Do sex offenders have a right to persue a normal life after successfully completing their sentence?

Question

Is this America or not? We're supposed to be civilized!

Answer 1

Yes, they have a right to pursue happiness, but I also find it interesting that this category of offenders never really are able to put the past behind them and move on.

Society seems to have concluded, unlike other criminals, that these are not people doing (bad) deeds, these are people that have a malady and have a very high degree for the ability to re-offend.

The offenders may agree, they are not doing something ... the ARE something. And considering the life-long consequences of screwing up some child, - I also think the stakes are too high for them to be running around melting back into society.

Answer 2

All people who have commited a crime, by law, are to be able to once again become a member of society. It doesn't matter if they are a sex offender or a bad check writer, all should be treated the same. This is not the case when it comes to sex offenders. Society, following the untruths published by your elected officials,has singled out one classification of criminal, sex offenders, to deny that they have the same rights as any other ex convict. The "brainwashing" of society to believing that there is a sex offender waiting behind every little thing, waiting for an opportunity to "pounce", is just that, brainwashing. Society being made up off many diverse cultures and beliefs, require a leader in one form or another. In the case, it is the government with the media not far behind.

When it comes down to the freedom of any sex offender, trying to rebuilt a life, the government and media do as much damage they possibly can to help the sex offender fail. Whole families are being uprooted from their homes due to more and more degrading laws. The ability for help does not exist due to a label. New "zones", being worse than most states law, are becoming more and more onerous each day. Ex Georgia has just pass a version of their zoning requirements and nearly ever sex offender must now move with no guarentee they will even be able to stay there due to school bus stops being changed.

So my answer is "YES"!! RSO's deserve the same basis rights as any other member of society. Should they commit another offense against a person or child, they then, by the actions they took, should get sentenced to the max punishment allowed by law.

Answer 3

I think the real problem is that the term "sex offender" needs to be updated and classified. Quite frankly, urinating in public is a sex offense - so if you get out of your car on a deserted highway to pee in the woods, then you are a sex offender. Also, there are different psychological profiles for sex offenders such as: offenders of children, thrill seekers, and control seekers (rapists). Some are violent and some are not yet violent. I think the type of offender must be assessed before any type of reintroduction can happen. Baring thrill seeker from being within 500 ft. of children won't do anything to stop them from being a thrill seeker, or keep them from relapsing. However, continued behavior modification therapy and treatment can help them more than anything else. But, where child molesters are concerned, no therapy is effective at all. For these reasons, I think we need to change the definition of "sex offender" and classify it. Then construct a reintroduction system with those terms and classifications in mind.

Answer 4

Yes they certainly do have the right, after paying their debt to society, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I have read the comments already posted. So many of you are so WRONG in your assumptions. Even the supposed police officer.

Rehabilitated former sex offenders have the lowest recidivism rate of ALL criminals, with the exception of murder. A common factor in sexual abuse is alcohol and drugs. That does not make the offense okay, I am just letting you know that those are proven factors. In those cases (which are many), the person not only needs sex offender therapy but also drug and/or alcohol rehab.

Someone I believe says the victims can not lead a normal life. That is very untrue. I was molested twice as a child. I am NOT a VICTIM, I am a SURVIVOR. I also know many others who refuse to be called a victim as they are survivors. Do you realize that in the case of incest, many tjimes the family is reunited? Do you know how much the child is being hurt again by his/her parent being dragged down with one new law after another? There are also many survivors, many of them from incest, who absolutely disagree with these registries.

The registries should be taken back to their original intent, which was to register Violent Sexual Predators and they were for law enforcement only.

Someone also stated that the therapists even state that the sex offenders can not be rehabilitated. This is untrue as well. Google for Judith Levine, Jill Levenson, Dr. Fred Berlin, and Robert Longo. Also visit the Website ATSA for more information from therapists.

Answer 5

First we need to define what a sex offender is. Right now the def. is so broad that people get the label for life who got in trouble when they were young. They were involved with another consenting partner of only a few years deference in age and not a case of molestation of children. These offenders should be given the chance to pursue life normally.

Answer 6

Sadly, in todays society, a lot of people in this country(The U.S.) are absolutely paranoid/obcessed with the whole sex offender subject. The problem with a majority of Sexual Assault cases is that no one ever really knows whos telling the truth. Case in point: A person that I've known since I was 11 years old was convicted of a sexual offense in 2003. Even though he worked out a deal, he still received probation and it is mandatory that he registers with the state Megan's Law registry. His life has been an absolute living Hell since this has happened. The problem is that no one will know if he actually sexually assaulted this girl, or if she just pressed charges out of spite. Regardless, his face is now on the good old website for all to see. Usually this wouldnt be a problem, but as of about 2004, every news channel, FOX, CNN, NBC, CBS and ABC now broadcast where to find these lists on a daily basis. I believe that its absolutely cruel. The man cannot even go to a diner without someone recognizing him. Sadly, I cannot think of a better alternative to the problem at this point. Granted, there are sexual predators out there, that are legitmately f***ed up, at the same time, there are people that have been convicted of sexual offenses that questionable to say the least. There has to be a distinction between the two categories. Because at this point, it is absolutley impossible for anyone on a sexual registry to try to pursue a normal life. Especially when you have ****** celebrities like Ronald White out there saying that the answer is to ship anyone convicted of an offense to "Mongolia", because "regardless of the situation, your rights no longer exist." This level of thinking is nothing short of primitive. Something has to be done, sadly, its just such a touchy issue that there are not a whole lot of options at this point. Hopefully one day, people will get over this phobia and move on.

-J.

Answer 7

That's a difficult question. In the psychiatric community, it is widely accepted that the majority of sex offenders can not be rehabilitated. Their impulses are inherent to their personalities.

So the question would be, where do the rights of the sex offender begin and the rights of the community in general end? I'm not saying I know the answer to that, but I can tell you right now I would be seriously pissed off if a registered sex offender moved next door to my daughter and I. We have a right to protect our children.

Answer 8

Yes, everyone, including sex offenders have a right to pursue a normal life after serving their time. We can lock up all the sex offenders and still not know where they are! Most sex offenders are first-time offenders, not repeat offenders. US Dept of Justice statistics say that only 5.3% of sex offenders repeat a sex crime. I have a sex offender living next door to me and drug pushers behind me. I'd rather have the sex offender in my neighborhood. He is a nice man, who lives a quiet life, and bothers no one. I do not condone any type of sex offense, but according to our Constitution, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness belongs to all. Be careful people and think about it, today its the sex offender the government is targeting, tomorrow it could be you. Is that what you want? And for all of you Christians out there, who gave you the right to judge?

Answer 9

First of all, there should be a distiction between consenting, but illegal, sex(underage) and actual rape. Second of all, rape should be defined as forcible or drug induced, and the drug taking must not be concentual. That would put an end (mostly) to date rape cases like "Oh, it seemed like such a good idea last night, but now I've got a hangover and I don't feel good about it anymore. I guess he raped me." In cases of actual, honest to God, violent rape, I think 20 years is a bit low. It's easy for me to say this, but as for repeat offenders or people who commit murder-rapes, I think death should be the penalty. Law in this case can't be just about rehabilitation and protecting society. It must involve some measure of retribution against someone who would completely **** up some poor womans life forever.

Answer 10

No, because a sex offender doesnt just go about their business. They look for more children to hurt.

America is civilized. We have laws. People that can't abide by them dont deserve to be here. Anyone that would hurt a child like that, doesnt deserve to be alive.