Assembling the Chimeric Sex Offender
The following (very technical) study (from what I could understand of it) discusses the harm caused by the “sex offender” label.
Assembling the Chimeric Sex Offender
It contains a lot of terms of art, which make it a difficult read, but if you can extrapolate the message from the context, it’s a worthwhile read. Here are some excerpts:
Across societies labels rarely are met with the degree of contempt and hatred that has become inherent in the label of “sex offender.” Indeed, few, if any, labels receive the negative reaction reserved for those baring the label of sex offender
Not all those believed to be sex offenders have actually committed such an offense—in many cases it is assumed. For those who are so labelled, whatever their actual acts or persuasion, albeit assumed, actual, convicted, or charged, they are always thought to offend the norms of society and, in response, are left in a perpetual state of being “broken,” inferior, and in need of both “repair” and “retribution”
the sex offender bears signifiers tied to perceptions of their criminality, real or assumed. The signifiers attached to sex offender’s bodies are nevertheless discreditable. Whether in the community or in prison, the sex offender is always awaiting their identity to be exposed, because the sex offender is not accepted in society, will never be accepted, and constantly must strive to “adjust,” even hide, their identity if they are ever to have some moments with some sense of belonging or acceptance in society,
ever to feel outside the scope of the “abnormal” in a community.
Inclusion in the sex offender group equates all those so labelled to the most hideous of offenses, suggesting all have engaged in said acts despite the lack of truth behind such a claim.
Given the truth of this tract, why can’t a case for a federal court-or even a state court-be successfully brought and adjudicated on the side of justice?
Because of the politics and the economics involved; narcissistic politicians are the main fear mongers and do so to retain their position in the house or senate, We’re by they get backing for reelection and funds to help put them back in the same position to perpetuate The fears over and over and over, election after election after election.
People agree with laws they like and disagree with laws they don’t. Laws rarely pass based on fact but rather emotion and what gets the most attention and votes. Florida Senator Book introduces 2-3 Sex Offender bills every year without any data to support her position knowing it will keep her elected and money pouring into the charity she heads.
It would be wonderful if every bill that restricts peoples rights required studies to back them up before they became law with reviews required after 5-10 years to ensure they are providing the benefits that justified their passing. This would show public registries, residency restrictions, proximity limitations don’t work.
The 14th amendment should take care of this but as the Supreme Court case that made SORNA constitutional showed, bad data from non peer reviewed studies is apparently admissible in court.
The sex offender label can be worn proudly for the person who knows that he allowed a child’s mother to take care of her son by accepting the punishment of possession of child pornography instead of allowing the child’s mother to take the fall. Jesus took on all of the sins of the world. A sex offender sometimes is the person who accepted the punishment for others the way Jesus did. If you are an author, and are serious about writing a screenplay, please do contact me!