Do you think the Sex Offender Registry is a joke?

I ask a lot of these questions. I seem to get a lot of people believing that if you are on that list, you must have done something gravely wrong and deserve to be on that list. Those people think that it is NOT possible that the list may be flawed.

A man must move from his house in Oviedo, Florida by July 1, 2007 because of a 25 year old conviction of exposing himself to a child. Sounds pretty bad – but if you look a little further – he was taking a leak on the side of the road and a child just happened to see him. Did he make a good and sound decision? Probably not; however, should he be put on a list that has over 500,000 people in the U.S. on it already. This list is becoming a JOKE. Over 90% of the people on that list did not physically touch a victim. Over 50% of people on that list had nothing to do with a child.
I don't think the list is flawed, it is our legal system. I have also heard of people mooning someone which can be prosecuted as a sex crime. We need more common sense in our government and legal system. I do believe most of these offenses should be charged, but maybe not as sex crimes. For anyone with children, the list is a great idea. I just think the list should identify the exact charge. Our legal system also needs to categorize some of the charges differently.
here what I think you would not be on that list if you did not do something to a child. what I do believe nothing is being done about sex offenders, they get probotion or something cause no one wants to testify and what happens you have sex offenders on the street. I know it happened to me and many others the system has failed us.
Yes it is becoming a joke. You make a good point.
The system was set up so that people could be aware of other people who have committed acts to children. But in todays socitity it doesnt really matter what you get into trouble for. But than you have a system where the courts do what they want and it doesnt matter the details of the crime.And If you look @ most laws you would find that they are a joke to begine with. The court system isnt about whats fair but how much $$$$$$$$$$$$$ can be made. The problom is that the courts have made the guidelines of a sex offender to broad and detailed that even as innocent as taking a piss turns into something out of the twilight zone.
The list IS a joke and I question its constitutionality. I despise child molesters, but the list is not stopping any crimes, it's just creating chaos and confusion.
I think its fine when it deals with people who do molest and rape children. It does go over the line when someone is arrested for public urination and is charged as an sex offender when there is no proof he was trying to expose himself to a child. If anything change the laws so people who keep getting arrested for molesting a child don't get out of prison. Easier than moving them around the state were they aren't near any schools.
I think it's fear run amuck. While I wholeheartedly agree we need to protect our kids, the point is WE need to protect our kids. A registry which can be fairly easily violated is not protection. It's pawning of responability on the government to look out for us.And that hasn't been going so well lately.
I understand what you are saying, but why the heck do men feel the need to urinate in public? Women have to hold it until they find a restroom, men should too. As a mother, if my child was inadvertently exposed to some strange man's penis just because the guy couldn't wait to pee in bathroom , I would be upset.
Just the fact that you can quote all these infractions proves
that the list has merit. It should no doubt, be fined tuned some-
what, but it is definitely serving a purpose.


Answer:
Somewhat,as a parent is nice to know when they are living close,but most don't read the whole entry for the crime. A teen having consentual sex with his girlfriend shouldn't be on the list.
I do beleive that it has become a joke because it has evolved into the many websites that will list the locations of RSOs and many dont list the crime. I have seen the hysteria in many forums because they have seen how many sex offenders are living near them and have no way to know if that person is a dangerous SO or just soemone who with the bad luck to end up on the list because of a mistake. And from the list so many more ridiculous laws have been passed further resticting the lives of RSOs.