Sex Offender Registry Website

[Chewbacca]

I'm in a state of disbelief!

While browsing a local news site for info on a snowstorm heading our way I noticed a story about MA's online sex offender registry and it inclued a link to the site. On this site any high risk serious/violent repeat offenders name,address, and work place is listed as well as the date of their convictions and what crime they commited.

What has blown me away is that a man convicted for the rape and abuse of child in 2003 is out and on the prowl in my town and allegedly lives and works only a few blocks from where I do.

Why the hell is a violent child rapist with an allegedly high chance of repeating the offense who was convicted no more than 24 months ago out on the street, and in my neighborhood no doubt?!?!?!

Part of me wishes I had never clicked on that damned offender registry site. Part of me would rather not know.

I know that once out of prison, felons have to live somewhere and that some are rehabilitated. But it seems to me if someone is such a danger to society that they warrant thier posting name and address on a state run public website, maybe they should still be locked up? I know that a violent child rapist needs to serve more than 2 freaking years, more like 20 if you ask me.

WTF!!! Something is very wrong with society when the total of Tommy Chong's and Martha Stewarts time served equals a violent child rapist!!!

Grrr! I had to rant! This type of crap makes me feel sick.

[johnny]

Maybe they made one of those classical mistakes with which suspects sometimes get off the hook before there's even a chance of a fair trial ?

But at least now you know where he lives. Now go shoot the bastard.

[Gangrell]

Another classic case of "America's Court System Blows".

Sounds like the guy could use a visit to the Arkansas prison sometime.

[Stratos]

I don't think this is a entirely American phenomena, Gangrell. Rapist and molesters over here in Europe sometimes get's away with a few years as well.

[shamrock_uk]

:S You publish your sex offenders register?!

Over in the UK its kept confidential to avoid the uneducated masses taking vigilante action.

There were several high profile mob attacks on the homes of paedophiles culminating in a huge mob attacking the home and family of a paedeatrician - they just saw 'paed' next to his name in the phone book and thought he was a child molester.

How long they must serve in prison is a separate issue; publishing their names and addresses is just irresponsible and asking for mob justice.

[ 02-21-2005, 07:34 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Gangrell]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: How long they must serve in prison is a separate issue; publishing their names and addresses is just irresponsible and asking for mob justice.

Hmm, just thought of something. This may be a bit off base, but do you think the reason they let them go early is because of just that? Short sentence with having to watch your back because your name's been published I mean. Well, I don't know, even if that may be the case, no excuse and sure as hell is no reason to let a child rapist off with a light sentence.

[Cloudbringer]

It used to be confidential here, too, shamrock,but somewhere along the line, a lot of people figured out that there were just too many repeat offenses and if parents had only known there was a child molester in their back yard they would have taken more precautions and made sure their children had no opportunity to have contact with the molester. So they made the info public.

I'm not sure if it does more harm than good. I can understand a parent wanting to know so they can feel they have a chance to protect their child from someone who lives nearby and might harm them. I also understand that if someone has done time they feel they are entitled to live and work like other people and it might be hard to do if vigilante types track them down. I've seen news stories about how parents and others picket the homes of people on that list even when they've not repeated their offense.

I really don't know how I feel on this one...I guess I'd side more with knowing than not knowing.

[ 02-21-2005, 09:10 AM: Message edited by: Cloudbringer ]

[Thoran]

Does MA tell you what level offender they are?

A lot of men and women get listed on the "sex offender registry" not because they're violent rapists but rather because they had relations with a minor. Just watch TV these days and it seems like every week you see another report of a teacher getting busted for having sex with a teenage student... all those folks will end up on such registries.

Now I'm not saying those people don't DESERVE to be on offender registries (and most definitely should not be teaching)... just that they're not what I would consider a danger to society on par with a violent rapist.

[Larry_OHF]

From what I hear, a child rapist will never be rehabilitated...they just simply lay low until a pristine opportunity presents itself. When somebody takes it to that level, there is no turning back, imo.

At least you have the knowledge now to be more alert...and this waking up to your own hometown is like an insurance investment. You are charged with more worry, and the chances of hurt are lessened in your own family. It's a good correlation.

[Bungleau]

It certainly muddies the water a bit, doesn't it? And the definition of "child rapist" leaves something to be desired, too. It covers everything from a 19-year-old with a 15-year-old girlfriend to a 50-year-old sports coach molesting the kids on his team. I know *I* don't have as much of an issue with the first as I do with the second...

Another thing to keep in mind is that those sites can be woefully outdated. Do you think everyone on there checks in religiously with the state to let the state know where they've moved to? Not likely, my friend. So before the vigilante mobs head off, make sure that the person they're going after is indeed the right one.

Last year out here, there was a long-running news story about a guy who was released from prison, having done his time for molestation. Problem was he couldn't find a place to live... He started at his parents' place, but local pressures drove him out of town, and then our local sherrif contacted the sherrifs of towns he was heading to and let them know that he was coming. End result was that the folks in those towns (multiple states away) also booted him. He finally found a place to stay after four or five attempts in different states.

Now, is this a problem? In a lot of ways, yes. I'm not sure the impact of our sherrif "tattling" to other sherrifs. I mean, they don't do that with other offenses, do they? On the other hand, I'd really be unhappy to find out that a molester had moved in next door, so I'd want to know.

Can a person be rehabilitated? I don't see why not. I haven't done much research on it, so I know I've got some reading to do, but I don't see where a person can't change. At least, not more than someone convicted of any other crime.

Perhaps it's that the victim in these crimes is a poor defenseless child. Much like recent threads about the abuse of animals, a child can't defend themself from an adult with bad intentions, and we act to ensure that the child can't find themself in that situation.

Bottom line for me is that the lists are inherently out of date, and contain charges that run the gamut from serious to benign. Given that, we can't necessarily use them effectively, and they present an opportunity for easy abuse.