Are You A Sex Offender?

Posted by | August 12, 2014 16:38 | Filed under: Contributors Opinion Politics Stuart Shapiro Top Stories

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Sex offender registries are highly problematic in a number of ways.  One of the most obvious ones is that you can get put on the list for many things such as underage sex:

In some 30 states—from Alabama to Wisconsin—consensual sex between teenagers is a crime that can lead to sex offender status. “No group is out there saying that they want Romeo and Juliet to be on the registry,” Brenda Jones, executive director of Reform Sex Offender Laws, a volunteer advocacy group, told me. “But lawmakers aren’t paying attention, and we as constituents are not aware.”

The link also shows states where you can be categorized as a sex offender by peeing in public.

 

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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.

12 responses to Are You A Sex Offender?

  1. Carla Akins August 12th, 2014 at 17:35

    This has been a problem for a long time now. It’s no longer useful and has seriously damaged people’s lives over a youthful misstep. It needs to be completely overhauled.

    • Dwendt44 August 12th, 2014 at 18:41

      So true. Such ‘crimes’ have a fairly low recidivism rate, but being on the registry labels you for life. Particularly the classic example of a just turned 18 year old having sex with his soon to be 17 year old girl friend and getting caught at it. He’s damaged for life.

      • ladyblue August 12th, 2014 at 21:35

        This happened to my friend’s son. In Pennsylvania, he’s on the registry for life

  2. Carla Akins August 12th, 2014 at 17:35

    This has been a problem for a long time now. It’s no longer useful and has seriously damaged people’s lives over a youthful misstep. It needs to be completely overhauled.

    • Dwendt44 August 12th, 2014 at 18:41

      So true. Such ‘crimes’ have a fairly low recidivism rate, but being on the registry labels you for life. Particularly the classic example of a just turned 18 year old having sex with his soon to be 17 year old girl friend and getting caught at it. He’s damaged for life.

      • ladyblue August 12th, 2014 at 21:35

        This happened to my friend’s son. In Pennsylvania, he’s on the registry for life

  3. Budda August 12th, 2014 at 19:16

    Peeing in public is a sex crime?

    • fancypants August 13th, 2014 at 01:09

      indecent exposure_ Depending on where you decide to drop it ?

  4. Budda August 12th, 2014 at 19:16

    Peeing in public is a sex crime?

    • fancypants August 13th, 2014 at 01:09

      indecent exposure_ Depending on where you decide to drop it ?

  5. Tom Ward August 14th, 2014 at 00:10

    I agree. I think this is the first article I’ve read where Stuart Shapiro is calling for regulations to be repealed instead of created :)

  6. Tom Ward August 14th, 2014 at 00:10

    I agree. I think this is the first article I’ve read where Stuart Shapiro is calling for regulations to be repealed instead of created :)

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