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• 1/19/2012 11:11 AM Elena wrote:
  I'm so glad you found this and posted it!
  I watched the whole show last night. I have not commented because the message speaks for itself doesn't it?
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• 1/19/2012 11:43 AM John B aka Jesus Crisis wrote:
  Pretty much, yes.
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• 1/19/2012 12:49 PM Heather Ann wrote:
  What Helen said.
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• 1/19/2012 12:59 PM Shelley wrote:
  Yes and no, Elena. The show only addresses one small piece of the problem with the registry. It focuses on a sympathetic category of people affected by the registry, teenagers who engage in sexual conduct with other teenagers, but it fails to address the real issue -- the registry itself -- which is failing to protect children and the public from sex abuse and sex crimes at the same time that it is destroying the lives of people who pose no danger to anyone, no matter what crime they were convicted of and whether or not they were justly or unjustly convicted in the first place.
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• 1/19/2012 1:07 PM Heather Ann wrote:
  Shelley,
  
  What you have said is very true and the root of the problem goes so much deeper. Many of my students are affected by this registry. They are trying to start their lives over and get jobs, etc. It ruins lives.
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• 1/19/2012 1:33 PM Shelley wrote:
  Yes, it does, Heather, and not just the people on the registry but their children, too. How horrible to be the child of a parent who cannot earn a living or find a decent place to live. How horrible to have a parent who is an "untouchable," and in many cases, by association, to become one yourself. It wouldn't surprise me if more children are hurt by registry laws than by sex abuse.
  
  On the plus side of this True Life episode, it's wonderful to see mainstream media showing this issue in a light that doesn't fan public fear. I think that's the first step in ending the registry, taking fear out of the pictures so that people can see and assess these laws objectively.
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  1. 1/19/2012 3:48 PM Heather Ann wrote:
     Oh, yes! The children suffer in so many ways. It is unthinkable not to demand that this registry system be completely redone. It is completely out of control. I have been reading all of the things that have been posted about the Ohio registry in particular and so agree that people need to see these laws more objectively.
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• 1/31/2012 10:38 PM christina wrote:
  Have watched part of this but it is quite long... and I will try to finish viewing it tomorrow if there is time in and around things..
  
  This does not quite fit your case exactly John.. but I know you've posted it because I know the post conviction treatment is the same.
  
  I think it horrific honestly... beyond sad. Everyone deserves a second chance.... everyone. Unless it it is a utterly heinous crime. And in that case of course a person would not be released from prison. But if they are released and treated this way it is not right. This seems to essentially make all sex crimes a life sentence... and all are treated as the same even when they really are not.Some sex crimes are much more serious than others and that is not taken into account when it comes to the registry though it often is in sentencing and time served. Because the penalties and censure continue essentially the rest of the offenders life. No other crime receives this sort of stricture that I am aware of.
  
  I really don't understand, from what I've seen here and heard in other formats, how this is not considered unconstitutional to treat people in this fashion after they have served time for an offense to be further and continuously penalized this way. Regardless of whether the conviction was unjust or not it really does seem to cross the line of "cruel and unusual punishment". Because as I've seen discussed before no other people who have served time for any kind of other offense are treated in this fashion. Except perhaps the men being held in Guantanamo. And I realize that is quite different. They are treated worse they have not even been charged with offense and are held in confinement.
  
  It bases punishment and restriction on the "possibility" of a uncommitted future offense rather than a actual one. It's meant as a deterrent I know. But I wonder if it isn't counter productive.
  
  There is a great deal of talking with regard to recidivism, etc... but this whole idea of the Registry and all these restrictions seems so counter to it as to negate the idea altogether. If a person cannot find a job or be hired or find a place to live because of the restrictions it sets up a very desperate situation that just seems to invite trouble.
  
  I don't know how legally a sex crime can be considered worse than murder. Or that all sex crimes can be treated equally... It does not rationally make any sense.
  
  anyway... I don't know how it can be fixed... fear seems to have a way of keeping laws on the books that should be removed..... and people resort to quick fixes instead of thoughtful productive solutions that take more time to construct.
  
  I truly wish this could be changed for your sake John as well as the sake of others... it feels rather medieval honestly... inquisitorial.
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• 2/1/2012 6:09 AM John B aka Jesus Crisis wrote:
  Thank you, Helen, Christina, Heather and Shelley for your comments. Much appreciated!
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