American Civil Liberties Union

Thank you for bringing this issue to the public. I read about SORNA last year and thought exactly what you state here. The registry for Sex Offenders is badly created. Lumping teenagers that were in a relationship with another teenager in to the same category as a priest that molested children is not helpful for the public. Doing this makes the registry look stupid and pointless. I have heard from a number of parents of how disappointed they are that they really don't know the chance of recidivism of the registrant. It is more important for the public to know the chance of an offender committing a new crime than it is to know a consensual relationship offender is in the same category of child molester. SORNA is a badly written law, along with the current federal registry. SORNA needs to be thrown out and new, better, more effective laws need to be enacted over the ones currently in place. Please continue to bring the dangers of this law out into public light.

Someone should do an analysis of felony sex laws before Ashcroft and after Ashcroft. Ashcroft made the declaration he would wipe out child pornography; his laws cast a net far and wide to include the curious as well as the sexual predator. These laws have broken up families and made children fatherless or motherless more than they have protected children. Thank you so much for shedding light on this nation's dirty little secret.

This whole thing, SORNA, AWA, is nothing but an expensive and ineffective travesty. I wish more were being written: I wish more were being done. Thank you.

Mr. Hardenbergh, I want to compliment you on addressing a topic that needs to be covered. All registries, federal and state, have turned into nothing but a political tool. Anytime a politician needs to score a few points because his poll numbers are bad, he goes after those on sex offender registries.

We need to get the registries back to their original intent, police-only viewing with the registrants being the worst and most likely to reoffend. In their current form, registries are useless, unless you're a vigilante.

It's a shame that not all chapters of the ACLU are taking this important issue on. Many states ACLU divisions won't even discuss it, stating that they exist on donations and this is an unpopular issue. Maybe you could follow this up with some commentary on the constitutional issues related to SORNA?

If there was ever a law that should be repealed it is the AWA. If the Legislators who passed the law, and the people who championed it, would have paid any attention to research, they would have known how ineffective and counter productive this law is. I believe many DID know, but chose to stay silent for political expediency. There is no better way to get elected than to appear tough on sex offenders...even at the expense of our children. If the people of America could hear the TRUTH as often as they have heard the lies, I believe they would be as outraged at the wasted money, resources, and the harm done to our children as they are about the AIG bonuses.
We MUST keep stories like this coming. We MUST get this out to mainstream media. We MUST find a way to make our Politicians tell the truth.
We must begin filing court case after court case to expose this garbage.
We are talking about the lives of over one and a half Americans PLUS the innocent children who are NOT really being protected.

http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com

I am totally against ANY form of abuse to any human being. And I believe anyone who murders another human being should be in prison for the rest of their life (until they die). I do not believe in the death penalty for anyone. Also, I believe that once a person has been in and out of prison and has served their probation and parole, done everything required of them, and what was signed on the "contract" when they took the plea, none of this should be required of them, none of it. The state cannot tear up a contract like this, which they are basically doing, it's unconstitutional. Many people, if they had known they would be faced with all this, they would have NOT taken a plea deal. And the courts are very aware of this and this is why they made it retroactive; thus violating ex-post facto laws! They should be allowed to get on with their life as if nothing happened. I'm not saying for it to be removed from their record, but, the crime should be removed from public view and background checks, they should not have any more restrictions, shaming, etc. If they commit another crime, then they face a lot more punishment, like everything else is treated.

When are we going to move away from being "TOUGH ON CRIME" and move to being "SMART ON CRIME?" If you locked every single s*x offender up, at this moment, or killed every one of them, do you think the problem is over? No, more will follow.

I've heard many people say "If these laws protect one child, then they are worth it!" And at the same time, if millions are tortured, it's ok. Offenders are losing their homes, jobs, families, and children and cannot find new jobs or homes due to the insanity of these laws. The families are also made into outcasts for associating with or being related to an ex-offender and their own children are harassed and bullied at schools due to a family member being an ex-offender.

I know these laws are a sensitive issue, but as all issues, they must be discussed and we must come up with a valid solution that will work. The laws, as they exist now, DO NOT WORK! People are always saying they cause unintended consequences. These laws have been on the books for years now, so nothing is unintended anymore. When are we going to set aside fear, hate, rage and anger and come up with a real solution? History has proven that these feelings NEVER get good laws passed but only create bad ones that punish and torture many people. These knee-jerk reactions to a slim number of high-profile crimes, like Adam Walsh and Jessica Lunsford, MUST STOP!

When an ex-offender is forced to move from his/her home, thus having to sell it, cannot find another home within the law due to the residency "buffer" zones, get fired from their jobs due to being on the registry, cannot find a new job due to being on the registry, their husband/wife lose their jobs due to a significant other being on the registry, their children lose their friends and are harassed and bullied in school due to a family member being on the registry, thus destroying the children's lives, ex-offenders are forced into homelessness and to live under bridges, harassed by police, neighbors and probation/parole officers, have to wear "I'm a s*x offender T-shirt" or have a neon green license plate on ALL their cars, have "s*x offender" on their drivers license and forced to renew their licenses every year, forced from shelters during tornadoes or hurricanes, cannot give blood at some places due to being discriminated against for being on the s*x offender registry, denied housing due to being on the registry, signs placed in their yards inviting harassment and ridicule from the neighbors, forced to move when the neighbors start picketing outside the ex-offenders home, the list is endless.

I THINK THIS IS CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT, BEYOND THE EXTREME!

I am a 29 year old sex offender. When I was 22, I fooled around with a girl who claimed to be 18. She was really 16. I am the one who screwed up there. It is my fault for not verifying her age. HOWEVER, I will say that when I was held pending trial on $100,000 bond in the county jail, I was offered a plea bargain and I was told by a Sargeant there that I would be killed if I didnt take it. I took the plea bargain obviously. Now, 7 years later, I have gotten used to physical and verbal attacks from people who found my information online. I have gotten used to people printing and distributing sex offender information to co-workers and bosses and neighbors. I have gotten used to vandals spray painting words like "Pedophile" on my vehicles and breaking my windows. I have gotten used to being handcuffed and searched during traffics stops. I have gotten used to the fact that I lost my right to vote and my right to keep and bear arms, even though I have never done anything to hurt anyone in any way. Oh well...

I am going to renew my membership in the ACLU right now. I am the parent of an ex-offender who has tried so hard to get his life in order. Instead our whole family has been subjected to shaming. I will contribute to the national chapter and see whether my local chapter has the courage to speak out.
It appears that every society has to have its pariahs in order to feel smug. The only folks Americans can really abuse safely are offenders. Read about the charity in KY that tried to open a home for offenders!

Not only is this SONRA a large step backword,it is going to cost us the tax payers millions in tax money. I am a retired Police officer and from first hand working with these laws I can tell you that for the most part they are smoke and mirrors. They do not target the problem of sexual assault at all. Given that even the US Dept. of Justice says sex offenders have one of the lowest recidivism rates, these laws are not the answer. If those who realy think they are any good then lets set up a Drunk Driver (OUIL) registry. Maybe it will stop just one person from driving drunk, and if that one person is prevented from hurting or killing someone, is not that worth the cost to run the drunk driver registry? And not let those on the drunk registry live within 1,000 ft of any place that sells beer wine or spirts. I think not as you could never show that it would do anything other than cost the tax payers money.

Thank you for having the integrity to stand up for whats right. The registry is a bunch of taxpayer money spent to control
the lives of teenagers who have suffered enough!! When will our nation stop preaching freedom for all and yet singling out teenagers who have consensual sex as the worst of the worst our society has. Have we lost our minds???..i sure hope not, but the politicians and the media want to scare the public into beleiving anything they can spoon feed them. Please never stop fighting for the rights for our young children to grow up and quit being victimized by a system that does not work.

The work you do here is the work of saints. You cannot know how horrible these laws, these powers, are until they are aimed directly at you and your family. Sadly, condeming children for life has become an ambitiuos and lucrative industry. The population has to be educated - and its people like the ACLU that have to do it!

Folks: A 10-year-old conviction has recently caused chaos to our family. Up until late 2007, I was not required to register as a sex offender, but recently changed State and National laws changed everything. The crime started online in 1999 with a seasoned cop pretending to be a 14-year-old girl and ended with the same officer in a designated meeting place. The punishment after pleading guilty was “probation for life,” but later reduced to only 6 years probation. I do feel fortunate for that. Anyways, the bottom line is that my crime had no victim and I never committed any other acts or crimes before or after this event in 1999. But, here are the impacts to me and my family some ten years later... Lost my job in 2008 after new laws were enacted and registration for me became required – it was not required before. I can't find new work anywhere since registration started. My wife works, but they better not find out about me or she'll get fired too. My 3 kids have no or few remaining friends. My 14-year-old stepdaughter is suffering the most - she does not deserve this label and is a very sweet and bright, “straight A” Honor student. My sons will suffer more later, but play dates are very few and far between now. Some teasing has occurred. Poor little guys, they deserve better than this. My loving wife did not sign up for this either. Our once fine neighbors, not all, have turned into bigots. For me, ok, what ever. I must say that I did loose my military pension over this, disgraced my parents, and shamed myself for stepping in this poop during a time of sadness, stress and whatever else was going at that the time. Side note advice: get help, don’t act out. I served 19.5 years in the U.S. military with many honors and highest of clearances and lost all retirement benefits and dollars even though I indirectly paid into a pension plan. Now, I lost my self-worth and dignity during the last two years with this sex offender registration requirement and we are all now on food stamps. God Bless our State for that at least. Oh, and we'll loose the $740K house soon too with $200K down payment (equity). SEP ands 529 also gone. You know, I would be ok with regular registration in order that law enforcement can do their job, but online registration is wreck less, dangerous, and is slowing choking this family. I was not surprised to hear recently that 4% of the U.S. population is either on probation or parole. How many people are in prison, jail or halfway - almost 2%??? It is out of control and crime will just get worse with this poor economy, self perpetuating justice system and legislators. I’m all ears … pete@bizplancapital.com. Respectfully, Peter.

Follow the money. These laws are not about protecting children, for if they were, they would not be requiring law enforcement to spend nearly half of their budgets to keep track of such a small percentage of the people that studies have proven are very unlikely to re-offend.

Yet, the growing prison industry, the GPS tracking companies, the media looking for viewer interest, and the politicians themselves use this issue to fuel the myths and hysteria. You or someone you love are far more at risk to be assulted by someone from within your family or by someone you trust, then by the former offender, or the "stranger danger" type of person. It is true, that a small percentage of these people will offend again, but you are far more likely to be hit and killed by a drunk driver who continues to drive even after their license has ben revoked, then to be sexually assulted by a registered sex offender.

One of the most interesting facts, by the way, is that when a registered sex offender is charged for a new crime, notice that most of the time, that person is also charged for failure to register. It is these offenders that are most likely to re-offend since they are already not following the laws.

Not only are those who are trying to abide by the ever changing and increasing requirements of sex offender laws being hurt, but so are their wives or girl-friends, their children, their parents, and their siblings.

I would like to personally thank John Hardenbergh and the ACLU for having the courage to say, "Enough is enough!"

Lets pas laws that educate parents and their children and truly have an impact in reducing the future number of sexual crimes.

I am a mother of an ex offender, he offended when he was 16 and is now 26. His charge was listed at attempted, as he never harmed anyone and stopped himself before anything happened. It has been 10 years of hell and the system has used him as guinea pig, realizing in hind site that the had no plan in place on how to prosecute children as adults and they have created a mess. My child has struggled with the straight jacket rules and messed up with probation enough times they raised his level to a 3 which is the worst of the Sex offenders and not because of repeating the offense, but stupid decisions that teenagers make. He has never even come close to re-offended in 10years - he's is not a sex offender but a teenager that made a stupid split second decision that has ruined his childhood and I fear for him constantly trying to make it thru adulthood. The laws as they are now are a travesty and SORMA will devastate the future for these kids when what they really need is help and counseling, and SONRA will not prevent what it is supposed to.

It is apparent to me that the legislative and executive branches of state and federal government, and media perhaps, do not care about all children. I believe it is egoistical to say that the needs of the many out way the needs of the few. Every child's self esteem matters. Where is the proof that "internet" registration works? Sadly, the 110th Congress has fallen on deaf ears as they are more likely to respond to pork dollars. Tigger (above) is right, follow the money and you will find expensive databases, fancy maps, bracelets, victimless “sting” task forces, and the like. Nancy Grace, Chris Hansen and Adam Walsh could do more shows about “the other kids” impacted by all this. Networks, producers and TV hosts would still profit on other people’s misery. So, what’s the hold up?

Pete@bizplancapital.com

Maybe we should place GPS units on our Government officials, and follow the money trail to see who's pocketing all the cash. Then all tax rates will drop.

Seems like Civil rights are being clearly violated and justified in protecting the public; while judges and Government officials turn the other cheek.

Is society moving towards a second class of Citizens, and if so will there be another Civil war on the brink?

entrapped to download 3 images of child porn. by an SM gay escort..4 months jail, 10 yrs probation, lost business and fired 6 employees, declared bankruptcy $500,000, divorced, 3 heart operations, no job, total nervous wreck, and take up the time of probation officers who have a job under the pretense of protecting children. Send them to schools, homeless families, hospitals etc if that's what it is about, caring for children. America at it;s worst, hypocritical fascist sex titlilated holier than thou

So far, all studies and research have shown that these registry laws and resident ordinances are counterprodutive. Studies also show that sex offences have the lowest rate of recidivism of any crime. Why do the states continue to pass more laws and make them more harsh. I've never heard this point brought up to congress. I would like to hear their answer.

No other crime has to be put through the additional punishment of a scarlet letter. The government is just keeping themselves in business!!!!!!!!!1 What happened to our civil rights!! And take a look at a recent study, what is it going to take to change the law...

Report finds Megan's Law fails to reduce sex crimes, deter repeat offenders in N.J.
Posted by cdelacru February 07, 2009 06:50AM
Megan's Law, the landmark legislation that brought a new level of scrutiny to convicted sex offenders, has failed to deter sex crimes or reduce the number of victims since its passage 15 years ago, a new study concludes.

The federally funded study, conducted by the state Department of Corrections and Rutgers University and focused solely on New Jersey, suggests the growing cost of carrying out the law -- estimated at $5.1 million statewide in 2007 -- "may not be justifiable."

"Despite wide community support for these laws, there is little evidence to date, including this study, to support a claim that Megan's Law is effective in reducing either new first-time sex offenses or sexual re-offenses," the researchers wrote in a 44-page report.

The study is the latest in a string of efforts to measure the effectiveness of Megan's Law, which has been adopted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Those earlier studies also found the measure does not act as a deterrent.

Defense lawyers and civil libertarians, who have long opposed the law and who have fought in court to overturn it, seized on Friday's findings, calling on lawmakers to dismantle what has grown into an elaborate system for tracking sex offenders and notifying communities of their presence.

Megan's Law supporters pushed right back, calling the measure a vital tool for parents to protect their children.

State Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Mercer), said the study "completely misses the objective" of the law.

"Any attempt to use this study to weaken or erode Megan's Law will never succeed," he said.

The law is named for Megan Kanka, who was 7 when a neighbor lured her into his Hamilton Township home on July 29, 1994, raped and killed her. Residents of the block were unaware the neighbor, Jesse Timmendequas, was a convicted sex offender. Timmendequas is now serving life in prison

In an atmosphere of statewide outrage, Megan's Law was passed by year's end. It requires convicted sex offenders to register with police after their release from prison and to notify authorities if they move. In cases where an offender is deemed most dangerous, the entire community is notified.

By 2002, the names of sex offenders also had been entered in a searchable on-line registry operated by the State Police.

Megan's mother, Maureen Kanka, who pushed for the law's passage in New Jersey and other states, said in a telephone interview Friday that Megan's Law was working just as intended.

"The purpose of the law was to provide an awareness to parents," said Kanka, who still lives in Hamilton. "It was put there for parents to know where the offenders are living. It's doing what it was supposed to do. We never said it was going to stop them from reoffending or wandering to another town."

She said she was confident the law would not be repealed, and she dismissed the cost of carrying out the measure as "pennies" when placed in context with the billions of dollars the state spends every year.

"The law provides a service to the public," she said. "I am not concerned it will be taken away."

The study, funded by the National Institute of Justice, examined the cases of 550 sex offenders who were broken into two groups -- those released from prison before the passage of Megan's Law and those released afterward.

The researchers found no statistically significant difference between the groups in whether the offenders committed new sex crimes.

Among those released before the passage of Megan's Law, 10 percent were re-arrested on sex-crime charges. Among the other group, 7.6 percent were re-arrested for such crimes.

Similarly, the researchers found no significant difference in the number of victims of the two groups. Together, the offenders had 796 victims, ages 1 to 87. Most of the offenders had prior relationships with their new victims, and nearly half were family members. In just 16 percent of the cases, the offender was a stranger.

One complicating factor for the researchers is that sex crimes had started to decline even before the adoption of Megan's Law, making it difficult to pinpoint cause and effect. In addition, sex offenses vary from county to county, rising and falling from year to year.

Even so, the researchers noted an "accelerated" decline in sex offenses in the years after the law's passage.

"Although the initial decline cannot be attributed to Megan's Law, the continued decline may, in fact, be related in some way to registration and notification activities," the authors wrote. Elsewhere in the report, they noted that notification and increased surveillance of offenders "may have a general deterrent effect."

Whatever the report's caveats, those who oppose Megan's Law said the findings reinforce their beliefs that the measure fails to improve public safety even as it violates the rights of people who have served their time in prison.

"We now find that for the past 15 years we have left the public with a false sense of security," said Michael Buncher, who heads the Special Hearings Unit in the state Public Defender's Office. "Unfortunately, it appears that Megan's Law does not work. It's time to rethink the solution."

Deborah Jacobs, exeuctive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, called such laws "political Band-Aids that don't stay on."

"It's long overdue for the New Jersey Legislature to let go of what they consider the political value of 'tough on sex offenders first' and start focusing on helping the victims," she said.

a person is charged with possession of child porn, first offense, 2 counts.
should that person have to register for the rest of their life? and because of that not be able to get a job, or healthcare, or housing? Are they expected to live off friends and family for the rest of there life? and if the courts told them they did nothing to prove themselves innocent? how about a military defense attorney telling them that someone must admit to the crime or they take the fall? so much for innocent til proven guilty.

how about if that person had proof others had used the pc? and the person was innocent but told to take a plea or spend 40 years in a fed pen.?how does child porn rate to other sex offenses?easy they do more time than a rapist.

I would like to thank the ACLU for standing up for the truly weak, the RSO’s.
I hope that you continue to fight these laws that cause so much pain and suffering for the families of RSO’s. When people error and are punished for it, they should be given a second chance. Our present government does not feel this way, until they make a mistake that kills 1000's in war or 1000's in a disaster that could have been prevented. When things like these happen, those in power plead with the people and hope that they will be re-elected. But for others, the weak in society (the RSO’s), there is no forgiveness, only hatred that is condoned and encouraged.
I wonder if anyone has thought about fighting the registry laws with an equally powerful law. The Hate Crime Laws. After all, the registry fosters hate in all its vile forms. It not only fosters the hate, it also provides ample people to release that hate on. There are enough victims of vigilantes that there should be a class action law suit based on Hate Crimes Laws. The suit could name every person who enacted and enforces these laws. If any of these people acted above and beyond the position of authority, they could be personally sued.
Just a though, as has been pointed out, it is all about the money. I’m sure that if the ACLU wanted to take up this cause, every RSO involved would be more than happy to donate their part of any money won, back to the ACLU.
Change is needed!

Thank you for taking on this very serious topic. Now orpah is getting involved. I don't believe she really understand how these laws SONA and AWA are not working.. especially when on her show last week she called on her "peeps" to write their congressmen to get these laws funded... Oprah needs to do her homework first...

Please continue to take up for the revision of these harsh and emtionally charged laws, that leave much to be desired for them to be administer and used in a way that is really going after the very ill RSO's who need monitoring and help.. God help Law enforcement in implementing and following the many who are on these packed registries and then actualy monitoring the ones who are dangerous.

WE can only hope that the day is coming when the general public will figure this out and demand that these laws be re-evaluated and reformed..Keep up the work in this area....

It is a shame where non violent and rehabilitated sex offenders are held in lower regard than murderers, terrorists, and the corporate executives and politicians that let the economy fail. The registry prevents nothing and fosters fear in a society that is overly saturated by fear mongering. In addition to that, registrants live in fear of the society they live in; fear of harassment and physical harm. Many registrants who pose no risk can never integrate back into society and live productive lives. The same government that released them from their debt to society, continues punishing them. It is a hippocitical and pathetic that many of the people wanting the laws and penalties stiffened might actually themselves be guilty of some of the offenses they find so disgusting, such as having sex with a 17 year old when they were 18. Since many of the laws have no statute of limitations, perhaps its time we put them on the registry and see how it affects their lives.

ANYONE AGAINST "SORNA" IS MOST LIKLY A OFFENDER THEMSELVES OR HAVE A PERVERTED SICK FAMILY MEMBER IN WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO HIDE.JUST READING THE REPLIES, DATES AND TIME OF DAY THESE WERE POSTED I CAN ONLY CONCLUDE IN MY PERSNAL OPINION THAT THEY WERE LEFT BY UNEMPLOYED SEX OFFENDERS..

Not all these replies are by sex offenders, I am not a sex offender. I have a Masters Degree and work for North Carolina State in the Early Intervention Program for children birth to 3 years old. Some of these posts may have been left by sex offenders and some are being left by citizens that want to protect the children of our society. Decisions based on fear, anger and miseducation are the only things that hurt our children.

When you have a 22-year-old who was never in trouble with the law before, who talked about sex with a detective ambiguously portraying her age as anywhere from 18 to "I will be 16 in two months," and the 22-year-old never met with the "girl," but is in jail and will be labeled a sex offender for life (with some people who want to line him up and shoot him, because he is a "predator"), the law protects no one and harms many. The money used to incarcerate and register would be much better spent on education. I have worked in colleges and universities my entire life, and believe me, most of the students don't know the particulars of the law. For example, in this instance, the 22-year-old did not realize that if he never met the girl, it would still be a crime. How many people know,off the top of thier heads, when the legal age of consent changed from 15 to 16 in Georgia? I thought so ...

When you have a 22-year-old who was never in trouble with the law before, who talked about sex with a detective ambiguously portraying her age as anywhere from 18 to "I will be 16 in two months," and the 22-year-old never met with the "girl," but is in jail and will be labeled a sex offender for life (with people, like the UBADBOY who lump everyone into a stereoptype),the law protects no one and harms many. The money used to incarcerate and register would be much better spent on education. I have worked in colleges and universities my entire life, and believe me, most of the students don't know the particulars of the law. For example, in this instance, the 22-year-old did not realize that if he never met the girl, it would still be a crime. This young man is no threat to anyone, but his life will be ruined by the registry.

What can we do to fight this? Will anyone really listen?

Is it wrong to think that the comments left by UBADBOY make sex offenders look good in comparison? Although everyone has a right to express themselves, people like UBADBOY just show how bad SORNA and sex offender registration is. This is the type of person who would harass or harm someone on the registry. I would much rather live next to a non violent sex offender than people like UBADBOY. People like him are intolerant of anyone who is different, they find exception to race, religion, sexual preference, and anything else they can find different about someone. Fortunately, with people like UBADBOY posting what essentially boils down to hate, society is slowly moving back to the left and a sensible reality. In an ironic way, UBADBOY is helping fight SORNA and sex offender registration.

John Walsh has made millions by exploiting the death of his son for whom the AWA is named.Why wasn't his wife charged with child eddangerment for leaving him alone in the toy dept.of Sears WHILE SHE WENT OFF TO SHOP.I'll admit that no parent should have to suffer the loss of a child,but this could have been prevented by parental supervision.

I am a registered sex offender. I made a mistake 4 years ago and I regret my actions. I was convicted of a non-violent misdemeanor, which unfortunately puts me on the registry. I was sentenced to 2 years of probation and treatment. I am glad to say I am almost done. Although recently laid off due to the economy, I had worked through the entire ordeal as an IT professional. My friends, family, and employer know I am not a threat to anyone and kept their faith in me, for which I am grateful. What scares me are people like UBADBOY and others out there. I live in fear that someone in my neighborhood will harass me or even hurt me. All I want to do is live a normal life. Yet being on the registry makes that impossible. Here is an example of what I have to live with: While it work I noticed a new employee, who did not know I was on the registry, was looking at the state's sex offender registry. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was looking for sex offenders in his neighborhood so if he saw any near his children he would shoot them. Fortunately, we became friends over time and I later told him I was on the registry. He remembered the incident I mentioned and apologized and said his views had changed. I'm glad I could change the views of one person, but I can't make friends with everyone. What if there are others out there not so open minded? SORNA and the sex offender registries are cruel and unusual punishments for those who are not a threat.

If you want to get involved in reforming sex offender laws, you can visit the Georgia Sex Offender Registry Reform website at www.gasorr.org. The site has great factual information, petitions, ways to contact your legislators, etc. If as many people as possible make noise, sooner or later the media and our elected representatives will hear it!

UBADBOY

U = Uneducated
B = Brain Damaged
A = Arrogant
D = Divisive
B = Bitter
O = Obnoxious
Y = Yokel

bad laws made by bad goverment

I use to fill the same way as all those in support of these laws. then I was falsely accused and wrongfully convicted. Later after I survived prison with a close call of being murdered by another inmate do to a staff member telling him my charges. (which are suppose to be private)
I had thought I could get on with my life as I did do my time. That is not the case, as those law makers and people like john walsh, love to add the name of a child, (in the rare case that they are killed by a person deserving the death penalty) to new laws that they dream up to make it harder for people to just get on with their life. another unforseen problem with this is anyone going to prison who is on one of those registries will now just be a phone call away from having that info public to the other prisoners which could cause unsafe conditions to the prisoner as well as the guards who are watching them.
The problem is that our government who is sworn to protect the constitutional rights of all, no longer does, so long as the majoriety of the voters support taking them away. In my state being out on parole I am not even allowed to see any family member under the age of 18 even in the company of an adult. I am not even allowed to go to their house to see other family members who are 18 or over, even if the one under 18 is not there. I was not convicted of harming any family member nor was I convicted of any violance.
I am sure that I have more parole conditions than most murders who serve time. some of which are just crazy. At this time I am basically under house arrest as the parole conditions make it impossible to have any social life.
I went almost 7 years without seeing my famly members who were under the age of 18 now i have to go three more tell my parole is over. I have heard of those on parole for a sexoffenses having to go back to prison for a parole violation such as having a topless photo of their girlfriend on their cell phone. They are using the strict parole laws to try to keep people convicted of such offenses locked up reguardless if they are a threat or not. they even used my recieving mental health treatment for depression to raise my registration to that of high risk sexoffender.
also while having to wear a gps unit while you are on parole you are forbidden from swimming or taking a bath or wearing boots over the unit
so if you find work requiring work boots you are out of luck. If you got a job requiring overtime you couldnt comply as you would have to re-charge the devise after 12 hours. I am exspecting a new batch of even tougher laws once anoter unforseen tragedy of a child occurs. This is a never ending cycle.

In the mid 1990's my sister-in-law gave my two sons, then 10 & 13 yrs. old her used computer as a Christmas gift.
We thought this was to help them with their school work & to email their friends, etc.

At the time both my husband and I were totally computer illiterate. Our boys actually taught us step by step how to use the computer, as computers were not in our schools in the early to mid 1970's.

Neither of our jobs at the time required computer skills, so we were grateful that our two young boys could TEACH US the basic uses of the computer.

Unfortunately, we were not aware of child porn sites, chat rooms, pedophiles contacting children on the computer. Oh, we were so uninformed and ignorant to what our very curious young boys were pulling up online, in the family room, with the computer just steps away from us.

Fast forward three years later. My husband caught the boys, then 13 & 16 looking at sexually explicit pictures of teen & tween girls in their age bracket.
He and I were very stressed out & upset at the boys for pulling up the porn. The worst part however was the fact that it was so easy and readily available for them to access these websites with the click of a mouse.

After a LOOONG talk with them, we found out that our youngest son was being sent emails from serious pedophiles & they were trying to get him involved in their community.
We stopped letting them use the computer unless it involved school work, PERIOD.
Our oldest son soon turned 18& moved to Radford, VA.

Our youngest son had become very popular at high school, playing football, dating many girls. Loving his life. He excelled at the tech center working with the video & TV prodution program.
This young man was awarded the highest and most prestigious honor a VO-TECH student in the entire city of Virginia Beach could receive for the 2003 graduating class.

HE HAD THE WORLD IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND! My son had a job at the age of 17, filming, editing & producing concerts at the Verizon & nTelos Amphitheaters. Sporting events, Commercials and interning at a TV station.
Then, he messed up. Bad, VERY BAD.
He and his girlfriend of 2-3 yrs broke up. She was 14 when then got together. He had private nude photos of her and another girlfriend between the ages of 14 & 16 yrs old online(myspace!). Then down loaded pictures of teen girls his age (he thought). The downloads had pictures of children, YOUNG children on them also.
He had just turned 18. This makes me so sad. The FBI set him up, by contacting him in a chat room that he was in discussing how he was more attracted to teen girls younger than him. He didn't realize this was against the law.

In the wee hours of one fall morning in October, 2003, the FBI (MANY OF THEM)began pounding on my door, ring my doorbell and calling my housephone ALL at one time. I asked who it was, they YELLED, FBI, OPEN THE DOOR NOW!!!
As I began to open the door they pushed their way in. I really thought this was all a bad dream & had to ask them is this for real? Is this REALLY happening?
They advised me yes it was & to stay in the bedroom with my son, his friend who spent the night & my dog.
I was clueless as to what was going on, thinking my oldest son had done something wrong while living elsewhere.

Making this VERY long story short, it became apparent my youngest son had done something wrong. We still had that 10 year old computer & another one in my bedroom for my spouse to work on.
The FBI boxed up everything they thought might be suspect, my son admitted to what images he had pulled up over the years on the computer.

We NEVER heard another word from the FBI for more than 3 1/2 years. Then out of the blue, my son is in Federal Court with a court appointed lawyer.
We were advised that due to the "Adam Walsh Act" my son would have to serve a minimum of 5 years in federal prison.
The judge did NOT agree with the minimum sentencing time my son has been made to serve, but HAD to go within the limit.
HOW SAD.... His 1st and only offence. Awesome loving, caring son. His dream is now lost.
At least he has a great support system at home. A family that loves him and supports him unconditionally.

If ANYONE has ANY ideas on how to possibly find a loophole & apply the 3 1/2 years in time waiting on the FBI as "time served" PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

Thank you & know that my heart goes out to each and everyone of you who have been caught up in this overzealious political fiasco.
Take care,
Mom of ANOTHER victem of the system.

MEN (& Women) WHO ARE NOT DANGEROUS DO NOT BELONG ON THE SEX-OFFENDER REGISTRY
When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas Jefferson
People on the registry(far too many innocent or not dangerous) have been murdered, committed suicide, had their homes set on fire, been evicted, lost their jobs,etc.etc. Stephen Marshall killed two men who were on the sex-offender registry in Maine. Immediately after, he took his own life. One of the men Marshall killed, Joseph Gray, was on the registry for raping a child. The other, William Elliott, was listed because he'd slept with his girlfriend before she turned 16.
Eighty-seven percent of people who were arrested for sex crimes had not previously been convicted of such an offense, according to a 1997 study. Just 14 percent of all sexual assault cases involved strangers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics. These are examples of who is on the dreaded registry:
1. Romeo and Juliet liasons, false accusations of vindictive teens against an older teen (18 or 19)
2.False accusation by vindictive parents in child custody cases and/or family feuds- There are more of these than most people would believe. There are many reports of people who admit to having lied about being molested when they were younger. Now they would like to have the person wrongly convicted on their testimony set free.
3.mutual consensual sex- but being 3 yrs. and 1 day older than the willing teen (can bring and has brought multiple felony indictments)
4. Sex between consenting teen prostitute (who looks older and even may have lied about her age) with an adult male
5. Criminal charges that later are dropped for insufficient proof but not appealed in time, so still on registry
From all I have read, the number of true pedaphiles who are actually dangerous is relatively small. But check out the registry. You're liable to see people who look like your mailman, grocery clerk,etc.etc. And ones who look like they fit the profile could be the least guilty and vice verse. But the numbers are growing exponentially. And as long as politicians and the media can make hay (or reputations) out of this issue, it will breed fear and hysteria and ruin men (mostly) and their families lives who do not deserve to have this happen ! Where are the churches on this issue? Where are people who say they care about justice? Watch MSNBC’s Witch Hunt brought to anyone who wants to learn by Sean Penn and two courageous filmmakers. http://video.aol.com/video-detail/an-american-witch-hunt-trailer/25037 73105

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." - Thomas

There is a legal witch hunt going on in the U.S. today that began with the Bush Administration. It has been fanned by too much of the media and politicians using it to get elected. And it is dishonestly hiding behind the veil of protecting children.
My mentally-ill son was falsely accused of sexual abuse years ago by a child of 8 who lived with 3 criminal uncles&a mother& older sister who were prostitutes& drug addicts.Ken was an easy scapegoat. Ken was late for registering an address change& went to prison & stayed in isolation for 2 ½ years. Finally,the girl who lied about my son told the truth two years ago. She gave a very strong deposition,&writes letters from prison begging my forgiveness and his.She looked the victim.My son looked guilty but it was just the opposite. He was a lamb among wolves. My son is still on the registry. The Baltimore states attorneys finds it hard to believe when someone who lied finally tells the truth. Innocent people need to be separated from those who are guilty & truly dangerous. I have learned there are, unfortunately, far too many men and their families who have had to go through this agony. If you care about justice, see MSNBC's Witch Hunt with Sean Penn narrating and check out Repeal Sex Offender Laws (R.S.O.L.) web site to learn how bad things have gotten. also check False Allegation Support Team F.A.S.T. http://www.false-allegations-team.com/fasthelp.html

I am a wife of a sex offender. He was charged with viewing images of child pornography during a time he was in a bitter battle with his ex-wife over a custody issue. She falsely accused him of inappropriately touching their daughter in the chest. During the investigation this was found not to be the case but when the computer was seized they found some viewed images not download images of child porn. (In our state they consider downloading to be images that are viewed only). I do not condone child porn and the thought of it makes me ill, my heart goes out to all victims.

Fast forward to the present, my husband had served his time, done his treatment, and appears from the surface to be what people would view as an average person but because of these laws he can never be reintegrated into society. He can never pick his infant daughter when she is sick up from daycare; he can not go to our special-needs child's conference at school. Once when our infant son was dying he was not allowed to be in the pediatric ward of the hospital because a nurse was over vigilant due to the fear of "sex-offender” labels. My husband is trying to be a productive member of society, studies have show that a good support system lessens the rate of recidivism, but because of these laws he can never be that productive citizen or good provider again, Employers love the work my husband does for them but in our state, once the state police call the employer to let them know he is a SO, they let him go because they do not want their good name destroyed (and I understand). These laws force SO trying to reintegrate underground making them lose their support system, jobs, and homes. How does that help society? In our state you can be a sex-offender for urinating in public, being a student who touches a girl’s buttocks or teenagers having consensual sex and the parents disagree.

I am worried for the future of our young family and fear their safety from vigilantes that want to hurt my husband. I am a good member of my community and a protective mother, but fear when they find out that I am married to a SO, I am labeled scum and my family targeted. I wish there was help for us and a better system to go after true predators.

While I am all about protecting our children I do not understand our judicial thought process when it comes to sex offenders. A 16 year old has sex with a 17 year old and that is okay - in fact they might even make a TV show (and they have one) if she gets pregnant. A 16 year old has sex with an 18 year old and the 18 year old goes to jail and is persecuted the rest of his/her life. A 16 year old kills someone and they are tried as an adult. I just don't understand the judicial thought process here.

Well, where do I begin? I am a ROS. 15 yrs ago I was charged and convicted of 1st deg sexual assault of a child. It was my 6 yr old daughter. I can go into great detail of the how and why that allowed me to cross these barriers, but I choose not too. But what I will say is how it all came to pass. I inappropriately touched my daughter. These are minutes of my life that I wish I could take back. I immediately broke down in tears and was feeling dirty and ashamed. I called a 1800 help line. After explaining everything to this lady she replied, “ the fact that you called shows your remorse. You would be surprised the number of phone calls I receive. This was obviously an isolated event, you know what you did was wrong, you are not a bad person however, never put yourself in this situation again.” I said good-bye and talked it over with my wife. We were not happy with this response so I called her back a second time. This time I told her I wanted to come in a talk with her in person. She told me that if I chose to this, she would have no choice but to contact the authorities. I told her that I didn’t care, that I just needed to speak with someone and help me figure out how I allowed something like this to take place. She said ok and in I went. She advised me of my rights but I really wasn’t listening. Little did I know? Within 24 hrs I was charged with the assault. My conviction resulted in 10 years of probation, several years of single and group therapy, and 3 ½ years before I was allowed to come back and be with my family. Did the punishment fit the crime? Yes, I honestly believe it did. However, here we are 15 yrs later, my daughters are my best friends. We have a solid relationship. The victim (my daughter) will be the first to stand up and say that if I were the same man as I was back then, that she would have no compassion for me and she wouldn’t be in my life. She remembers and knows everything. I feel the hardest sentence I had to achieve was being able to look my daughter in the eyes and know that she accepts me as a trusting and loving father that she has always deserved. I know I am not that same person and that I will never jeopardize that relationship again. So does she. Now that you understand my situation I can move on to these laws. The public notification and lifetime registration laws are absolutely ludicrous. Back in 2002 I was without a job. I put my resume out everywhere. I had approximately 75-100 that was honestly filled out with my felony charge. NO one would hire me. So I went to a job fair and lied for the first time and low and behold I landed the job. I have worked for that company for 7 years. Last October my company was bought by another company that I was grandfathered. Just recently, (last week or better yet 8 months after the buyout) they decided to do a background check. Well, obviously my name popped up and was forced to explain myself regarding the felony and my application. So here I sit, Terminated, actually forced to voluntarily resign, loss of 6 weeks of vacation, 200 plus hours of sick pay, health and dental benefits, stock, and now probably the house that I rent out. Does this punishment fit the crime?? I think not. I am/was a productive citizen. What am I and all of the other legitimate RSO’s suppose to do or turn to for help. I don’t believe there is any help to be honest with you. I feel like we are being forced underground!! Where wills that lead??? Drugs, prostitution, criminal life, etc… What else is left?? I refuse to give up. But, honestly, something has to change. Do we have a fight or are we wasting our time. Please help!! Some of us deserve the second chance. We paid our dues. Am I wrong in my thinking?? Somebody!!
P.S. UBADBOY – you were the reason I wrote this. You have no understanding of what is truly going on. Thank you for the inspiration.

I agree with Rex, I'm in a similar situation about 17 yrs ago I made a mistake, paid for my crime, got a job wife stands by me etc. Laid off due to economy,can't get a job. Now I stand to lose everything I worked for. Does the punishment fit the crime? Its hard to fight when your outnumbered,we look back on the Salem witch hunts, someday maybe intelligence will rule, not fear or people just being nosey.

MAKE A REGISTRY FOR ALL THE MISCONDUCT
THE POLICTIANS,POLICE, JUDGES,PAROLE OFFICERS, DOCTORS. ETC.
LETS HAVE A LONG LOOK AT THE DIRT THEY HAVE BEEN HIDDING OR GETTING AWAY WITH

AFTER ALL WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO QUESTION AUTHORITY. BUT NO ONE DOES WHY?

IF ONE A PEOPLE ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHERS THEN IT IS ILLEGAL AND WHAT IS ASKED OF ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE MUST BE DONE TO ALL PEOPLE.

VERY INTERESTING ARTICLES. I FIND THAT MEGAN LAW HAS CREATED AN INJUSTICE TO HUMAN AMERICANS. THE LABELING FOR LIFE IN ORDER TO PROTECT SOCIETY IS UNFAIR TO AN INDIVUAL THAT MAY HAVE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE AND REGRETS WHAT HE HAS DONE AND HOPEFULLY WITH NOT REPEAT THEIR MISTAKE AGAIN.THE PERSON HAS SEEKED HELP AND TREATMENT FOR HIS AFFLICTION. AND WANTS TO LIVE IN AMERICA FOR THE REST OF HIS NATURAL LIFE,BUT DUE TO MEGAN LAW HAS BEEN LABELED AND HAS BEEN SEPARATD FROM SOCIETY AND HIS NATURAL FAMILY.ALSO THE FACT THAT THEY CANNOT EVEN GO TO A CHURCH OF THEIR CHOICE TAKES THEM AWAY NOT ONLY FROM SOCIETY BUT ALSO GOD. THE LAW IS TOO STRICT ON THE RULES AND THE LABELING OF ONES LIFE.

To Lisa Madigan it's a keyword to get a vote.
To the state your a statistic.
To the police it's bragging rights.
To the wife that cheats, get caught with her pants down then yell rape well need I say more.
To a true sex offender you deserve it.

One other crime is all of you who complain about it and never do anything about it.

If truck drivers can change a law because they get bullied by the state trooper, why can't you guys have a petition signed and introduce it to law?

Witch burning, rounding up the Japanese during WWII and putting them in camps, SOR on Internet, Guantanamo & water boarding, etc. were all once legal activities. Some of these activities have gone away and I am sure Internet SOR will come to a head as well one day. Online registration for all sex crimes, even minor infractions and events, is insane. Register all crimes online, or none, is the only fair way to go. If this continues, pretty soon no one will be working anymore.

I am the wife of a sex offender. I look at my husband each day and remind myself that he is a good man that has made significant changes. His offense did not involve a minor; it involved a prostitute. Humiliating to admit as a wife, but I've forgiven him for this stupid mistake.

However, even though the crime was not against a child, he is forbidden to visit any public place where children are present. If we did not have young children, I suppose we could handle this part of being on the registry. The problem is, we do have children. So who is really hurt by this law? Our kids. The irony is a child was not hurt by his offense, but my children are continually hurt by the law intended to protect kids. This is especially devastating because our children are so young that we cannot even explain why daddy can't take them to the park or the pool or why he can't come to their school to see their plays.

He's served jail time, he lost his job, and he's finishing out a probation term. But we still have so long to be on the registry that our oldest son will legally be an adult by the time the time period ends.

That's right -- these overreaching sex offender laws put the entire family on the registery -- so whom does that protect?

I wonder sometimes if it would be better for the kids if our family were separated rather than apart. I know that's not true, but do the lawmakers even consider what they are doing to families when they propose and pass these extreme sex offender restrictions that do not make a distinction between offenses against children and an offense involving an adult?

I want to emphasize this again: a child was not hurt by his offense, but my children are continually hurt by the law intended to protect kids.

What can we do to get help in this insane, hurtful situation? This law is unconstitutionality at the extreme, isn't it?

I would like to see Sex Offender Registry added as a category to the list of issues on the ACLU website.

I realize this is a hot button, but isn't that point of this list?