The Sex Offender Registry Ruins Lives

OKABE & HAUSHALTER Sep 28, 2018 Sex Crimes

There is no other set of crimes that leave the person convicted braded for life. Sex crimes are vilified by the public in ways that no other crime is.

Have you ever thought about why there is a registry for sex offenders and not for murderers?

Someone who takes a life can walk out of prison after they serve their sentence and start fresh.

When a sex offender serves their time, often they are forced to register for their entire lives. This dictates where they can live, the places they are allowed to visit, and who they can have around them. It also means that any member of the public has access to their information, including their home address, work address, and the vehicle they drive.

This sets up someone with a sex offense conviction to become a target to vigilantes. Nobody should live in fear after they serve their time.

How It Happens

Most people who get charged and convicted of a sex offense end up having to register with the state of California. Even if they serve no prison time, the registry is often a requirement.

Those convicted of a sex crime are not more likely to re-offend than those convicted of other crimes, contrary to popular belief. Recidivism rates for sex offenders are lower than for the general criminal population.

California has more registered sex offenders than any other state, with over 100,000. This state is one of four states to require lifetime registration.

Laura Arnold, a deputy public defender in California, recently discussed the state’s sex offender laws. “It’s like putting a GPS on every shark in the ocean because one might attack a swimmer. Does it make the public safer? Probably not.”

California laws do not distinguish between types of sex crimes. Someone who gets a conviction for public exposure can end up with the same registration requirements as someone who rapes three people.

What You Can Do

California has taken steps to rectify some of the errors with the registry. Last year, the governor signed a bill that will allow most sex offenders in the state to petition to be removed from both public and private registries as long as they have not committed another serious or violent felony or sex crime.

It is time to change the fact that 1 in 400 Californians is registered sex offenders.

“With this reform, our law enforcement agencies will be able to better protect people from violent sex offenders rather than wasting resources tracking low-level offenders who pose little to no risk of repeat offense,” one state lawmaker said.

Okabe & Haushalter have experience in this area and want to help you get your life back together. We are going to help you, not judge you. We believe people deserve second chances, something that is hampered by these overbearing laws. When you need a Los Angeles sex offender registry attorney, you can contact us today by clicking here or calling 310-430-7799 for a free consultation.