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Sex offenders: are they always a threat to society?
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| By: Anita Zimmerman |
January 21, 2009 |
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Only seven states had a higher percentage of sex offenders per capita than Wisconsin in 2008. If that sounds appalling, it's actually an improvement-the state's ranking in 2007 was six.
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Among Chetek residents, it's been a concern, says Mayor Dianne Knowlton, who has fielded a number of calls on the matter. Police Chief Mark Petersen has, too.
"I'm not worried about any of the sex offenders in town here," Petersen comments. "The public needs to be more concerned about the ones we aren't aware of."
For those who are concerned, information on sex offenders is readily available on the Internet, and public libraries offer access to anyone without a computer or Internet service.
The Web site www.familywatchdog.us lists gives pictures, information and maps tagged with the homes and workplaces of offenders and maps their distance from schools. Families can also arrange to have e-mails sent to them whenever a registered offender moves to the area.
While the Family Watchdog site is user-friendly, the list of offenders living in Chetek wasn't complete-only six were listed. The state's Department of Corrections registrant search at offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/search/searchbylocation.jsp offers all information on offenders, their current addresses and physical characteristics. All eight local offenders were listed at that site, as well as the FBI's national registry page, www.nsopw.gov/Core/Conditions.aspx.
The DOC's Web site includes Wisconsin's Most Wanted, a list of noncompliant registered sex offenders. Sexually violent persons (two currently have cases up for review) are under the left-side heading "What's New."
Web sites that potentially capitalize on families' fears include neighborhoodscan.com, which requires a $1 fee for the first offender report (including credit card information) and $20 a month thereafter (the $1 fee is refunded if the service is canceled).
Criminologists, sociologists, lawyers and psychologists have pondered the legality and effectiveness of sex offender registries since the 1996 implementation of Megan's Law, named for a 7-year-old New Jersey girl who was raped and murdered by a repeat offender living across the street from her family.
Some experts believe registries are the only safe option for families; others say sex offenders, unlike all other criminals, can never just serve their time and move on with their lives. In one 2000 study, criminologists interviewed 30 Wisconsin sex offenders, and all agreed that finding a place to live and keeping a job were their biggest obstacles after release from jail or prison. They thought a personal choice not to re-offend was the only treatment.
While some interviewees didn't mind the registration or submission of DNA-one said his name would be cleared in any future sex crimes because DNA would prove he hadn't been involved-most said the humiliation suffered by (innocent) family members, media's sensationalized portrayal and pressure from the community added to their anxiety.
One 2004 examination of 11 studies found offenders tend to have fewer social skills, complicating traditional dating and mating. While the relationship between poor communication and anti-social behavior wasn't causal, researchers noted the inability to form normal relationships fundamentally inhibited offenders' development.
The phrase "sex offender" elicits mental images of rapists and pedophiles, but not everyone branded with the title is a deviant criminal. The law's most significant impact may be deterrence, not for the offenders themselves, but for those who don't think they're committing crimes.
In La Crosse, 17-year-old Alex Phillips goes to trial Feb. 2 for felony counts of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child and one misdemeanor count of defamation. Phillips allegedly posted naked pictures of his 16-year-old girlfriend on his MySpace page following their break-up. His girlfriend took the photos with her cell phone.
In 2004, two Florida teens took digital photos of themselves in a sexual act, then sent the pictures from the 16-year-old female's home computer to the 17-year-old male's e-mail address, with no intention of publicizing them. Somehow the word got out.
Both the female and the male were charged with producing, directing or promoting a photograph featuring the sexual conduct of a child. The male was charged with one count possession of child pornography because the photos were on his e-mail account.
In Georgia, a 17-year-old male had consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old female at a party. The scene was videotaped, and he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and required to register as a sex offender-which he would have had he not won an appeal two years later.
Prior to his felony conviction, he was an honor student, football star and homecoming king.
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©The Chetek Alert 2010
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a very concerned citizen |
Feb, 04 2009 |
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I have been watching the paper the last few years and I believe the government (especially the local government) wants people to believe every man and boy is a sex offender. There has been an explosion of cases since 2005. Many of them are 17 year old girlfriends turning in there exboyfriends and daughters turning in family members when they are angry at them. It has become a weapon and the government promotes it. Something definitely needs to be done. There is no way all these men are dangerous offenders. I found out that if a man changes a babys diaper it is considered touching. THAT IS WRONG!!
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rickysmom Romeo |
Jan, 21 2009 |
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These laws will not protect any child when we can no longer tell who is a real "predator" or threat. We must reform the current system of laws and work to educate our youth as well as families on the facts regarding former sex offenders and eliminate the myths. The government uses lies to control people with fear and its a corrupt system. www.rickyslife.com or visit www.cfciowa.org or www.cfcoklahoma.org
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