In my article entitled " Civil Rights, Child Molesters, Pandora, and Her Box ," I mused whether from a civil rights point of view, the treatment of convicted sexual offenders under the law is questionable at best and unjust as well as illegal at worst.

Wondering further if individual cases of sex crimes warrant different punishments or should sex offenders be assured their civil rights or should they be considered as someone who has chosen to leave human society in favor of unspeakable evil and thus no longer qualifies for civil rights, I was not surprised to receive some email response.

One in particular stood out. Without going into detail or giving away any identifying details, the writer told about a conviction he has on his record which was part of a plea deal that involved underage drinking and some "making out." According to his statements, he did not rape anyone, but because of his taking the plea deal, his life is now a living hell and his children are the ones suffering because of reporting requirements, etc.

Do you have any ideas about how to deal with sex offenders, their civil rights, and the current laws? Do you feel that things are going well the way they are or do we need to overhaul the system?

Frankly I am not worried about sex offenders rights, I am worried about the rights of children to grow up and not be interferred with sexually. Thats where our concentration should be. If you don't want to be in jail or have to report or register, then don't sexually abuse a child, its that simple.

I feel NO SORROW for someone who has knowingly entered into a plea agreement that forces him to register as a sex offender. I don't buy for a moment that his original crime had NOTHING TO DO WITH a sexual crime against someone. If he didn't want to register, he should have chosen jail instead or better yet, not commited the crime to begin with.

Frankly if it were up to me, people who are convicted as a sex offender would NOT BE ALLOWED to live in the same house with people under 18 years of age no matter what.

I love it when adult men pick up females they don't know, have sex with them and then cry foul when they find out the girl is only 14. Well here is an idea, have a little more self control then an alley cat AND DON'T SLEEP WITH PEOPE YOU KNOW SO LITTLE ABOUT.

What do I think should be done about sex offenders?

It should be legal to shoot them.

What about those who did not molest a child? What about those who took a plea deal after partying with their girl friend who later on worried about what dad would say and pressed charges? What about those who are unjustly accused and convicted in the minds of those who are watching the TV coverage - only to be proven innocent of all charges later on (in some cases much later)?

Each state has a different law about the age gap, if your too old to be with someone below the age of 18, don't be with them, it won't matter what their Father thinks if they are over 18. If a girl is young enough to be worried about what her Father thinks, you have NO BUSINESS partying with her, they should include supplying controlled substances to a minor in the charges against you.

As for being convicted in the minds of the public, that happens to just about anyone who is charged with a crime. Are you suggesting just so we don't hurt anyones feelings, these people shouldn't be charged?

I am sick to the back teeth of hearing men cry after they have behaved irresponibly that they were not treated fairly. Thats how they got where they are, they want to blame their mistakes on everyone else rather then face who they are. Society needs to let them know its not going to work and hold their feet to the fire. If you prey on people who can't protect themselves, your life is going to be hell, do not pass GO, do not collect $200.

You misunderstand; I am not making excuses for anyone who messes with a minor. Additionlly, it has nothing to do with "feelings."

What concerns me from a civil rights perspective is the willy nilly way that individual states try to get rid of the problem of what to do by changing the rules and then hope to pawn off the problem to a neighboring state.

From a legal point of view, it bothers me that plea deals with something as serious as molestation are even offered. If the DA has the proof, IMO, s/he has the duty to go forward and try the person and not offer a plea deal. Conversely, if there is not enough to go on, offering a deal is not serving justice since getting the person to seve time for "something" is not better than nothing.

Last but not least, do not forget that women have responsibility in the arena of "making out" as well (we're talking consentual here); while the guy should know better than to hook up with his underage girlfriend, she should know better than to hook up with an underage guy (or any guy for that matter). Yet if the law were to be enforced honestly and truly, then our high school would be mostly empty.

I hate to be playing devil's advocate here, but in cases where there is no forcible rape or child molestation involved, there is an awful lot of grey area.

I hate the system of plea deals as well. I don't think people should be charged with crimes they did not commit. I can't imagine anyone would be charged with a crime that included a sexual component when their original crime did not include the sexual component.

As for women who are molesting children, they deserve the same fate as men who are molesting children.

I have often pondered laws that are passed in a certain state when the one next door is more lax on a given topic. While I understand states rights to make their laws, I agree with what your saying that when one state has a more strict law on sex offenders, it does encourage the offenders to seek a more relaxed state. I think the answer in the case of sex offenders is to make more laws that are the same in all states.

oooooh Lisa you better stop. You sound like a Republican.

Find sex offenders in your neighborhood go to
familywatchdog.us
familtwatchdog.com

I'm NOT a Republican, I am a concerned Mother trying to raise a daughter on my own to adulthood AND keep her from being harmed by one of these sick people. As a Mother I consider it my duty not just for my daughter but for any child.

In Long Beach they had houses where scores of sex offenders lived together and the battle lines were drawn with residents who wanted them out of the neighborhoods. Probate officers wanted them clustered together because it was supposed to be easier to keep track of them that way. What is the answer? (details are in this articleBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

OK, the idea of having the sex offenders all housed together makes sense to me. It makes keeping an eye on them easier, keeping your kids away from that area easier.

That being said...this building is very close to a day care, elementary school, and middle school which does not make sense.

So, yes, keep the sex offenders togther and not spread out - but keep them in areas away from children.

You know, when the colonies were first being formed, my beloved Georgia was actually a penal state - where all the bad little redcoats went. Maybe we should set up somewhere out in say - Utah (yeah, hot, nothing around for miles except desert) and house all the sex offenders out there. They can keep each other entertained! (Sorry Utah...)

Going back to the civil rights end of it, I've thought for a long time now that the sex offenders list should be made public based on the classifications that some of them already have. When sex offenders are added to these lists, they are supposed to be analyzed by mental health professionals, and classified for law enforcement based on the likelihood of repeat offenses. The public should not have access to ones that were pleas like the one mentioned at the beginning of this, or ones that the professionals are willing to stake their careers on by saying that they won't do it again. The goal of these laws are to protect the public, not permanently punish the offenders. Otherwise, there should be more strict rules on where the ones that are likely to strike again end up living, like grouping them together - not necessarily in the desert!

I'm a bit torn on this one. As a mom, I want to know who and where the "monsters" are. But, as a civil rights supporter, I believe that once a person has finished their punishment (all time served, no longer on parole) they have the right to attempt to regain their humanity. Of course, the role of the U.S. penal system is no longer "rehabilitation" and the likelihood folks are getting adequate psychiatric or other "treatment" while incarerated is probably very low.

I think I could talk myself in circles on this one...

I feel that if someone, in this case a sex offender, has taken away the rights of someone else by invasion and attack then their own rights should be taken away.

I agree with Michelle on this housing them all together - but, I would also have each one of them branded on the forehead!

Interesting discussion. I think there should be distinctions between different types of sexual offense. A fool who decides to streak down the street in drunken revelry should not be put in the same category as a serial rapist. I want to know who the REAL threats are, not jump at every person who has that label slapped on them for things that aren't actually dangerous, just stupid.

Plus, while a few of those rapists do it again, the majority of rape is done by those that the family knows, like close friends, family members, or dates. I think it's a little myopic to put all this attention on the people who we already KNOW are offenders while ignoring the more real danger that's closer to home.

Having said that, I'd love it if rapists were castrated on the spot. I have no mercy for someone who violates another person (and although molesting a child is horrid, why are they the only ones mentioned? Adults matter too, teens matter too, NO ONE should be violated in that manner!)

Yes, I'd love to know the classifications. Some states only tell you they are an offender, others give more details. I don't care about someone who messed with his girl friend, or the drunken college streaker.

Meanwhile, while we're having this discussion about prosecutors making plea deals, and us not being able to identify who can hurt or children, somewhere (and forgive me I don't know where or have a link to the story); my mother tells me a 6-yr old is suspended in school and will have something on his record for patting a girl who walked by his desk. I don't know if he got her in the behind or what.

You have to love this country. I can't tell who the real danger is outside of the elementary school system. Please!

I don't agree with treating sex offenders differently from any other class of criminal. The registries are just fomenting public fear and hysteria, and occasionally vigilante murders. It's a complete triumph of mob mentality over reason.

Mob mentality? Are there examples you can point to? I don't know that there is a mob mentality unless you are talking about in prison, which the system should correct. So, I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

The registry is pretty much useless because you don't know what level of offender they are. Laws still protect the offenders from harrassment I believe so I don't think there is anything wrong with that part of the system.

Essentially, I'm sorry, you committ a crime like this to a child, you should be thankful you got to live and take your societal lumps. You are not like any other class of criminal. You are the lowest of the low. And you would be damn lucky if it was one of mine own that it didn't end in a vigilante murder because for as few as there are so be it. I'm a Christian women and don't believe in taking another life but I really don't know how I'd feel if it was my child.

Outside of victims and their families trying to assure true sex offenders don't get a slap on the wrist and an opportunity to do it again by frequent trips to the courthouse during trials and such, I don't see where there is a mob mentality. Quite the contrar. Especially in the case of children coming forward from abuse years later and trying to buck the system. I wish there were people lining up to get justice and to make sure it doesn't happen again.

In fact, they have it better than any other class of criminal when you think about it. The power they weild over a child who might be too afraid to come forward, and then when they do statutes in the law favor the offender. Hmmm, sounds divine. I wonder why there is fear. Unfortunatley I don't think there is enough hysteria personally.

One really good treatment of the subject is found at http://66.165.94.98/stories/polnirr97.html

Here's a story about one of those so-called lowest of the low you were talking about:

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/news/stories/20040608/localnews/595940.html

Thanks Sue. I appreciate you sending that info my way and I will read it because this is an important topic.

Currently I'm familiar with a case in our neck of the woods, where the offenders came through later and not too many of them can prosecute, so it isn't really news and that is a shame because there were numerous victims involved.

And welcome to Bella by the way, I note you joined today and I hope you enjoy the community. I really like it here and there are a lot of nice people in all of the forums discussing a variety of topics.

The first one is lengthy and I'll have to reread that in more detail when I'm awake (the one referring to Megan's law). But in briefly looking at it, it makes it seem as looking at child porn is not committing a crime, that is like having drugs and not being high; and that undressing and fondling one's family or something is safe to the rest of society. I think it is a given that sex acts escalate. I'm sure the ones that kill started out small too. The percentages don't help either, even in gaps of 80% between the claims and purported studies, 10% or more chance of a reoffense is too many. Now if you could figure out who the 10% - 18% would be, then you could address the problem better.

I still don't see how that equates to a mob mentality. I don't think knowing someone is a criminal is a bad thing. Any other criminal has to put down on a job app that they may have committed a certain type of crime, in case it is a danger to a business. I think living in a community would require a check and balance if there is a possiblity they will be around kids.

The second one doesn't really fit the bill for a mob mentality. And I'm sorry, I wouldn't necessarily call him the lowest of the low (see my first post on this thread) especially if the girl was okay with this, however he is having sex with someone nearly half his age, and she is a student it is a man in power gaining access to children.

He took his life based on his feelings for not being able to handle a prison sentence, and while it may have been consensual, he still broke the law sleeping with a student. And it states, "In exchange for his plea, three other identical charges were to be dismissed." Were these identical charges with the same girl or was he sleeping with other students too.

In this case however, I think if the girl came forward and said it was consensual, at the very least he should just lose his job if the age of consent it 16. I don't know that jail time should be involved. But the other charges that were being dropped bothers me.

I think all offenders who do ANYTHING with a child should be shot! all Rapist who are convicted by a jury that is 100% agreed that they are guilty should be SHOT! I dont care if they are drunk stoned high or insane! Shot them dead and let there Maker deal with them! baring that! they should have to stay in prison for life! baring that... Well I am all for having there court records minus the victoms names posted for all to read and having them baned to one place far far way from children and other people who cant defend them selfs like nursing homes, hospitals, schools, mental health group homes and businesses that deal with any of these people. they should not be able to be on public buses, planes, or in shopping malls. they should have no goverment help or housing!

Do I sound mean and un fair? well they should have kept away from kids and people who didnt want there attention!

I do agree that there should be levels to the punishment. sex offenders of children should have a tatoo that clearly marks them as such and those that offend adults should have a tatoo that marks them as such right on there foreheads as well.

as for the onesthat striks in the park but had no contact with anyone they tend to exculate to other sex crimes so... rehab and on the second offence prison and on the third tatoo them like everyone else!

I dont much care what happeneds to there "rights" the prisoners have more rights then most of the working class americans so I think it is high time someone take the pruning shears to there rights and stop building more prisons and giving them access to law libriry and college and all that and introduce them to hard work and bills! We have to work for our living so should they or let them die where there at!!!!!!!!!

Ouch, pruning shears to their what? LOL

and whatevers left...... lol

I might ought to be nice since there maybe sex offenders out there that get offended and report my post...

I just dont believe the guilty should have more freedom and rights then the victoms! I think we should be able to protect ourselves and the kids in our life weither they are our kids to protect or not! I think we should be able to protect ourself from harm and danger.

sure there are those that are wrongly acussed out there but they are not the majority and most of the time if they had not been doing something wrong like drinking or drugs or breaking in to someplace or stalking someone they would not have been accused to begain with! If people were smart they would not date people underage and if they do they would make dang sure that they dated out in public and didnt give any reason for parents or anyoneelse to think they were sleeping together! if you are never ever alone together then it makes it very hard for the other person to say you raped them! and if you dont date someone underage or married then chances are they have no reason to say that you raped them! or better yet wait till your married and then you know they wont cry rape! it people didnt jump in bed on the first date with just anyone then they probly would not have regrets and cry rape. but that is just my oppinion. agree or dont its ok.

Thanks for the welcome Violette!

The mob mentality becomes evident later on in that first article. It's been documented, additionally, that people have been driven to suicide by being harrassed by self-appointed protectors of the community. There were two double murders of randomly chosen sex offenders, one in Washington in 2005, one in Maine in 2006. Murdered simply because they were on a public registry.

In regard to the second article, I agree Corbitt should've lost his job. But the probation officer who recommended a 6 to 15 year prison term in that case ought to burn in hell, if there were such a place.

While I am not sure I agree with the shooting aspect, I do wonder if someone who sinks to that level of evil (sexual abuse of a child) is able to be rehabilitated.

I speak as one who has been molested, with a child that was molested (another perp) and a mother whose father was a founding member of the Sex Before 8 or it's Too late group in CA. He sent friends home to rape his child until she hit mensing age.
You can probably guess I have absolutely NO sorrow or sympathy for those that prey on others for sexual gratification. While I think that judges should look at the context of each situation, like a couple that has been together and the boy just turned 18-his girlfriend only months short...that is questionable.
However utilizing self control in those matters would save a lot of grief in the long run.
The need for constant sexual gratification itself is a sign of psychosis, whenever it preys upon children it's gone even further. You can interview sexual predators in prison and find that a running theme is pornography. You can't feed that appetite constantly and have it remain static, it always needs more and more and more.
Anyone that preys on another for their own gratification deserves nothing but punishment and imprisonment away from society. Their debt can never really be repaid, no amount of time will undue their foul vile deeds. There is no such thing as rehabilitation for sexual predators because it's a matter of the mind as well as the soul/spirit. Anyone that has walked down the path believing they have the RIGHT to take others safety and security away for THEIR sexual satisfaction, isn't going to stop thinking this simply because they have been in prison for a while.
As a cop's kid I am far from naive, and as a victim I am not pretending there is a chance. So many perps find ways around reporting, so many find homes under the radar conveniently near schools, and so many gripe because they are "unfairly targeted" so were their victims. Too bad, if you screw up this badly expect to lose your rights to live as one of the accepted society.

I have worked with sex offenders for three years and have watched their behavior. There is no cure for a "true" child molester/predator. But, remember, not all sex offenders are child molesters. People with this child attraction are truly sick. It seems as though, society puts out a label and then you are basically doomed for life. I know of men who were charged with statuatory rape and then are still married to the woman. yet, they are locked up serving time for this. I know of one man inparticular who was charged with sodomy on 3 children....I actually read his legal documentation and he has documentation from the medical examiner on all 3 children. There was no bruising or any type of trauma to the genitals of these children. These were very small children, under the age of 4. This woman he was with, still had a husband and he was going through a custody battle. Well, she forgot to mention to this man that she was married. By the time he got out of the relationship it was too late. The accusations were already out. It also did not help that he was tried just after a huge case in Sonora where the mother shot and killed the man who supposingly molested her child. I am a mother and I am in no way condoning child crimes. I know that sometimes what looks like the story,isnt the story at all. I think we need to try and help who truly needs the help and give people fair trials. Because someday it just may be you or your family member who is accused. Laws are in place for all of us...good and bad. We cannot make our own judgements....that is for God to judge. This man I told you about is still locked up. This happened when he was in his early twenties and he is now forty years old. He served the prison time for it and now is serving "treatment time". Oh, and the person who said that they should get shot.... I cannot believe that people truly think this. I think you would think twice about that statement if it was your son.

Just a thought to ponder: in ancient times a theif had the offending hand he stole with cut off.

AND just another thought. Given the differences between statutory ages of consent among the states, I have made it somewhat of a mission educating my male students (and my son) that the burden is strictly on them to ascertain age. I know my daughter appeared to be "legal" when she was thirteen. Girls just look older, act older than they did when I was younger. A young lady can lie about her age and it is the young man who will be charged with the crime in which consent is not a defense. Our state has a significant sex registration code although I do know some states seem to be implementing "Romeo and Juliet" provisions. Somewhat off topic but I totally agree, everything is not always as it appears to be in these cases. Not at all. great post.

Ouch! Phyllis. lol

I hear alot of people talking about the rights of the child molestor's well I have one question. What about the rights of the children in the neighborhood don't they have rights as well? Why is it that if they commited the crime before 2003 they are allowed to live where they want and work where they want? They can even live in a house with 4 small children that are not theirs. Why are they being allowed to go to another child's bus stop and nothing be done about it ? Why does another child have to be hurt or endangered for someone to step up and say hey I've had enough?

I have read all these post and what i think is bad is when someone 21 is charged tried and convicted of child molestation because the girl he has sex with was 14 only has to spend 5 years in prison and then is let out and because he is no longer on parole and because it happened before 2003 in allowed to live in a house with 4 small children 3 of which are girls the oldest is almost 8 yrs old. This guy even tried to take the girl out of state but she got away and called her mom. Why is he allowed to go and do whatever he pleases just because it happened before 2003. To me a sex offender ( child molestor ) is just that and I think if they admit they did it they shouldnt be worried about their rights . what of the kids?

I don't think that there is enough education to teenagers about the dangers they face. This is directed at the 18 and 19 year olds who are now labeled sex offenders because one week ago they were sleeping with their 16 year old girlfriend and it was ok per the law. They turn 18 and now all of a sudden it is illegal.

Kids do not realize what they are getting themselves into. Their foolish act could change their life and they will be lumped in with the 40 year old who loves 8 year olds. These are acts are completely different.