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The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

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Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#101

Post by buro9 »

jgalt212 wrote: post #95
buro9 wrote: post #10

From everything I've ever read, there is no concept of rehabilitation in the USA. If you have ever been convicted, or even accused, of a felony or sexual crime in the USA then life as you knew it was over. The concept of being able to pay a debt to society and for that to settle the books, and to then allow those people to return to society and contribute value again... is alien to America. The problem starts with th…

fair enough, my anti-American exceptionalism friend. Please point me to an example of a society, of non-trivial size and mixed racial groups, that's doing a good job with rehabilitation and recidivism.

Europe in it's entirety.

Though Scandinavia is an outlier even then: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-...

I guess that in your binary pro/anti view of me this makes me pro-Scandinavian. I can think of worse things to be.

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#102

Post by mabbo »

vijayr wrote: post #100
mabbo wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've heard it said that much of it goes back to the Calvinists roots of American culture. The idea that there are good people and bad people, that you are one or the other. Bad people deserve to go to prison, and therefore people in prison are all bad people. Why should any mercy by shown to bad people? Why should good people have to pay to help bad people? That sounds immoral. By the same set of rules, good people d…

The ironic, depressing thing is this - strong support for the registry and openly making jokes about prison sexual assaults (in movies, real life etc). How can someone support both at the same time, is beyond my understanding.

Because the goal is for bad things to happen to 'bad' people. Both of those things are pushing that agenda.

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#103

Post by [deleted] »

Odenwaelder wrote: post #6

The US are getting weirder and weirder and weirder. I just can't wrap my head around Trump, gun laws, life-time sex-offender registries, the messed up health care system. Yet, I have only met absolutely nice, intelligent, loving americans, and I've met many. I feel sorry for them. They deserve better.

[deleted]

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#104

Post by soulnothing »

buro9 wrote: post #10

From everything I've ever read, there is no concept of rehabilitation in the USA. If you have ever been convicted, or even accused, of a felony or sexual crime in the USA then life as you knew it was over. The concept of being able to pay a debt to society and for that to settle the books, and to then allow those people to return to society and contribute value again... is alien to America. The problem starts with th…

One anecdotal story I have. I was riding home on the bus in Wilmington. A guy interrupts me asking for some cash. I get to talking asking what it's for and such. Found out he had just gotten out of jail for a possession charge.

The guy was living with his Sister and looking for a job. But due to the charge no one would hire him. I remember him being shook up over being denied a janitor job at Bob Evans. I took him for a drink, and asked him what he was going to do next. He said he had to sell one way or the other. No place would hire him, he was volunteering on the side. He needed money, and selling provided that. Although he didn't want too anymore. His end goal was to get incarcerated again. As he said three square meals and a roof.

I also had a misdemeanor for a DUI. I was turned down from a number of jobs simply due to this. I had done my time, paid everything, and volunteered after wards. Despite this because I had a DUI I was a liable employee.

There seems to be a demonization almost of a lot of things. We're often afraid to give hand outs, or offer a helping hand. Survival of the fittest to an almost extreme. Rehabilitation would be great. But I know many people who don't even believe in giving second chances. One and done sort of thing.

Do we not provide rehabilitation because we don't want to, funds, whatever. Or because we don't think they can be rehabilitated?

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#105

Post by jgalt212 »

buro9 wrote: post #101
jgalt212 wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

fair enough, my anti-American exceptionalism friend. Please point me to an example of a society, of non-trivial size and mixed racial groups, that's doing a good job with rehabilitation and recidivism.

Europe in it's entirety. Though Scandinavia is an outlier even then: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/sweden-closes-... I guess that in your binary pro/anti view of me this makes me pro-Scandinavian. I can think of worse things to be.

Europe is not doing a good job on recidivism. Please provide counter-evidence. And Sweden is rather mono-chromatic.

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#106

Post by InitialLastName »

verulito wrote: post #96
noxToken wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm gonna go against the grain here. I'll preface this by saying that I think all sex-offender cases should be handled on a case-by-case basis, and if we use a bit of common sense, things would be a lot better for everyone. Here's a scenario that is likely rare but plausible. Some girl and boy both at age 15 could be sexting each other. Pics are exchanged, and the pictures are removed from the phone and placed on a c…

The problem with "common sense" is that Americans have so little of it. Even though it's entirely legal, to most Americans a 40yo dating a 20yo may as well be illegal. And yet those were the ages of my grandparents when they met, who remained married until death and produced a wonderful family.

Americans can't feel that strongly about it... the current president and his (current) wife are 24 years apart in age.

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#107

Post by mistermann »

jacquesm wrote: post #94
mistermann wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Myself and half the guys and girls I grew up with are also guilty of sexual assault based on many people's current definition.

By what definition would that be?

Touching or suggestive language without explicit verbal or written consent would be one example.

I've personally been raped thusly on numerous occasions.

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#108

Post by Odenwaelder »

Delmania wrote: post #98
Odenwaelder wrote: post #6

The US are getting weirder and weirder and weirder. I just can't wrap my head around Trump, gun laws, life-time sex-offender registries, the messed up health care system. Yet, I have only met absolutely nice, intelligent, loving americans, and I've met many. I feel sorry for them. They deserve better.

Money and baby boomers will pretty much answer any question you have.

Is it really that easy?

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#109

Post by Arizhel »

Odenwaelder wrote: post #6

The US are getting weirder and weirder and weirder. I just can't wrap my head around Trump, gun laws, life-time sex-offender registries, the messed up health care system. Yet, I have only met absolutely nice, intelligent, loving americans, and I've met many. I feel sorry for them. They deserve better.

No, they don't deserve better. As a wise Frenchman once said, every nation gets the government it deserves.

Besides, if you're only met "nice, intelligent, loving americans", you haven't spent much time in America, or you weren't the "wrong" ethnicity in your interactions with them.

Re: The sex-offender registry can be a life sentence

#110

Post by galdosdi »

lb1lf wrote: post #26
gigatexal wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

America is hell-bent on not being like Europe even given the good there is to learn from.

-Oh, there's no such thing as a perfect society, IMHO - but when it comes to crime and punishment, I do think the US could benefit from taking a leaf or two from our books. However, there are a couple of key differences (still IMHO!) which makes it difficult to compare the two. Most notably, perhaps - we do not elect judges. Nor do we elect police chiefs. The latter are positions you apply for as you would any other;…

In the US electing police chiefs is rare (but can happen under the Commission style of city government).

Prosecutors, however, are often elected, and you can imagine the incentive problems.

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