Jul
01
Do You Live Near a Pedophile?
For some reason I’ve been thinking about pedophiles lately. Hmm. Well anyway, just a reminder that the State of North Carolina has a very nice website accessing the sex offender registry. It can be searched by name, zip code, and more. Hopefully the scarlet letter approach will shame future nutjobs from spreading their sickness. Now if only the state would treat murderers so unkindly.
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July 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I think one thing that should be clear is that the sex offender registry is more than just pedophiles…not everyone on that registry is one.
NC’s registry is extremely vague. It includes heinous criminals like rapists and pedophiles, for sure. But as far as I’m aware, it also apparently includes some relatively tame offenses too, such as indecent exposure, public intercourse, and some statutory cases (for example a 22 year old caught with a 17 year old who lied about her age, etc).
I’m not saying they aren’t crimes, obviously—just not worthy of the same scorn as a rapist or pedophile. If you find someone on that registry in your neighborhood, you should find out for what violation before you freak out….the registry tells at the bottom of the page for each offender.
July 1st, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Great point, Rob!
July 1st, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Anytime I have checked the registry, I have noticed these relatively “tame” offenses involve men in their forties and fifties with girls/boys under 17. in addition, the so-called “Sexual Offense” or “Indecent Liberties” charges have typically been plead down from something more severe.
Bottom line is, as a parent I reserve the right to lump them all in as a group to be avoided at all costs.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Neighborhood’s clean. Thank you for the site!
July 1st, 2009 at 3:01 pm
At a guess, I’d say it’s more effective to treat someone’s sickness than to shame them out of it.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I second what Rob said. While one can thump his chest and say lump them all together, I would challenge them to think – is that a more or less effective way of protecting children? Seems like they think it is, but without any proof.
I have no tolerance for pedofiles, but people can and do get caught committing a tamer offense.
By lumping them all together, our government dollars get spread wider, which I would have to think leaves less to focus on pedofiles.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Of course, I mean pedophiles. My spelling is slower than my typing.
July 1st, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Yeesh – I think you can somewhat tell the “severity” of the offense by how much time they got on probation or in jail. Though that doesn’t take way the creepiness of it all.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:15 pm
You know I have to agree with Rob as well. I found out recently someone I know is on this list. The charge happened in another state and there was mutual consent between the two to engage in sexual activities. I think she was 15-16 and he was 18 or 19 at the time. Although there was mutual consent that state proceeded to make a case out of it and he actually served time for the offense. I couldn’t imagine the embarrassment he must feel when updating his address or mug shot for this website… As well how about finding someone to employ you?? I agree though that this site is a good thing but maybe they should list more in detail of the crime and not just the term of the charge itself. I am more concerned about the old creepy guys that have a real problem and not teenagers that are probably unaware of the severity of such laws if caught by parents who would prosecute anybody for being with there child even though its mutual.
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:59 am
Unfortunately, everyone within a five mile radius of me is a 50+ year old man convicted of non-consensual sex with someone younger than 16. Nothing compelling can be said to change my opinion of that.