How do you feel about tracking sex offenders?

Question

There are measures in place in a number of states requiring convicted sex offenders to register their current address, which is then made available to the public. I've mixed feelings on this. On one hand, I think it is kind of like the new Scarlet Letter, it also doesn't differentiate between children and adults, and similar heinous convicts i.e. killers do not have to register. On the other hand, these are people who have done unspeakable things to innocent victims, sometimes children, and I've heard the recidivism rate is %40 for pedophiles. Do you support these measures? Do they go too far or not far enough? Do they help or hurt society in the long run?

I also forgot to mention that they technically have already "served" their debt to society.

I feel you, but in most cases, the offender is either friend or more likely family, not some stranger down the street.

Wouldn't chemical castration be better than euthanization?

Answer 1

Here is the problem and hear me out please. I went to a high school, dated a girl that was in honor classes. I did not know her real age due to the fact that she told me she was 17 I was 19 at the time. When I found out she wanted my best friend I broke that off because keeping friends is very important to me. 3 months later she decided to go to the police and reveal her real age. now please tell me how that is justice. Now I am stuck registering for 10 years for a girl that wanted revenge because she cheated on me. In my eyes that is the screwed up thing in this society. There should be laws against girls causing this to innocent guys and trust me it happens all the time. Also please ladies do not tell me that when you were in high school and were a freshman or sophomore that you did not dream of dating a senior. My resolution to all of this is that they should separate the high school so when people turn 18 that they are not in contact with people from lower grades. This would solve my issue.

Answer 2

Honestly, no I do not keep track of sex offenders in my area for a couple reasons: 1) I keep track of my kids, I know where they are, and who they are with.... 2) just because you know where every KNOWN sex offender is in your area doesn't amount to a hill of beans, when you consider the number of unregistered offenders, never been caught offenders, and the possibility an offender could be a trusted friend or family member The only thing you can do is be diligent about who your children are with, hope that anyone your child is with is a safe to be around, and make sure to note any changes in your child that may indicate abuse..

Answer 3

These measures amount to an admission that the punishment wasn't sufficient in the first place. As you pointed out, by serving their sentence, they have supposedly paid their debt to society, yet everyone knows that they're still driven by the same urges and can't be trusted.

As well-intentioned as this course might be, it can't provide any assurance that a released offender won't get the opportunity to do the same thing again and seriously damage yet another child's life.

So why are we willing to allow these people back into society when we all know they shouldn't be on the street? Instead, minimum sentencing requirements should reflect reality - first offenders should be sentenced to 50 years with no eligibility for parole, and anyone who kills a victim in the course of the crime should be executed.

Answer 4

Their brains are broken and they are a serious threat to the safety of others. They cannot control themselves.
Forget that debt nonsense, they didn't steal a car then pay for it.
The recidivism rate for pedos is more like 95%.
They are violent sociopaths & we do NOT currently have the medical technology to cure their condition.
We need to be kind, we need to euthanize them until medical science improves.
(forever in a jail is cruel, they need to go on to their next life)

Answer 5

my redneck response is, they just did not wake up some morning and say I am going to go molest a child, so they are not going to wake up some morning and say they are cured.
The only sure fix is death, for they have taken something that can never be changed or corrected. It may not deter others from doing it, but this one person will never do it again. Call it gene pool cleansing. Yes I will feel sorry for those who were victims of this in the past and are only carrying out what they learned but it has to stop somewhere.

Answer 6

There debt to society should be bigger, then like murderers there wouldn't be a need for them to register. I have female children. Two of them are adlts now, and a 3 year old. When the pictures of the cho-mos comes in the paper, I post it on the wall and tell my little girl "recognise these faces" These people like to hurt little kids. The system will only do so much, but I WILL do more.

Answer 7

I think it is a great idea , but still think more measures need to be taken because even with the registry they are still repeating the crime ,once a child molester always one they need to be monitored at all times ,IL just passed a law where all paroled sex offender will have to where a tracking device

Answer 8

I am not sure if the addresses should be made public knowledge. There should be some public notification that a sex offender is moving to your neighborhood if that offender is one that is considered likely to re-offend (Level III in Minnesota, I am not sure about other areas). The address should be kept for police record as it may help in future investigations involving sexual crimes, like rape, pedophilia, or sexual assult.

Answer 9

Sex offenders are no different that murderers and rapists. Tracking is a good start.

1st offense for any of the above should be mandatory 25 to 50 years. 2nd offense - life with no parole.

Answer 10

I think its the right thing to do, murders can be an entirely different thing altogether. There are far too many cases of these freaks going out and doing the same thing again and again. Putting them in different catergories which most states do makes sense. Some will say they are lucky to get out of prison alive!