Registered Sex Offenders

[Atonement]

Okay, so for my Christmas Eve activity, my step-sister and I looked up the registered sex offenders in my county and stuff by her apartment. Fun stuff. Well, I thought you guys should try it out and be aware were registered sex offenders are.

Remember, in most jurisdictions, you don't have to be convicted with a sex offense to be on the registry, just accused.

NOTE! If this could trigger you in any way, make you paranoid, or you do not want to know, do not do this.

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Now, for your nation... Canadian Sex Offender databse, the UK ViSOR, and the Australian MAKO sex offender registry are only accessible by law enforcement agencies.

United States of America (http://www.familywatchdog.us/) - just use the search by address, enter your address, and it will give you a map of your address relative to locaiton of registered sex offenders homes.

Canadaian - Unavailable

UK - Unavailable

Australia (http://www.mako.org.au/list.html) - There is a list, but not an organized search. The search is only allowed to law enforcement.

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So you Americans, feel free to tell how you feel about the people that may or may not live near you or your school.

Please leave out addresses and names.

As for you non-USA members, what is your opinion of the sex offender registry and your own nations system?

[CaptainObvious]

I have a problem with sexual offender registries being publicly searchable. It invites vigilanteism, is a serious invasion of privacy, and infringes seriously upon the foundational principle of a second chance at life after prison.

And for what? Who is really made safer? Nobody... but some histrionic overprotective soccer moms are shut up.

[Atonement]

Well my state (www.iowasexoffender.com) is filled with disclaimers of how these records are handled and no treatment and action is necessary etc. whatever. Also, my state's public registry only has sexual offenses against minors. So rapists, etc. are not in there unless against a minor.

"NOTE: Not all Registrants Appear on this Site
-- This site does not contain the entire list of sex offenders registered in Iowa.
-- Your community law enforcement and county sheriff's office are aware that these subjects are in the community.

-- Any actions taken by you against these subjects, including vandalism of property, verbal or written threats of harm or physical assault against these subjects, their families or employers can result in your arrest and prosecution.

-- You must contact your police department or Sheriff's office immediately if you believe a crime is being, or will be, committed. If you have any questions regarding this matter, contact your local police department or county sheriff's office."

You have to agree to this in order to view my state's site. Now, you saying this invites vigilanteism? No. Only if they are STUPID enough to do something.

Now, as for why?

I mean, if I had a 6 year old daughter, I would like to know if my next door neighbor has a criminal record of raping young women. Its something that I would feel better being aware of.

And yes, there are sick people out there that aren't on the list, but history is the best predicter of the future, no?

[Sapphire]

I think that all measures possible should be used to keep children safe. If that involves having a public database that slightly infringes on a predators rights, so be it.

[Underground_Network]

Wow, there is a total of one sex offender in my town, and my town is one of the biggest "towns" (as opposed to cities) in my state. That's pretty interesting. 0.o

But yeah, I don't really have an opinion on making that information public. A strong argument could be made for either side and I choose to remain neutral...

[Atonement]

My opinion is if they were going to commit the crime, they would be aware of this because everyone is, they then forfeit their right to complete privacy.

[Sapphire]

My opinion is if they were going to commit the crime, they would be aware of this because everyone is, they then forfeit their right to complete privacy.
I agree. The safety of children should come before the rights of predatory criminals.

[ShatteredWings]

I've done this before

There are like... four in my town.

None against children. [well, duh.. there are like 6+ schools , 3 parks, and 2 daycare centers]


I think ANYONE should be able to learn where people like this live. Just for your and your children's saftey

[nachtspiegel]

My area is jam-packed full of child molesters and rapists. I didn't need a map to tell me that, though. That's why I won't let my nieces go outside alone. About two years ago, a 12 year old girl was snatched while she was walking to school. The sick bastard raped her several times then dropped her off at her school.
Because of personal experiences and because sexual offense is just so low and sick, I have personal motivation against these people.
Edit: I accidentally posted in the wrong thread. I almost posted my reply to this thread in the 'Registed Sex Offenders' thread, also. Can a mod move this to the 'Registered Sex Offenders' thread? Thanks. :)

[Eskie Dog]

Omg. I just looked it up. Im scared. One lives in my neighborhood. I think this is kinda strange since I live in a gated country club community. Isn't it illegal for sex offenders to live near kids? Cuz there are a lot of kids iin my neighborhood

[Atonement]

Omg. I just looked it up. Im scared. One lives in my neighborhood. I think this is kinda strange since I live in a gated country club community. Isn't it illegal for sex offenders to live near kids? Cuz there are a lot of kids iin my neighborhood


Um... No. Its legal for anyone to live anywhere. Mostly... But, for most registered sex offenders, depending on state, upon moving into a community, must go around the block letting people know that they are a registered sex offender and the neighbours have to sign that they are aware of this and okay with it. Now, if they person commits a crime, they are still held accountable, but the state isn't held accountable for letting a rapist into a neighbourhood with children.

[nachtspiegel]

In my city, sex offenders can't live with a certain distance of schools, playgrounds, child care centers, or anywhere else where there is a reason to believe that a group of children may be.

[Zephyr]

Wow, the things you don't know...
Two of those guys work at the same gas station in town.
How odd.

[Atonement]

Wow, the things you don't know...
Two of those guys work at the same gas station in town.
How odd.

At least they have common ground to become friends. Everyone needs friends... -.-

[Talia]

I've done this before. There's quite a few in my area, I never thought there would be o.o One even lives right next door to one of my friends ;x

[ShatteredWings]

Omg. I just looked it up. Im scared. One lives in my neighborhood. I think this is kinda strange since I live in a gated country club community. Isn't it illegal for sex offenders to live near kids? Cuz there are a lot of kids iin my neighborhood
Yes and no.
Check what kind of offence they have. I bet that there aren't any against children. No one will let a pedo live near a playground or school .

Yeah, i know that seems confusing, but there *should* be different punishments for different crimes.
I think in my state [I]streaking can get you branded as a 'sex offender', but that's far different from raping someone. I think the idiot who ran across their graduation naked should be allowed to live his life nto having to stay so many yards from a school or park

[Cindex]

It's so stupid, the sex offender system. It's horrible and needs to be completely redone. It's just plain stupid. It frustrates me horribly....

It doesn't work, by the way. Poop Chute isn't on there, and he's a registered sex offender. He lives in our town. It says we don't have any. Fail.

[Antares]

I kinda feel bad that these people are exposed for one time things but if it is for protection, then it is necessary!

And I have like 3 within 5 miles

[derletztetag483]

Ah. I have 3 within a mile. Comforting.
I think it's good to know, but I kind of wish I hadn't seen this.
In reality, what good is it going to do except scare people?
It's not like most people would move unless something actually happened. Or anything drastic like that. I do feel bad for some of them though. I mean, this doesn't say exactly what happened (and I don't mean like sexual stuff.) Like some of these people might've been set up or acted in a group or were drunk. Which isn't an excuse, but their names will always be there for a mistake they made.

[Sapphire]

I don't care what "defense" they have (drink, peer pressure etc) because they knew what they were doing. Coercion is no defense. Intoxication is no defense. If they have committed a sexual offense then they are a sex offender and should be on the register.

I have absolutely no idea how anyone can feel sorry for them. They made their bed when they broke the law. Now, they have to live with it. Their actions cannot be excused or downplayed and to attempt to do so is ridiculous and insensitive. They violated someone sexually and caused that individual God only knows what physical pain and mental anguish. They do not deserve our pity.

[pizzamon]

It was shocking for me first seeing that there are 4 people in my neighborhood. Now not so much.

[derletztetag483]

Ah, well I am not saying they shouldn't get pity. Or get off for what they did. I just can't imagine how painful that must be to see your name there. And it must be especially hard if you were wrongly accused or set up or whatever. Most of them, I agree with you 100%.

[Zephyr]

I have absolutely no idea how anyone can feel sorry for them. They made their bed when they broke the law. Now, they have to live with it. Their actions cannot be excused or downplayed and to attempt to do so is ridiculous and insensitive. They violated someone sexually and caused that individual God only knows what physical pain and mental anguish. They do not deserve our pity.

The only ones that I can sympathize for are the ones who had underage girlfriends when they were 18 or 19 years old and the girl gets pissed at him for whatever reason and turns him in for 'rape' to get even. That IS fucked up. I've seen it happen to too many good guys. I've known girls who will chronically sleep with guys in the 18-20 range willingly then turn them in afterwards. It's sickening because these guys are getting in trouble for these little girls being sluts, and for the rest of their lives, these guys have to walk around with the sex offender title for the wrong reason.

Other than that though, it is inexcusable.

[Sapphire]

Those girls should not be able to get away with it. They give us a bad name. But the guy has to be sensible about the age of the girl they are sleeping with too, just in case.

[AutumnDae]

I am not going to look. I don't want to know. I do, but I will scare myself with this knowledge. I would rather be in the dark.

[nachtspiegel]

The only ones that I can sympathize for are the ones who had underage girlfriends when they were 18 or 19 years old and the girl gets pissed at him for whatever reason and turns him in for 'rape' to get even. That IS fucked up. I've seen it happen to too many good guys. I've known girls who will chronically sleep with guys in the 18-20 range willingly then turn them in afterwards. It's sickening because these guys are getting in trouble for these little girls being sluts, and for the rest of their lives, these guys have to walk around with the sex offender title for the wrong reason.

Other than that though, it is inexcusable.

this is why, once i turn eighteen, i'll be like "show me your i.d." no joke. i'm not going to go down like that.
i looked on that registry again and found out that there is a rapist living on my old block, right down the street from the bus stop (and park) that i used to take my niece to before she moved a few blocks over and starting getting on the bus at another location. he was convicted a while back for sexually abusing a 13 year old girl. it made chills run down my spine.

[chucknorrisrules]

WOW! Chicago is, literally, infested with sex offenders. Hmm... what to do, what to do...

[Underground_Network]

^^ Yeah, I live in New Jersey, and where I live isn't too far from Newark, and its scary to see how my town has like NO sex offenders, and Newark has like HUNDREDS.

[INFERNO]

I'm undecided on this. On one hand, yes it'd be a good thing I suppose to know who/where they are if you have a kid (no I don't) but on the other hand, it's like a bulls-eye target for people to attack the sex offenders. If they do this for sex offenders, then do it for all criminals, including theft, arson, assault, murder, manslaughter, etc... . Don't simply single out the sex offenders because people find it disgusting or traumatic. A petty theft may not be very traumatizing however, it still is a crime and does violate one's personal property or person, same with sex offenders.

Either keep everyone in the dark or announce all the criminals of various crimes.

[Oblivion]

Thanks Addison.
Now I am scared to go outside :P

Well not really, but
There are like 3 molesters. Ew.
Ah well. I could punch them if the face if i saw them now that i saw their picture.

[nachtspiegel]

I'm undecided on this. On one hand, yes it'd be a good thing I suppose to know who/where they are if you have a kid (no I don't) but on the other hand, it's like a bulls-eye target for people to attack the sex offenders. If they do this for sex offenders, then do it for all criminals, including theft, arson, assault, murder, manslaughter, etc... . Don't simply single out the sex offenders because people find it disgusting or traumatic. A petty theft may not be very traumatizing however, it still is a crime and does violate one's personal property or person, same with sex offenders.

Either keep everyone in the dark or announce all the criminals of various crimes.

Thing is, sexual abusers, and more importantly, the abuses they commit, destroy lives. Someone that has committed a murder or burned a house down isn't a complete imminent threat to children. It isn't like every murder is premeditated. An arsonist or a murderer isn't likely to see a child in a park and try to lure them for their own purposes. A child molester, however, usually repeats his/her actions.

[nomatty]

the problem is though that u cant find this information out in the united kingdom

[Atonement]

HA HA. I went to the website again and out of curiousity, I put in the address the the white house. there are tons of dots around it.

1600 pennsylvania ave. Washington, District of Columbia

rofl

[Underground_Network]

^^ D.C. is not a place you want to live if you're not in the government... ("Taxation without representation")

[nachtspiegel]

I look at a lot of these people's convictions, and wonder... why the fuck are they allowed to see the light of day?

[Camazotz]

^^ Yeah, I live in New Jersey, and where I live isn't too far from Newark, and its scary to see how my town has like NO sex offenders, and Newark has like HUNDREDS.

I live in Passaic County, but one of the "nicer" towns. Anyway, I have one less than a mile away from my school. I've got about 6 total in my town. I'm not scared or paranoid at all, considering how many people live here.

[notsure101]

I got someone living right up the street from me unlike my friend who has 17+ registered people near his house i feel uncomfortablewith just onew na dmy friend found it really funny im like dude thats scary your gonna get raped

[Atonement]

Hm, thats weird, my number went from 13 in my county to 15 since I started this thread...

[Zephyr]

Now a sodomist/rapist lives a mile up the road from me...
How comforting.
lawl

[ShatteredWings]

Truly. And two child offendrs moved in near two of the elementary schools near by

[each school has one perv within a 1/2 mile]

... yeah i sent an email to thoes school's princapals

[rsc4life]

the nearest are in the urban centers outside my town... I'm not worried.