U.S. Sexual Predator Map

[Lemur]

It's been a while since we've visited this topic. I found this map site, which breaks down convicted sexual criminals by severity of crime. What do Orgahs think? Gross violation of privacy? Basic safeguard for parents?

Since I have two little lemurs, I've got a more than academic interest.

[Vladimir]

As long as they keep me off the list I'm happy.

[Lorenzo_H]

As long as they keep me off the list I'm happy.

Why? Do you feel a surge of guilt?

[English assassin]

What I think is that sexual offenders who still pose a measurable risk to children should not be released, so for them the question is moot. Sexual offenders who no longer pose a measurable risk to children should be released (once they have served their time) and be free to live in peaceful anonymity.

Any benefit of the doubt on whether there is a measurable risk goes to the children, not the offender.

Thus speaketh EA, on behalf of his two little assassins.

[Lemur]

What I think is that sexual offenders who still pose a measurable risk to children should not be released, so for them the question is moot. Sexual offenders who no longer pose a measurable risk to children should be released (once they have served their time) and be free to live in peaceful anonymity.

The problem with your proposal is that all sexual criminals pose some risk. But nobody in their right mind is suggesting that we lock every sex offender up for life.

I'm torn on this issue. On the one hand, I think an individual has a right to some privacy, and if a felon is going to set his or her life back on track, more power to them. On the other hand, sexual criminals tend to have high recidivism rates, and parents (like the Lemurs and the Assassins and the DAs) have a need to know about who is in their neighborhood.

I don't see any easy answers.

[Ser Clegane]

I don't see any easy answers.

Indeed - although I have no children (yet) I would probably like to be able to know if a known child molester lived in my neighbourhood - OTOH I seem to recall that not too long ago one of the persons who has been on such a "blacklist" has been killed due the published information (I think it happened in the US).

[Lemur]

Nope, the lynching occured in Merrie Olde Englande. I remember hearing about it on the radio. I'll post a link when I find it.

[edit]

Found it. Highlights:

From Plymouth to Portsmouth, Manchester to London, wrongly identified men and known paedophiles found themselves being hounded by mobs up to 300-strong.

The vigilante action was most severe on the Paulsgrove estate in Portsmouth, where protesters circulated a list of 20 alleged sex offenders in the community and proceeded to target them.

The crowds - 40 of whom were later charged with offences - smashed windows, torched cars and forced five families wrongly identified as harbouring sex offenders out of their homes. A suspected paedophile in nearby Southampton shot himself dead and a female registrar was hounded from her South Wales home because neighbours confused "paediatrician" with "paedophile."

[Ser Clegane]

Thanks for the quick correction

[Lemur]

Hey, thanks for bringing up the issue. "Right to privacy" can sound a little vague when it isn't backed up by the real consequences folks can face when their names are dangled in front of the public.

I think this makes it even clearer why I am so conflicted on the issue. I want to know who is a danger to my children, but I don't ever want to support a policy that leads to pediatricians being lynched because idiots in a mob don't know what the word means.

[BHCWarman88]

First Off, if you Jack with a Kid, you a Pervet and a Coward,period. Second, Being 14 As is, I like to know if there was Predator on my Street (which I don't think there are).

[yesdachi]

I think all criminals should have to wear badges on their arms allowing everyone to know of their past crimes and the possible threat they pose.

Just kidding, it is actually a pretty gray area for me. Part of me says when you have served your time you are free to move on with your live but another part says there are sooooo many repeat offenders that not informing the public is foolish. But then again I don’t think everyone that has been committed for a “sex crime” is a sexual predator and needs to be branded as such. I have no easy solution but just food for thought, if all sexual predators were executed we wouldn’t need a list of them.

[Major Robert Dump]

Not a bad idea except that sex offender has a pretty broad definition and the databases don't always let you know what the person did. A stripper who gets arrested and convicted for showing too much is a sex offender. A man who gets arrested and convicted for soliciting hookers is a sex offender. Pretty big difference from a baby raper.

Also, these databases often go unupdated as far as addresses go

[Lemur]

MRD, please check out the link I provided up top. This database provides not only names, addresses, and mugshots, but also gives out what crimes the person was convicted for. It also breaks down classes of offenses by color. A leap ahead of what we saw the last time I raised this question in the Org, which was over a year ago.

[Major Robert Dump]

I know all about this site, unfortunately there are dozens just like it that are much less sophisiticated, and dozens more where people take info they gleaned on one site and put it up on their own. Not everyone who is going to search for sex offenders is going to use the above resource.

It's not an easy issue to sort through, but at the base its all public record so its really a non-issue.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Recidivism among the child predators is among the highest of any offender group.

Violent sex offenders, again, have more recidivism problems then most.

For individuals who have been judged guilty of such crimes, some kind of database like this may be necessary.

As noted, "sex offenders" may also include the nerdy 19-year-old chap who was seduced by a more-voluptuous-than-average 15-year-old. Dad found out, complained, and now our bright young nerd is a rapist. Does this individual constitute a predatory threat?

Quality of information is important here.

[ShadesWolf]

As noted, "sex offenders" may also include the nerdy 19-year-old chap who was seduced by a more-voluptuous-than-average 15-year-old. Dad found out, complained, and now our bright young nerd is a rapist. Does this individual constitute a predatory threat?

Quality of information is important here.

In the UK he has still broke the law and had underage sex. Therefore he should pay.

Maybe if people stopped and thought about it before going ahead we would not have so many abandoned children, so many one parent families etc..... all claimng support.

The trend in the Uk is get pregnant and the council gives you a house.

[Sjakihata]

If they are convicted and done their time, they should be left alone. It's an intrusion of privacy to pinpoint them on a local map.

[Scurvy]

In the UK he has still broke the law and had underage sex. Therefore he should pay.

so if im 16 and sleep woth my 15 year old girlfreind im breaking the law?!!
surely in the case like the "nerdy 19 year old chap" as long as it is clear he was seduced by the 15-yo, --> sometimes laws cant accomodate real life events...

on a wider basis, surely allowing anyone to see where sex offenders are is simply dangerous, and risks persecution of changed/innocent people....

surely the police can be trusted to moniter sex offenders?....(erm..maybe not)

[Banquo's Ghost]

so if im 16 and sleep woth my 15 year old girlfreind im breaking the law?!!

Yes, in the UK you would be charged with indecent assault at the very least and once convicted, your entire life would be spent on a sex offenders register. However, recent news has shown that plenty of completely innocent people are apparently registered too, whilst the real criminals never get checked. (See Soham murders).

on a wider basis, surely allowing anyone to see where sex offenders are is simply dangerous, and risks persecution of changed/innocent people....

See above post by Lemur for details of the attacks on a paediatrician. It happens quite regularly when the tabloids whip up the usual hysteria.

surely the police can be trusted to moniter sex offenders?....(erm..maybe not)

Check out the BBC news website - the Home Office and the police have no idea where thousands of criminals (rapists, molesters and so on) actually are once they are released.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

You know, knowing where these people are is a good precaution to protect your children, but too many people take it too far. I forgot where it took place, but somewhere in the United States a sex offender moved into a neighborhood and the people who lived there put signs everywhere telling everyone where he was what he looked like, so he could not do anything without being known what he did. The poor man was so distraught he committed suicide.

If they are registered, there is a possibility that they have changed after being in prison. I'm not saying all are, but some people really need to lighten up. They're people too...

[Devastatin Dave]

I forgot where it took place, but somewhere in the United States a sex offender moved into a neighborhood and the people who lived there put signs everywhere telling everyone where he was what he looked like, so he could not do anything without being known what he did. The poor man was so distraught he committed suicide....

but some people really need to lighten up. They're people too...

Excuse me while I have one of my blunt moments and please don't take this personal...
**looks around for an Axe weilding mods that's overly sensitive**
Booo-fing-hooo.
Good. Thank God this man did the RIGHT things and ended his worthless child molesting life. Hopefully he did a crappy job and had to suffer the last moments of his life. The child he raped has to live the rest of his/her life with this terrible memory of this cruel action by this less than human individual. Thank God for the sexual predator map considering most of these perverts never rehabilitate. Until they find a way to rehabilitate these dirtbags, we need to know where they are. These people gave up their privacy the minute they violated the most innocent amonst us. Man, I'm suprised JAG hasn't jumped in yet declaring that these "poor" (as you put it) individuals are just misunderstood and need hugs and kisses and even if they screw up the lives of children they need to have all the love and respect decent people deserve. Hell no!!!

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Excuse me while I have one of my blunt moments and please don't take this personal...
**looks around for an Axe weilding mods that's overly sensitive**
Booo-fing-hooo.
Good. Thank God this man did the RIGHT things and ended his worthless child molesting life. Hopefully he did a crappy job and had to suffer the last moments of his life. The child he raped has to live the rest of his/her life with this terrible memory of this cruel action by this less than human individual. Thank God for the sexual predator map considering most of these perverts never rehabilitate. Until they find a way to rehabilitate these dirtbags, we need to know where they are. These people gave up their privacy the minute they violated the most innocent amonst us. Man, I'm suprised JAG hasn't jumped in yet declaring that these "poor" (as you put it) individuals are just misunderstood and need hugs and kisses and even if they screw up the lives of children they need to have all the love and respect decent people deserve. Hell no!!!

I never said they need hugs and kisses. I said it's good to have knowledge, but we go too far. An example of going too far is in your post. I hope you re-think some of your comments. If you hope what you say you hope, I feel deeply sorry for you and I have a lesser of an opinion of you than anyone else on these forums.

EDIT: And you don't have to post something to the effect you don't care what I think, because I figured that.

EDIT2: And when I say "poor" I meant that individual, not predators as a whole.

[Devastatin Dave]

I never said they need hugs and kisses. I said it's good to have knowledge, but we go too far. An example of going too far is in your post. I hope you re-think some of your comments. If you hope what you say you hope, I feel deeply sorry for you and I have a lesser of an opinion of you than anyone else on these forums.

EDIT: And you don't have to post something to the effect you don't care what I think, because I figured that.

EDIT2: And when I say "poor" I meant that individual, not predators as a whole.

Calm down there youngin'. I never said that I don't care about your opinion I just think that your rational might be a bit off. Like I said, I was going to be blunt and I'm not as sensitive as your are apparently, well atleast to child rapists atleast. You said "The poor man was so distraught he committed suicide" right? The poor man? The poor man that raped a kid, that poor man right? Well, sorry to disagree with you but its better that he's not wasting oxygen now. Once less pervert spreading his filth to kid's. Yes, I know I'm harsh, but its a harsh reality that molesters usually repeat. If you have a lesser opinion of me because I think child molesters are scum and are better off dead then there's not much I can do for your opinion of me. Sorry to disappoint you.

[Alexanderofmacedon]

Calm down there youngin'. I never said that I don't care about your opinion I just think that your rational might be a bit off. Like I said, I was going to be blunt and I'm not as sensitive as your are apparently, well atleast to child rapists atleast. You said "The poor man was so distraught he committed suicide" right? The poor man? The poor man that raped a kid, that poor man right? Well, sorry to disagree with you but its better that he's not wasting oxygen now. Once less pervert spreading his filth to kid's. Yes, I know I'm harsh, but its a harsh reality that molesters usually repeat. If you have a lesser opinion of me because I think child molesters are scum and are better off dead then there's not much I can do for your opinion of me. Sorry to disappoint you.

I don't have a lesser opinion of you because you think child molesters are scum. I have a problem with what you said in such detail about you hopeing that it was painful and that sort of thing. I can understand a contempt for a molester, but that's too damn far.

[Devastatin Dave]

I don't have a lesser opinion of you because you think child molesters are scum. I have a problem with what you said in such detail about you hopeing that it was painful and that sort of thing. I can understand a contempt for a molester, but that's too damn far.

That's cool, you have to excuse because, well this will explain it....

Who you tryin to get crazy with ese?
Don't you know I'm loco?

Removed irrelevant lyrics. -Kukri


Thanks to Cyprus Hill for their in depth analysis of my membrane!!! Cuz a brutha like me is goin insane in the membrane.

[BHCWarman88]

Dave, I 100% agree with you.. You said It Just as I would Say it,you Know what man??

WHO Cares, they Rape a Kid.. They Had Sex with a Kid, a Underage Kid,rather he/she is 5,10, or 17, they going to have to Live their Life with that Bad Memory, if a Sex Offender Did that to me, I would have got to him first and di a few things I Can not Say here on .org without being warn about, but I think you people get the Point..


They People Too Alex.... SICK PERVERTS!!!!!!!!

[BHCWarman88]

and btw Dave, I was refering to Post #21 and #23 of yours,Dave..

[Alexanderofmacedon]

and btw Dave, I was refering to Post #21 and #23 of yours,Dave..

That's disturbing.

[Devastatin Dave]

Originally Posted by BHCWarman88
and btw Dave, I was refering to Post #21 and #23 of yours,Dave..

That's disturbing.

I agree because post #25 is the shiznet!!!

[Banquo's Ghost]

If you have a lesser opinion of me because I think child molesters are scum and are better off dead then there's not much I can do for your opinion of me. Sorry to disappoint you.

I think the issue that Alexanderofmacedon raised was very relevant in light of your response, DD. In his original post, his story was about a sex offender. No mention of the actual crime (I keep looking to see if I missed it) but you automatically assumed this person was a child rapist, and therefore concluded they deserved to die.

This is exactly the kind of leap of prejudice that AoM was illustrating by his assertion that we tend to over-react in these cases. It is entirely understandable for those who are parents, but it's all too easy to magnify a crime and the danger posed by someone.

Justice is necessarily blind and emotionless, lest we make awful mistakes.