Is there a Sex Offender Living Next to you?

[under13]

How do we know if they did what they were convicted of doing?  How do we know YOU won't be involved in some offense of a sexual nature?

1.True we dont know, but how do we know if people who comit other crimes, who are spending many years to life in jail have actually done the crime they are convicted of?  I think that these sex offenders should consider themselves lucky that they arent in jail. What would you choose: Being labled as a sex offender OR Going to jail and getting sexually offended.
Sorry guys, but I have no sympathy for someone who rapes or sodomizes a little kid or adult. You Do do the crime you do the time.

2. How do we know YOU won't be involved in some offense of a sexual nature?

[sjonathan02]

1.True we dont know, but how do we know if people who comit other crimes, who are spending many years to life in jail have actually done the crime they are convicted of?  I think that these sex offenders should consider themselves lucky that they arent in jail. What would you choose: Being labled as a sex offender OR Going to jail and getting sexually offended.
Sorry guys, but I have no sympathy for someone who rapes or sodomizes a little kid or adult. You Do do the crime you do the time.

2. How do we know YOU won't be involved in some offense of a sexual nature?

a. We're talking about the fact that they've DONE the time already. How long are WE supposed to punish them for that crime?

b. Anyone could be involved in some offense of ANY nature. What are we to do, stay in our homes all day?

[themidiroom]

1.True we dont know, but how do we know if people who comit other crimes, who are spending many years to life in jail have actually done the crime they are convicted of?  I think that these sex offenders should consider themselves lucky that they arent in jail. What would you choose: Being labled as a sex offender OR Going to jail and getting sexually offended.
Sorry guys, but I have no sympathy for someone who rapes or sodomizes a little kid or adult. You Do do the crime you do the time.

2. How do we know YOU won't be involved in some offense of a sexual nature?

The answer is you don't know.  I still stand by my point that if you're going to have sex offender awareness, then we need murderer awareness.   What's with the fixation on knowing who the sex offenders and trying to either move away from them or keep them from living where they want to live?

[under13]

a. We're talking about the fact that they've DONE the time already. How long are WE supposed to punish them for that crime?

b. Anyone could be involved in some offense of ANY nature. What are we to do, stay in our homes all day?

How long are we suposed to punish murderers? Them ninjas be gettin LIFE or the death penalty

The answer is you don't know.  I still stand by my point that if you're going to have sex offender awareness, then we need murderer awareness.   What's with the fixation on knowing who the sex offenders and trying to either move away from them or keep them from living where they want to live?

I didnt think murderers got out. And if they do, and they move into your community, I would think that you would be notified


I'd really like to see some more opinions, especially from those whose families have gone through something like this.

[under13]

I wonder How our opinions would change if one of us got raped

[sjonathan02]

How long are we suposed to punish murderers? Them ninjas be gettin LIFE or the death penalty

Really, you mean those who get OUT after serving there sentences?

Boy, are your reading comprehension skills on the level; do you need to be tested?

We're talking about folks who GOT OUT OF PRISON for their crime.

[sjonathan02]

I wonder How our opinions would change if one of us got raped

I wonder how our opinions would change if we KNEW someone who was accused or convicted or rape?

[under13]

Really, you mean those who get OUT after serving there sentences?

Boy, are your reading comprehension skills on the level; do you need to be tested?

We're talking about folks who GOT OUT OF PRISON for their crime.

So should convicted felons who have gotten out of jail lose thier rights?

I think being labled a sex offender is part of the sentence

I wonder how our opinions would change if we KNEW someone who was accused or convicted or rape?

Well we all read sistert's testimony....

[themidiroom]

Let's be honest here, these sex offender sites (esp. the ones that aren't run by the states) appeal to people's emotions.  The old "not in my neighborhood" mentality.  I want to protect the children by not allowing that vermin to live near me.  There's a town here in MO that just passed an ordinance that convicted sex offenders aren't allowed in public parks. Ummm what??

[Fingers!]

Let's be honest here, these sex offender sites (esp. the ones that aren't run by the states) appeal to people's emotions.  The old "not in my neighborhood" mentality.  I want to protect the children by not allowing that vermin to live near me.  There's a town here in MO that just passed an ordinance that convicted sex offenders aren't allowed in public parks. Ummm what??

"Great Idea!!  Let's post a board at the park entrance with ALL their pictures.  Or make all of them wear yellow stars on their sleeves..."

You know, this can get real crazy.

[themidiroom]

"Great Idea!!  Let's post a board at the park entrance with ALL their pictures.  Or make all of them wear yellow stars on their sleeves..."

You know, this can get real crazy.

Indeed.  I'm not saying that a sex offender should not have to serve their time.  I'm not saying that there should not be concern about whether or not they have changed.  All I'm pointing out is the intent and the spirit that fuels these infomational sites.  Is anybody out there actually trying to help these people?  If you think they can't possibly have changed their ways, then maybe they need a site to try to help them.

[sjonathan02]

So should convicted felons who have gotten out of jail lose thier rights?

I think being labled a sex offender is part of the sentence

Well we all read sistert's testimony....

That was what Sister T did. We all aren't Sister T. As you have so "eloquently" demonstrated.

Once convicted felons are released they, after a time, are rewarded their rights, just as any other citizen. It's US who hold them accountability long past the law, and God, have released them.

[LaylaMonroe]

I wonder how our opinions would change if we KNEW someone who was accused or convicted or rape?

I know someone who was convicted of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault on two occasions.  The first time, he spent 6 years in prison, the second time, 2 (because it was a lesser offense).

Additionally, one of my former clients (a pastor from Atlanta) is currently serving a 3-year sentence for a sexual assault charge.  When his case came to light, out of curiosity, I reviewed the sex offender registry for many counties in the Atlanta metro area.  I was surprised to find quite a many familiar faces on the list.  I can't say they were friends, but one of them was an acquaintance with whom I had worked on a church start-up, and the others were just faces that I had recognized from various church events and things around the city.

Back to the first person.  He's my brother-in-law (my sister-in-law's husband).  I hesitated to offer an opinion on this subject because it's one of the many subjects on which I don't really have a solid opinion.  However, I can tell you this: I am extremely careful not to be around him without someone else being there.  I'm certainly not afraid that he might harm me, because that's not his style.  But, I am concerned that he might either come on to me or that for any reason whatsoever, there might be an issue down the road... I don't want no drama, so I avoid the appearance...

Secondly, I do not allow my daughter to be alone with him under any circumstances.

Thirdly, some of you may remember that I mentioned a while back that my 9-year-old godson was suddenly having "accidents" with his bowels.  This is his son.  The first thing I asked him, and my sister-in-law, was whether anyone was touching him inappropriately.

To sum it up, the thoughts will be there, but I don't treat him any differently.  In fact, I really love him a lot as a brother, and consider him to be an otherwise good person with a serious struggle.

[under13]

  However, I can tell you this: I am extremely careful not to be around him without someone else being there.  I'm certainly not afraid that he might harm me, because that's not his style.  But, I am concerned that he might either come on to me or that for any reason whatsoever, there might be an issue down the road... I don't want no drama, so I avoid the appearance...

Secondly, I do not allow my daughter to be alone with him under any circumstances.

Thirdly, some of you may remember that I mentioned a while back that my 9-year-old godson was suddenly having "accidents" with his bowels.  This is his son.  The first thing I asked him, and my sister-in-law, was whether anyone was touching him inappropriately.

To sum it up, the thoughts will be there, but I don't treat him any differently.  In fact, I really love him a lot as a brother, and consider him to be an otherwise good person with a serious struggle.

Isn't that treating him differently? I'm not saying that you shouldnt, but I'm just sayin..

I think it would be in our best interest, (esp. women), to learn some self defense. But most children is defenseless

[LaylaMonroe]

I suppose one might be able to argue the semantics of it, but in my opinion, keeping my daughter from being in his care unattended is not treating him any differently.  I don't speak to him any differently, handle him any differently, address him any differently, or interact with him any differently than I would if he hadn't been involved in these situations.

For the record, my daughter, when she was younger, was a chronic and pathelogical storyteller.  I forbade her to be alone with her older cousin, and my brother-in-law because I determined that I never wanted to be in a position where my daughter made an accusation against my nephew or brother-in-law, and I had to question whether or not she was telling me the truth.  I determined right then and there that I would never allow myself to be in that position, so I would never allow her to be alone with either of them.

Nonetheless, I don't treat either one of them any differently at all.

[under13]

I suppose one might be able to argue the semantics of it, but in my opinion, keeping my daughter from being in his care unattended is not treating him any differently.  I don't speak to him any differently, handle him any differently, address him any differently, or interact with him any differently than I would if he hadn't been involved in these situations.

For the record, my daughter, when she was younger, was a chronic and pathelogical storyteller.  I forbade her to be alone with her older cousin, and my brother-in-law because I determined that I never wanted to be in a position where my daughter made an accusation against my nephew or brother-in-law, and I had to question whether or not she was telling me the truth.  I determined right then and there that I would never allow myself to be in that position, so I would never allow her to be alone with either of them.

Nonetheless, I don't treat either one of them any differently at all.

I think see what you are saying. You may 'treat' him different, but you dont really carry it out on him in an obvious way. I think thats the way it should be done. We have to take precautions, but not harass and put down people for thier past offences

Great example by the way.

[T-Block]

I agree with SisterT.  Watching how people act usually tells their true nature, whether or not they have been convicted of anything.  I see the whole sex-offender register thing as a form of racism or prejudicism (if that's a word).

[sjonathan02]

I know someone who was convicted of sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault on two occasions.  The first time, he spent 6 years in prison, the second time, 2 (because it was a lesser offense).

Additionally, one of my former clients (a pastor from Atlanta) is currently serving a 3-year sentence for a sexual assault charge.  When his case came to light, out of curiosity, I reviewed the sex offender registry for many counties in the Atlanta metro area.  I was surprised to find quite a many familiar faces on the list.  I can't say they were friends, but one of them was an acquaintance with whom I had worked on a church start-up, and the others were just faces that I had recognized from various church events and things around the city.

Back to the first person.  He's my brother-in-law (my sister-in-law's husband).  I hesitated to offer an opinion on this subject because it's one of the many subjects on which I don't really have a solid opinion.  However, I can tell you this: I am extremely careful not to be around him without someone else being there.  I'm certainly not afraid that he might harm me, because that's not his style.  But, I am concerned that he might either come on to me or that for any reason whatsoever, there might be an issue down the road... I don't want no drama, so I avoid the appearance...

Secondly, I do not allow my daughter to be alone with him under any circumstances.

Thirdly, some of you may remember that I mentioned a while back that my 9-year-old godson was suddenly having "accidents" with his bowels.  This is his son.  The first thing I asked him, and my sister-in-law, was whether anyone was touching him inappropriately.

To sum it up, the thoughts will be there, but I don't treat him any differently.  In fact, I really love him a lot as a brother, and consider him to be an otherwise good person with a serious struggle.

I'm just getting to this. I appreciate your candor. You, along with Sister T, have helped me with something. Thanks.

[themidiroom]

I'm just getting to this. I appreciate your candor. You, along with Sister T, have helped me with something. Thanks.

And what are we? chopped liver?   

[sjonathan02]

And what are we? chopped liver?