail the punitive effects on a registrant, their family, friends, employers and others in their lives, experienced living a lawful everyday life. Please include your experience in the comments below. Be specific and we will compile your comments for a “master list” of the punitive effects of the registry. Also remember that this is specific to our presence on the registry, not the criminal conviction itself nor any hardships as a result of probation requirements. PLEASE only list events that happened to you, not commentary.
Judges don’t know what they don’t know, so we have to tell them. We look forward to your comments.
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This is why:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/670990346356255/
https://www.facebook.com/Judy.Cornett.PP.SZA
http://www.safetyzoneadvocacy.org/
https://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/search?q=sex
Just found out about these groups thanks to Derek’s blog:
http://www.oncefallen.com/vigilantes.html
Here’s more reasons:
https://sexoffendernews.blogspot.com/
http://murders-new.blogspot.com/
The Valigator is dead (R.I.P.) but her hate lives on:
http://sexoffenderissues-valigator.blogspot.com/
The registry has prevented me from finding gainful employment. Consequently, I am on governmental programs such as SNAP and public healthcare. If the registry was not made public, then I could find gainful employment and be self sufficient.
I was denied a raise for 4 and half years while others got raises. As of now I’m the least paid person in my job by 5 dollar gap. And I’m missing out on so many things to do with my son, I can’t go to any school functions,can’t do any of his cub scouts with him.
Background checks for jobs go back 7 years or so. Being on a publicly accessable list ensures the 7 year doesn’t amount to much.
Been on the registry for 21 years. Was only sentenced to 10 years registry as a Sexually Oriented Offender in Ohio in 1998. I was under Megan’s Law, and the Adam Walsh Act was imposed before my 10 yrs was up. That changed my classification and extended my registration.
Since 2009 (After I was supposed to be off the registry) I’ve been arrested 3 times now in 2 different state, twice in florida in 2 years, and have done prison each time for failure to register!!!!
I’ve done 3 YEARS FOR TECHNICAL REGISTRY VIOLATIONS,….the sex offense sentence was only a year, and I’ve done TRIPLE THAT FOR REGISTRY RULES?!?!?!
I was able to get my ex girlfriend to let me stay at one of her properties and when I registered her address they told me I had to give them her auto information. Her helping me has now put her information on their site without her written consent. She has never had to provide her vehicle information before and 3 days after her vehicle information was recorded she was pulled over by three undercover police with guns drawn and they searched her vehicle citing they pulled her because she didn’t stop at a u turn. We have lost untold of application fees for rent screenings in Ohio for years, and we have moved too many times to count, cause we’d rent a place, I’d register it, then we’d get kicked out and lose our deposit and 1st months rent, and was only there days,…and rent another uhaul, etc.
I’ve had two civil cases that were seen as unlooseable until the attorney discovered my s/o conviction.