Reader comments
Utah sex-registry law challenged

62 comments   |   Read story

getting really sick | 4:21 p.m. July 1, 2008
I'm so sick of the double standard we have in our system right now. Other criminals are just as much of threat to my children, yet they don't have to register for life. Registering involves giving serious personal info that is posted online for anyone to look at. If it's "necessary" for the safety of my children in regard to sex offenders, why not burglars, (particularly home invaders)murderers, and assaulters (there are plenty of people convicted of assault that aren't "sex offenders)?" This is just getting to the point of absolute stupidity. And the registering does NOT protect my children against the sex offenders who haven't been caught yet. It gives an extreme false sense of security to those who claim it's so wonderful. The fact is, in the world we live in today, with so many people totally screwed up, my children aren't really "safe" anywhere.
@nels | 5:04 p.m. July 1, 2008
Personal experience there?

They should just be taken and buried in a landfill with the rest of the trash. ANYONE that would do that to a child is only worth their weight in fertilizer for daisies.
Anonymous | 5:32 p.m. July 1, 2008
It is hilarious the hate here. Lets see, 120 (B) Carnal Knowledge and 125 Sodomy of a Minor - well that already tells me it was a teenaged girl, otherwise his charges would be 120 (A) RAPE, and 125 Sodomy of a Child.

Plus, I do believe this article is incorrect in stating he would be a lifetime registrant. The elements for the UCMJ Offense are different that the State Statue, especifically in the element of age. If the girl was over 14, then he would not be a lifetime registrant - it would tranfer to Utah State Law as two counts of Unlawful sexual activity with a minor (ages 14-16). Or two counts of 18 USC 2243, Sexual Abuse of a Minor. And, 18-months is not the type of sentence a pedophile recieves as punnishment.

This guy is probably some young military guy who got involved with a teenager, a laspe of judgment. However, his actions are still inexcusable, as they are illegal. And, he was punished by a just court of law - so who are you all to punish him - you're not judges.
Comments continue below
beenthere | 5:53 p.m. July 1, 2008
more current studies in Wyoming, Ohio, Arizona, Texas, Minnesota, and even Utah, among others,have shown a lower recidivism for sex offenders who complete treatment than for any other crime. Older studies are now invalid with current treatment methods. Google it, as I did.
>As far as sex offenses, yes they are terrible crimes, as are many other crimes. And they can leave life-long scars, but they can be healed if dealt with appropriately, as with any emotional or physical injury. And sex offenders can also heal.
>Legally, anything AFTER a sentence is completed or is terminated by the board of pardons that removes rights or adds or changes punishment in any form, violates the ex post facto provisions of the constitution, as well as the rights of the 4th, 14th, and possibly the 5th ammendments. Read them for yourself.
>These laws apply to EVERYONE. There are no exceptions for burglars, murderers, speeders, or even sex offenders. And sex offenders can be found in law enforcement, legislators, and your own family. Just read or listen to the daily news.
Cartographer | 7:20 p.m. July 1, 2008
This law has little chance of ever protecting anyone. The registry only requires registered sex offenders to update registry information every six months, unless it�s a change in �primary residence, any secondary residences, place of employment, vehicle information, or educational information� in which case they are required to register within three business days. So registered sex offenders could just change the passwords or open new internet accounts the day after registering and still be in legal compliance with the registry requirements for up to six months. Also if someone was intending to commit a crime online, I seriously doubt they would use an internet account that they had on record with the State. Plus about two-thirds of the registered sex offenders are no longer on probation or parole. Therefore neither the Department of Corrections nor any other law enforcement agency can enter their homes to examine their computers and verify that they are complying with the registry requirements without a warrant.
Liberalism run amuck! | 7:24 p.m. July 1, 2008
I am from Califonia and here we protect the guilty. After all, what right to you have to judge someone else? There is no evil (except GWB and Christians). Moral behavior is relative! It depends on what "is" is! You people are discriminating against these nice, misunderstood people by calling them sex offenders!
Ken | 8:31 p.m. July 1, 2008
There are several degrees of murder with different punishments. A criminal can pay their debt to society and start to put their lives back together. But there is only one degree of sex offenders. A child molester must wear the scarlet letter of his/her offence for a long time. But is that fair? There is a big difference between a man who gets a thrill in flashing and a child predator and rapist who uses violence.
States want to pass tougher sex offenders laws after the fact. Sex offenders on the registry who go through a treatment program don't usually re-offend. And Utah has the numbers to back it up. Jack Ford/ Utah Department of Corrections: �According to our statistics, if you complete the treatment program, you're not going to re-offend. Utah did a 13-year study of 400 sex offenders who completed the treatment program. Of those 400, only nine ever went back to prison. And of those nine, only two were for new sex offenses. That's only half of one percent -- not exactly the public's perception of sex offenders on the registry.� Not all x-sex offenders are out looking to do it again.
justanotherutahn | 11:28 p.m. July 1, 2008
I'm all for requiring e-mail addresses and online identities. And using that information to keep offenders off of social networking sites.

I do however take issue with requiring passwords. It becomes way too easy for someone to plant evidence. That's not fair to the offender.

If an offender is later accused of having such and such chat with a kid. How hard will it be for his/her defense attorney to show that so many hundreds of state correctional officers had access to the account and therefore we can't be sure who actually was involved in the chat. That isn't fair to the public.
False sense of security | 11:32 p.m. July 1, 2008
The registry doesn't make us safer. It makes us 'feel' safer. I agree with 'getting really sick' and the comments he/she left, the registering doesn't really protect us. Criminals of all types are out there and they are people that we know, associate with, etc. It doesn't mean they are going to always be that way. People can change and do change often, becoming much better people in the process. Cruel and unusual punishments like a registry turn a 0-5 year sentence into 15 years or lifetime.
self | 11:14 p.m. July 21, 2008
I can see a sex ofender list with the local police station. but I have a hard time seeing what good it dose to be publicly posted on the web. can anyone exsplane this. I can see that when a child comes up missing or a sex crime has ocured then the police can get there info and seek out the known sexoffender. but not the public part of the list. it places these sex offenders in a spotlight that realy dose no good that I can see. Just a place for witch hunters to go hunting. Also sex offender are one thestate DNA bank meening that they have DNA from all convicted sexofenders.
self#2 | 11:16 p.m. July 21, 2008
from what I understand they also want the E-MAIL account and password. sounds like wire tap on a phone to me. just like wanting to open your personal mail out of your mail box.
no hope | 5:18 p.m. Feb. 16, 2009
AFTER DOING YOUR JAIL TIME AND DOING TEN YEARS OF GOOD TIME A PERSON SHOULD BE RELEASE FORM THE REGISTRY! IN THE NEAR FUTURE ALL CRIMES OF OUR NEIGHBORS WILL BE ON THE REGISTRY , KILLER -ROBBERS - HITTING YOUR WIFE- SPEEDING - DRUG'S - SELLING YOUR BODY- EVERYTHING!!!! THE ONLY ONE'S THAT HAVE A CONSTITUTION IS THE RICH!!!!!!THE TRUTH DOSE NOT WORK ONLY MONEY TALKS!!!!

Add your comment

Comments are monitored. Any comments found to be abusive, offensive, off-topic, misrepresentative, more than 200 words or containing URLs will not be posted.

Words Remaining

E-mail address: For internal use only. We may want to contact you to publish your comment (not your e-mail address) in the newspaper or for a separate story idea.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

Aggies blow away T-birds

Half empty? 95% attendance is... more than half (50% in case you were...

Utes won't respond to Hall

You can't kid us. There is no way you played for BYU with stupid remarks...

Emily - I do know some of what you are going through. My heart aches for...

Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal

I couldn't agree more. "I think it is time both coaches talk to their...

Sure there have been Ute players in the past that have said they hate BYU in...

was a major force against POR. He could pose a real problem for Boozer and...

@Bro Chuck's Rant's n Rave's: "Who cares how many pages are in what Health...

How many touch downs did the Utes have in the game against BYU?

Poor Max. What an asterisk to his whole season. All those wins. And THIS...

The truth is a lot of fans get out of line. (ON BOTH SIDES!) The solution has...

Advertisements