Reform SO Laws and Offender Registry

Need help to Reform SO laws in North Dakota! How do I start a petition?

This is one of the problems with our current sex offender laws, there is no distinction in the crimes. Everybody assumes that a person is a child molester or a rapist, this simply isn't true. All sex offender laws need to be reformed on a state and national level. Not to mention that we send persons to prison to rehabilitate them, then we say no matter how much you change, you are forever punished by a lifetime list. This is done to not only those that are true predators but to all offenders, and needs to change.

Since 1994, when Congress first ordered states to create sex offender registries, the laws in the United States about sex crimes have steadily ratcheted up. We now have what experts say is the most draconian regime in the world, with over 800,000 listed persons. Legislators have repeatedly expanded the definition of a sex offender, extended the periods of time for which offenders must register, and toughened the consequences of registration. In addition, they have done all this even though these laws rest on flawed stereotypes, not solid evidence. Now, some parts of government—including law enforcement—are starting to urge change. A report by the Council of State Governments, a nonpartisan organization funded in part by the states, noted, “Common myths about sex offenders continue to influence laws.” The report concluded, “There is little empirical proof that sex offender registries and notification make communities safer.” The California Sex Offender Management Board, which includes a district attorney, police officers, and corrections officials, went even further, earlier this year, saying, “The registry has, in some ways, become counterproductive to improving public safety.” The board called for “overhauling” the system to treat varying groups of sex offenders differently, based on their risks of re-offending. “When everyone is viewed as posing a significant risk, the ability for law enforcement and the community to differentiate between who is truly high risk and more likely to re-offend becomes impossible,” the board said. We want to vilify these people, because they’re easy to hate,” Patty Wetterling, whose son Jacob was kidnapped at age 11 and remains missing nearly 25 years later, told me in an interview last month. Media coverage still fuels this impulse. “High-profile cases involving sex offenders continue to dominate the news” and “understandably shape the public perception of sex offenders,” according to the Council of State Governments report.

Our sex offender laws are out of control, with over 800,000 people listed and still growing. It's time to take a look at reforming our laws, and reduce the amount of persons on the list. To also take Tier 1 offenders off of the public list, and to give persons in all states that are Tier 1 and Tier 2 (non-violent) offenders a way to come off of the list. These lists started as a way to track Tier 3 violent offenders, rapist, child molesters.

There are many who have been falsely accused and had their lives ruined by these draconic and cruel laws. It is absurd to equate child predator situations with domestic spats. Registration should be terminated when the behavior has not shown itself in three years.

I believe that the sex offender laws were created not out of concern for our society but as an act of vengeance. Through 20 years of research it has shown that the residency laws do not help to make our children safer. We continue to condemn individuals that are teens, young adults, or even children themselves. We punish for offenses such as mooning, or urinating in public. There are some individuals that yes belong on a registry but Tier 1 and even Tier 2 offenders do not deserve to suffer for the rest of their lives. We need to take a long hard look at these laws and judge individuals on a case by case basis. We also need to remove those with less serious crimes from the registry altogether. Those that can reintegrate back into society and live crime free need to be allowed to do so. Those that can not be helped, the worst of the worst are the people who should then be on a life time list, for the public to view. Lower Tiers should only be visible to law enforcement and Judges, and then only Tier 2. And should be allowed to come off the list with in 10 years if they can show they have rejoined society and pose no threat. Tier 1 should be allowed to be removed within 5 years. Our laws should also be uniform and not vary from state to state or even county to county. These laws do far more harm than they do good.

thank you!!!! child porn offenders should also not be be included with molesters and rapists!!!!

The current laws are so unfair - lumping young guys who made stupid decisions with true child predators. It must be changed soon!

it is insane that someone can be labeled for life over peeing in public. the system is completely broken and ruining lives for simple mistakes. enough is enough.