There’s a bill pending in the Missouri Legislature that would forbid sex offenders from loitering within 500 feet of parks, or from coaching sports teams with members younger than 17.
Some towns in Pennsylvania have laws that try to stop sex offenders from living near a park.
Missouri made headlines last fall with the battle over restricting sex offenders’ activity on Halloween, with the man who would become governor saying the court’s ruling in favor of restrictions came “not a moment too soon.”
Shasta and Dylan Groene
Dylan and Shasta Groene of Idaho were kidnapped by a convicted pedophile, Joseph Duncan. He was convicted of killing Dylan and he held Shasta for weeks.
No one would have wanted Duncan near them, and rightfully so.
NIMBY is alive and well for most of us — and I’m included. But we can’t keep every offender in prison forever. Sex offenders get out of prison every day. More and more states and cities are barring them from living near schools, or parks, or churches, or day care centers. But, they have to live somewhere. and work somewhere.
Is there a point at which restrictions on their homes, their jobs and their activities go too far? If they’ve served their time, and paid their debt to society, isn’t that enough? Or, are they getting what they deserve?
Personally we don’t think so. In cases where children are raped and killed, there is only one solution and it’s the death penalty. Keep in mind we’re not taking about a 17 yr old guy who had consensual sex with his 15 yr. old girlfriend then got caught by a parent who filed charges and is now labeled an offender. While technically he would be, it’s a non-violent crime of bad judgment.
What we’re talking about is a case where a pedophile who repeatedly seeks out small children in order to molest them for his/her own sexual gratification.
Now a lot of left wing anti-death penalty proponets say that the current laws are unfair and are stacked against sex offenders across the board. New laws limiting where sex offenders can live after their release is signalling them out for “special treatment”.
To this I agree, let’s not give them any special treatment. But the truth is that convicted sex offenders, particularly violent offenders are actually given special treatment in prison and kept away from the general prison population for “their protection”…
So I say you can’t have it both ways, let’s do away with all special treatments. In cases like these, these perverts should be taken to prison and put in the general population with the rest of the inmates – who regarless of their crimes feel the same way about pedophiles as the rest of society. Then if they make it out, they can live where ever they want.
Let us know how you feel about this subject. Submit your comments below:
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
First off let me say, this is a tough subject. If anyone disagrees with what you have written, they are seen as a Pedo lover. But that is not the case. In this instance I represent an international organization that is currently attempting to educate the public on sex offender issues. One of the biggest hurdles in this education work are things such as you have mentioned, repeat-offenders.
This is unfortunate and dreadful for all of us.
However it should be noted that this is not the norm. According to the Department of Justice, “Registered Sex Offenders (RSO’s) have one of the lowest re-offence rates (For same type of crime as convicted for) of ANY other crime, 3.5% over three years.” Re-offense rate averages, for auto theft -78.8%, possession/sale of stolen property -77.4%, burglary -70.2%, larcenist -74.6%.
In a separate study by the Sentencing Guidelines Commission, for the State of Washington found, and this is a direct quote, “Murder, robbery and Sex offenders were the least likely to have current” criminal behavior that was the same type as that committed in the past. 3.5%
Also, 1/3 to 1/2 of all child molestation is committed by children themselves. The United States Department of Justice finds the age with the greatest number of offenders is 14.6 years old. 80% of youths report having had sex by the age of 16. Not legal in Missouri.
As for Halloween Hysteria – Not one registered former offender has committed a sexual offense on Halloween, EVER anywhere.
Pedophilia is the sexual desire for a prepubescent child, and extremely rare among offenders. Less than 1%. DOJ > No all sex offenders have molested children, not all have raped. Today the registry contains name of many people that had consensual sex, caught urinating in public and I do not mean in the open, but in the woods. Many obscure laws are putting people on the registry, people who did not commit a sex crime at all. You may scoff at this but it is true.
This group is not small in number, in fact each day their numbers grow, now reaching nearly 700,000 nationwide. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the I hate sex offenders thing, as you noted it is the way people feel, until it effects them. Until their teen son or daughter gets caught sexting or has consensual sex or someone want revenge on a family member. It happens every day. In fact there are a thousand times more cases like these than the dreadful one you spoke of on your article.
While we want justice for families and children who suffer from repeat offenders, we also hope for sensible laws for the greater majority of sex offends, those former offenders who have changed their lives and according to study after study, will never again harm another person. Pushing equal laws on very different offenders is like sending one man to jail for life for a speeding ticket and a murder get life as well. There is no justice in this at all. The facts are in, if people would care enough to look into this, not all sex offenders are the same.
We hope you will read this with an open mind.
In Florida they are in the general population, and I think you’d find that they are in most states. The departments of correction could not afford special facilities for sex offenders. An individual offender could request protective custody, but thats the same as being in the hole so who wants that.
Besides the people you described are murderers and they’ll get theirs and God will deal with them appropriately. 99.99 % of sex offenders do not commit these acts of atrocity. 90% are family members, friends, or well known to their victims. Another statistic is that 93% of all sex crimes are committed by people NOT on the registry, so much for your recivitism statistics.
SO I’m all for no special treatment, Once someone has done their time let them be free to live their lives, but that also means you cant point them out and say, “There’s one, lets make sure they can’t get a job, a place to live, or even be treated as a human being” fair is fair right?
Joseph Duncan did not commit his crimes because he lived less than 500 miles from these children!
A person able to survive “general population” may not be the best person to qualify being allowed to regain a role in society. Said person would have to be truly hard core criminal – not someone I’d want living next door, if you get my drift.
At age 16 my INNOCENT son took a plea bargain to avoid inevitable fate as a prisoner. To be accused is to be guilty. The vulnerability that made him a target for false accusation was the same vulnerability that would have gotten him raped or killed in prison, serving as the motivation for accepting a hideous plea bargain. Just a sweet nice kid in the wrong place at the wrong time –he would have been dead meat the moment he arrived in prison.
Be careful what you wish for. Bad ass bad guys survive. Falsely accused, wrongfully convicted don’t stand much chance in prison, or so we fully believed.
Until you’ve been waltzed through the court system, you believe truth will prevail, and only ‘bad’ guys go to prison.
Anyone here falsely accused and found they got a fair shake with the American Justice System please stand up and speak your peace
I’d love just one time, to hear just ONE story of a successful outcome…details and attorney’s name required.
A congressional medal of honor for the first…
Please site your resources for this commentary please. I’m finding flaws in your findings. Most prison’s in most states do put their sexual offender population in general population and do not seclude or segregate them. There may be a few states that differ but they are far and few between.
For statistics on recidivism and sexual offending please visit http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#sex for accurate and correct findings and facts.
A. Xylander – Our stats are accurate. The stats and resource you cite contains data that is over 5 years old and it’s skewed. So thank you for trying to help us be accurate but we already are.
Ikon – Oh to be sure there are MAJOR flaws in how the law is written and I am sorry your son got a bad deal. It is interesting to note that your claim of your son innocence did not specify what he was accused of. Regardless, the point original comments were strictly aimed at those offenders where their is no question of their guilt. We’re talking about the pervert who gets caught with IN the act.
Fenix – Nope. We don’t agree. Again we’re not talking about the 17 yr boy and his 15 yr old GF here. We’re talking about, as you say “family members, friends, or well known to their victims” as well as those that kidnap children out of their beds or off the street. They should be made to suffer for the REST of their lives the same way that their victims suffer for the rest of their lives.
Midwest Dad I agree with you – mostly. People should not be on the list for peeing in the woods, or even an alley. Nor should they be on the list for consensual sex provided both parties were old enough to consent. Sexting also shouldn’t get you on the list providing your not harassing someone.
Having said that, the rest of your comments stink of ACLU mentality. You quote statistics to bolster your argument that real sex offenders aren’t really all that bad. Oh please.
In my 46 years on the planet and two collage degrees, I have NEVER seen a “statistic” that was accurate. Statistics are worthless in that they are easily skewed to the advantage of the person presenting them.
You cite the DOJ and say: “According to the Department of Justice, “Registered Sex Offenders (RSO’s) have one of the lowest re-offence rates (For same type of crime as convicted for) of ANY other crime, 3.5% over three years.” Re-offense rate averages, for auto theft -78.8%, possession/sale of stolen property -77.4%, burglary -70.2%, larcenist -74.6%,”
Are you comparing car theft to child rape?
Let’s be clear here: The DOJ only includes those offenders that are ON THE LIST in their statistics. They do not include the offenders that are not on the list. And considering that the “list” is only made of of those offenders that were caught and convicted, its not a strong argument. Plus by your own admission, the list itself is tainted by people required to register that in fact really shouldn’t be on the list in the first place – skewing the statistics even further.
The FBI “estimates” of the nearly 700,000 people on the offender list, only about 100,000 are actual “sex offenders” meaning that they have committed actual sex crimes.
Regarding the “Halloween Hysteria” story, you are correct. No registered sex offender has committed an offense on Halloween – yet. But why give any of them the opportunity? It only takes one to decide to do something an hurt a child.
Your comment that “Pedophilia is the sexual desire for a prepubescent child, and extremely rare among offenders. Less than 1%” is grossly inaccurate because of the very statistics you cite.
It is less then 1% of the list – even then that still means that there are 7,000 people out there that want to have or have had sex with a “prepubescent child”. Kind of changes the picture when you look at it that way. The number really isn’t that insignificant now is it?
The bottom line is that we agree with you. Not every on on the sex offender list should be on that list absolutely! The law needs to change the definition of “sex offender” and a standard needs to be applied. Pee in an alley, or in the woods = Not a sex offender. Get a ticket and pay the fine. End of story. Touch a child = Sex offender. Got to jail. And pay for it the rest of your life the same why the child has too.
I am disturbed by this story and comments. I am an employee with a background Check Company and find that sex offenders are finding loopholes in laws regarding registering. The Counties and States should be tough on sex offenders and the requirements should be harsh.
With the alarming rate of concurrent offenses after probation that I see when conducting Criminal Background Checks through our safe kids program, It seems that judges should be be getting stricter and have much harsher penelties and protecting our children from harm. They should stay clear our schools and churches.
T. Sweet
IntegraScan
THANK YOU TERRY SWEET! You win the best comment award on this topic!
Thank you for asking. Most people refuse to believe false accusations exist, and refuse to believe innocent people ever accept pleas.
My niece was grounded and not allowed to attend a party. During a tantrum, she offered to ‘tell’ something that happened two years ago if allowed to attend.
My son passed three polygraphs with highly non deceptive marks saying he didn’t do it.
The family suddenly moved out of state three days before trial. When he insisted on a trial anyway, they said she was admitted to a mental hospital, and he was forced to accept an Alford plea for no jail time.
He was jailed anyway after passing a third polygraph during the pre sentencing examination.
The child had accused twice before – inadmissable thanks to rape shield laws. Her mother had filed false police reports for rape as a teenager. As a ‘victim by proxy’ this was inadmissable as well.
This is a highly condensed version, but my son ended the final days of his youth in jail, and 11 years now of registering as a sex offender.
Juveniles are not allowed jury trials, but they are forced to register publicly, and with ever changing laws, he will register as a dangerous sex criminal for life.
All so she could attend a party. Even if she one day came forward and told the truth, it will never be reversed.
I’m a military veteran, and once believed in ‘the greatest justice system in the world’.
God help my son.
God help us all.
It is very Balancing & wonderful entry. Coloring of this very reasonable and useful.
How many people think rape means intercourse? What you consider intercourse well it isn’t just that. If oral was done, if u even slightly used a finger its rape. How many of u believe offenders get treatment?
The majority don’t because the states won’t allow it. And if you get a 2nd offense u difinetly won’t get treatment. So u tell me how this helps? When u can’t get it. Thousands of offenders locked up and u get treatment maybe just b4 u get released – which can be years later. How does that help stop it, how does it protect society. If u can’t get it. Their is a small amont out of thousands that can’t get it.
Juveniles have it better because the state pays for it. But state therapists can’t even write a prescription for depression and remember they work for the state, like public defenders they get paid so most don’t care if they do their job right.
Wake Up people u have the wrong ideal that the state is helping when they really aren’t to stop the crimes. In my opinion a bad recipe that will always explode.. Therapy must be available for any sex offender it is 1 thing i would pay taxes for to improve.
They don’t belong in prison. That just creates more issues. We need mental health places for them where the pros work. 1 day instead of taking revenge like most do about sex offenders.
Its like a witch hunt. Its very bias, its discriminating…..ok so i can’t spell…….we need a plan to cure if they can be, not create barbaric solutions.
To answer the original question, Is Putting Limits on Sex Offenders Enough, the answer is clearly a resounding NO; as evidenced by the recent news story about Jaycee Lee Dugard who was held as a sex slave for 18 years by a CONVICTED sex offender.
This is the type of sex offender (in my view) that the above article is referring to. If this sex offender had been kept in prison for LIFE or SUCCESSFULLY rehabilitated, Jaycee would not have had to suffer for 18 years (along w/ her offspring, which resulted from the years of rape).
It is not appropriate for a sex offender to pay his dues to society by serving a prison term because: 1) the victim will suffer for a lifetime and that simply is not justice; and, 2) prison does not rehabilitate sex offenders and the public must be protected. The fact is, prison isn’t just about punishment, it’s also about justice and protecting society.
As for the stats on re-offense rates, if you only look at true pedophiles (not 15 year olds having sex w/ 13 year olds and the like that account for a good number of the registered sex offenders, you will find that the re-arrest rate is actually quite high here in the United States (and if some of you posters believe otherwise, then you must believe that prison rehabilitates child molesters).
Ok. So let’s talk about Megan’s Law and the like that forces these types of criminals to be on a list and sometimes controls where they can or can’t live, etc. Well, those are great tools for finding a perpetrator after he’s ruined another kids life or worse… murdered a child, but those are not deterrents.
So, what do we as a society do? Well that leads me right back to two options: prison for life (or a death sentence if you believe in that), or rehabilitation. I personally am not convinced that a convicted pedophile can be rehabilitated, but I have seen some promising data on chemical castration, which is being used with quite a bit of success in other countries.
So, to wrap it all up in a nice red bow: I’m ok w/ life in prison, but it’ll cost the taxpayers a bundle; I’m not so sure about the death penalty because it leaves room for the unjustly convicted to lose their lives; I don’t believe rehab works, but I would support some taxpayer money being used to research it… thoroughly; but, right now, my top vote is chemical castration and honestly, I have no idea why we as a country are not already doing it.
If we have to mandate that convicted pedophiles be routinely injected with Depo-Provera (even w/ side effects – women take it voluntarily) to save children from being abused and murdered, I’m ok with that. And, if we find out later that we were wrong about a conviction, we just stop giving them the injection.
The adults that prey on kids should just be put to death. I am talking about a pedophile who repeatedly seeks out small children in order to molest them for his/her own sexual gratification. Not the 18 year old with the 15 year old girlfriend, or even the date rappers.
It should be out of the states hands it should be a Federal law and it should be the death penalty. I am sure this will stop repeat offenders. We must do something.
The people of the United States have become a bunch of wimps. I am not as right wing as you think I just think things are getting out of control. Nobody cares about anything in this country until it affects them and God (yes I said God forbid) we upset somebody or make them mad.
If we acted like this in 1776 we would still be paying taxes to the King and Queen.
Something not exactly directly on-topic, but related enough, is the current “PedoHysteria” atmosphere which exists today. It has gotten so bad that we are rapidly losing nearly every male Primary (and even many Secondary) School Teachers due to their Well-Founded fears of being thought of as a pedophile, simply due to their COMPLETELY BENEVOLENT Love (NOT Lust) for children.
I personally even hesitate to rush to the aid of small children who wander into the street and risk being killed by a driver who cannot see them, because I fear just as much that I will be accused of being a pedophile simply for talking to or physically touching a child to carry or guide them away from danger.
I have very good reason for this as well because in the past, I rescued numerous girls between age 7 and 15 from having been forced into prostitution in Southeast Asia and despite each and every one of the girls nearly idolizing and worshiping the ground I walk on for ending the Hell on earth they endured, I have suffered years of slanderous gossip and even lost one of my jobs due to people’s thought process these days in which they think “Since he is an adult and male, he MUST be a pedophile to even have any interest in or communication with girls in such a situation!”
Due to the prevailing atmosphere of “PedoHysteria” God help any Law Enforcement Officer, NGO Volunteer or even School Teacher who dares to commit the “crime” of paying ANY attention to or even worse, Loving (NOT sexually lusting) any child, especially female children! Some people who know me very well and know that I was raised EXCLUSIVELY by and among young Asian females in Manila, Philippines from the time I was born until I was age 12 understand me and know that all of my actions and intentions are entirely benevolent and innocent, but many others do not and I have suffered and continue to suffer from baseless slander and discrimination.
Males who, just like me, work very hard to protect and rescue young females from the illicit commercial sex trade get the worst of it, since not only do we risk death or grievous bodily harm from the violent human traffickers and pimps who ruin the lives of innocent young women and children, but we also face the “PedoHyteria” Guilty…even after PROVEN innocent problem of today mentality of our peers due to our “Terrible Crime” of caring about females under the age of 18 and being anywhere near them or communicating with them while being an adult male.
It seems if you can pay a lawyer or have a family backing you that can you can get your bond and get out of jail. Rape does not mean intercourse. IF you are accused of rape/sexual molestation of a 5 year old and it has been going on for at least a year, admit to it, arrested for it, just get a good lawyer.
Her father is accused of this by the little girl. She has nightmares every night still. The father XXXXX XXXX XXXXX, of Siloam Springs Arkansas got out on bail. He goes up again to face the judge and hopefully trial and will have to face what he has done. He does not think he did anything wrong. He said even though he did things it was nothing.
To the frightened little girl who thought of him as her daddy all these years what does that mean to her. That she is nothing?
Teresa we totally understand your frustration. We’ve edited the accused name as legally he has not yet been convicted of any crime yet.
However, as soon as he is, let us know and his name will be posted here for all to see.
OK FOR SEX OFFENDER TO LIVE WITH PATCHED MEMBER OF BACA??
I LOVE WHAT BIKERS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE STANDS FOR, BUT, IT IS A LOT OF BUROCRATIC BULLSHIT. YOU CAN GET OUTED JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE DONT LIKE YOU. BUT IT IS OK THAT 2 SEK CHAPTER PATCHED MEMBERS HAVE A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER LIVING IN THEIR HOME WITH THEM. SEKANSAS CHAPTER IS OUT OF PITTSBURG KANSAS AND THE PATCHED MEMBERS WITH THIER SON LIVING WITH THEM AND HE IS A TWO COUNT OFFENDER AGAINST A CHILD. BEWARE, THIER ROAD NAMES ARE NEO AND ANGEL WHOM LIVE ON NORTH BUCKEYE IN IOLA KANSAS.
I am a 33yr old father of a beautiful 3month old baby girl.
Children & Youth have ripped my family from me and I’m only allowed 2hours supervised daily visitation and I’m to live seperated from my family causing much emotial pain and financial loss. C&Y did this not because of any report of abuse or current neglect, rather simply because :
16 years ago at the tender age of 17, I was convicted of rape. I served the full 10years of my sentence for refusing to admit guilt. Ive been free in the community and on Sex Offenders Registry for over 5years now, during which time I have been a law abiding citizen.
Whether you feel I’m guilty or innocent, please explain to me how the actions of a 17yr old (whether rape or consensual) should be held against a loving 33yr old father 16 years later.
What about my babys 14th ammendment rights??? Why is my family suffering???
The court smuggly says I can have my family back if I “successfuly complete” a sex offenders program. Said program requires admission of guilt. Therefor the court is setting me up to fail….. am I supposed to just lie and say I committed the crime, to get my family back???
If anyone can help me in anyway as to give me info on case law, or lawyers or advocacy groups please email me at:
koikiller2009@yahoo.com
In conclusion, as a dad whose little angel is his world, I strongly agree that pedophiles need to be stopped, that all sex crimes need to be stopped, but when is prevention the same as gratification from vengeful abuse?
Some measures are helping but we cant be blind to those measures that are hurting….. so Parental Control Products, answer me this … How would you feel if it was your son in my situation, and your grandaughter was being deprived of her daddy???
Thank you for all responses and feel free to contact me at
koikiller2009@yahoo.com
please no hate mail, the world has enough hate
I am a convicted Sex Offender. My crime against an innocent victim was 1983. She was 14. I can not express in any grammatical terms how sorry I am to have ever committed such a crime.
Although I have paid for my crime a long time ago, I know that the victim my step daughter will never ever be quite healed. We have all undergone theraphy. I, for approx. 7 years. I can tell you that I have never repeated CSC (criminal Sexual Conduct) nor ever will. I do however, regret having to make the above statement.
I also am a man who truly believes the key should be thrown away for a man or woman that can not be rehabilitated out or in side a structual setting.
The above thoughts shared; I DO believe that IF an individual IS rehabilitated, and their crime has been fully paid, then he/she ought to be able to move forward to “Life, Liberty & The Pursuit Of Happiness” This can NOT be done for that PARTICULAR individual when they are commanded to lock them selves up for the rest of their natural live’s on Halloween, they must register as a sex offender etc. When they try and find rent they will not be allowed to live in that neighborhood, it is hard enough to find work. And no I am not crying you a river. Keep in mind I agree with this new law in MO. But I do not agree that it should be for the rehabilitated. Not that it matters, but 86% of sex crimes are committed by new offenders. This new law in MO is only created by SORNA the group that will stop giving MO Fed Money if they didn’t pass the law.
Having been repeatedly rapped as a child and in recently taking guardianship over a convicted sex offender, I am forced to see a side of the coin that the vast majority of people simply refuse to examine.
There are many flaws in sex offender laws; too numerous to count and yet, while those involved know the flaws are there, nobody who can fix the flaws wants to do so, and advocacy groups against sex offenders simply turn blind eyes rather than advocating in proper channels to fix the flaws so those who do not need to be trapped in them are not held hostage to them.