You are definitely not alone in your feelings that this is a “witch hunt”. I’ve often said the same thing. The other thing I’ve come to realize, it’s also mirrors the smokers; not many want to stand up for them since they are viewed as being the “pariahs of society”. Even the ones who feel this treatment is the wrong thing to do (smoking bans or SORA) are fearful of saying anything as they might be persecuted as well. Not to mention the politicians who love grandstanding on the issues.

I fully agree with you that it should be done when our sentence is over. This is why I’ve lost hope. Because mine should have been done two years ago. But just when I was looking to finally be off, I am told, they turned it to a life time of parole. Which, in turn, made me lose A LOT of hope.

There’s only one thing I disagree with- who determines “legal age”? It’s 16 in CT, 17 in NY and 18 in RI. Just for examples. Nature and natural instinct has been forgotten because of modern mankind. I don’t give a single damn about how modernized we are as a society, no one can change the NATURAL course of the human animal instinct. By NATURE males attract to youthful, fertile females (even if reproducing is not part of your plan) and so when the 17 yr old hooks up with the very mature for her age looking 14 yr old, because of NATURAL ATTRACTION, we want to punish him for it.

I have an issue with this. And always have, even when I was a teenager who was attracted to and many times romantic with OLDER women.

We are a society in denial. We want formulas and cookie cutter ways of life. Then count me out because I’m more realistic than that. I am not encouraging adults to go hook up with super young teens, I’m just offering food for thought here. It seems even some of us RSO’s are taking the bait that someone who is 15 LOOKS 15 as if age has a certain PHYSICAL APPEARANCE attached to it.

I know people who are 22/23 yrs old and are fed up with being treated like they are 12 when they try to enter a bar establishment for happy hour. Some older people appear young, some younger people appear older. And the same goes for how each individual carries themselves. The girl I was with that I got in trouble for because she was 1 yr under the legal age, could easily have passed for 19 by her physical appearance and her maturity that she displayed.

The same way we as RSO’s get blanketed and bunched into one basket, we ALL do the same to certain age groups as if we live in caves and teenagers only look like the ones we see on kid’s TV shows on Nickelodeon or something.

Let’s get real and stop worrying about what people think of being realistic. Sometimes the truth stings a bit and those who don’t like the truth will make you feel bad for speaking it.
Make me feel bad. It’s not going to change my realistic POV on human nature.

Everything you say is correct. That is why more of us MUST begin challenging our cases in court. The perfect time to do this is AFTER incarceration and AFTER probabtion. When your sentence is done, it should be done and there are many judges across the country, when presented with a strong case and sees the process laid out in front are usually dumb-founded at how our judicial system has been twisted and turned in order to shame and punish a specific set of citizens. Our cases, my included, are strong and are winning relief. The main reasons why this is possible is because “ex post facto” (you cannot continue to add punitive sentences AFTER a person is convicted) is a well known, universally accepted, cornerstone of the American Justice System. Also most Judges are not aware what is going on. It must be explained to them by a good lawyer who knows his stuff. Finally, the research that is making its way into the mainstream is unanimous that the registry is not working well for anyone and is making everyone less safe. If you are waiting for the laws to change and letter to arrive that says, “sorry, nevermind” you will take this to your grave. That is NOT how our justice system works. Yes we do change laws but in order for you to gain relief for your case you must go and fight your case. As more and more of us take on the challenge, and win we are beginning to make a statement that those in power will one day have to acknowlege: Lifetime registries and all that come with them don’t work. Educate yourself, fight your case. It is your best hope.

Increased punishment for me and my family . I was a stupid teen and the girl lied about her age now not only did I do three years in prison and three on parole now I got to register for 25 years which turned in to life when does the chance to me normal again come. My wife a kids all have to deal with this list and teir system that makes it hard to be a parent with little involvement with their teachers and for me to find a place to live and work. This paper registry dose not stop me from committing a crime. i do with my actions to grow up and my thoughts of a normal life and my emotions toward a older woman my wife . I don’t find teenagers attractive any more because I am not a teenager. Therefore kids need to be teached not only how to have safe sex but to not have sex until their of legal age. Preventing sex crimes starts with social change of what’s cool and what’s not. I teach my teens it not about be popular its about living our own life not trying to impress others like I tried. All this registration dose is increase the chance of failure in it working the justice system makes money off of me and many others to put up a public witch hunt. Its been 12 years sense my crime and I don’t have a bone in my body that would repeat it . so when do I ask dose my social change occur and I can stop being so popular.

Fred, thats what goes on in mymind constantly. Thinking of way that we could all unite on this. As I said before, one person will not get the eyes/ears of society. Not on this cause. We must unite.

You did an excellent job at pointing out the effects of the registry. I believe the reason’s behind the registry are much more simple. It makes money and it makes it look like legislatures are doing something.

That is exactly right. Their are 450,000 of us not including friends and family supporters. We have the potential to be a very loud and noticeable voice, if we could just unite.