Liberty and Justice for All--Even Sex Offenders
What's Right Isn't Always Popular, What's Popular Isn't Always Right
Without alibiing or trying to excuse or explain any crime that has been committed by any sex offender, I'd like to open a discussion on the rights of those who have been convicted or otherwise arranged a plea, have been sentenced, and served their sentences.
In the United States of America, it has always been that once an individual has paid their dues to society for their wrongdoing-namely served their sentence and conditions of parole or probation-it is a done deal. Ex-convicts once again become fully-fledged citizens, with the same right and needs as every other member of society.
That's how it's supposed to work in theory. Reality is far from that. Those who have been imprisoned for crimes such as burglary, drug use, or car theft have a difficult time re-entering society and trying to get their lives back into some semblance of normality; sex offenders in most states are trying to swim upstream with one arm behind their back trying to regain any normality.
They must register their addresses on an ongoing basis. In some states, any car they own in their name will be issued special license plates that identify them as sex offenders. They are restricted from certain areas as to where they can live. Finding employment for a post-incarcerated sex offender is much like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Our justice system and our culture are failing to uphold the very liberties and freedoms the Constitution promises us all-the very liberties and freedoms for which the original settlers of America came to a new land. The Constitution says that all men are created equal; in times past, it was convenient for our society to take that to mean "except women and people of color." We've made our way past those exceptions, but now we are saying by our inactions, "except sex offenders."
The state of Nevada is going one step further with the intrusions into the lives of those trying to make a fresh start. It wants to publish on the Internet the names, addresses, work addresses, vehicle descriptions, and photos of every sex offender who has been convicted since 1956. There is a hearing scheduled for September 10 for those arguing the constitutionality of such a law.
As a society, we are being lulled into a false sense of security if we believe that any person who has the potential to commit a sex crime will be on these lists. For pedophiles, people should look much closer to home; the majority of children who are sexually molested are molested by people they know.
Lists such as the one suggested in Nevada silently promote vigilante justice. But it isn't only the former sex offender who stands to suffer from such justice; his family is also at risk. So are the people with whom he works and socializes. Vigilante justice can strike at any time; it is not a respecter of innocent bystanders.
It is easy to forget that former sex offenders are human beings, not just numbers or statistics. Our moral compass needs to come alive, to wake up to reality before we've turned a corner from which there is no return.
Published by L.L. Woodard
Freelance writer/editor and freelance observer of life. Three decades of nursing experience in long-term care, from development of team care planning to hands-on patient care. View profile
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6 Comments
Post a CommentThe thought of knowing a sex offender lived next door to me would make me uneasy too, but at least if it's a convicted sex offender, I can acquire that knowledge. Many of us may be living by potential or active sex offenders who haven't been caught or acted out yet. I can appreciate the fear that people have, but also feel it needs to be blended with a snse of fairness and justice.
I agree all people have rights. Yet, it would make me uneasy knowing a sex offender lived next door to me, especially if I had kids. I recently read in the newspaper where a sex offender was beaten up for just living next to some people. That kind of actions, I don't agree. But I can't honestly say I would at ease or happy if I knew a sex offender was in my neighborhood, even though everyone needs a place to live.
I, thank you for your point of veiw here. But, I must go little deeper into this matter. If, you look at the whole picture. Most people don't want to hear anything about sex crimes period. Close minded people or want to judge others. Most of america can not find time to sit down with they children or educate them about life. Why?
The media has feed the world with only the down side and not a complete story. Then throw in the person who wants to be re-elected to whatever, and they promise the whole. The history of these crimes date back to the bible days. So why now do we see this as a big deal. How many family have kept this little secert about this types of matters? Or have we forgotten, those with out sin cast the first stone. Well, no one wants to throw stones at a glass house! Now, that this subject has come up, we will pass judgement and set the stage for everyone. If, you look at the bible, Jesus was committed to death for what crime?
I agree with you on that, since a lot of things fall under the umbrella of "rape," such as consensual sex between someone over 18 (lets say a 16 year old and a 21 year old), and they shouldn't be looked at the same way. When I commented, I was only thinking of the harsh, forcible sex between a man and a woman/child.
I appreciate your viewpoint, Kat, and thank you for your thoughts. Part of the difficulty in my mind is that there are sex offenders and then there are those who've fallen under the general label of sex offenders for having been convicted for something like sex with a minor, where the "minor" is actually a teen 16 or 17 years of age having sexual relations with someone 18 or older. It used to be the norm for older teen females to date slightly older males, such as college age males, but now it has become a crime. In my mind, those instances need to be treated differently than the person who has sexually molested or raped a child.
I respectfully disagree; sex offenders are responsible for leaving behind physical, emotional and psychological scars. Their victims will never be able to have a fresh start, so why should sex offenders? If you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime, simple as that!