Comments on: It’s time for a new direction in sexual offense policy

By: Gloria Wright

Gloria Wright — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 19:02:13 +0000

So sorry to hear about this. In almost every client case I work with, attorneys start out implying that they will fight for the client and then about 99.9 % of the time, they tell their client that they should take a plea. Some clients have paid mega bucks – only to end up taking a plea and I am questioning, how can they charge fees like 20-40K for a plea deal? How much work is that? And Janet you bring up a great issue that it seems nobody understands or doesn’t care about. This is expecting the defendant to understand and make an informed choice regarding plea bargain terms. Even for those without ADHD or any kind of developmental disability or learning disability, etc. they are so distracted in court when faced with being given these choices, many times unexpectedly. When the judge asks if they understand, many just say yes, thinking they will get to go home and everything will be alright. This is most often not the case. Legally, the defendant has the right to say, I don’t know, I am not thinking clearly right now. Trouble is, most won’t do this and what would the judge say, “I can’t give legal advise” must likely. I am a former victim advocate and very often in court would see people and think, wow, this person clearly has bad judgement and no understanding of what this means. It is very sad.

By: Janet Lynn

Janet Lynn — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 06:50:28 +0000

In reply to Gloria Jean Wright.

This happened to my ex husband. He has severe ADHD and showed up to court and was giving a plea deal or told he would have an immediate trial. His case was lost on the computer for 2 years and according to him the 4 years from when he was arrested to when it went to court was held against him.

We had a reconciliation during Covid and were dating again. Although we spent most days together he had a separate place he lived. He told the court he lived at my place out of fear his roommate wouldn’t let him register there (it was near a daycare anyway). I wouldn’t let him register at my home. He was trying to find a place in time. I live in a different county than him. We went to the Sheriffs Office the day of the deadline (his adhd) to ask what to do. It was a friday and they told us to find somewhere and register Monday morning. We couldn’t find anything in time but I was going to let him register at my home and live there until he could find somewhere. His Dad was going to move here and they could get a place together. We were at the sheriff as soon as they opened Monday and they arrested him while he was registering. He has been in jail since July 2023 and won’t get out until Oct 2024.

He had a public defender and I think he got bulldozed but that is another story. He was so confident he would be found innocent combined with his lack of resources, education and adhd he was blindsided when he was offered his plea or trial that day when there was no case prep at all.

He will face the same predicament when he gets out unless I let him live with me and register with me. His Father may pass before he is released. If you find anything please contact me in some way.

By: Gloria Jean Wright

Gloria Jean Wright — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 21:26:15 +0000

Today, a client called CSI to enquire about whether or not he could attend a college ball game. The response was: “We cannot give legal advice.” His probation officer had told him to check with them because there is so much gray area. He got no answer, and this is not the first time I have heard this response. I am wondering is any reader has heard of a plea case being appealed because the defendant was not fully informed of the consequences of being on the sex offender registry and not being fully informed of the importance of immediately registering, he just signed the paperwork without realizing all that is expected and mandated or will be violated and subjected to additional charges. Seems to me that the 6th Amendment would be a good defense regarding unconstitutional conviction. Anyone have any experience with this situation…not registering in time and being arrested at your home for failure to register…I am not a paralegal or attorney, just trying to see if there is a clear path out of this for a client.

By: Tim in WI

Tim in WI — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 22:13:37 +0000

The sex registry is a gov database. It is a Gov’t property. Maintaining the machine requires speech and reenactment of the original arrest processes. The machines maintenance is a form of involuntary servitude, Intriguingly ” Involuntary servitude ” wasn’t mentioned in Smith V Doe during the probative weighing. How nice for the purveyors of database properties, who claim databases can deter crime thru knowledge. I know how my neighbor will vote because of the sign in their yard. Does my knowledge deter the neighbor from acting. Beware the purveyors, because they also claim their databases can be secured and that is false. Millions of American SSI records have recently been compromised.

By: Tim in WI

Tim in WI — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:59:33 +0000

BINGO!
Michigan State Supreme Court uses the phrase cruel and unusual punishment associated with their registry. Who has historically been morally ok with “cruel regimes” regimes? How about fascists? Do fascists abide by due process? Certainly not! Do fascist operate within militaristic governments? Do fascists engage in hyper paranoid propaganda? Do fascists engage in the use of blacklists? Do fascists engage in high amounts of warrantless policing activities. Some thinks “crypto” can be controlled by the people of the US. That is Laughable. They’ll regulate crypto like they regulate robocalls.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:22:41 +0000

It would be nice to see such measures implemented. I’m just going to share my example because I’m a registered sex offender. I was a nigh time college professor, and got to third base with a student at the college. I had NO idea that he had finished high school early and was only 17y 9m. Sure, he still lived with his parents, but that isn’t uncommon for people in their sophmore year of a local college. All of this went into evidence as well as other things to support him being early 20s.
I was sent to a max security prison, where I lived next door to death row as a “cho-mo” for 4 years, while I waited on my appeal to go through. My sentence was overturned, and I was immediately released with a court order that says in bold capital letters “NO SEX OFFENDER CONDITIONS”. But I was required to register, on a registry based on victims 16 and under. And it’s not even what I did, but where I did it. I have been out of prison, for almost 2 years to the date, and I am stared at, targeted, viewed equally as someone that ie raped a 5 years old, still can not get a job anywhere. No one, not even production factories, will hire me. When my mother passes, I will be left with no means of food, clothing, or shelter. We are talking basic human necessities because I legit made a mistake developing an intimate relationship with one of the 30,000 students at the college I taught, that had not, was not, and never would be one of my students.
The felony hurts me for employment, but the registration (because I’m required to list where I work), is what completely prevents me from getting a job. I never had as much as a ticket, and have so much to give, but I am horrendously shamed as if pre-pubescent children are my fetish. It’s not right. If the judge did not feel that I needed any type of rehabilitation or supervision around minors (no conditions in my order), how can I remotely be considered a threat to society warranting this registration? I didn’t take a risk and got caught. I made a mistake.

By: Gloria Wright

Gloria Wright — Tue, 05 Mar 2024 18:51:07 +0000

Thank you for including the quote by RBG which I had not seen before. I want to add how the innocent children, friends, relatives, employers, ministers of offenders are also harmed. The children can no longer go to the park with their offender parent or go to many other places, which most children are able to enjoy. They are no longer able to celebrate Halloween at their home and their parent cannot take them trick or treating. They are unable to have friends over to their house. They are unable to have their cousins over. They cannot attend family reunions or weddings where other children will be in attendance. They may not be able to play sports or it will be difficult since the offending parent cannot go to the school to see them play or to take them to practice. Those who are friendly with the offender in their neighborhood may feel conflicted about continuing the friendship and if they have kids who enjoyed the neighbors, how do you explain this to them? A minister may be very uncomfortable having the offender at church, being worried about the comfort level of other members and concern about liability factors. The employer may lose a fabulous worker, if another employee complains. In some areas, there is no place where an offender can live. Some who own their home, have to sell it because they cannot live in the same location if a park or a school or daycare is within a specified distance. This is very unfair to the family. In my opinion, one of the worst impacts that the registry brings to offenders is that most of the restrictions creates a life of isolation, which happens to be a risk factor – therefore, the registry puts higher risk offenders even more at risk.

By: Ray Bennett

Ray Bennett — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 18:41:29 +0000

Being a former law enforcement officer, knowing the inner workings of most Sheriff Offices, and being a registered offender myself, I truly believe the changes that need to be made will only happen when State Legislatures’ and the leadership in State Criminal Justice departments become vocal and change orientated in the Sex Offense Laws and Registry requirements. Elected Sheriffs and local law enforcement have created departments within their organizations to handle the volume of sex offense requirements and use some of those “necessary” positions to increase their budgets each year citing more registrants assigned to their particular Office. Then the funds are used for other areas of the department that County and City Leaders would not fund. Once again it all boils down to job elimination and finances, along with public ignorance about sex offense registry and it’s registrants, causing Sheriffs and Chiefs to not want to touch this “hot potato” issue or risk losing their Office. Thank you Dwayne for being on the front lines for all of us registrants.

By: E. M.

E. M. — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:06:56 +0000

I have a quick question about this? If is unconstitutional and this and that then blah blah and blah whatever it is then need to be abolish everywhere in the USA and USA territories. Another thing is I'm in NYS and I still trying to find stable housing and live my life normal but instead of getting better gets worse and you and the UN let it happens other times. So like I say stop wasting your time and ours and let's get it done the job done. Thank you

By: William Hart

William Hart — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 17:00:28 +0000

It is not now nor has it ever been about protecting children. But it’s promotion and the continuation of it’s false effectiveness have been stepping stones for media personalities and politicians for decades. Both, using fear and intimidation to further careers with total disregard for truth or the effects on peoples lives. Not just those convicted but even their mothers, fathers and children. The harm done to an offenders children, far out ways any probative value the registry has in protecting other children.
It’s just a lie built on the foundation of another lie promulgated by other liars for their own benefit.