Are laws for sex offenders too harsh?

Are laws for sex offenders too harsh?

I saw an article a while ago about a Georgian State House member who submitted a bill "that would remove restrictions on convicted sex offenders and allow them to go anywhere in the state they like, including schools." Article

I knew that sex offenders were already forced to identify themselves to the public and register with local authorities but didn't know that there were laws baring them from entering certain locations.

I never really thought about this stuff until now but it seems like we treat sex offenders as second class citizens. Of course violating another human being is unacceptable. However is this right?

On one hand we may choose to believe that those who have committed the crime once are prone to committing it again. Thus, it is in the interest of society as a whole to place restrictions on sex offenders that protect people from them. So the public is protected at the expense of the rights of criminals.

On the other hand, do our laws for sex offenders actually make things worse? By forcing them to identify themselves to friends, neighbors, family, etc. aren't we preventing them from getting a fresh start? The stigma of a being a sex offender would likely lead to harsher treatment by most of our society. I imagine that the treatment sex offenders would receive from the general public could drive them to repeat their offense or perhaps a different crime.

Perhaps a related question would be: Do sex offenders deserve a second chance at life?

Well, if they're setting their lives straight then they have a chance. If not, welcome back to the slammer.

I think it's fine to give sex offenders a second chance. However, although some laws may be preventing them from getting a fresh start, it's also somewhat of a preventive measure to "scare" possible future sex offenders. Also, if, for some reason, there would be a "lighter" punishment for sex offenders, it would encourage some people into such acts (based on the mentality of lighter punishment + announcement to the general public about the lighter punishment = encouragement)

Anyway, if the current system against sex offenders is working properly and is effective, I don't see the reason to change it at all... but then again, it might lead to something better...

I think sex offenders should be imprisoned for life (literally. until they die in prison), and should be used for the good of society, like hard labor, experimental subjects, compulsory organ donors when needed, cat/dog food, etc. imo, they dont deserve second chances, because there is no excuse for such behavior.


The above-mentioned should be reserved for hardcore stuff though, like rape for example, not for peeping at girls in the showers.

Well not all sex offenders are really created equal. If you are caught and charged with urinating in public, sex offender. If you are caught doing a sexual act with someone your age, sex offender on both individuals.

I am a little indifferent on whether they should get a second chance or not. We give people who have murdered someone second chances, someone who robbed someone cause they wanted to. Why do those people get second chances? And if they get second chances why should we deny the right for a sexual offender to have that second chance.

I am one that says the overall system is flawed from the trial to time served. I am one for the death penalty to, but they need to bring back the public deaths maybe that will deter people from committing SOME crimes.

I don't have a good awnser. I do think that the restraints are a good thing so long as it doesnt get out of hand.

I think there should be maybe even harsher punishments for sex offenders than we currently have, but what i don't agree with is the definition for 'sex offender.'

I've heard cases where some guy were drunk and then peed or was naked in some public park, was arrested and then convicted as a sex offender, getting the same restrictions as a rapist would get if on parole. I've heard some other ridicules cases of how people ended up being 'sex offenders' and it is pretty sick.

I think this is pretty much how I feel on the matter. Some acts to me shouldn't count as crimes of the sexual nature or be equated with the same penalties and those who commit severe crimes against another person should be dealt with justly.

The whole second chance thing isn't necessarily wrong, but then you will see some people get third chances and fourth chances, even fifth and sixth chances then what is the point? I think if someone has payed their debt to society then fine, let them go out with a lease on them in some sense. If they go back to their old habits then put them away for good.

That's the biggest problem with sex laws, especially in the United States. Even young teenagers (13-16) can be charged as a sex offender if they are caught getting frisky with each other as young teens often do. Which of course ruins their entire lives because now they're in the registry forever.

They knew they had it coming when they did it; all they have to do is shut up take the consequences

I've always seen the drive to commit sex offenses as a form of serious mental illness. It's pretty frustrating that instead of trying to solve the problem in the mind, we just go "sick fucker", throw them in prison as long as possible, and are surprised when, having not received anything meaningful in prison but probably rape, beatings, and knowhow on getting away with crimes, they re-offend when they are released. We're setting them up to fail, and acting as though they will re-offend regardless of whatever they do in life just encourages them to do it again, not like you've got much to lose when everyone already treats you like the scum of the earth anyway, right? I feel just about the same way with regular criminals. It doesn't help that a small percentage of sex offenders are people who just had some real shit luck and probably shouldn't be classified as such: people who had a sexual partner lie about their age and were to young, people who actually had a meaningful relationship with someone old enough to consent and understand, but legally below the age of consent, people caught urinating in public (yeah, that's a sex offense), and lately teens who sext, teens who actually have sex (yeah, that's actually criminal in some places), the list of offenses is long and absurd.