NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060829/NEWS24/608290360/-1/NEWS

:eek:

This is in my state. What kind of country is this?

This is from the same state that bans scattering ashes, is in the process of electing a Bush-bot as Governor, and thinks it's a good idea to make people convicted of DUIs drive with differently-colored license plates, as if to make them wear a scarlet letter. Quite possibly the most fascist state in the Union. God in Heaven I hate it here.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060829/NEWS24/608290360/-1/NEWS

:eek:

This is in my state. What kind of country is this?

An increasingly depressing one, frankly.

A civilly declared offender, however, could petition the court to have the person's name removed from the new list after six years if there have been no new problems and the judge believes the person is unlikely to abuse again.
This is disturbing. If you weren't convicted, then legally you didn't abuse anyone. So how can a judge find that you won't do it again if legally you didn't do it to start with?

A recently enacted law allows county prosecutors, the state attorney general, or, as a last resort, alleged victims to ask judges to civilly declare someone to be a sex offender even when there has been no criminal verdict or successful lawsuit.So let me get this straight. I could go to court and request that everyone I don't like be put on a sex offender registry? No, I don't see this law being abused at all.

This is disturbing. If you weren't convicted, then legally you didn't abuse anyone. So how can a judge find that you won't do it again if legally you didn't do it to start with?

The sad thing is that it fits in with the public's thought on accused sex offenders...they're all guilty and all deserve to be shunned. In the public's eye, it seems that a sexual assault acquittal, especially of a child, is as much a stain on one's reputation as a conviction, and the person was clearly guilty and belongs in jail or on the business end of a noose.

Basically, if you want to ruin a man's life, accuse him of sexually assaulting a child. Even if he has an air-tight alibi, it doesn't matter. The principle's the same as the 1930s lynch mobs of innocent black men, except now we just blacklist them instead of killing them. We like to think we're more civilized now. Certainly Ohio is not.

So let me get this straight. I could go to court and request that everyone I don't like be put on a sex offender registry? No, I don't see this law being abused at all.I don't think it would be that easy, but that's still small comfort. This is a bad idea, all the way around, and I hope the state Supreme Court has the courage to make sure it's never implemented.

Registering sex offenders is an inherently stupid idea anyway. If they're dangerous they should go to jail, not some register.

Registering sex offenders is an inherently stupid idea anyway. If they're dangerous they should go to jail, not some register.

True. Keep them there until they're safe enough to release without having to constantly keep an eye on them. That may mean life in prison, but that's what you get for raping kids.

Registering sex offenders is an inherently stupid idea anyway. If they're dangerous they should go to jail, not some register.
I think you misunderstand. The way most registries work is that convicted sex offenders have to report their whereabouts after they get out of jail, and that's what the registry keeps track of. The difference with this is that people who haven't been convicted could be put on the same registry.

True. Keep them there until they're safe enough to release without having to constantly keep an eye on them. That may mean life in prison, but that's what you get for raping kids.
I'm all for that. I mean, I worry about sex offenders out on the streets too--I'm a parent, after all--but our system is supposed to be based on the idea that once you get out of jail, you've paid your debt to society. I think registries continue the punishment post-sentence, and find that unfair. If you want to make sure child molesters don't do it again, then make sure they don't get out of jail--make a life sentence mandatory.

I don't think it would be that easy, but that's still small comfort. This is a bad idea, all the way around, and I hope the state Supreme Court has the courage to make sure it's never implemented.
No, first the people of Ohio need to register Jim Petro and the Ohio Legislature as sex offenders (they are politicans after all, and that sort can never seem to keep their pants on in the presence of others), then the law can be scrapped.
And, as someone who lived in a Suburb of Columbus for a while, I can assure that the whole place really is that much a shit-hole. It is the home of every terrible, white-bread, overfed suburban cliché that exists in America, and should be avoided at all costs.

The whole idea is just insane. Just exactly how low does your IQ have to be to think this is a good idea.
I don't think it'll ever stand up in court. Even the most backwards Supreme Court will declare it unconstitutional.
The AG just wants the publicity. "See, I was getting tough on offenders, but the (ACLU, liberals,commies, judicial activists and so on) is soft on babt rs."

I don't think it would be that easy, but that's still small comfort. This is a bad idea, all the way around, and I hope the state Supreme Court has the courage to make sure it's never implemented.

This is the state that has ignored the federal Supreme Court's decision that our method of funding schools is unconstitutional for 12 years. The state government would probably just ignore the state court's decision and keep on pursuing its policies.

You know what's even better? We've got the 7th highest tax burden in the country and those evil liberals in Massachussetts and California rank 20th and 32nd...and those states have growing, high-income economies while Ohio has been mired in near recession for nearly a decade.

I think you misunderstand. The way most registries work is that convicted sex offenders have to report their whereabouts after they get out of jail, and that's what the registry keeps track of. The difference with this is that people who haven't been convicted could be put on the same registry.

Yeah, I was talking about the fact that the jail sentences are just too short.

Wow, a gossip law. Really, apart from parents checking out a babysitter who would ever have cause to look at that register?

Wow, a gossip law. Really, apart from parents checking out a babysitter who would ever have cause to look at that register?

Employers typically look for that kind of stuff, too. Imagine losing a job because of an accusation that stuck to your career like a conviction.

Tell me that it's not really possible, in a democratic, free country, for that to become law.

Please tell me.

Seriously.

Employers typically look for that kind of stuff, too. Imagine losing a job because of an accusation that stuck to your career like a conviction.

Worse, imagine your neighbor is the vigilante type and he finds out about it.

Tell me that it's not really possible, in a democratic, free country, for that to become law.

Please tell me.

Seriously.

It's seriously possible, but it's also seriously possible for the law, which I'm sure will be badly written, to be struck down in court. By an "activist" judge who will then be placed on a different kindof list and feature in whatever talking points are needed for the next election.

True. Keep them there until they're safe enough to release without having to constantly keep an eye on them. That may mean life in prison, but that's what you get for raping kids.

That I can agree with … if they are a threat to society … a known threat they should not be released into general society … if they are NOT a threat to society they should be released and given their rights

Tell me that it's not really possible, in a democratic, free country, for that to become law.
"Free" and "Democratic" are naturally opposing concepts, as any Democracy inevitably descends into tyrrany by the majority, where paranoid mobs start making laws to go after the "evils" that they perceive in society.
Case in point, this business in Ohio; people are stupid, and they will find a way to piss away anything that they receive.