Comments on: Task Force Surprises Registered Sex Offenders http://www.bloggernews.net/122338 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:20:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Vicky http://www.bloggernews.net/122338#comment-1669279 Vicky Sat, 12 Jun 2010 03:08:04 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/122338#comment-1669279 H!i! H!i!

]]> By: Compassion Works http://www.bloggernews.net/122338#comment-1427499 Compassion Works Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:13:53 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/122338#comment-1427499 I take personal issue with the idea of "once a scorpion, always a scorpian". As an "X"-Offender (required by law to register) doing all I can to move on in life after a largely misguided past, I struggle each and every day to navigate the simplest of daily routines in a world of ignorance, relentless hatred, and unforgiveness. I can do nothing to make right the wrongs of my past but only to live today for a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, ten years later, persons like Mr. Siciliano still keep a better record of my wrongs than of the positive efforts I continue to make (against great opposition) to turn my life around. I believe that such ignorance is fueled by several Myths: Myth(1)- Anyone convicted of sexually abusing a child is afflicted with "Pedophilia" (incorrigibly fixated upon sex with children) and are certain danger in the presence of children. *Personally, the age of my victims was irrelevant, it wasn't really even about sex. But rather sex was one of several means (including alcohol, work,etc.) I had used in an attempt to relieve building of life's tension and/or stresses at the time. A form of self medication you may call it, (much like going to a bar to relieve stress at home or work, sex is used as a responsive reaction to deeper underlying issues). Through personal introspection I determined, Sex among other "relief beliefs", stem from my life experiences and influences, such as a high degree of sexual impressions beginning with personal victimization as early as 4 years old. I am not excusing my behavior, just trying to make sense of it. People, like computers, can only put out what has been programmed in, but they ARE capable of being re-programmed. (FYI)-The persons responsible for abusing me are not required to register as sex offenders today as I am. Myth(2)- Sex Offenders prey upon strangers. *Just as I was abused by friends and relatives my victims were likewise known to me. The crimes I have committed were not the result of some premeditated predatory obsession but rather opportunistic and spontaneous at certain highly stressful times in my life. It has been observed and acknowledged by many sex-offender treatment personnel and supervision officials that stress level is a big factor in the commission of sexually based crimes. Myth(3)- Recidivism for sex offenders is high. *Contrary to popular thought, the greater majority of persons convicted of sex related crime(s) do not re-offend. Statistics do not substantiate a need for the current sex-offender legislations sweeping the country, wasting millions of tax revenue each year to "protect" children/potential victims from these phantom predators. I take personal issue with the idea of “once a scorpion, always a scorpian”.
As an “X”-Offender (required by law to register) doing all I can to move on in life after a largely misguided past, I struggle each and every day to navigate the simplest of daily routines in a world of ignorance, relentless hatred, and unforgiveness.
I can do nothing to make right the wrongs of my past but only to live today for a better tomorrow. Unfortunately, ten years later, persons like Mr. Siciliano still keep a better record of my wrongs than of the positive efforts I continue to make (against great opposition) to turn my life around.
I believe that such ignorance is fueled by several Myths:
Myth(1)- Anyone convicted of sexually abusing a child is afflicted with “Pedophilia” (incorrigibly fixated upon sex with children) and are certain danger in the presence of children.
*Personally, the age of my victims was irrelevant, it wasn’t really even about sex. But rather sex was one of several means (including alcohol, work,etc.) I had used in an attempt to relieve building of life’s tension and/or stresses at the time. A form of self medication you may call it, (much like going to a bar to relieve stress at home or work, sex is used as a responsive reaction to deeper underlying issues). Through personal introspection I determined, Sex among other “relief beliefs”, stem from my life experiences and influences, such as a high degree of sexual impressions beginning with personal victimization as early as 4 years old. I am not excusing my behavior, just trying to make sense of it. People, like computers, can only put out what has been programmed in, but they ARE capable of being re-programmed.
(FYI)-The persons responsible for abusing me are not required to register as sex offenders today as I am.
Myth(2)- Sex Offenders prey upon strangers.
*Just as I was abused by friends and relatives my victims were likewise known to me.
The crimes I have committed were not the result of some premeditated predatory obsession but rather opportunistic and spontaneous at certain highly stressful times in my life. It has been observed and acknowledged by many sex-offender treatment personnel and supervision officials that stress level is a big factor in the commission of sexually based crimes.
Myth(3)- Recidivism for sex offenders is high.
*Contrary to popular thought, the greater majority of persons convicted of sex related crime(s) do not re-offend. Statistics do not substantiate a need for the current sex-offender legislations sweeping the country, wasting millions of tax revenue each year to “protect” children/potential victims from these phantom predators.

]]> By: JW http://www.bloggernews.net/122338#comment-1417139 JW Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:05:50 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/122338#comment-1417139 There are more than 600,000 as that number was a few years ago. The problem is that we categorize all offenders the same. Some tier III are not dangerous at all and some tier I are more dangerous, yet the Adam Walsh Act only categorizes according to the crime and not the person. Studies over the past 10 to 15 years show that there has been no relationship to the lousy laws we have enacted and the recidivism rate. In fact, the crimes that pushed these draconian laws are few and far between. Those offenders are not the norm so we penalize those who are really striving to become part of society once more because of a few really bad people. Based on that line of thinking we should also have registries for DWI, drugs, murder, fraud, and so many other crimes. There are more than 600,000 as that number was a few years ago. The problem is that we categorize all offenders the same. Some tier III are not dangerous at all and some tier I are more dangerous, yet the Adam Walsh Act only categorizes according to the crime and not the person.

Studies over the past 10 to 15 years show that there has been no relationship to the lousy laws we have enacted and the recidivism rate. In fact, the crimes that pushed these draconian laws are few and far between. Those offenders are not the norm so we penalize those who are really striving to become part of society once more because of a few really bad people. Based on that line of thinking we should also have registries for DWI, drugs, murder, fraud, and so many other crimes.

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