Comments about ‘Does sex offender registry really work?’

Ex post facto laws are unconstitutional UNLESS they are not intended as punishment. Thank God for politicians like Ray who are truthful and admit that these laws ARE INTENDED as punishment. Now maybe some lawyer can rip the heart out of these knee jerk laws and end the new Hitler attitude our society seems to have adopted.

Ray is selling fear, the politicians favorite weapon. Are their enough idiots in Utah to buy it? That is the question.

I like that thought; we should have a 'potential sex offender registry.' We could submit people who we feel may become a threat to our children.

From what I've seen and heard of him, Paul Ray is the typical ambitious huckster politician who whips up public hysteria then rides the wave into higher office.

Not much different than politicians who support banning "scary-looking" guns in order to "protect our children".

A wise Democrat once said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Hysteria generally results in poor public policy.

When you hear a politician say you need his law to protect you he's the one you need to be afraid of, not the supposed demons he's trying to protect you from.

A few weeks ago my daughter reported that a volunteer at school made her very uncomfortable. She identified him from the online sex offender registry, and the school was contacted. He is no longer there.

As someone who is on the registry I don't oppose it. The problem is that people like Ray use false statistics and wrong statements to better they ability to pass such laws. Most sex offenders do not re-offend.

I had several issues since childhood that colored my view of what was acceptable in life. That doesn't excuse what I did but it does tell me that under certain circumstances people will do things that are repulsive to society. Anxiety, stress, low or no self-esteem, and a lack of understanding of what love was were all part of why I offended.

Getting caught was the best thing that happened to me. It forced me to face these issues. I have changed my entire life since then. I have a loving and supportive family and I am now able to show love in acceptable ways that I was not able to do before.

Anyone that says sex offenders cannot change are not only wrong, but they cause a fear that will be detrimental to safety for all concerned.

I will say that there are some that will not change but to lump all in the same category is unsafe.

If it worked, there would be an incredible decrease in sexual crimes. There isn't a decrease and there won't be a decrease.

A vast majority of offenders haven't even been arrested for their crimes, let alone been put on the stupid registry. And you think you're safe just because someone is listed? Think again.

The registry has sooooo many things wrong with it; the general idea is a good one. But what it has turned into is a fiasco.

Ray is absolutely wrong when he claims "Once a sex offender, always a sex offender. You can't change these guys." Nothing but FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt).

Paul Ray said that "they" will NEVER change.
My God says otherwise! My God teaches
forgiveness. The apostle Paul was a murderer.
After he was saved, he went on to write 13
of the 26 books in the New Testament.

Would you rather live next door to Charles Manson,
or a convicted Sex Offender that has given his life
to Christ and changed his nature?

I am the latter. I am a pastor and I minister to
troubled women and outlaw bikers. No one will hire
me - period. But that is OK. It is not about a job
anymore - I live for the opportunity to serve God.
I HAVE changed. I am living proof.

Paul Ray and others like him are WRONG!

I think the people in the article who pointed out the faults of the registry are correct. They've said things I've always said... it can provide a false sense of security. And why aren't there forced registry lists for other crimes? It has all the apperances of a modern day witch hunt. Also there have been some people in on these lists in various states who wind up getting targeted by vigilanties, the list tells them right where to find them so they can deliver their own "punishments".

The problem with the registry is that it ignores the family members, teachers, judges, police officers, friends, students, and others that have not offended yet.

I guess we need a 'Minority Report' defense.

Perhaps Paul Ray will be one of them. With all the laws that are being passed these days it is real easy to end up on the registry.

I was stupid, I got caught in a police sting. I would never touch a teen. Now im on the registry for 15 years, very harsh punisment

So then what about people who get around the system? I found out an old neighbor was on the registry. I thought he was a great guy until I realized that he and his wife move every 6-9 months. They're always trying to stay one step ahead of the registry. It takes the people who run it a couple months to process his change of address forms and by the time he's on the registry again he moves. Why he moves is fishy to me, why not stay in one place and deal with it. This registry is helpful but by no means perfect but it is helpful as in the described by It Works.

SOR are wonderful. We know who we don't want babysitting. We know who we don't want to move in next to. The benefits list goes on and on.

Seems like the most people who are against it are SO's or their mommies.

If they would just keep the child molesters locked up forever we wouldn't need a registry.

If you don't want to be on the registry keep your filthy hands to yourself!!!

These laws are nothing more than political tactics used to get politicians names in the paper. It is an election year and what could be easier than railing against sex offenders. Experts are in agreement that these laws are doing more harm than good. They just give the illusion that we are safer. Not to even mention the blatant Constitutional problems with making these laws retroactive.

The US Dept. Of Justice statistics on recidivism state that sex offenders have the overall lowest recidivism rate amoung all criminals. 3.5% are reconvicted of a new sex crime within 3 years of release from prison. Futher studies show that 90% of sex crimes are done by a person well known and trusted by the victim with over 50% of those being a family member. Futher 95% of those who commit a sex crime have no prior arrest record. So am I against sex offender registrys NO, I do think that those in office should require ALL KNOWN sex offenders to pay for testing that would show how likely they are to re-offend. Then place only those that are the most likely to re-offend on a public sex offender registry. If we are realy looking to protect the public.

I need to say something in regards to the comment by Smiley (8:47PM March 19) "If they would just keep the child molesters locked up forever we wouldn't need a registry". With all due respect, this is an ignorant statement. You are saying that no one else in the United States is a molester except for the ones on the list! Hate to break the news, but there are more new sex crimes committed by non sex offenders than recidivism from offenders on the registry. As more cities, states continue to pass laws that are clear violations of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, they will be challenged, and the taxpayers will foot the bill and most if not all will get revoked at our cost. Every person has rights, yes even the evil sex offender. Keep tabs on the violent offenders, the repeat offenders instead of every single offender. Sex crimes are not going to magically stop because of these laws, and in some states, law enforcement can't even enforce these insane laws. No law that has been passed or will be passed now or in the future will protect every child!

While everyone is happily checking the SO Registry, the guy down the street is selling drugs to their kids while his wife is defrauding their elderly parents. The gang bangers around the corner are shooting up the streets while the muggers living near the park are stealing their wallets.
All of the criminals I mentioned have a much higher recidivism rate than FORMER sex offenders.

Smiley, many people listed on the registry never laid a finger on anyone (keep your filthy hands to yourself?) In fact, many of them never got anywhere close to an actual human, but did look at naughty pictures and get caught. Who caught them? An FBI or local law enforcement official, who is looking at the same naughty pictures to see who else is looking! Is that official on the registry as well? I don't think so, yet his or her eyes saw the exact same thing.

Take pictures of children other than their own without permission.
Speak to children in a childlike manner and always seem to prefer the company of children rather than adults.