This is why judges should not get lifetime appointments

[TCPluto]

That may be true, but you have to admit that you didn't have the woman that lw49033 pointed out in mind when you were thinking of "these sexual predators". I suspect that was the point s/he was making.

The first rule: There are exceptions to every rule.

I am aware of an 18 year old that got his 14 year old girlfreind pregnant. Convicted and forced to register for the next 25 years.

10 years into it, he's 28 and she's 24, they are married (to each other, for 7 years) with three kids now.

He still has to register. Doesn't seem right, but the cost of not registering the other 99.999% because of the exceptions to the rule don't sway me.

 

[bicker]

Except, of course, if you were one of the exceptions. The law exists to protect all of us from the miscreants, and also to protect all of us from the mob.

 

[lw49033]

Except, of course, if you were one of the exceptions. The law exists to protect all of us from the miscreants, and also to protect all of us from the mob.

You said it! This country is based on individual rights, not what's expedient at the moment. Even if the exceptions were only 0.001% percent of the total, which is a joke. Our sex laws themselves are a puritanical joke compared to the rest of the civilized world, and the registration laws just add insult to injury.

 

[bicker]

Well, I'm actually pretty pleased with the registration laws, and I don't think our sex laws need to be overhauled too much... there are just a few small corrections necessary.

 

[lw49033]

There is no evidence that registration does anything to protect anyone, but plenty of evidence that it leads to increased homelessness, harassment, and even murder of offenders. Let's face facts: it's a punitive measure, not a safety measure. As in many other cases, society needs a scapegoat to atone for its sins, and in our present era sex offenders are the designated out-group.

 

[bicker]

I don't agree. I've seen indications that it puts neighborhoods more on-guard, and therefore keeps closer tabs on offenders once they've been released. In some cases, this extra scrutiny make have inceded in another offense.

 

[lw49033]

Perhaps a study will be done that will demonstrate this, but as of right now there is a bit of theoretical good being done by the registries versus a lot of real, demonstrable harm.

 

[Charade]

There is no evidence that registration does anything to protect anyone, but plenty of evidence that it leads to increased homelessness, harassment, and even murder of offenders. Let's face facts: it's a punitive measure, not a safety measure. As in many other cases, society needs a scapegoat to atone for its sins, and in our present era sex offenders are the designated out-group.

I agree. If the person is still considered a threat to society then keep them in jail for good.

However, convicted felons have certain rights removed forever (they can't buy guns legally). And I'm fine with this. But I don't believe they need to register with law enforcement where they live or move to.