Locking up pedophiles on Halloween

[6_Time_Momma]

But here's the problem I have with it...insert any other terrible crime...once a drunk driver, always a drunk driver...once a murderer always a murderer...once a wife beater always wife beater...

But none of these folks are routinely monitored once they complete their sentence, drunks are not prohibited from drinking, other convicted felons do not have their names and address published in newspapers.

What about if a sex offender moves across the street from you? That has happened to me (I have no children), I've done nothing wrong, but the money I've invested in my house has lost about a 20% resale value...I'm basically being financially punished for someone elses crime.

But, none of those criminals have extensive studies to prove that their "always" (insert crime here). The crime of child molestation DOES have studies that prove that.

 

[phillybeth]

Well, let me play Questioner here for a moment

Your son is 20 years old. 2 years ago, when he was 18, he was convicted of statutory sexual assault for having a sexual relationship with a 15 YO girl, his girlfriend who he had been dating for over a year with her parents' approval. He served his 2 years probation as a first time offender.
Since he was convicted of a sex crime, he had to register as a sex offender. Do you think your son needs to be locked up to protect children on Halloween?

There are many people registered as sex offenders that meet the above story. Not everyone convicted of a sex crime is a pedophile. NOt every registered sex offender is hiding in the bushes waiting for YOUR child. Those convicted of sex crimes against adults also register as sex offenders.

 

[marlasmom]

As far as I am concerned anybody who molests a child should be locked up for the rest of their lives. Since that would have a huge financial impact on the taxpayers, perhaps they could all be put in some facility (like an abandoned armed services base) and made to work at some productive job which would make money - the proceeds to go to the victims and to the taxpayers if possible. But they should be confined. There are lots of statistics that offenders repeat their crimes over and over again. As for those offenders who torture children, I'll happily pull the switch.

While I am sorry for your 18 years old who has consenual sex with a 15 year old, he (and she) have used lousy judgment and there is a price to pay.

 

[Chuck S]

But, none of those criminals have extensive studies to prove that their "always" (insert crime here). The crime of child molestation DOES have studies that prove that.

But there are also sex offenders that DON'T have another encounter with children after they are released. There are also many Drunk Drivers on their third, fouth and fifth conviction, so they ARE basically "always" a drunk. There are many murderers who've killed again after being released...do we publish drunks or murderes names and addresses in the paper everytime they move? Do we round up all the convicted drunk drivers on Holidays because they have the potential to drink and drive?

Has Halloween ever been proven to increase child molestation, even if a parent actually accompanies children while trick or treating, or is the state trying to make parents (voters) feel warm fuzzies rather than asking them to actually assume some of the personal responsibility of being a parent?

 

[Chuck S]

While I am sorry for your 18 years old who has consenual sex with a 15 year old, he (and she) have used lousy judgment and there is a price to pay.

It isn't just the two people involved in many of these cases. The parents often give consent for them to date. They may even be aware they are sexually active, but then some break-up or problem comes between the couple and the parents suddenly cry "child molester".

Funny, parents can give legal permission in some states for children as young as 14 (most states it is 16) to be married, which for all practical purposes includes a sexual relationship, but if they give permission for them to "date" then somethong goes wrong, they are labeled "molesters".

 

[phillybeth]

As far as I am concerned anybody who molests a child should be locked up for the rest of their lives.
While I am sorry for your 18 years old who has consenual sex with a 15 year old, he (and she) have used lousy judgment and there is a price to pay.

There is a big difference between an 18 YO and a 15 YO in a relationship having sex and an adult preying on children. That's the point I was trying to make.
So, because your 18 YO son made a mistake, you would want him locked up for the rest of his life even though he is not a threat to children in any way? How about an estranged husband whose wife accuses him of sexual assault because she is mad at him? A 20-something YO girl who gets mad at her boyfriend? A college student who gets drunk at a party, wakes up the next morning and 'thinks' something happened? All those men should be locked up forever?

 

[Planogirl]

I am vehemently opposed to anyone who was convicted of statutory rape being labeled as a sex offender. It's a completely separate issue IMO and grouping these people with pedophiles and rapists is ridiculous.

 

[dcentity2000]

Here's my problem, if any of you care:

Once a pedophile, always a pedophile. Asking a pedophile not to like children anymore is like asking a homosexual not to like the same gender anymore or a heterosexual person not to like other heterosexual people. I don't care that people say that a pedophile can be "cured." I don't believe it at all. Somewhere, deep in the recesses of their mind, they still fancy children, and it disgusts me. They don't deserve a second chance. I've read way too many articles and seen too many newscasts about a pedophile who breaks the rules of their probation by ruining a child's life-AGAIN!!!!! Rights???? Rights???? You have got to be kidding me!?!? I don't care if they are human. The only right they have is to die. The sooner, the better...

Read this carefully.

What if one of your children was cursed with the disease? Never mind attacking anyone, young or old. What if your child just developed this illness, the illness being an attraction to children? Would you support him (I say "him" as the majority of pædophiles are male)? Try to get him help?

Or would you just write him off?

You see, I don't think that you would. It's easier to dismiss someone when they are nothing to you than it is to dismiss someone who is.

And for the record: I know a past sufferer.

He was cured and now leads a blame free life.



Rich::

 

[DarkSideMoon]

lets think about this, look at the recent kidnappings, then rapes, then murders, 75% its sex offenders, IMHO they lost their rights when they molested a child. we need otugher penalties for them- first offense 15 years, second take their parts off painfully, third, death by electric chair.

 

[ducklite]

1. Parents should be with their children while they are trick or treating. If this isn't possible, they need to make arrangements for another trusted adult to do so. It's called being responsible.

2. It's a violation of civil rights to require sex offenders to report to jail on Halloween. I have a real problem with this. I think I'd be more comfortable with it if they asked them to voluntarily report to a different gathering place, perhaps a meeting room in the local convention center, town hall, or a church. Those who choose not to report can then be monitored by local police on that night based on risk levels. It's possible that some work swing shifts--why should they have to leave work?

3. Why should Halloween be any different from any other night? What's next--the two weeks before Christmas because kids might be out caroling?

They aren't going to win this one. It's a flat out violation of civil rights.

In Florida we have a law that sex offenders can't go to public shelters during a hurricane. They are given the choice of making authorities aware of where they are going (if applicable) and evacuating to another area, staying in their home, or staying at the jail--but in public areas and NOT mixed with prisoners. They use the jails as a place to offer refuge, but make it clear that they are there as citizens and not prisoners, and can leave at any time.

While I'm all for protecting kids, I think that this is a kneejerk reaction to a problem which needs to be dealt with on a much deeper level.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I am vehemently opposed to anyone who was convicted of statutory rape being labeled as a sex offender. It's a completely separate issue IMO and grouping these people with pedophiles and rapists is ridiculous.

Very much agreed, except that "stautory rape" is a legal terminology that can encompass any sexual contact with a minor. I think you need to reword your statement to say "consentual sex with a competent 15-17 year old, which IMHO is the point where minors are able to make decisions regarding their sexuality, and understand the possible consequences of the same. I use the word "competent" to represent the ability to make decisions and judgements based on the average mental abilities of a peer. In other words, a 17 year old with an IQ of 67 can not be expected to make this type of decision, and in that case it would be "statutory rape".

Anne

 

[DarkSideMoon]

IMHO the 17 year old should be punished the same, hes the one dumb enough to have sex with a minor, he needs to take the blame.

 

[ducklite]

While I am sorry for your 18 years old who has consenual sex with a 15 year old, he (and she) have used lousy judgment and there is a price to pay.

But it's sometimes a more difficult situation than that.

My son met a girl in our neighborhood who was visitng a relative. She lives about half an hour away. She told him she was 17, almost 18, several other kids in the neighborhood that knew her, including her cousin backed this up. I met this girl, she looked 17 going on 23.

They spoke on the phone daily for a few weeks, and a few little clues led him to believe she wasn't as old as she had claimed. She still stood by her 17 and 10 months story. Then she let something slip that confirmed she was only 14. He immediately told her to stay away from him. She turned into freak girl, calling our house ten, twelve times an hour even though I would tell her he was at work.

I finally told her that if she called again I would file a police report for harrassment, and told her that my son wanted nothing to do with her because she had lied to him about her age.

My point is that these girls lie, and then the guy is the one to suffer for it. Personally I think any 15-17 year old who consents to sex with a guy 3-4 years older than they are is equally guilty. But I also don't think that either should be punished. For what? It's not a crime for a 17 year old girl and her 17 year and 364 day boyfriend to have sex, but the day he turns 18, it is? That's just ridiculous.

Anne

 

[Lil_Tink]

I bet the people complaining are childless.. I mean would you want your child standing on a sex offenders door

 

[ducklite]

I bet the people complaining are childless.. I mean would you want your child standing on a sex offenders door

I"m not childless. I also believe that a lot of parents are stupid and lazy and want to take the easy route instead of being parents.

If your child is standing at the door of a sex offender with you there with them, then what's your issue?

And some food for thought--your next door neighbor could be a sexual predator who just hasn't been caught.

Anne

 

[RobinMarie]

I bet the people complaining are childless.. I mean would you want your child standing on a sex offenders door

I have a child and I believe this is unconstitutional. You can invite convicted offenders but should not mandate them somewhere on Halloween. I've always had a problem with stat. rape being part of the sex offender registry.

What of the offenders who are parents? Not on parole?

There are a lot of things to be concerned about on Halloween, the way to address it is to provide supervision to your children on that night, and year round.

 

[Planogirl]

So an 18 year old who has consentual sex with a 17 year old should be treated exactly the same as a violent rapist or someone who molests toddlers? That's rather harsh.

And yes, in some areas the above age difference can be illegal.

 

[marlasmom]

I really don't write clearly. No I don't think the 18 year old who has CONSENUAL sex with a 15 year old should be locked up for the rest of his life. But those who molest children should be. I know someone who is involved with a young man who has just been released from prison because he raped a 15 year old. The girl who is involved with him says the 15 year old is a skank (her word) and "came on to him". However he is now in a sexual relationship with someone who just turned 17. How dumb is that?

I just don't know how I feel about this. It would kill me if my teen-age daughter was having sex. Thank heavens neither of them did while they were teens (I'm sure).

 

[phillybeth]

I really don't write clearly. No I don't think the 18 year old who has CONSENUAL sex with a 15 year old should be locked up for the rest of his life.

But they are. And they are having to register as sex offenders and child sexual predators.

 

[sha_lyn]

nope not childless. Have 16 DS and 8 DD. I also actually check the register sex offenders list and see who is living/working around me and my children.

I think there are very few here who are actually getting my point. I'm not worried about the rights/lack of rights of the pedophiles. I am worried about the legal presidence this sets . In fact I think everyone should be worried about it. What is next, when someone of a certain group commits a crime we set up camps like Japanesse americans were put in during WW II. Think that can't happen again? I bet those citizens never thought it would happen to them either.