Comments on: Press Release: Group calls registries useless in child’s horrific death

By: R.Arens

R.Arens — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 14:26:09 +0000

They like to treat a sickness with the wrong medicine because it’s politically favorable.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 10:33:01 +0000

In the case of this incident, the appropriate punishment is to seek the death penalty(unfortunately repealed in Illinois in 2011). Not additional registration; which solves nothing. The crime is a capital offense crime and should be treated as such, not a sexual one.

May the lord comfort the lost little one in his loving arms.

By: rpsabq

rpsabq — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 07:48:12 +0000

This was very good. The only thing I wish we would do is to go ahead and acknowledge that there are dangerous people on the registry. This is a fact and a yet another reason why the registry, in its current form, is very broken and must be abolished. Dangerous people don’t belong on a registry, they belong in prison for life. We do this everyday in the name of protecting the public from those who would harm. With 800,000 names, the registry is useless and gets in the way of identifying those very few. Since they shouldn’t be on the registry in the first place, what need is there for one at all? Instead we’re all lumped into the same group and then when one of those few act out, the movement takes a real hit. We should more willingly acknowledge this publicly when appropriate. Don’t we have little sympathy for that rare person who is on the registry and is intent on harming children and proves himself to actually be a monster? In fact, many say that it is because of these very few why any changes to the registry would be unacceptable. Talking about this would go a long way in relating better to the public because another fact is, we are all on the same side! We can all agree – NO one wants children harmed. We have to get people to understand – the registry actually HARMS way more children than it could ever help.

By: mark carlisle

mark carlisle — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 02:43:30 +0000

The sex offender registration keeps me from getting truck driver jobs even after my offense was in 1997, the background investigation group First Advantage in Indiana reports to employers that your registered. Fed Ex requires no felony convictions within 10 years of applications but being on the registry shows up current and you are disqualified from employment. Walmart and swift trucking and other big truck companies same results.

By: freedomwriter

freedomwriter — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 01:49:05 +0000

Has the registry ever stopped a crime?

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 22:49:22 +0000

Unfortunately, horrible events like this only fuel the hatred of sex offenders and will end up increasing punishment. Policy and lawmakers use this as evidence that the list needs to be more harsh instead of rational and public opinion supports that.

By: The Truth

The Truth — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 22:21:06 +0000

In reply to Lila Folster. You're correct. I've been on the registry for 16 years, have never been arrested for anything or even been in trouble post confinement, obtained one Bachelors degree and finishing up another degree, am married and raise my children in home yet still I'm seen as a threat. We make over 150k a year and places outright refuse to rent to us in places like Georgia because they outright deny anyone on the registry no matter how long ago the conviction was yet allow everyone else to include include murderers. The registry is nothing more than punishment and really is Jim Crow 2.0.

By: Larry T

Larry T — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 22:05:20 +0000

Very well written Sandy.
The problem is that this is ramping up to an election year and both the politicians and media are going for ratings. The media is going to emphasize this terrible crime to stir up the public and outrage. The politicians are going to respond in a tough on crime platform. As we all know, these unreasonable laws have been created for political purposes, not public safety. They started as an appeasement and have become a political tool towards reelection which is once again all about the money and as long as it is about money, expecting positive change is extremely unlikely. I hate to sound like a pessimist but for the last 14 years this has been the central focus in my life. The politicians don’t care a fig about public safety or effectiveness of the legislation that is passed as long as it guarantees reelection and more money.
I want to thank all involved for their time and efforts and pray that we can continue to pick away at the wall of injustice.

By: Lila Folster

Lila Folster — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 19:45:54 +0000

Hello Sandy, I just want to make a basic point. The crime was horrific, but should not be allowed to be escalated to affect those who have not reoffended. My husband was on the registry for years after serving a 10 year prison term. It adversely affected our whole family. He recently passed away and my main point is, the punishment doesn’t even end with death, for the family, the stigma never goes away. Even if the registrant was innocent, which many are, it carries on. That leaves many looking at a hopeless future and no way to turn. Our legal system is terribly broken and ineffective. My biggest question is, if they are so dangerous WHY would they release them, especially since they have nothing left and no where to go? You back a wild animal in a corner and they WILL defend themselves. If they are an actual predator, their actions are uncontrollable. A very high percentage of those on the registry have NEVER reoffended. It is like the difference between a killer and a serial killer. Someone may kill another in a fit of rage and serve their time and never commit another crime. A serial killer on the other hand, is driven by an uncontrollable urge within their mind. Consequently they can spend years without their crimes being detected, resulting in a life sentence when the body count is discovered. My final question is has anyone ever heard of a convicted serial killer being released?