| LOVE IS NOT A CRIME |
The Law Does Not Differentiate Between Someone Who Sexually Abuses
A Small Child And That Of Young Lovers Who Have Lasting Relationships!
A Small Child And That Of Young Lovers Who Have Lasting Relationships!
States need to make a clearer distinction
between teen lovers and sexual predators.
between teen lovers and sexual predators.
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Romeo and Juliet Laws -- What They Mean for Teens.
You Say 'Boyfriend' - Some States Say 'Child Molester'
You Say 'Boyfriend' - Some States Say 'Child Molester'
We support the prevention of child sexual abuse
through carefully structured laws that target
violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of
sex against children. Existing laws encompass a
wide range of offenders and require the exact
same resources be used for both violent,
dangerous offenders and those whose offenses
were neither violent, forced, or dangerous.
Current laws, as structured, are not keeping our
children safe. They are, in fact, costing the
taxpayer millions of dollars to prosecute, monitor,
incarcerate, and severely punish many individuals
who are of no danger to children, society, or the
communities in which they live. We believe that
laws which will truly benefit the safety of our
children, and society in general, must differentiate
between those who are dangerous offenders and
those who are not.
through carefully structured laws that target
violent, forced, and/or dangerous predatory acts of
sex against children. Existing laws encompass a
wide range of offenders and require the exact
same resources be used for both violent,
dangerous offenders and those whose offenses
were neither violent, forced, or dangerous.
Current laws, as structured, are not keeping our
children safe. They are, in fact, costing the
taxpayer millions of dollars to prosecute, monitor,
incarcerate, and severely punish many individuals
who are of no danger to children, society, or the
communities in which they live. We believe that
laws which will truly benefit the safety of our
children, and society in general, must differentiate
between those who are dangerous offenders and
those who are not.
| Romeo & Juliet Today! |
Romeo met Juliet when he was 18, she was 15. They dated
and eventually fell in love. About a year into the
relationship, things changed. Juliet's father called the police
and when they arrived, they found a topless picture of
Juliet. Romeo was handcuffed, charged with sexual
misconduct of a minor and child pornography and taken to
jail. This is the story of my son (Romeo).
About a week after being arrested, Romeo was bailed out of
jail and told not to see Juliet until the case goes to court.
Romeo and Juliet tried to stay away from one another, but
their love for each other took over and they continued to
see one another. This went on for nearly 2 years without a
problem.
During that time, I thought to myself, "These are just 2
teenagers in love, they surely wouldn’t prosecute this case
and if they did, there are so many other teens out there like
these two that nobody would care." I was wrong.
In December 2008, Romeo and Juliet were caught together
and Romeo was again handcuffed and taken to jail, with no
bail this time. Romeo’s lawyer told him that these were
serious crimes that could land him in prison and on the sex
offender registry. I was frantic. I could not believe this was
going this far. I started researching to see if this had
actually happened to any other teens. To my amazement, it
had and it was still happening. In Illinois, the age of
consent for sex is 17 years old. I learned that all across our
country, teens were being charged and prosecuted for being
with one another. I learned that even though they both
consented to sex (and the photograph), it was still illegal to
be together. I learned that teenagers were charged and
convicted for emailing and texting nude photos of one
another. I learned that even though these crimes were not
violent in any way, teenagers were being convicted of
serious crimes of sexual misconduct, battery, rape and even
child pornography which was sending them to prison and 10
years to life on sex offender registries. I learned that only 9
states had incorporated the "Romeo and Juliet law" which
exempts teens 3 and even 4 years apart in age from facing
these serious punishments. Illinois is not one of them.
During the next 3 months, while waiting for the case to go
to trial, as Romeo sat in jail, I continued my research,
started this website and an online petition in hopes of
educating other teens and somehow getting the Romeo and
Juliet law incorporated in Illinois. I started communicating
with other mothers going through the same thing. I started
writing letters and distributing the link to this website. I
even sent a flyer to approximately 120 staff members in
various high schools in hopes of educating other teens. I
received only 1 response.
In March 2009, the day of the trial, I was met by Romeo's
lawyer who told me that there was no way to win the trial –
their actions would certainly land him in prison with a
possibility of a lifetime on the sex offender registry. As the
tears began streaming down my face, I asked what options
were available to my son. I was told that the prosecuting
attorney was willing to offer a plea which included the
following: immediately being released from jail, 1 felony
charge of sexual misconduct (the child pornography case
being dropped), 2½ years on probation and 10 years on the
sex offender registry. The tears flowed even heavier now,
thinking to myself "how can he have any sort of life as a
felon being considered a sex offender." There was more, we
were told Romeo and Juliet could not be together during his
2 ½ years on probation - even though she was now 18 and
he was 21 - and he would have to admit that he "forced"
himself on her. We were told by his lawyer, and by Juliet’s
father, that in 6 months, they would petition the court to
have the restriction of not being able to see one another
removed from his probation.
Juliet and her mother sat next to me in court amazed that
this was our only option. Romeo reluctantly took the plea.
With his head hung low, he pled guilty. Juliet, sitting in the
front row of the courtroom, had tears running down her
face. She turned to me and said, "How can they do this, I
am NOT a victim?" I was wondering the same thing.
After court, I waited in the parking lot of the jail for 4½
hours for my son’s release. Life as a registered sex offender
was just beginning.
When Romeo went to his see his probation officer, he was
told that he would have to attend sex offender treatment,
along with child molesters and rapists. He was told that he
could not live within 500 feet of a school, park, church or
day care center. He was told that any violation of probation
would land him in prison. He was told he had to report to
the police department with his address and work
information to begin the process of being considered a
registered sex offender. He was told he was not allowed
around anyone under the age of 18, unless they were family.
Romeo was able to get his job back – his manager being
extremely understanding of the situation held his job for the
3 months he was in jail. After working his first full day, he
went to report his work information to the police
department. He was told that his job was 300 feet from a
school and he could not work there. They transferred him to
another store (28 miles away rather than 1), but it too was
within 500 feet of a school and he had to quit. Now, not
only is he a registered sex offender with a felony on his
record, he is unemployed.
I wrote the Governor about my concerns of the effects of
the registry and that letter was forwarded to the Illinois
State Police. They wrote me back and told me that the
restrictions did NOT apply to employment, only to residency
and loitering. You can imagine my surprise to find out that
he never should have lost either job. Even after explaining
the situation to his manager, he was not able to get his job
back.
On June 4, 2009, Romeo was again confronted by the
police. This time, for a probation violation. He and Juliet
did not comply with the terms of probation. They were
sneaking around seeing each other and Romeo was arrested.
November 12, 2009 - home again. This should be good
news, however, he is now on house arrest, has to move
from his apartment and cant find a job. Juliet has moved
on, is engaged to someone else and expecting a baby.
PARENTS - EDUCATE YOUR TEENS! Being labeled as a sex
offender is the worst thing that you can "try" to live with.
and eventually fell in love. About a year into the
relationship, things changed. Juliet's father called the police
and when they arrived, they found a topless picture of
Juliet. Romeo was handcuffed, charged with sexual
misconduct of a minor and child pornography and taken to
jail. This is the story of my son (Romeo).
About a week after being arrested, Romeo was bailed out of
jail and told not to see Juliet until the case goes to court.
Romeo and Juliet tried to stay away from one another, but
their love for each other took over and they continued to
see one another. This went on for nearly 2 years without a
problem.
During that time, I thought to myself, "These are just 2
teenagers in love, they surely wouldn’t prosecute this case
and if they did, there are so many other teens out there like
these two that nobody would care." I was wrong.
In December 2008, Romeo and Juliet were caught together
and Romeo was again handcuffed and taken to jail, with no
bail this time. Romeo’s lawyer told him that these were
serious crimes that could land him in prison and on the sex
offender registry. I was frantic. I could not believe this was
going this far. I started researching to see if this had
actually happened to any other teens. To my amazement, it
had and it was still happening. In Illinois, the age of
consent for sex is 17 years old. I learned that all across our
country, teens were being charged and prosecuted for being
with one another. I learned that even though they both
consented to sex (and the photograph), it was still illegal to
be together. I learned that teenagers were charged and
convicted for emailing and texting nude photos of one
another. I learned that even though these crimes were not
violent in any way, teenagers were being convicted of
serious crimes of sexual misconduct, battery, rape and even
child pornography which was sending them to prison and 10
years to life on sex offender registries. I learned that only 9
states had incorporated the "Romeo and Juliet law" which
exempts teens 3 and even 4 years apart in age from facing
these serious punishments. Illinois is not one of them.
During the next 3 months, while waiting for the case to go
to trial, as Romeo sat in jail, I continued my research,
started this website and an online petition in hopes of
educating other teens and somehow getting the Romeo and
Juliet law incorporated in Illinois. I started communicating
with other mothers going through the same thing. I started
writing letters and distributing the link to this website. I
even sent a flyer to approximately 120 staff members in
various high schools in hopes of educating other teens. I
received only 1 response.
In March 2009, the day of the trial, I was met by Romeo's
lawyer who told me that there was no way to win the trial –
their actions would certainly land him in prison with a
possibility of a lifetime on the sex offender registry. As the
tears began streaming down my face, I asked what options
were available to my son. I was told that the prosecuting
attorney was willing to offer a plea which included the
following: immediately being released from jail, 1 felony
charge of sexual misconduct (the child pornography case
being dropped), 2½ years on probation and 10 years on the
sex offender registry. The tears flowed even heavier now,
thinking to myself "how can he have any sort of life as a
felon being considered a sex offender." There was more, we
were told Romeo and Juliet could not be together during his
2 ½ years on probation - even though she was now 18 and
he was 21 - and he would have to admit that he "forced"
himself on her. We were told by his lawyer, and by Juliet’s
father, that in 6 months, they would petition the court to
have the restriction of not being able to see one another
removed from his probation.
Juliet and her mother sat next to me in court amazed that
this was our only option. Romeo reluctantly took the plea.
With his head hung low, he pled guilty. Juliet, sitting in the
front row of the courtroom, had tears running down her
face. She turned to me and said, "How can they do this, I
am NOT a victim?" I was wondering the same thing.
After court, I waited in the parking lot of the jail for 4½
hours for my son’s release. Life as a registered sex offender
was just beginning.
When Romeo went to his see his probation officer, he was
told that he would have to attend sex offender treatment,
along with child molesters and rapists. He was told that he
could not live within 500 feet of a school, park, church or
day care center. He was told that any violation of probation
would land him in prison. He was told he had to report to
the police department with his address and work
information to begin the process of being considered a
registered sex offender. He was told he was not allowed
around anyone under the age of 18, unless they were family.
Romeo was able to get his job back – his manager being
extremely understanding of the situation held his job for the
3 months he was in jail. After working his first full day, he
went to report his work information to the police
department. He was told that his job was 300 feet from a
school and he could not work there. They transferred him to
another store (28 miles away rather than 1), but it too was
within 500 feet of a school and he had to quit. Now, not
only is he a registered sex offender with a felony on his
record, he is unemployed.
I wrote the Governor about my concerns of the effects of
the registry and that letter was forwarded to the Illinois
State Police. They wrote me back and told me that the
restrictions did NOT apply to employment, only to residency
and loitering. You can imagine my surprise to find out that
he never should have lost either job. Even after explaining
the situation to his manager, he was not able to get his job
back.
On June 4, 2009, Romeo was again confronted by the
police. This time, for a probation violation. He and Juliet
did not comply with the terms of probation. They were
sneaking around seeing each other and Romeo was arrested.
November 12, 2009 - home again. This should be good
news, however, he is now on house arrest, has to move
from his apartment and cant find a job. Juliet has moved
on, is engaged to someone else and expecting a baby.
PARENTS - EDUCATE YOUR TEENS! Being labeled as a sex
offender is the worst thing that you can "try" to live with.
| Check the "Age of Consent" laws in your state. Help guide them to make decisions that will keep them OFF the sex offender registry. |
Only 9 states
have incorporated
the "Romeo and
Juliet" law which
exempts teens
who engage in
consensual sex.
ALL states "must"
participate to
save our children!
have incorporated
the "Romeo and
Juliet" law which
exempts teens
who engage in
consensual sex.
ALL states "must"
participate to
save our children!
| Ricky's Story |
Ricky and Amanda
met at an Iowa teen
club on a Saturday
night in December of
2005. Ricky was 16
and Amanda told him
she was nearly the
same age. They got
to talking, learned
they were from the
same town outside
the area and hit it off.
They started dating
and had sex on two
occasions, definitely
not the right thing for
kids that age to do,
but not uncommon.
It ended when
Amanda told Ricky's
mother she was only
14 and asked her not
to reveal this to Ricky.
Actually, she was 13.
[More here]
met at an Iowa teen
club on a Saturday
night in December of
2005. Ricky was 16
and Amanda told him
she was nearly the
same age. They got
to talking, learned
they were from the
same town outside
the area and hit it off.
They started dating
and had sex on two
occasions, definitely
not the right thing for
kids that age to do,
but not uncommon.
It ended when
Amanda told Ricky's
mother she was only
14 and asked her not
to reveal this to Ricky.
Actually, she was 13.
[More here]
| Brad's Story |
In the late 1990's,
Brad had consensual
sex with his 15 year
old girlfriend when
he was 19. That girl
his now his wife and
Brad is a registered
sex offender.
[More here]
Brad had consensual
sex with his 15 year
old girlfriend when
he was 19. That girl
his now his wife and
Brad is a registered
sex offender.
[More here]
When Frank was 19,
he had sex with his
15 year-old girlfriend,
Nikki, at her
suggestion.
He received seven
years probation and
is a registered sex
offender. Nikki, now
27, was a freshman
in high school at the
time. Frank, now 30,
was a senior. She
says the relationship
was not at all unusual
at their high school.
[More here]
he had sex with his
15 year-old girlfriend,
Nikki, at her
suggestion.
He received seven
years probation and
is a registered sex
offender. Nikki, now
27, was a freshman
in high school at the
time. Frank, now 30,
was a senior. She
says the relationship
was not at all unusual
at their high school.
[More here]
| Frank's Story |
| Alex's Story |
In October of
2007, Alex was 19
years old, he was
falsely accused of
raping several girls
in our small
Oregon town in
Umatilla County.
For anyone who
knows Alex and
the girls involved,
the allegations
were and remain
preposterous lies.
[More here]
2007, Alex was 19
years old, he was
falsely accused of
raping several girls
in our small
Oregon town in
Umatilla County.
For anyone who
knows Alex and
the girls involved,
the allegations
were and remain
preposterous lies.
[More here]
| Paul's Story |
In the eyes of the
law, my son is a
registered sex
offender in Illinois.
This is the furthest
thing from the truth,
a truth nobody has
wanted to hear.
[More here]
law, my son is a
registered sex
offender in Illinois.
This is the furthest
thing from the truth,
a truth nobody has
wanted to hear.
[More here]
| The Petition |
The Petition . . .
"Our society is
greatly concerned
about the safety
and well being of
our children.
Protecting them
from sexual
predation is of the
utmost importance.
But it is now clear
that the laws and
policies that have
been enacted to
achieve this goal
have had
unintended and
often profoundly
damaging
consequences. In
particular, the lives
of many young
people have been
ruined when they
have been required
to register as
sexual offenders
after engaging in
sexual activity with
a boyfriend or
girlfriend
reasonably close in
age.
Click on the "Sign
the Petition" link
below for more.
"Our society is
greatly concerned
about the safety
and well being of
our children.
Protecting them
from sexual
predation is of the
utmost importance.
But it is now clear
that the laws and
policies that have
been enacted to
achieve this goal
have had
unintended and
often profoundly
damaging
consequences. In
particular, the lives
of many young
people have been
ruined when they
have been required
to register as
sexual offenders
after engaging in
sexual activity with
a boyfriend or
girlfriend
reasonably close in
age.
Click on the "Sign
the Petition" link
below for more.
Do you think only child molesters and rapists end up on the
sex offender registries now? Besides what you've already
read, here's another case of non-violent offenses that can
land you on the registries. What's next with this unjust law?
sex offender registries now? Besides what you've already
read, here's another case of non-violent offenses that can
land you on the registries. What's next with this unjust law?
| Streaker or Sex Offender? Laws Don't Always Differentiate |
The difference between public indecency and indecent exposure may
seem trivial to mature, law-abiding adults. But in Boulder, Colo., the
free-spirited town home to the University of Colorado, it's a fairly common
police matter. Now, with the rise of sex offender statutes and registries,
the distinction could also lead to very serious consequences for a careless
prank.
But the gap between the applicable laws has the ACLU and locals on both
sides of the political aisle concerned. They fear excessive and long-lasting
punishments for actions that have nothing to do with true sex offenses.
They also question whether it's good policy to have the pranksters and
other minor offenders (such as people caught urinating in public) charged
in a workaround way, leaving record that don't truly reflect the crime.
seem trivial to mature, law-abiding adults. But in Boulder, Colo., the
free-spirited town home to the University of Colorado, it's a fairly common
police matter. Now, with the rise of sex offender statutes and registries,
the distinction could also lead to very serious consequences for a careless
prank.
But the gap between the applicable laws has the ACLU and locals on both
sides of the political aisle concerned. They fear excessive and long-lasting
punishments for actions that have nothing to do with true sex offenses.
They also question whether it's good policy to have the pranksters and
other minor offenders (such as people caught urinating in public) charged
in a workaround way, leaving record that don't truly reflect the crime.
| NEW! Click here for Videos |
| AMERICA'S UNJUST SEX LAWS by: The Economist August 6, 2009 |
There are three main arguments for reform. First, it is unfair to impose
harsh penalties for small offences. Perhaps a third of American teenagers
have sex before they are legally allowed to, and a staggering number
have shared revealing photographs with each other. This is unwise, but
hardly a reason for the law to ruin their lives. Second, America’s sex laws
often punish not only the offender, but also his family. If a man who once
slept with his 15-year-old girlfriend is barred for ever from taking his own
children to a playground, those children suffer.
Third, harsh laws often do little to protect the innocent. The police
complain that having so many petty sex offenders on registries makes it
hard to keep track of the truly dangerous ones. Cash that might be spent
on treating sex offenders—which sometimes works—is spent on huge
indiscriminate registries. Public registers drive serious offenders
underground, which makes them harder to track and more likely to
reoffend. And registers give parents a false sense of security: most sex
offenders are never even reported, let alone convicted.
It would not be hard to redesign America’s sex laws. Instead of lumping
all sex offenders together on the same list for life, states should assess
each person individually and include only real threats. Instead of posting
everything on the internet, names could be held by the police, who would
share them only with those, such as a school, who need to know. Laws
that bar sex offenders from living in so many places should be repealed,
because there is no evidence that they protect anyone: a predator can
always travel. The money that a repeal saves could help pay for
monitoring compulsive molesters more intrusively—through ankle
bracelets and the like.
[Click here for full article]
harsh penalties for small offences. Perhaps a third of American teenagers
have sex before they are legally allowed to, and a staggering number
have shared revealing photographs with each other. This is unwise, but
hardly a reason for the law to ruin their lives. Second, America’s sex laws
often punish not only the offender, but also his family. If a man who once
slept with his 15-year-old girlfriend is barred for ever from taking his own
children to a playground, those children suffer.
Third, harsh laws often do little to protect the innocent. The police
complain that having so many petty sex offenders on registries makes it
hard to keep track of the truly dangerous ones. Cash that might be spent
on treating sex offenders—which sometimes works—is spent on huge
indiscriminate registries. Public registers drive serious offenders
underground, which makes them harder to track and more likely to
reoffend. And registers give parents a false sense of security: most sex
offenders are never even reported, let alone convicted.
It would not be hard to redesign America’s sex laws. Instead of lumping
all sex offenders together on the same list for life, states should assess
each person individually and include only real threats. Instead of posting
everything on the internet, names could be held by the police, who would
share them only with those, such as a school, who need to know. Laws
that bar sex offenders from living in so many places should be repealed,
because there is no evidence that they protect anyone: a predator can
always travel. The money that a repeal saves could help pay for
monitoring compulsive molesters more intrusively—through ankle
bracelets and the like.
[Click here for full article]
| UNJUST AND INEFFECTIVE by: The Economist August 6, 2009 |
America has pioneered the harsh punishment of sex offenders. Does it
work?
Every American state keeps a register of sex offenders. California has had one since
1947, but most states started theirs in the 1990s. Many people assume that anyone
listed on a sex-offender registry must be a rapist or a child molester. But most
states spread the net much more widely. A report by Sarah Tofte of Human Rights
Watch, a pressure group, found that at least five states required men to register if
they were caught visiting prostitutes. At least 13 required it for urinating in public
(in two of which, only if a child was present). No fewer than 29 states required
registration for teenagers who had consensual sex with another teenager. And 32
states registered flashers and streakers.
Human Rights Watch urges America to scale back its sex-offender registries. Those
convicted of minor, non-violent offences should not be required to register, says Ms
Tofte. Nor should juveniles. Sex offenders should be individually assessed, and only
those judged likely to rape someone or abuse a child should be registered. Such
decisions should be regularly reviewed and offenders who are rehabilitated (or who
grow too old to reoffend) should be removed from the registry. The information on
sex-offender registries should be held by the police, not published online, says Ms
Tofte, and released “on a need-to-know basis”. Blanket bans on all sex offenders
living and working in certain areas should be abolished. Instead, it makes sense for
the most dangerous offenders sometimes to face tailored restrictions as a condition
of parole.
work?
Every American state keeps a register of sex offenders. California has had one since
1947, but most states started theirs in the 1990s. Many people assume that anyone
listed on a sex-offender registry must be a rapist or a child molester. But most
states spread the net much more widely. A report by Sarah Tofte of Human Rights
Watch, a pressure group, found that at least five states required men to register if
they were caught visiting prostitutes. At least 13 required it for urinating in public
(in two of which, only if a child was present). No fewer than 29 states required
registration for teenagers who had consensual sex with another teenager. And 32
states registered flashers and streakers.
Human Rights Watch urges America to scale back its sex-offender registries. Those
convicted of minor, non-violent offences should not be required to register, says Ms
Tofte. Nor should juveniles. Sex offenders should be individually assessed, and only
those judged likely to rape someone or abuse a child should be registered. Such
decisions should be regularly reviewed and offenders who are rehabilitated (or who
grow too old to reoffend) should be removed from the registry. The information on
sex-offender registries should be held by the police, not published online, says Ms
Tofte, and released “on a need-to-know basis”. Blanket bans on all sex offenders
living and working in certain areas should be abolished. Instead, it makes sense for
the most dangerous offenders sometimes to face tailored restrictions as a condition
of parole.
| VICTIM'S PARENTS TARGETS VIOLENT OFFENDER LAWS by: Boston.com August 12, 2009 |
A violent offender is released from jail, moves into a town, and commits a hideous
crime. The horrified community is outraged and demands a response. A politician
drafts legislation, usually named after the victim, which at least temporarily
quells the outcry.
But that legislation is often not effective, can target the wrong people, and leaves
the community no safer than it was before, said Andrea Casanova, the mother of
Alexandra Zapp, a 30-year-old sailing enthusiast who was murdered by a sex
offender at a rest stop in Bridgewater.
Now, in partnership with the RAND Corporation, Casanova and her husband,
working through the Ally Foundation created in her daughter’s honor, are
launching a nonprofit institution that would analyze research done on sexual and
violent offenders.
The idea is to study the issue of recidivism the way scientists study disease:
objectively and with an eye toward prevention. The goal is to provide research
based on scientific evidence that would guide policy makers and community
activists as they draft legislation or strategies to deal with violent perpetrators.
“We keep making these laws that don’t protect the public,’’ said Casanova, who
created the foundation after Zapp’s 2002 killing. “They don’t really help prevent
recidivism.’’
[Click here for article]
crime. The horrified community is outraged and demands a response. A politician
drafts legislation, usually named after the victim, which at least temporarily
quells the outcry.
But that legislation is often not effective, can target the wrong people, and leaves
the community no safer than it was before, said Andrea Casanova, the mother of
Alexandra Zapp, a 30-year-old sailing enthusiast who was murdered by a sex
offender at a rest stop in Bridgewater.
Now, in partnership with the RAND Corporation, Casanova and her husband,
working through the Ally Foundation created in her daughter’s honor, are
launching a nonprofit institution that would analyze research done on sexual and
violent offenders.
The idea is to study the issue of recidivism the way scientists study disease:
objectively and with an eye toward prevention. The goal is to provide research
based on scientific evidence that would guide policy makers and community
activists as they draft legislation or strategies to deal with violent perpetrators.
“We keep making these laws that don’t protect the public,’’ said Casanova, who
created the foundation after Zapp’s 2002 killing. “They don’t really help prevent
recidivism.’’
[Click here for article]
| Use Wisdom to Revise Megan's Law May 15, 2009 |
Proposals to limit where sex offenders live ignores the sad truth about those who
prey on children. In the vast majority of cases the offender is known by the victim
— a parent, an uncle, a coach, a teacher, a clergyman, a neighbor. Typically, a
predator gains the confidence of would-be victims before preying on them.
Applying a one-size-fits-all solution would have an uneven effect.
[Click here for article]
prey on children. In the vast majority of cases the offender is known by the victim
— a parent, an uncle, a coach, a teacher, a clergyman, a neighbor. Typically, a
predator gains the confidence of would-be victims before preying on them.
Applying a one-size-fits-all solution would have an uneven effect.
[Click here for article]
| CRIMINALIZING TEEN SEX |
Sex! We are obsessed, stimulating ourselves through the media, exposing ourselves
children’s underwear. We are also horrified by our concerns with sexual abuse, child
molesters, Sexually transmitted diseases and a belief that sexually expression in
childhood may lead to sexual misbehavior in adolescence and adult sexual
offending. Our obsession with and horror about sex, have paradoxically generated
both great sexual freedom and draconian laws which unfortunately have several
(largely unintended) negative consequences. These may be summarized as follows:
1. Legal age of consent is out of sync with normal sexual development and
adolescents are given conflicting and many confusing messages about sexual
behavior.
2. Pre-pubescent children are being ostracized (and occasionally even criminalized)
for sexual behavior that is often normal or at worst, an annoying means of attention
seeking.
3. Mandatory child abuse reporting laws, originally designed to protect children have
been expanded to identifying offenders, making it virtually impossible for them to
enter treatment on their own initiative without first suffering severe legal
consequences.
4. Under the guise of “protecting our communities,” without a shred of empirical
support and in spite of significant empirical evidence to the contrary, sex offenders
who served their sentences are being forced to leave their homes (and sometimes
families) because they live too close to a schools, playgrounds or parks. In most
instances destabilizing these men is patently unfair and in some cases it tends to
make them more rather than less dangerous.
[Click here for full article]
children’s underwear. We are also horrified by our concerns with sexual abuse, child
molesters, Sexually transmitted diseases and a belief that sexually expression in
childhood may lead to sexual misbehavior in adolescence and adult sexual
offending. Our obsession with and horror about sex, have paradoxically generated
both great sexual freedom and draconian laws which unfortunately have several
(largely unintended) negative consequences. These may be summarized as follows:
1. Legal age of consent is out of sync with normal sexual development and
adolescents are given conflicting and many confusing messages about sexual
behavior.
2. Pre-pubescent children are being ostracized (and occasionally even criminalized)
for sexual behavior that is often normal or at worst, an annoying means of attention
seeking.
3. Mandatory child abuse reporting laws, originally designed to protect children have
been expanded to identifying offenders, making it virtually impossible for them to
enter treatment on their own initiative without first suffering severe legal
consequences.
4. Under the guise of “protecting our communities,” without a shred of empirical
support and in spite of significant empirical evidence to the contrary, sex offenders
who served their sentences are being forced to leave their homes (and sometimes
families) because they live too close to a schools, playgrounds or parks. In most
instances destabilizing these men is patently unfair and in some cases it tends to
make them more rather than less dangerous.
[Click here for full article]
| NO EASY ANSWERS |
Human Rights Watch appreciates the sense of concern and urgency that has
prompted these laws. They reflect a deep public yearning for safety in a world that
seems increasingly threatening. Every child has the right to live free from violence
and sexual abuse. Promoting public safety by holding offenders accountable and by
instituting effective crime prevention measures is a core governmental obligation.
Unfortunately, our research reveals that sex offender registration, community
notification, and residency restriction laws are ill-considered, poorly crafted, and
may cause more harm than good:
• The registration laws are overbroad in scope and overlong in duration, requiring
people to register who pose no safety risk;
• Under community notification laws, anyone anywhere can access online sex
offender registries for purposes that may have nothing to do with public safety.
Harassment of and violence against registrants have been the predictable result;
• In many cases, residency restrictions have the effect of banishing registrants
from entire urban areas and forcing them to live far from their homes and
families.
The evidence is overwhelming, as detailed in this report, that these laws cause great
harm to the people subject to them.
[Click here for full report]
prompted these laws. They reflect a deep public yearning for safety in a world that
seems increasingly threatening. Every child has the right to live free from violence
and sexual abuse. Promoting public safety by holding offenders accountable and by
instituting effective crime prevention measures is a core governmental obligation.
Unfortunately, our research reveals that sex offender registration, community
notification, and residency restriction laws are ill-considered, poorly crafted, and
may cause more harm than good:
• The registration laws are overbroad in scope and overlong in duration, requiring
people to register who pose no safety risk;
• Under community notification laws, anyone anywhere can access online sex
offender registries for purposes that may have nothing to do with public safety.
Harassment of and violence against registrants have been the predictable result;
• In many cases, residency restrictions have the effect of banishing registrants
from entire urban areas and forcing them to live far from their homes and
families.
The evidence is overwhelming, as detailed in this report, that these laws cause great
harm to the people subject to them.
[Click here for full report]
Pardoned 15 Years After Being Named Sex Offender
For 15 years, Virgil Frank McCranie has been known to the state of Florida as a
sex offender. Today, he's happy to put that label behind him and simply be
known as "husband."
McCranie of Panama City Beach is now happily married to his teenage love,
Misty. But when he was 19, he was arrested for having sex with Misty, who was
only 14 at the time. After a long legal battle, Virgil McCranie was pardoned by
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet, which means he'll no longer be listed
as a sex offender in what has been described as a "Romeo and Juliet" case.
[Click here for full article]
For 15 years, Virgil Frank McCranie has been known to the state of Florida as a
sex offender. Today, he's happy to put that label behind him and simply be
known as "husband."
McCranie of Panama City Beach is now happily married to his teenage love,
Misty. But when he was 19, he was arrested for having sex with Misty, who was
only 14 at the time. After a long legal battle, Virgil McCranie was pardoned by
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet, which means he'll no longer be listed
as a sex offender in what has been described as a "Romeo and Juliet" case.
[Click here for full article]
| BEST DEFENSES AGAINST SEX CRIME VICTIMIZATION ARE WITHIN OUR CONTROL |
There are websites that allow you to create a map combining data
from the state sex offender registry with the streets around your home,
your place of work or your child's school. Often, the results are
disturbing.
The map is pocked with dots marking the presence of offenders whose
registered addresses lie within blocks of the everyday lives of everyday
people. With a series of clicks, you can see your sex-offending
neighbors' photos and learn grim details of their criminal pasts.
Zoom out and a map as wide as the entire region is awash with
evidence of sexual offenders among us. The information is required to
keep the public apprised of where potential danger lurks.
Unfortunately, the maps miss a lot of the real danger.
People often seek sex offender information after hearing horrifying
news, such as national headlines out of Antioch, Calif., where a woman
kidnapped 18 years ago and missing since age 11 recently was
recovered.
She had been held for all that time by Phillip Garrido, a sex offender on
parole. Law enforcement officers knew his history and whereabouts.
They had several contacts with him over the years. With diligence,
those visits probably would have led to the girl's rescue and his arrest
much earlier. The system failed.
But worrying about sex offender registries is not a good way to stay
safe. It is better to understand the risks and use the protections at
hand. Few areas of public safety receive the resources and sustained,
close attention that convicted sex offenders get.
Sex crime prevention, especially as it concerns children, has been a
national law enforcement priority for 20 years. Congress enacted the
Jacob Wetterling Act in 1989, requiring all states to establish registries
of sex offenders and crimes against children. Then came Megan's Law,
which permits sharing otherwise private law enforcement information
with the public.
Later enactments created a national registry with standardized
information, made failure to register a felony, required in-person
registration (rather than by mail) and mandated systems to identify
offenders enrolled at colleges and universities and track offenders as
they move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Sex offenders are restricted in the kinds of jobs that they can hold and
how close they can live to schools, daycare centers and parks. In some
cases, they are subjected to electronic monitoring. Probation policies
and surveillance methods are analyzed to determine which offenders
are most likely to protect the public and prevent recidivism.
Two trends stand out:
—— The best law enforcement tool would be identifying sex offenders
most likely to re-offend, especially those with histories of violent and
predatory behavior. Agencies then could focus the most resources on
monitoring them. Systems in place today have effective screening
strategies. Flaws come in execution and follow-through.
—— At some point, legal restrictions placed on sexual offenders'
whereabouts become counterproductive. That's because they lead to
increased stress and instability among offenders, leading them to
disappear from the map. They can worsen conditions that contribute to
predatory behavior.
The most important thing to know is that the overwhelming number of
sex crimes are committed by people known by their victims, not by
strangers on sex offender maps. Acquaintances are the most common
abusers; family members rank second. Strangers come in a distant
third. Abductions are even rarer.
That means top defenses against victimization largely lie within our
control. Common sense and vigilance —— and teaching children that
no one has the right to touch them inappropriately —— are the best
safeguards against sexual predators.
[Click Here For Story]
from the state sex offender registry with the streets around your home,
your place of work or your child's school. Often, the results are
disturbing.
The map is pocked with dots marking the presence of offenders whose
registered addresses lie within blocks of the everyday lives of everyday
people. With a series of clicks, you can see your sex-offending
neighbors' photos and learn grim details of their criminal pasts.
Zoom out and a map as wide as the entire region is awash with
evidence of sexual offenders among us. The information is required to
keep the public apprised of where potential danger lurks.
Unfortunately, the maps miss a lot of the real danger.
People often seek sex offender information after hearing horrifying
news, such as national headlines out of Antioch, Calif., where a woman
kidnapped 18 years ago and missing since age 11 recently was
recovered.
She had been held for all that time by Phillip Garrido, a sex offender on
parole. Law enforcement officers knew his history and whereabouts.
They had several contacts with him over the years. With diligence,
those visits probably would have led to the girl's rescue and his arrest
much earlier. The system failed.
But worrying about sex offender registries is not a good way to stay
safe. It is better to understand the risks and use the protections at
hand. Few areas of public safety receive the resources and sustained,
close attention that convicted sex offenders get.
Sex crime prevention, especially as it concerns children, has been a
national law enforcement priority for 20 years. Congress enacted the
Jacob Wetterling Act in 1989, requiring all states to establish registries
of sex offenders and crimes against children. Then came Megan's Law,
which permits sharing otherwise private law enforcement information
with the public.
Later enactments created a national registry with standardized
information, made failure to register a felony, required in-person
registration (rather than by mail) and mandated systems to identify
offenders enrolled at colleges and universities and track offenders as
they move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Sex offenders are restricted in the kinds of jobs that they can hold and
how close they can live to schools, daycare centers and parks. In some
cases, they are subjected to electronic monitoring. Probation policies
and surveillance methods are analyzed to determine which offenders
are most likely to protect the public and prevent recidivism.
Two trends stand out:
—— The best law enforcement tool would be identifying sex offenders
most likely to re-offend, especially those with histories of violent and
predatory behavior. Agencies then could focus the most resources on
monitoring them. Systems in place today have effective screening
strategies. Flaws come in execution and follow-through.
—— At some point, legal restrictions placed on sexual offenders'
whereabouts become counterproductive. That's because they lead to
increased stress and instability among offenders, leading them to
disappear from the map. They can worsen conditions that contribute to
predatory behavior.
The most important thing to know is that the overwhelming number of
sex crimes are committed by people known by their victims, not by
strangers on sex offender maps. Acquaintances are the most common
abusers; family members rank second. Strangers come in a distant
third. Abductions are even rarer.
That means top defenses against victimization largely lie within our
control. Common sense and vigilance —— and teaching children that
no one has the right to touch them inappropriately —— are the best
safeguards against sexual predators.
[Click Here For Story]
| A Mother's Comment to the Above Story |
It is pretty obvious the sex offender registries are not working - probably
because they are trying to keep track of everyone they believe are sex
offenders. Politicians are creating laws that put teenagers and young
adults on the sex offender registries for non-violent crimes, lumping them
all together in a category with child molesters and rapists. My son, at age
19, had "consensual sex" with his 16 year old girlfriend. He is now a
registered sex offender (www.love-is-not-a-crime.com). A friend of mine’s
son asked a girl if she wanted a ride - she declined and he drove off - he
never got out of the car or even asked her a second time. He is now a
registered sex offender. A 16 year old is on the registry for consensual
relations with another teen, listed as a "sexual predator" (www.rickyslife.
com). In Main, the registry led Stephen Marshall to gun down two
registrants. One of his victims was convicted at 19 for consensual sex with
a girl just weeks from her 16th birthday (abcnews.go.com/US/story?
id=1855771). There are teens being put on the sex offender registries for
texting nude pictures of themselves to others or putting them on
MySpace? While I do not condone this behavior, it is happening and the
consequences are devastating and ruining any chance of a normal future
for these men. Do you truly believe these teens should be in a category
with child molesters or rapists? Patty Wetterling stated in an interview:
"There's a tremendous amount of research that finds that children's brains
aren't developed until their mid-20s, and so they are incapable of making
some of those decisions. They don't know or don't think about long-term
consequences of their behaviors. There are also Romeo and Juliet cases
where these kids are having a relationship that may not be violent. Yet
even in those instances where it is not violent, they are still treated
exactly the same as a violent adult offender. I think that's the biggest
challenge that I have with sex offender laws. They tend to treat all sex
offenders the same, and they're not the same." It is time that someone
steps up and takes a stand against the current sex offender laws. We are
ruining lives with residency restrictions, loss of employment, restrictions
limiting access to parks, zoos, theme parks and even church. Not to
mention the public humiliation of having their faces and addresses posted
on the internet for anyone to see and judge. Politicians need to stop
focusing on "political suicide" and finally speak the truth - the truth that
the public needs to hear - the truth the media leaves out when they
continuously broadcast all the "bad" sex offender stories - the truth about
who is actually winding up on these registries. If we don’t do something
soon, our registries will continue to grow and those that are a true threat
to society and children are going to continue to harm and get away with it
because there are not enough resources to watch over ALL sex offenders.
The registry was enacted to protect our children. How can we protect our
children when it is our children who are ending up on the registries?
because they are trying to keep track of everyone they believe are sex
offenders. Politicians are creating laws that put teenagers and young
adults on the sex offender registries for non-violent crimes, lumping them
all together in a category with child molesters and rapists. My son, at age
19, had "consensual sex" with his 16 year old girlfriend. He is now a
registered sex offender (www.love-is-not-a-crime.com). A friend of mine’s
son asked a girl if she wanted a ride - she declined and he drove off - he
never got out of the car or even asked her a second time. He is now a
registered sex offender. A 16 year old is on the registry for consensual
relations with another teen, listed as a "sexual predator" (www.rickyslife.
com). In Main, the registry led Stephen Marshall to gun down two
registrants. One of his victims was convicted at 19 for consensual sex with
a girl just weeks from her 16th birthday (abcnews.go.com/US/story?
id=1855771). There are teens being put on the sex offender registries for
texting nude pictures of themselves to others or putting them on
MySpace? While I do not condone this behavior, it is happening and the
consequences are devastating and ruining any chance of a normal future
for these men. Do you truly believe these teens should be in a category
with child molesters or rapists? Patty Wetterling stated in an interview:
"There's a tremendous amount of research that finds that children's brains
aren't developed until their mid-20s, and so they are incapable of making
some of those decisions. They don't know or don't think about long-term
consequences of their behaviors. There are also Romeo and Juliet cases
where these kids are having a relationship that may not be violent. Yet
even in those instances where it is not violent, they are still treated
exactly the same as a violent adult offender. I think that's the biggest
challenge that I have with sex offender laws. They tend to treat all sex
offenders the same, and they're not the same." It is time that someone
steps up and takes a stand against the current sex offender laws. We are
ruining lives with residency restrictions, loss of employment, restrictions
limiting access to parks, zoos, theme parks and even church. Not to
mention the public humiliation of having their faces and addresses posted
on the internet for anyone to see and judge. Politicians need to stop
focusing on "political suicide" and finally speak the truth - the truth that
the public needs to hear - the truth the media leaves out when they
continuously broadcast all the "bad" sex offender stories - the truth about
who is actually winding up on these registries. If we don’t do something
soon, our registries will continue to grow and those that are a true threat
to society and children are going to continue to harm and get away with it
because there are not enough resources to watch over ALL sex offenders.
The registry was enacted to protect our children. How can we protect our
children when it is our children who are ending up on the registries?
| Teens Unfamiliar With Laws Could Earn Sex Offender Status |
There are more ways for teenagers to commit a sex offense than we have time to
list. As mentioned last week, one way is to have sexual relations with someone
under 15, or depending on your age, a 15-year-old. And yes, this goes for either
gender. But what if underaged partners lie about their ages? GET ID. The older teen
is the only one culpable, and the charge is based on the actual age of the
participant, not what he or she claimed at the time and NOT whether consent was
given. The online world is even more perilous because it so easy to get into trouble
with the click of a mouse. . . If your teenager responds to what he believes to be an
interested 14-year-old girl, and they discuss sexual behavior – there is a good
chance he’s talking to law enforcement.
Parents must sit down and talk with teens about the serious dangers of
inappropriate touching of young children, sexual contact with younger peers, online
sex, sexting and sexual harassment, as well as date rape. Include a discussion of
substance use, which often accompanies bad sexual decisions but won’t get anyone
off the hook in court. I realize these topics are terribly uncomfortable, and it’s easier
to talk being victimized, but it’s equally important to help kids avoid becoming
offenders. This is especially crucial for any teenager who is left to supervise younger
children. You don’t even want to get me started on that one.
[Click Here For Full Story]
list. As mentioned last week, one way is to have sexual relations with someone
under 15, or depending on your age, a 15-year-old. And yes, this goes for either
gender. But what if underaged partners lie about their ages? GET ID. The older teen
is the only one culpable, and the charge is based on the actual age of the
participant, not what he or she claimed at the time and NOT whether consent was
given. The online world is even more perilous because it so easy to get into trouble
with the click of a mouse. . . If your teenager responds to what he believes to be an
interested 14-year-old girl, and they discuss sexual behavior – there is a good
chance he’s talking to law enforcement.
Parents must sit down and talk with teens about the serious dangers of
inappropriate touching of young children, sexual contact with younger peers, online
sex, sexting and sexual harassment, as well as date rape. Include a discussion of
substance use, which often accompanies bad sexual decisions but won’t get anyone
off the hook in court. I realize these topics are terribly uncomfortable, and it’s easier
to talk being victimized, but it’s equally important to help kids avoid becoming
offenders. This is especially crucial for any teenager who is left to supervise younger
children. You don’t even want to get me started on that one.
[Click Here For Full Story]
| SEX OFFENDER LAWS ARE HURTING OUR CHILDREN |
In our new bizarre world of sexual offender legislation each child is a victim and a
perpetrator. As the victim, they get no help, of course. The victim status is the
excuse needed so that the sledgehammer may be used on the other child. So each
becomes a perpetrator. They will be arrested; they will be forced into court. They
are likely to be convicted and sentenced. They may be placed into the various
prisons for children that have been established-places where they will learn what
unwilling, sexual attacks are really like. They will be tortured by therapists and
eventually released-maybe. Even that is no longer guaranteed under our sex panic.
Today, someone who has served their sentence can then be held in preventative
detention for the rest of their natural life because the mob demands it. And the
politicians give the mob what it wants.
If our children happen to be released then the real torture begins. They are branded
by the cruel laws that opportunistic politicians imposed to satisfy fearful voters.
First, the child will be photographed. His or her photo will be published for the world
to see. The government hit lists, called sex offender registries, will tell any would-be
vigilante where to find this child. The address will be given, if the child is lucky
enough to be able to live at home, and not institutionalized.
The sex offender laws will kick in and are guaranteed to destroy any ambition your
child may have for success. Any attempts to better themselves, or become
productive members of your community, will be throttled by these laws. Every road
they try to pursue will become a dead end. It may be impossible for them to finish
school. Any job they seek will require them to reveal their "sex offender" status to
their employer. Any curious neighbor can find out the "crime" that was committed,
though not the circumstances. Years down the road, this child, now an adult, will be
listed as someone who committed lewd acts on a child. People will imagine an adult
raping a child, not two children playing doctor.
Each time the child moves the police will help him feel welcomed by handing out
fliers to the neighbors warning them that a "sex offender" is now living nearby.
Rocks thrown through windows can be mild compared to some welcomes that are
given. One young man in Maine opened his door to be executed on the spot by a
stranger. His crime was that he, as a teen, had sex with his girlfriend. In puritanical
America that is enough to make him a sex offender. For that he was murdered with
his mother only a few feet away. In jurisdiction after jurisdiction this "offender" will
find that most of the community is zoned off limits to him. He can't live too close to
a school, too close to a park, too close to a bus stop, too close to. . . the list is
almost endless and growing all the time.
Every so often he will be required to visit the police and report to them. They may
show up at his home anytime they want and demand to inspect it. He could be
banned from social networking websites, or from the Internet completely.
If you child grows up to have a family, a normal relationship will be forbidden. He
may well be banned from all activities at his children's school. They may be in a
play; he won't be allowed to watch it. If the kids play on a sport's team, their father
won't be allowed to attend. Ditto for Little League. Forget having friends over for a
birthday party. Dad is a pariah until he dies and his children, and his wife, will be
forced to endure the torture with him.
The lucky ones barely manage to hold on. Those who are not so lucky simply end
their lives. Others have the option of suicide robbed from them by vigilantes. They
quickly learn to give up ambitions and dreams. To excel in life is not possible. To
merely survive is hard enough. And some, robbed of all normality, robbed of all
hope, mentally and emotionally raped by the state, decide they may as well become
the monsters that they are imagined to be.
It takes so little for this happen to a child. A girl in school has oral sex with a boy in
school. She becomes a sex offender for the rest of her life. Streaking a school event,
as a practical joke, becomes a sex crime in the new America. Two kids "moon" a
passerby and are incarcerated in jail as sex offenders, where they may well learn a
lesson or two about rape. A teenager, who takes a sexy of photo of him, or herself,
is paraded around the community as a "child pornographer" for the rest of his or her
life. Two kids in the back seat of a car have fumbling sex. The law says one is an
offender because the other is a "victim." One week later, a birthday passes, and it is
no longer a crime. One week's difference and a life is ruined. In other cases an act
that is legal on Monday is illegal on Tuesday because the older of the two turned
one year older. That becomes enough to qualify him, or her, as an offender.
These laws are not so much protecting children from predators as they are turning
them into predators. . . When you look at the ages of the offenders you see that
14-year-olds are apparently the most sexually dangerous group in America. The rate
declines from there, but throughout adolescence the law is far more likely to deem
kids as offenders. You may imagine the dirty old man down the street. But with age
people are less likely to "offend". One reason is that they are more mature. But
another reason is clear. Once you reach a certain age, having sex with people your
own age is normally not considered a crime. The explosion of "youthful sex
offenders" is not the result of our kids becoming perverts. It is the result of the law
criminalizing what is a normal part of growing up.
[Click here for article]
perpetrator. As the victim, they get no help, of course. The victim status is the
excuse needed so that the sledgehammer may be used on the other child. So each
becomes a perpetrator. They will be arrested; they will be forced into court. They
are likely to be convicted and sentenced. They may be placed into the various
prisons for children that have been established-places where they will learn what
unwilling, sexual attacks are really like. They will be tortured by therapists and
eventually released-maybe. Even that is no longer guaranteed under our sex panic.
Today, someone who has served their sentence can then be held in preventative
detention for the rest of their natural life because the mob demands it. And the
politicians give the mob what it wants.
If our children happen to be released then the real torture begins. They are branded
by the cruel laws that opportunistic politicians imposed to satisfy fearful voters.
First, the child will be photographed. His or her photo will be published for the world
to see. The government hit lists, called sex offender registries, will tell any would-be
vigilante where to find this child. The address will be given, if the child is lucky
enough to be able to live at home, and not institutionalized.
The sex offender laws will kick in and are guaranteed to destroy any ambition your
child may have for success. Any attempts to better themselves, or become
productive members of your community, will be throttled by these laws. Every road
they try to pursue will become a dead end. It may be impossible for them to finish
school. Any job they seek will require them to reveal their "sex offender" status to
their employer. Any curious neighbor can find out the "crime" that was committed,
though not the circumstances. Years down the road, this child, now an adult, will be
listed as someone who committed lewd acts on a child. People will imagine an adult
raping a child, not two children playing doctor.
Each time the child moves the police will help him feel welcomed by handing out
fliers to the neighbors warning them that a "sex offender" is now living nearby.
Rocks thrown through windows can be mild compared to some welcomes that are
given. One young man in Maine opened his door to be executed on the spot by a
stranger. His crime was that he, as a teen, had sex with his girlfriend. In puritanical
America that is enough to make him a sex offender. For that he was murdered with
his mother only a few feet away. In jurisdiction after jurisdiction this "offender" will
find that most of the community is zoned off limits to him. He can't live too close to
a school, too close to a park, too close to a bus stop, too close to. . . the list is
almost endless and growing all the time.
Every so often he will be required to visit the police and report to them. They may
show up at his home anytime they want and demand to inspect it. He could be
banned from social networking websites, or from the Internet completely.
If you child grows up to have a family, a normal relationship will be forbidden. He
may well be banned from all activities at his children's school. They may be in a
play; he won't be allowed to watch it. If the kids play on a sport's team, their father
won't be allowed to attend. Ditto for Little League. Forget having friends over for a
birthday party. Dad is a pariah until he dies and his children, and his wife, will be
forced to endure the torture with him.
The lucky ones barely manage to hold on. Those who are not so lucky simply end
their lives. Others have the option of suicide robbed from them by vigilantes. They
quickly learn to give up ambitions and dreams. To excel in life is not possible. To
merely survive is hard enough. And some, robbed of all normality, robbed of all
hope, mentally and emotionally raped by the state, decide they may as well become
the monsters that they are imagined to be.
It takes so little for this happen to a child. A girl in school has oral sex with a boy in
school. She becomes a sex offender for the rest of her life. Streaking a school event,
as a practical joke, becomes a sex crime in the new America. Two kids "moon" a
passerby and are incarcerated in jail as sex offenders, where they may well learn a
lesson or two about rape. A teenager, who takes a sexy of photo of him, or herself,
is paraded around the community as a "child pornographer" for the rest of his or her
life. Two kids in the back seat of a car have fumbling sex. The law says one is an
offender because the other is a "victim." One week later, a birthday passes, and it is
no longer a crime. One week's difference and a life is ruined. In other cases an act
that is legal on Monday is illegal on Tuesday because the older of the two turned
one year older. That becomes enough to qualify him, or her, as an offender.
These laws are not so much protecting children from predators as they are turning
them into predators. . . When you look at the ages of the offenders you see that
14-year-olds are apparently the most sexually dangerous group in America. The rate
declines from there, but throughout adolescence the law is far more likely to deem
kids as offenders. You may imagine the dirty old man down the street. But with age
people are less likely to "offend". One reason is that they are more mature. But
another reason is clear. Once you reach a certain age, having sex with people your
own age is normally not considered a crime. The explosion of "youthful sex
offenders" is not the result of our kids becoming perverts. It is the result of the law
criminalizing what is a normal part of growing up.
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| TOUGH CONSEQUENCES |
KANSAS TEENS having sex with someone under the age of 16 have a lot to worry
about — pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and longterm emotional effects.
Oh, and there’s also the possibility of having to register as a sex offender and
carrying that label with them their whole lives.
Maybe the laws are unfair for “Romeo and Juliet” teen couples, but the law is the
law.
Until it changes, parents should do all they can to prevent their children from
breaking the law and living with lifelong consequences.
[Click here for full article]
about — pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and longterm emotional effects.
Oh, and there’s also the possibility of having to register as a sex offender and
carrying that label with them their whole lives.
Maybe the laws are unfair for “Romeo and Juliet” teen couples, but the law is the
law.
Until it changes, parents should do all they can to prevent their children from
breaking the law and living with lifelong consequences.
[Click here for full article]