Branded for Life . . .

[OneBlueSky]

Children's advocates oppose Illinois law requiring juvenile sex offender registry

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/12/09/news/illiana/ecef3a3c4f20d1628625723f001167a5.txt

While juveniles were responsible for at least 26 percent of all Cook County sex crimes in 2005, a law that requires juvenile offenders to register with local authorities lacks support among children's advocates.

In early December, the General Assembly could not muster enough votes to overturn a veto of a bill that would have allowed Juvenile Court judges to determine on a case-by-case basis whether juveniles must register as sex offenders.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich vetoed the measure in April, but supporters remain hopeful that the registry law -- which treats juvenile sex offenders the same as adults -- will change.

"The current law requires (juvenile sex offenders) to register for 10 years or for life, nothing in between and no less than 10 years," said Elizabeth Clarke, president of the Juvenile Justice Initiative in Springfield. "If juveniles are found guilty of a sexual offense, they are required to automatically register on the adult registry when they hit 17."

- more . . .

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/12/09/news/illiana/ecef3a3c4f20d1628625723f001167a5.txt

[Mythsaje]

1. There are a lot of relatively innocent things

that could end up putting someone on one of those registries. And who wants to see someone's life ruined forever for something as silly as streaking or urinating somewhere other than a bathroom (which can sometimes be prosecuted as "indecent exposure"), or, god forbid, "mooning" someone?

This kind of thing worries me. It really does. A law originally designed to protect innocent people could end up seriously hurting them too. And that's a problem.

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Any tool to help mankind ,has been perverted the last 5yrs..

..to make people criminals.

[keopeli]

3. Sexual crimes are often VERY ambiguous, especially when the offenders are young.

For example: two young men aged 16 and 18 fool around. The younger man, frightened by the social implications of homosexuality, tells his parents who call the cops.

No matter how offensive you may think this to be, what do you feel the maximum punishment for this "crime" should be? Do you really feel a life sentence is appropriate? It happens.

[Saturday]

4. Taking this one step farther....

why do adult sex offenders have to register but murderers and other criminals have no registration?????