ALL EXCEPT FOR: ANIMUS THAT DRIVES EXCLUSIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Saying something is true does not make it so. And saying it louder does not make it truer. But such is the legislative posture behind modern day sex offense registration laws that punish those who commit sex crimes because of entrenched myths that overstate the laws’ positive impact on public safety and exaggerate recidivism rates of offenders. And it is not only registration schemes themselves that have been scaffolded by these myths, but numerous ancillary laws that exclude benefits to offenders strictly because they have committed sex offenses.
This paper from Prof. Catherine Carpenter is full of very, very useful information. It is a MUST READ: Carpenter – Animus
I think the biggest hurdle is very few if any paths to get off the registry. Many people who have murdered people, get out of prison and go on with their lives. And yes, a few rebuild their lives and become better people.
Everyone is different. There will be some who go on to commit another sex crime, despite of the registry. Many will not regardless of a registry. Throwing everyone into the same category or even risk based off of 20 to 30 years ago offense is nonsense.
The only ones who win are lawmakers who pat themselves on the back for “Making society safer”. They would be more likely to Release the zombies from a horror film than to give us a 2nd chance at living a normal life.
It’s also funny how society doesn’t make murderers prove they’re no longer a murderer.
Exactly. What about a registered person who is 85 years old, in poor health, and confined to a wheelchair or bed ridden a danger to society?
Creating laws does not prevent crimes from occurring. We have laws against murder, arson, robbery, etc., yet people continue to commit those crimes so having those laws in place prevents nothing.
I will never commit another sex crime not because I am on the registry, but because fortunately I have a very good life and CHOOSE to stay in the clear, but if I ever did want to reoffend, the registry would never stop me. Society is safe from me because of my own choices, not because of having my name on a list.
A murderer can get out of prison, turn his life around and go on to be a mentor to troubled youths to deter them from crime and society will praise him, but a registrant gets out of prison and decides to live a law abiding life by getting a decent job (if he is lucky) and being a good parent but society will treat him like scum.
I’m not a religious person, but I recall when someone asked Jesus what the greatest sin was. He answered back saying there is no sin greater than any other, because if you break just one commandment in the slightest, you’ve broken them all. I am not better than anyone else, but how is having a consensual relationship with someone under the age of consent a more heinous crime than someone who murdered someone?
If registries are so effective, why do we not have a DUI registry, a murder registry, an armed home invader registry, a bank robbery registry, an arson registry, etc ? The facts are that the registry is a product of an agenda that is not based on safety, but a product of an effort to forever punish a class of people because some politician at some point was offended by an RSO, so political power and authority was exercised to get even. Since RSO’s have the lowest recidivism rates of all offenders, what else could be the reason? A recent automobile accident in Florida killed 5 children. The accident was caused by a drunk driver. That’s more children killed in one accident than are killed by other means throughout the US…that includes drive by shootings.
Ummm, because none of those involve sex.
The simple fact is that if the Sex Offense Registries were not idiotic and immoral, then all of those other Registries would exist. That’s all.
“People” who support the Registries are nothing but terrorists. Americans need to understand that our enemies are not China, Russia, Iraq, or whomever. Our enemies live right here in Amerika. They probably live right next door to you.
De-fund harassing big government.
Capt,
Actually, there are DUI registries in Amerika. I know there’s one in Ohio but takes a lot to be a member. https://services.dps.ohio.gov/OMVI/SearchAndList.aspx
Is it a public registry where all the neighbors can know a frequently drunk driver lives among them.
I had a good laugh, because in the paper, it states that the Prop 47 reforms exclude habitual offenders and sex offense registrants. Well, perhaps they feel good that they’ve deterred the “predators” from raping stores of their product, but since the drug addicts are doing it quite nicely themselves, it doesn’t really matter I guess.
I say let the idiots think they’re hurting registrants with these laws. In the end, the empty shelves and closed stores send a louder message concerning the incompetency of our LE and elected officials.
Pro tip: Don’t open a retail business in CA people.
The problem with these laws, is they do little to nothing to protect anyone. Sure, they help to allow people to see who lives around them on the registry, but it’s not some magic shield prevention. If someone wants to offend or the offend, it’s not going to protect anyone. Anyone who wants to prey on children or people, will do so regardless of the laws. All these laws mainly do, is punish those who are on the registry, plain and simple.
Reading thru a 43 page dissertation may contain usefull infull info, but once again, we are preaching to the chior.
For most, but not all criminals have an exit strategy available. No so much for registrred persons. You see the policies and procedyres are laid out to punish, for life. Murderers, drug peddlers, arsonists and many others are handed options to be accepted back into society, no so with registered offenders.
It’s a law review article meant to be cited by courts.
Robert
I agree. It is the same thing before a game. The team goes into the locker room and the coach gets them all riled up. He says “WHAT are we going to do?” and the players yell “WIN”. Then they go out on the field and get their butts handed to them.
But, then a good coach will say, “Don’t worry, great game, we will get them next time”. And that is what we are doing. We are not giving up, and are constantly chipping away pieces of the wall. Eventually that wall has to fall. Just not sure it will happen in my life time. Some of us are seniors now with health issues.
While this forum may indeed be preaching to the choir, Prof. Carpenter provides information that will prove useful when preaching to those who are not even in the congregation, much less the choir. The issues presented are heavily footnoted, which can save tremendous time for any who will be developing future arguments.
The registry is a divisive concept that gaslights and misinforms via fear, resentment and paranoia. It is rage bait for the ignorant.
We truly are political prisoners in a fabricated war to “protect” children.
Facts
But the registry “Butters someone’s bread” and “lines someone’s pockets” so that is ALL that matters to the powers the be.
Read into it what you want, but until we have someone powerful on our side IE: a judge, we have a long road to Nashville.
It seems to me the government is content with motivating us NOT to become productive members of society, and so I’m not motivated in the least to get a regulart job and pay taxes. What’s the pount if I have to work harder while fearing losing my job because my background becomes a convenient excuse to fire me if I don’t live up to unreasonable expectations?
Derek
I agree, I haven’t worked since Moses parted the Red Sea. I have been let go of many jobs because someone found out where I was working and placed flyers on the business. Even when I worked for a factory where the public was not welcome, they mailed flyers to the CEO and made demands to “Fire me or face the consequences”.
And yes, I know who it was, someone who had NOTHING to do with my case
It’s the same as how when I wrote my alma mater asking about taking classes after my release to learn a new field since my previous job was no longer an option, they sent a letter back with a copy of my head sheet saying that they determined that the presence of RCs on campus would be “disruptive to the learning experience” and that my presence was “forbidden on their campuses and properties.”
The rodent also has a policy where RCs are not allowed on their property. When the friends I’ve made since my release want to go hang out at “the springs,” I have to make excuses why I can’t go, since they don’t know my situation, and I would prefer to keep it that way since I want to keep them as friends.
I am not a religious person either. Religion covers a whole gamut of beliefs. I am a Christian, I love the principles of Christianity, I love Jesus and the sacrifice He made for all of us, and I love my church family. After my wife’s death I too felt animosity toward God and anything religious, I did an act outside my personality, but God saw the value I had and has restored me. I miss my wife but now have my children and grandchildren and friends to encourage me. God has a purpose in all that happens to us, and today I am living out that purpose. I have peace and purpose. What a blessing!!