Sexual offenders in the area (Salem: condo, homes, buying)

[cully]

I do know of some people who didn't mind moving into a neighborhood with a sex offender nearby. But I also know, as news articles have said, those people got their homes at good prices. One, for example, was foreclosed but still sat and sat on the market in a suburban neighborhood with lots of children around. Another situation, larger home, nice suburban neighborhood but again homes didn't sell that did after the offender moved away. And in that neighborhood I noticed it sort of polarized people in a sense. They were all together in not liking it, they were all angry, they didn't like the thought that this person who had a not too distant record concerning youths could be looking out the window at their kids. People just didn't like the whole spirit of that. The house faced a court which is usually a safe place for kids to run around but even when they were out parents were watchful and then got tired of feeling watched themselves and everyone was called in. The sidewalk exchange was more hurried and tense; the court activity not one of cookouts and chairs on the lawn and the court blocked for an afternoon of fun and not about joyful things. Just a stressful situation.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by SallyField

Neither of these statements are anywhere near correct. You may want to rethink your position on this. The only people on a sex offender registry "for life" are those who forcibly and violently rape their victims, are convicted of sexual acts with a child under the age of 12, have drugged and/or kidnapped their victims prior to raping them... that sort of thing.

There are "lesser" offenses for which you could be on the registry for a much shorter period of time (prostitution, trafficking, child porn, for example), but they are still heinous crimes. In any event, the two examples you give would not land you on any sex registry anywhere, certainly not in Virginia.

Then why is my friend, who got his 16 year old girlfriend pregnant, on it?

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by dkf747

Then why is my friend, who got his 16 year old girlfriend pregnant, on it?

They should probably have an age cutoff like 14. My great grandparents were married at that age. I think the seriousness of the situation is a lot different if it's teens versus small kids involved unless of course it's forcible.

[barnyardabc]

Originally Posted by SallyField

Neither of these statements are anywhere near correct. You may want to rethink your position on this. The only people on a sex offender registry "for life" are those who forcibly and violently rape their victims, are convicted of sexual acts with a child under the age of 12, have drugged and/or kidnapped their victims prior to raping them... that sort of thing.

There are "lesser" offenses for which you could be on the registry for a much shorter period of time (prostitution, trafficking, child porn, for example), but they are still heinous crimes. In any event, the two examples you give would not land you on any sex registry anywhere, certainly not in Virginia.

Unfortunately, that's not true. Sexting cases can still end up on the registry. We have a family member on the registry because he (20 years of age) was dating a girl who claimed to be 19. It turned out she was really 16, and had sent him some pictures of herself. She lied to his family and friends and claimed to be in college, taking classes, etc. It didn't matter, the young man is in jail for a year, with a count of child porn on his record, and on the registry for 15 years while the girl had no charges. The day he was sentenced another young man was sentenced for the same thing. We found the whole thing hard to believe, but it happened.

[FCNova]

Originally Posted by tarp

I am against sex offender registries precisely because of this nonsense. If someone has done their time for their crime, they should not be discriminated against after their release from prison. Most of the sex offenders are NOT sex offenders for molesting small children. In Virginia, an 18 year old who dates a 17 year old can be labelled a sex offender for life. Same with a person who pees on the side of the highway.

So because there is a flaw in the system, parents should just completely disregard it? Hey more power to parents who want to do that because they don't think it's completely "fair". My kids life is more important to me than fairness to society. I certainly will continue to use it to try to keep my kids are safe as possible. I don't know what % of the people on the registry harmed children, but they certainly are there and it only takes one.

[slduvall]

Originally Posted by FCNova

So because there is a flaw in the system, parents should just completely disregard it? Hey more power to parents who want to do that because they don't think it's completely "fair". My kids life is more important to me than fairness to society. I certainly will continue to use it to try to keep my kids are safe as possible. I don't know what % of the people on the registry harmed children, but they certainly are there and it only takes one.

Exactly! Imagine my surprise as a parent with a 5 year old girl who, in order to get to her best friends house had to walk by the houses of two registered offenders on my old street. Both jailed for distribution and creation of child porn involving girls aged 8 and under. This was a TH neighborhood, selling at the time for mid 600k's. Both of these gentlemen were older - mid 50's and married. No kids at home. If I hadn't been informed of who they were, who's to say I wouldn't have befriend either them or their wives, invited them into my home and into my daughters life. They are then no longer strangers, but trusted friends! So if something were to happen it would fall under the category of someone we knew, and wouldn't be considered a "stranger" offense!

The law isn't perfect but it does help to allow those potenial victims and parents of victims to make better choices, whether that is buying the house, allowing kids into a house...etc. Remember most of these people are very patient. They will wait and groom these kids, and if the kids see us friendly with them and trusting of them, they will follow our lead.

[SallyField]

Originally Posted by Dazed&Confused

Yes indeed they both would. A friend of mine turned 18 before his girlfriend did and her horrible controlling mother was salivating just waiting for the day. He is on the sex offender registry. Co-worker is on the registry too for something just as ridiculous.

Originally Posted by dkf747

Then why is my friend, who got his 16 year old girlfriend pregnant, on it?

Originally Posted by barnyardabc

Unfortunately, that's not true. Sexting cases can still end up on the registry. We have a family member on the registry because he (20 years of age) was dating a girl who claimed to be 19. It turned out she was really 16, and had sent him some pictures of herself. She lied to his family and friends and claimed to be in college, taking classes, etc. It didn't matter, the young man is in jail for a year, with a count of child porn on his record, and on the registry for 15 years while the girl had no charges. The day he was sentenced another young man was sentenced for the same thing. We found the whole thing hard to believe, but it happened.

The quote I was replying to was about being on the registry "for life." None of the people above would be on it for life, but for some shorter period of time.

[CAVA1990]

Maybe they should put it all on Facebook.

[Nancy in Nokomis]

There are perverts all over this area; coachs, swim instructers, boy scout leaders, teachers - these people like to get into profession involving children.

There is a home in our neighborhood next to a guy caught looking at child porn on his computer - they cant sell their home because of the rotten pervert.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Fairfax Mom

There is a home in our neighborhood next to a guy caught looking at child porn on his computer - they cant sell their home because of the rotten pervert.

Why is this all starting to sound like the razor blades in the Halloween candy? Anyone remember this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenatch...e_prosecutions