A day and a life to celebrate
By Jon Cruz
First published at narsol.org
New York is one of relatively few states not to classify people required to register for past sexual offenses through an automatic rubric; it conducts a hearing to determine one’s “risk level” to the community.
When I once inquired of an attorney why Florida did not conduct individual risk assessments, I was told that our state considers it too expensive to take that route.
Read at narsol.org about a recent success story experienced by a gentleman on the New York sex offender registry.
I hope the courts come through, for all our sakes. 18 years to go on the registry is an awfully long time to endure this nonsense.
I have 2 years before I can petition a Florida judge for removal, and even then of course there are no guarantees. It’ll be up to an elected judge 😩
As far as international travel goes, I recommend everyone check their FBI record for possible mistakes. In mine, they have my offense listed and coded as fondling though the charge was actually lewd exhibition. Many countries go by the NCIC codes when determining whether to let someone into the country.
I was told I would have to get a risk assessment done in order to be around my sisters kids. When I looked into it I was told
1. My therapist who I did all my classes with could not do the assessment ( although I had seen her for several years and she would actually have a better insight into me )
2. It was going to cost around $ 2000.00 or more
3. It would basically be I fill out a questionnaire of about 100 questions then the therapist would make his determination based on the answers I gave
4. Then it would go before a judge
5. Then it was not guaranteed
6 if it was denied I could try again ( it would cost another $ 2000.00
In the end I said I can’t afford it and I don’t feel the way it’s all done is to benifit anyone except those getting paid so I didn’t do it .
A risk assessment is not typically a one time thing. I just had one done for court purposes and was told it was only good for a year. This is now (and has been for a long time) a cottage industry. To have a shrink tell a court that I’m very low risk cost me about $5,000 and does not account for another $5,000 in lawyer fees.