This is a real concern to the families of the accused sex offenders, especially now that they are putting juveniles on these lists and online for life. What I don't understand how they are suppose to know that they are doing anything illegal. Years ago it was not. It just makes the national list a form of punishment for life, instead of what the lists are suppose to be.

It was orginally meant to warn the public of potental predators, but not it is not used for that purpose at all. There is no credibillity to the list now.

I am the mother of a now sex offender. My son at 17 was involved in a relationship with a 13 year old. 14 years ago this was not concidered illegal. He has always been immature for this age. He has ADDHD issues. I took him out of the public school system cause of the type of "friends" he associated with. Now this, being on the sex offenders list for life for falling in love. They both lose their innocense, but he is being punished or it. He is a threat to no one, other than himself. He took the plea offer because he feared imprisonment and was told by his lawyer that he would be required to register for 12 years and that he would not appear on the website if he took the offer. Two days before his 18th birthday he found out from one of his friends that he was on that site. I called there and was told that the plea offer he took put him on it for life. I called his lawyer, he called the corrections office himself and called me back and he was checking into this matter. He won't talk to he and the the secretary says he's still working on it. He will until the day he dies or I do, which ever comes first. He has 2 years probation and 10 years parole. He has been under house arrest since 9/25 and it's my understanding they can do this up to 5 years. I blame myself because if he would have stayed in school, he may found someone closer to his age and not so willing to push the sex issue that she was. My son told me, "Even though my life, freedom wise is basically over, I feel relieved, because I'm not obligated to her anymore. She told me that I would always be obligated to her." No one that knows him can understand this action towards him. I have always tried to protect my kids, but I didn't see this coming. I never thought that teen sex could be turned into a crime. I always thought the list represented the true preditors that prey on children, women and even men. It holds no credibility to me now. It's just a devise to punish someone for life. In this case the law was the crime.

Yes, these are everywhere with enough info to get the offender and or their family killed. Even if the offender is a juvenile who's only crime was falling in love and being immature enough to act on it and not knowing they were braking any law.

I don't know about the laws in every state, but in mine if the offender has live in the same house all of their lives, they don't have to move. Why don't they have lists for other criminals as well. Like someone that commits murder, manslaughter, robbery and especially armed robbery, kidnappers or just prone to outbreaks of violance. People relay so much on that list that they forget that most offenders are family or close friends that they know and trust. The victums have no fear of them. I was molested as a child by a close frined of my parents. I said nothing because I knew my Dad would have killed him and I didn't want my Dad to go to prision because of it. I told no one until my folks died and I have never told anyone who it was. God will be his judge.

Oldtimer, I have written to Fedral, State and local officials and asked others to do the same. I got a call from Lifeline, the national suicide hotline, because I wrote the Whitehouse and they sent a copy of the letter to them because of the phrase "wide awake nightmare with no end in sight." I guess that was their answer to this. I have just been blown off in a major way. You better believe a fired another letter back to them. How can anyone with a conceince justify this as what the public wants? Most of the public don't realize what this list is now being used for. I have no faith in the system anymore. Being a vicum myself, I have great sympathy for the vicums of sexual abuse. When there is no such act committed, no "victum" other than the one accused, that's just wrong. When they put stiffer penalties on offenders, which legislatures are working on now, it effects every on the list. That scares me to death! Some states have tried to impose the death penalty, so far as far as I know this was over ruled. I wish everyone would wake up to the fact that anyone at any time can fall prey to the laws. All they have to do is tick someone off.

That is just the problem. too many people feel the same way you do. Ok, with teens or even younger being put on this list, even though there was no deseption or force act, should be locked up and the key thrown away? This list, unfortunately is not being used as it was meant to be. I thought as you that it was for the worst of the worst, the scum of the earth! But that is not the case. How do the kids know they are braking the law, when the parents don't know the laws have changed? I'd suggest that you find out for yourself, research this yourself, so your children do not fall prey to it. You can best protect your children by teaching them about being touched where they shouldn't be and such and not to be afraid to tell someone about it. I have nothing but sympathy for the victims of the actual crime, but I will speak out for those that should not be on the list for life! Are you get going to wait until someone you care about falls prey to the laws of the land or are you going to warn them so it doesn't happen to them? When the law it's self is the crime, I don't feel I or anyone else whom speaks out about it as whining.

Here is a artical from the Washington post.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/26/AR2008122601722.html

Anon: Once you turned 17 you fell under the 4 year law. Under this law unless you are married, you can not be sexualy active with anyone 4 years or more younger than you.

You are luck that the charges were dropped. Did she admit she lied? Some don't and they press charges on that childs word alone, with no physical evidence at all. There is so much that lawmakers are not taking into consideration. The only way this will change is to write your legislaters. I have been told that this is what society demands. Is it really? I don't believe that anyone wants to fill a list with people that did not commit a violent act to get there. That list was suppose to be for the violent predators. You see what they where convicted of. You don't get the whole picture. There are people on the list that did nothing to be there for. That is what I have a problem with. So many people still assume that they had to do something terrible to be on it. I'd be willing to bet that no one even appologized to you. By the way, you have a lawsuit if you choose to pursue it. "Wrongfully accused."

Check out this site and tell others about it. They are trying to make a difference.



http://reformsexoffenderlaws.org/