Introduction
Sex offence legislation and policies have always relied on the sex registry to control the occurrence of sexual offences in the state. The sex registry has always elicited mixed reaction from the stakeholders with some of the views that are effective and some parties with the view that it has more negative than positive effects. The sex registry is a rich source of public information on sexual offenders but is the registry as effective as the state portray?
Thesis
The registry helps the state to have adequate information on sex offenders and occurrence of sexual offences, although it does not seem to be a good strategy to rehabilitate offenders. The registry was put in place to prevent sexual offences, but this has proven otherwise since it is more of a reactive measure that relies on recorded incidences. Normally the reports are shallow and not give a detailed description of the occurrence and may implicate innocent citizens. The availability of sex offences records is not a guarantee of security.
Fenner, J V. Sex Offenders: Management, and Treatment.
This book is about a 1996 nationwide survey that was carried on adolescent molesters. It provides viable treatment programs that are suitable for both the offender and victim of sexual molestation and a guide to sex offender registration into the system.
Maddan, Sean. The Labeling of Sex Offenders
The book provides a guideline on how to label sex offenders according to the class of offence, how to register them into the registry and who should access to information on what class of offence.
Gibson, Camille, and Donna M. Vandiver. Juvenile Sex Offenders
The book tries to explain the circumstances that usually lead to sexual assault, and it informs us on how much we know and what the public don't know about sexual offenders. It explains how to profile sex offenders and the legal channels to follow when reporting an offence.
Hudson, David L. Sentencing Sex Offenders
This book tackles the legal aspect of sexual offences; it enlightens us on the relevant laws on sexual offences the options for sentencing and punishing offenders. It provides us with a history on remarkable sex assault cases and the basis for their sentencing.
Sex registry is a source of information the government keeps on sex offenders, and it keeps on an eye on their residence and activities they are taking part. This information is usually available to the public by website or government records. The main objective of the registry is to create public awareness on potential sex offenders and enable the government to control their activities (David & Hudson, 12).
The sex registry does not improve security against sex crimes
The registry is not a preventive measure of a sexual offence, the registry only keeps information on sexual offenders but the registry is not capable of stopping an actual offence. The registry highly depends on the community and police enforcement to function efficiently. If a potential sex offender were preying on a minor, the registry would not hinder him from committing an offence; it will be up to the community or law enforcement to prevent the occurrence of this offence (Maddan & Sean, 46).
The registry does not rehabilitate sex offenders, having information on sex offenders’ public only leads to stigmatization. Sex offenders are isolated from the community and are the object of public ridicule. This environment is not conducive for the rehabilitation of sexual offenders who need social support systems to overcome this vice (Fenner, 23).
Negatively impacts the offender's family, the information about an offender residence and activities is availed to the public. This information puts the offender’s family on the public spectacle. The family members of the offender even though being law abiding citizens are viewed by the public as potential offenders and treated like sex offenders that cause them not only psychological trauma but also physical pain ( Gibson, Camille, & Vandiver, 71) .
Portrays a false sense of security, the registry only has information on reported offenders. In most cases, sex offenses are perpetrated by first-time offenders. Meaning a potential sex offender is free enjoys the privileges of lawful citizens until the point where he gets reported for sexual harassment (Hudson & David, 23).
Classification of the offenders is not reflective of the type of offense, most offenders all classified as dangerous, this makes the public incapable of identify the most dangerous offenders since most of this sex offenses are not classified according to the magnitude of the offence (Maddan & Sean,34).
Sex registry does not give a detailed description of what happened, and some offender are branded sex offenders while in the real sense they are victims of strict regulations and policies. If the register would provide information that can enable the public decide what really constitutes a sexual offence, is it a drunken man taking a piss at night in the children’s park or is it the uncle who touches a nephew inappropriately (Hudson & David, 54).
Counter argument
Information is power; the public is informed on the potential sex offenders in their community. They know who to watch out for and the places to avoid. The registry also provides information of the tell signs of a molester and the possible behaviors of a molestation victim (Gibson, Camille & Vandiver, 67).
Sex registry enables community policing, when members of the community know possible sex offenders they help out the police with surveillance. They can report irregularities they notice to the police making it easier to prevent sexual molestation (Maddan & Sean, 103).
Eases the sharing of information on sexual offenders between law enforcement agencies, sexual registration laws require enforcement agencies to share the information they have, without the existence of a registry it would be time consuming to go through the legal process to compel agencies to share information (Hudson & David, 36).
Discourage sex offences; the existence of a sex registry discourages offenders from committing sexual assaults. No one wants to be registered in the public as an offender the availability of the information showing location of offenders discourages would-be offenders from committing a felony (Gibson, Camille & Vandiver, 41).
Creates a sense of security, the public feels more secure when they get a sense that offenders are under surveillance. People can recreate with ease because they are aware of potential threats in the society (Maddan & Sean, 37).
I am of the opinion that the sex registry is not the solution to preventing sexual molesters; the registry is more of a directory that guides us on the location of sexual offenders. Availing this information to the public happens to meet the needs of the public at the expense of infringing the offender’s rights to confidentiality.
Conclusion
The sex registry was introduced to prevent sexual offences, but it has not been a successful strategy, because it serves to ridicule sexual offenders without rehabilitation. It makes it difficult for offenders to integrate into the society and even be employable. The profiling makes them economically disadvantaged and more vulnerable to indulging into this behavior. They need social support system and the public encouragement to drop this vice. The public should be active in surveillance because the register cannot protect those who are vulnerable to sexual abuse; it is the public who can.
Works cited
Fenner, J V. Sex Offenders: Management, Treatment, and Bibliography. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2008. Print
Gibson, Camille, and Donna M. Vandiver. Juvenile Sex Offenders: What the Public Needs to Know. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2008. Internet resource
Hudson, David L. Sentencing Sex Offenders. New York: Chelsea House, 2009. Internet resource.
Maddan, Sean. The Labeling of Sex Offenders: The Unintended Consequences of the Best Intentioned Public Policies. Lanham, Md: University Press of America, 2008. Print
