How Sex Offender Registries Fail Us

You can be put on the sex offender registry for urinating in public, having consensual sex as a teenager or even for "sexting." And in California, once you are on the list, you are on it for life.

The registry has become the medieval stocks of the 21st century and, as attorney Janice Bellucci says, once someone is on the registry, "he is treated like a leper".

There are violent sexual predators who should be on the registry for life, but 95% of those on the registry never commit another sex offense, according to the California Department of Corrections.

Reason.tv spoke to a registrant ruined by the registry. His crime: having sex with his teenage girlfriend.

"It was actually illegal for me to be anywhere near her for three years," he says, "but she waited for me. And I waited, too."

They are still married today, 10 years after he was convicted.

Harsher laws for registrants continue to be passed while proposed reforms to the registry have struggled to gain ground.

California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano introduced a bill for a tiered registry in January, but it was defeated thanks to opponent's scare tactics.

"There have always been stories, especially this summer, about child predators in the area," says Mission Viejo Councilwoman Cathy Schlicht, who introduced a bill banning sex offenders from public parks and beaches.

Bellucci is going to keep fighting for reform. "We're not thinking from a logical and rational place," she says, "instead we are acting from fear."
Produced by Tracy Oppenheimer. Shot by Paul Detrick, Zach Weissmueller and Sharif Matar.

Approximately 7.30 minutes.

Go to Reason.tv for downloadable versions and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube Channel for automatic notifications when new material goes live.

• Category

  News & Politics

[Bill Barney]

I was told by my local law enforcement that there is no group that outlines a procedure that effectively uses the information on the registry to protect children. The same officer said that the registry was in his opinion designed not to protect children but to punish offenders. He further stated that there are not documented cases of any child anywhere being saved because of the registry. I was blown away! I am also angry that I have been lied to and duped by those in office and on TV!

[southport97]

Stop listening to the lies, distortions and half-truths of John Walsh and Ernie Allen. They are in the business of selling fear for PROFIT. It's their job to keep parents afraid so they get more grants from GovCo to tell you what a wonderful job they are doing keeping your kids inside while they slowly die from obesity instead of some sex offender exploiting them. It's a win win, I tell ya! /sarcasm

[southport97]

debate . org/opinions/should-the-sex-of­fender-registry-be-abolished

[Ann Onymous]

I agree. The more of us that think that the sooner we can get these laws repealed.

onymousann45@gmail.com

[trey davis]

us is a police state what do you expect? 

[trey davis]

all these bullshit laws are just some faggy shakedown

[trey davis]

being naked in public and peeing in public should be legal

[Larner L]

I don't know much about the current law, but does it require you to register where ever you move? And sometimes you can't even leave the county when you're on that list?

The only way is to move out of the country, and I'm not sure if any country would accept someone who has a previous conviction of a sex offense

[Larner L]

because they're teenagers themselves

[Larner L]

John Walsh admits that he met his girlfriend at a bar when he was 22 and she was 16. He continued dating her even after knowing her true age. Isn't he some kind of bar lurking predator? I mean seriously, what business does a 22 year old man has to do with an underaged minor?

I didn't say that they had sex, all I'm saying that this man who's pushing for these laws is attracted to a minor when he's a lot older! He's not some 18 year old senior dating a 14 year old freshmen. He's 22 years old!

[DarkKlown99]

Solution: Move. If your location is causing you too many problems you have a choice to leave. To put someone on the same register that takes a piss in public with someone who kidnaps a child and molests them is just crazy. California law needs to change, but it most likely isn't going too soon, leave. Life's too short to live in fear. No matter who you are.

[southport97]

All stemming from a mother who, 31 years ago, decided shopping for lamps was more important than keeping tabs on her son in a Sears department store, and another "victim" mom in Ohio that whined and moaned to lawmakers because she was too lazy to keep an eye on her kids, reminds me of those Sandy Hook parents that are trying to pull the same shit. Guess what? The world doesn't owe you JACK. It was here before you and your spawn. DON'T TRY TO CHANGE THE WORLD JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MAD AT IT.