Locking up pedophiles on Halloween

[DarkSideMoon]

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.

no, because that was based on race, not raping little kids.

 

[graygables]

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.

My ex was the offender in our case. Nothing was done to him and he's still "out there", so you do need to watch your neighbors.

As far as supervision goes, yes, you should supervise, but even the best supervision does not stop a pedophile. You are insinuating that a parent is at fault for the crime for not adequately supervising their children and placing too much burden of guilt where it does NOT belong. A pedophile can get his kicks even just from the idea of kids begging for candy. They don't have to touch the child to perpetuate their addiction. The inundation of "stimuli" from trick or treating kids can be enough to "trigger" them to find a victim later.

When it comes to the protection of children, parents need all the help they can get in this society, where children are NOT valued, are tossed in garbage cans and in the ocean, where "individual rights" of a criminal supercede the rights of the children who have been violated.

 

[Planogirl]

We have laws that are meant to protect EVERYONE. I agree that when we start bending those laws we start down one of those slippery slopes that many are concerned about. It's often hard to put on the brakes.

Incidently, I'm a parent.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

We have laws that are meant to protect EVERYONE. I agree that when we start bending those laws we start down one of those slippery slopes that many are concerned about. It's often hard to put on the brakes.

Incidently, I'm a parent.

can you explain a little more?

 

[Planogirl]

When you start taking away rights from people then where do you stop? Today it's sexual offenders and maybe certain other criminals. Tomorrow it might be someone else that annoys someone.

Rights are in place for a reason and they even protect the monsters unfortunately. I'm all in favor of harsher sentences and required treatment and so on though.

 

[Kimberly]

Most states have laws concerning when someone becomes legally an adult, realizing that quite a few high school students date people in younger classes. Here in NJ, the "age of consent" is 16 years of age, and in some states, it's as young as 14.

A close friend of mine is a registered sex offender though. I personally think it's a very sad story, because he used to coach a peewee hockey team when he was 18-20 years old (12 to 14 year old kids). One night while staying overnight at a hotel with them, some of the kids convinced him to get a porno for them, which he did out of his own stupidity and ignorance. Well a few of the parents got annoyed and called the cops when some of the kids chatted about it with their parents.

 

[phillybeth]

Most states have laws concerning when someone becomes legally an adult, realizing that quite a few high school students date people in younger classes. Here in NJ, the "age of consent" is 16 years of age, and in some states, it's as young as 14.

Legal adulthood and age of consent are two different things. Legal adulthood is 18 in most if not all states. Age of consent varies from 14-18 and can also vary based on the age of the participants.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

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.

I couldn't agree with you more on this! I know someone who was convicted of statuatory rape. In a nutshell: he thought this girl was older, she said she was 18, her mother said nothing when they'd go away for a weekend, her mother even served them both alchol in her home, she wasn't in school, she appeared older, she had a fake ID and was able to get into clubs and bars. They dated for a few months, they had a sexual relationship. When he broke up with her, the girls mom pressed the stat. rape charges because she was ticked off at what he "did" to her 16 year old daughter, though she was apparently ok with the relationship while it was good.

He's not nor has ever been a threat to anyone, let alone children. Yet he has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. It's absurd to group him with those who molest and rape children, yet he is. That's what I have a problem with.

 

[Planogirl]

I couldn't agree with you more on this! I know someone who was convicted of statuatory rape. In a nutshell: he thought this girl was older, she said she was 18, her mother said nothing when they'd go away for a weekend, her mother even served them both alchol in her home, she wasn't in school, she appeared older, she had a fake ID and was able to get into clubs and bars. They dated for a few months, they had a sexual relationship. When he broke up with her, the girls mom pressed the stat. rape charges because she was ticked off at what he "did" to her 16 year old daughter, though she was apparently ok with the relationship while it was good.

He's not nor has ever been a threat to anyone, let alone children. Yet he has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. It's absurd to group him with those who molest and rape children, yet he is. That's what I have a problem with.

That's exactly the situation I'm talking about. It's one thing to protect our kids but when you start dealing with teenagers and consentual sex, you get into a grey area IMO and these people should NOT be thrown in with the true monsters in our society.

 

[phillybeth]

That's exactly the situation I'm talking about. It's one thing to protect our kids but when you start dealing with teenagers and consentual sex, you get into a grey area IMO and these people should NOT be thrown in with the true monsters in our society.

But that is what's happening. And those are some of the people who will have to go to jail on Halloween.

 

[RobinMarie]

You are insinuating that a parent is at fault for the crime for not adequately supervising their children and placing too much burden of guilt where it does NOT belong.

No, I am not. I am stating the best protection for kids on Halloween night, and others, are their parents/guardians. Guilt wasn't part of my equation.

 

[mbw12]

Most states have laws concerning when someone becomes legally an adult, realizing that quite a few high school students date people in younger classes. Here in NJ, the "age of consent" is 16 years of age, and in some states, it's as young as 14.

.

Technically in the state of NJ, the legal age of consent is 13 with a person 4 years older than you....so technically a 13 year old can have CONSENSUAL sex with 17 year old and no repercussions, a 14 year old can have consensual sex with an 18 year old, etc. Once you hit 16 though, it is the legal age of consent with any age older than you...as long as they are not in an authority position over you (teacher, coach, etc)

 

[Chuck S]

Technically in the state of NJ, the legal age of consent is 13 with a person 4 years older than you....so technically a 13 year old can have CONSENSUAL sex with 17 year old and no repercussions, a 14 year old can have consensual sex with an 18 year old, etc. Once you hit 16 though, it is the legal age of consent with any age older than you...as long as they are not in an authority position over you (teacher, coach, etc)

That is probably one of the most liberal, and perhaps, most sensible state laws.

Many states, however, still consider a 17.9 year old having relations with an 18 year old illegal and the 18 year old would be a registered sex offender.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Here in California, age of consent is 18.

 

[disneygals]

I don't think it would do any good - locking sex offenders up on Halloween - and leads to a false sense of security. Unless it's common for sex offenders to molest children during the five seconds kids are at the door, which I doubt. They's have to invite the lone child in - and which kids are TorTing alone? Offenses against children are far more likely to occur under much less public circumstances than Halloween night. Besides, what you need to worry about as a parent are the sex offenders who have NOT been convicted - the ones you don't know about - the ones that aren't registered. You and your child should exercise caution at all times. Doing otherwise increases their vulnerabilty.

I totally agree! I know many stories and the "men" involved were never charged and/or convicted. Molested children are so bad about documenting for later court cases.

 

[VSL]

I find anything concerning paedophilia to be a 'touchy' (to say the least) area.
I don't really know how I feel about 'locking them up' for Halloween. I'm childless but, putting myself in the position of someone with a child, I can see it from a parents' point of view and why parents would want them to be locked up.

What I do know is that it isn't something you 'become' - it's often something you just are. Paedophiles do not choose to become paedophiles. For some, I presume, it's innate. For others, it's a psychological reaction to being abused themselves when they were young, and for these it is a horrid cycle where the abused becomes the abuser, and so on - these are probably also the ones who do not know why they do what they do and don't want to be doing it (I'm not trying to create pity for paedophiles, just pointing out the reality that not all are just plain 'monsters').

It's really sticky. On the one hand these people have served their sentences and should now be allowed their freedom. On the other is the fear of them re-offending.

Personally, I think that paedophiles, once convicted, should be having ongoing psychological treatment (during imprisonment and after). Obviously there are no drugs to supply (like for schizophrenics, for example), but I believe that most would respond to some kind of therapy (unless they also have psychopathic tendencies - in which case it would probably be best(?) to keep them in some kind of mental hospital?).

Oh, I don't know... it's exhausting to just think about.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

thats why i outlined this-
1st offense- 5-10 years
2nd- say bye bye to your private parts.
3rd- death by electrocution or life W/O parole.

 

[Sparx]

Why don't we ask parents to actually watch their children while trick or treating. Is that such a foreign concept?

Parents DO watch, but do you know the home of every single pedophile in your county? It is a very easy mistake to make, and it will be made by someone. I personally, think this is a great idea.

 

[ducklite]

Parents DO watch, but do you know the home of every single pedophile in your county? It is a very easy mistake to make, and it will be made by someone. I personally, think this is a great idea.

No one knows the home of every pedophile--because the feeling within the law enforcement community is that only about 50% of them ever get caught. Chew on that for a minute, and you'll see why parental supervision is far better than kneejerk reaction.

Anne

 

[charabby]

Parents DO watch, but do you know the home of every single pedophile in your county? It is a very easy mistake to make, and it will be made by someone. I personally, think this is a great idea.

What if people did go to the door? Is there any documentation of increased sex crimes against children on Halloween? If not, jailing the sex offenders for the night is only done to make people feel better.