Reader comments
Utah sex-registry law challenged

yes florida does also have a similar law. but they only ask for scren names and email. Not passwords. I would have to agree about the password issue cause then anyone can sign on and changes things or even plant things. Not that anyone in law enforcement never has planted anything.

Given that a 12 year old kid was put on the Utah registry for relations with a 13 year old girl (sex with a minor was the charge and given that kids were threatened to be put on the registry if they didn't plead to a lesser charge, this for passing around cell phone pictures of themselves with each other I'll say good riddens to the registry if it goes away.

If the people in charge of enforcing a law don't apply common sense, then the law needs to go.

My kids are still alive and untouched thanks to the fantastic job our law enforcement does to protect my children's rights. Let face it, if a person wrongfully touches, or stalks, my child and the law does nothing about it then I will. Also, to have to prove who you are writing to or otherwise making contacts with because you were "convicted" for this in the past is a small price to pay for what you did. I support our enforcement agents.

They might as well just keep them in jail because these sex offenders are obviously not finished serving their time. If they are this dangerous, they should not be part of society but should be stamping license plates.

This assumption by Bird that Mr. Doe will commit more crimes and that he wants to protect children is not valid. He would next assume that his neighbors are criminals and would want to see what's on their computers. As a sex offender Mr. Doe will be monitored anyway. Then, if and only if he commits another crime pursue the invasion of his private files not before. If you want to assume something, assume that now he has been punished and paid his debt to society he will never commit another crime. Innocent until proven guilty

Despite what they say about having to get warrants, the password requirement gives law enforcement carte blanche to conduct warrantless searches, just like giving them the key to your house and then expecting them not to use it. If they can do it, they will, unless the courts stop them.

Simple thing to change one's screen name and password. In my mind, it's probably better to prohibit them from registering with any site where children go to chat and/or leave personal information - just like prohibiting them from going to playgrounds where children play. Then, when one gets caught doing this, lower the boom big time.

When an individual makes a decision to commit sexual abuse, they lose their rights and should be subject to any and all laws. There is nothing that is too severe for such crimes.

You harmed another child or adult. Why are you worried about your harm? Think of what you did to others. Their life will be forever changed, and yours will to as a sex offender. Keep the sex offender registery!

Irrepairable harm? If the clown is doing something serious enough to go to jail then my guess he has done irrepairable harm to someone else.

He is a loser and that is why we have the law. We want to keep our kids away from him. Geez!!!

Well I don't think any pedophile or sex offender should be allowed on any kind of website like Myspace or facebook where kids or anybody go on where there are pictures posted. You know it's not for "social" reasons or to meet new friends, it's to prowel. So hey I think it's OK to have a law like that in place and it isn't really unconstitutional at all cause these people take away the rights of their victims everytime they sexually assault someone. So why is it everyone is concerned about the sex offender but not about the rights of those they offend. Makes no sense to me. So I think the Federal Judge isn't thinking right.

I disagree strongly with the Supreme Court that sex offenders cannot recieve capital punishment. Sex offenders like this do not belong on this planet, let alone on myspace! This man deserves the death penalty. And so does the judge and lawyers who are trying to help him!

I totally agree with Chuckles55 comment at 7:37am. No sex offender should be on any chat site where kids have their pictures or any kind of info about themselves. And I also am in agreement with Liz who commented at 7:44am. They weren't giving any care for the person, especially the child, when they harmed them. They could have cared less about the way their victim's lives and the lives of the families of those they abused will change cause of their senseless act. So the sex registry needs to stay and laws need to enforced to protect. Law enforcement need to also think of the rights of the victims, the perpetrators lost their rights when they did the crime!

.... Maybe just require a link in their "My Space" profile that takes people directly to the offenders SONAR registry, they get to socialize... and the people get to know the danger they socailize with :)

There are MORE sexual preditors online now than every before. If you have been convicted of a sex crime, your name should be there permanantly!!! Most of the time, sex offenders DO commit more offenses. I beleive its a GOOD LAW!!! You notice his NAME wasnt used,, why not? He isnt a minor!

I agree with JKTIJ: If they're dangerous enough to continue to hassle, they're dangerous enough to be in jail. If they've served their time, let'm be.

Also, criminal records are public records. I don't think I would have a problem with a government or private company trying to keep track of these people and post their info (subject to liability for errors). My objection is to criminalizing the individuals for failing to do this work for the state by registering.

Common Sense: do you have a link to your source? If you do any research at all you will see that there is actually a fairly low rate of repeat sex offenders.

Mahershalalhashbaz: What do you know about this particular case? All we know is that he was in the Air Force and had sex with a minor, how do we know he wasn't some 18 year old kid who had sex with his 17 year old girlfriend? (Although the way it was worded implies otherwise). My point is that everyone sees the words "Sex offender" and they want maximum punishment without understanding what the case actually was.

The "Oh no, think of the children" meme is getting tiresome. If you are worried about your kids on myspace, teach them to think about what they are doing while on myspace. It isn't the governments job to take care of our children.

You are wrong! Sex offenders have one of the lowest re-offense rates of any type of criminal. Most of them do NOT commit new offenses once they have served their time. And any law that gives police tacit approval to conduct warrantless searches is NOT a good law.

I agree if you are convicted of hurting ANY child physically,emotionally,and or mentally in a sexual manner your rights should be stripped! think about it ..what have these offenders stripped from our children for the REST of their lifes! They dont even need computers!. My problem is jail, is not the answer..why should our tax dollars feed,cloth,educate these people when we as law bidding citizens struggle everyday to provide neccesities! Stick them on and dessereted island and they can have at each other!!!! The offenders deserve no rights!!!!

The recidivism rate for Sex offenders is one half of one percent. Compare this to the recidivism rate of all other offenders at between 87 and 95 percent. In case you don't want to do the math that means that out of two hundred sex-offenders, one will commit another offense, whereas out of all other offenders 180 will recommit. As we continue to get in a flurry against "sex-offenders" it may be wiser to stop the witch hunt and allow all people their Constitutional rights. But for the grace of God goes nearly every human because if you think (under Utah law sodomy means oral sex!) that you are innocent of anything and everything under these laws you are likely mistaken (kudos to those who are without sin). Additionally and most frighteningly--it takes nothing but a rumor to set you up for accusations, charges and more for sex crimes. Those who think our system is just and that all who are charged and even sentenced are actually guilty are utterly and completely wrong. Stop the witch hunt and stop singling out a group of people because you think that "using common sense" justifies that their Constitutional rights be violated.