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I have thought about this for a while now, and I think it’s important that we finally address an issue that would have a serious impact on public perception.
A little history: most media organizations use the AP Style Guide (https://www.apstylebook.com/) as a reference in understanding appropriate and acceptable terminology. Those who use their own, internal style guide usually follow along with what the AP has published as being acceptable.
A classic example of a recent change had a HUGE impact on public perception. Two years ago, the AP changed their style guide to refer to “illegal immigrants” in a different style. For example, prior to their change, the use of “illegal immigrant” was an acceptable and common term throughout most media organizations. Obviously, the use of the word “illegal” implied that a person was a criminal. So the AP set out to change this (http://blog.ap.org/2013/04/02/illegal-immigrant-no-more/).
Today, a mere two years later, you almost never see the term “illegal immigrant” used. Instead, the AP suggests, and the media follows along with, the following:
“illegal immigrationEntering or residing in a country in violation of civil or criminal law. Except in direct quotes essential to the story, useillegal only to refer to an action, not a person: illegal immigration, but notillegal immigrant. Acceptable variations include living in or entering a country illegally or without legal permission.
Except in direct quotations, do not use the terms illegal alien, an illegal, illegals or undocumented.
Do not describe people as violating immigration laws without attribution.
Specify wherever possible how someone entered the country illegally and from where. Crossed the border? Overstayed a visa? What nationality?
People who were brought into the country as children should not be described as having immigrated illegally. For people staying in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, specify in the story that they are protected from deportation for two years and allowed to work. Add details on the DACA program lower in the story.
Now, think about all of the articles you have ever read about crime. You see headlines such as “Joe Blow, 54, arrested for robbery”, or “person of interest sought in connection with….”, or “21 year old arrested for burglary”. Even persons with extensive criminal histories are never referred to as convicts, robbers, burglars, etc. You never see a headline such as “Convicted robber arrested for drunk driving”, or “Drug offender arrested for theft”. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true for us! We are, literally, the ONLY group of convicted persons who are referred to, no matter the subject matter, as “sex offenders”, or “convicted sex offenders”.
You commonly see “Sex offender arrested for theft”, or “sex offender arrested for indecent exposure”, or “registered sex offender arrested on drug charge”.
This MUST change! For the same reasons that the AP changed their style on the use of the term “illegal immigrant”, we MUST petition the AP to change their term to “registered citizen”, and eliminate the use of “sex offender” in ANY story where the person’s history has no connection to the story. For example, a person being a registered citizen has no rational connection if they are arrested for a non-sex crime.
To change public perception, we must get the media on board. And the biggest change we can make is by petitioning the AP to change their style. This will impact most media organizations across the country.
And I’ll point out that the AP’s elimination of “illegal immigrant” had a HUGE impact on how people perceived persons who are in the country illegally. It had a HUGE impact on public opinion, and public perception.
All *lives matter in America.
*Sex offenders are excluded from this statement because obviously we have to protect “our children” at all costs.
Paul,
No media outlet should ever say or write the following:
Former drug dealer under investigation for robbery, former serial killer arrested for arson, registered sex offender arrested for identity theft. In other words if someone who committed a crime previously is suspected, questioned, arrested, or charged for something else that has little or no connection to a previous offense the previous offense should not be brought up.
The AP should absolutely not change their guide from sex offender or registered sex offender to registered citizen. They should remove all references of registration from their guide when registration status has no relevance to conduct. As you correctly pointed out no other former suspect or person convicted is subjected to the extraneous label or classification as registered sex offenders/registered citizens are. The only way to balance out the scale is by using registered citizen when absolutely necessary. Also any guide should specify the exact details that ought to be included. For example molestation can mean many different things and each state has a slightly different legal definition for it. Same with sexual assault or battery or harassment. While rape is marginally more easy to find classify it still includes a number of situational factors that make a huge difference. Two drunk people having sex and one being fuzzy on the details of the encounter is not the same as someone being tied up, knocked out, and violently forced into sex. Still both can be rape, but one is far worse than the other.
Moreover raping someone under the age of consent has many variations including statutory rape in which both people may have consented but one legally could not so it’s still rape under the law. Other categories of sexually classified offenses have their own levels and not clarifying exactly what someone really did or was accused of does matter. If the details were not ever made public then no benefit arises from slapping an overbroad label onto someone.
Hello, I am hoping this is ok to ask here. On Monday, I will be attending a parole containment meeting. I have no idea what this is. I can never get straight answers from my PO. I am looking for more information. Is there a chance they will let me off?
I was giving a deal for 3 years inside and 3 years parole. I’m 2 months past my 3 years of parole and they don’t care, even with a written transcription of the judge saying I have 3 years parole. The computer used to have me listed as 3 years and they pushed to have it say 5 years now.
I have had zero problems while on parole, I almost have my degree ( 2 Math classes ) and have attained my Network + Certificate and also my Security Certificate. Companies wont hire me while on parole.
I am just venting now, sorry. If anyone knows what I can expect from the containment hearing please let me know. Or now that they added 2 years to my parole for no reason do I qualify for some kind of good behavior.
Thank your time.
Here is a Plea for help and for those of You with Doubts? This Is My Daughter and there ARE 2 Others Un related that can Confirm Her Story…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p1mec8BVf4
Hi Anony,
Here is a link to a meeting model used, where a team meets with an offender. I suspect that the victim advocate really works for the D.A. by the way.
http://cpcamerica.com/containment-model.html
Suggestion: Get your own team in place: Supportive Neighbor(s), Pastor, Family, Support or 12 step Group or whoever can help hold you accountable for your behavior. They may not be able to come to the meeting, but referring to them or showing signed statements from them saying they will help “supervise” you will allow the PO to check a box that states you have community support, making you statistically less dangerous.
Hopefully they’ll decide that means you won’t need further parole extension.
My girlfriend died, my motorcycle was hit and wrecked, my car is about to break down, no job prospects( been looking for 4 months), I live in a crappy area between rival Mexican gangs, I haven’t had a complete night sleep because the 13 yr ol above me screws her boyfriends all night, I lose apt next month because I’m broke. Haven’t eaten in two days because of depression. Can’t go to shelter because they won’t take rsos.oh yeah, I forgot, its going to get better. All for a few pics. Oh yeah, I forgot. My arm had two plates put in and can’t use for 7 weeks. And the apt above leaks water on my floor, anyone want to trade? Your all invited to the wake,
http://freedom-school.com/lawyers-and-attorneys-are-not-licensed-to-practice-law.html
http://www.usacommonlaw.com/pag-anthony-williams.html
Off topic question? Why the hell isn’t some over zealous LA D.A. trying to throw 25 year old Tyga in Jail for having sex with a 17 year old Kylie Jenner? (Yes she’s 18 now, I know) I think it’s pretty well known they were sleeping together. Celebrity’s exempt??
By the way, I have nobody, how long must “hang in there”. Nothing is getting done! molasses moves faster. Guess making stupid mistakes are no longer allowed I. This country. Luckily I have connections that can get me out . so sick of this B.S. screw u.s.
(Humor)
Here’s an interesting flow of logic:
Every notice how they will ready and willing try a 15 year old (or younger) as an “adult”?
It being assumed that SOME teens are “adult” enough to commit adult crimes and be punished as adults.
But there is no provision in the law to take the time to see if any given 15 year old (or 16-17) is or was “adult” enough to have given consent to sex in any particular situation or circumstances with someone 18 or older.
How about if the 15 year old has sex with a 21 year old, then the 15 year old commits a murder.
I’m sure the justice system would be very happy to try him/her as an adult, while at the same time trying the 21 year old for having sex with an “under aged minor”.
Today I received a solicitation letter from an attorney offering his services…identifying me as a registered sex offender. This was the first letter of it’s kind I have ever received since being convicted of possession of CP (3 files) a little over two years ago. Wondered…how would they know? After all…for more than two years I “enjoyed” not being publicly blasted (like most) on Megan’s Law. I knew it could happen any time but was hoping it never would. My wife checked homefacts.com site today (inspired by the letter from an attorney) and there I am. Since homefacts.com states they get their info from Megan’s Law site…I think it’s safe to assume I’m finally on Megan’s Law. Looks like my luck finally ran out.
An excellent article for us, on, of all places, the Al Jezeera website, the Mideast Muslim news organization.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/10/17/challenges-to-sexoffenderregistries.html
Oh, yes, a few smaller mistakes of fact, but overall it is very much in our favor. It also includes more statistics than I have seen so far, all of which support us.
But perhaps most surprising: Look at all the comments at the bottom of the story.
I have a question for any of you who may live in or near San Diego. I’m looking to move there from another state next year. I am a lifetime registrant in that other state and I am not on probation or parole. I would like to know from a practical standpoint how this will affect my ability to find housing in the San Diego area not considering the cost of that housing since I know it’s expensive to live there. How are the local police departments interpreting the residence restrictions? I saw the recent court judgement for those currently on parole but how would this affect me as someone not on probation/parole looking to move to the San Diego area? Do I need to have any address approved by the local police department before I move there?
I don’t think this story is of relevance directly to the Carson sex offender issue, but what is related is the relative cronyism of the politicians involved. Former Mayor and current city clerk Jim Dear, who had a street named after him, just got his name stripped from the street, and it will be changed to Stadium Way.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/government-and-politics/20150722/carson-officials-strip-jim-dears-name-from-street-at-proposed-nfl-stadium-site
“Carson officials strip Jim Dear’s name from street at proposed NFL stadium site”
The whole story reeks of buffoonery and general disdain. GOD, I hope that Hanice and RSOL take this city for millions, or at least 6 digits. They deserve to be taken down.
Turns out, Ben Hueso is dirtier than most knew. Coupled with his drunk driving conviction, he admitted to illegally funneling campaign dollars.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2010/oct/28/hueso-funds-for-brothers-campaign-withdrawn/
Can someone please make sense of this. CA says I cant work with the active senior population( personal trainer) on Facility I was contracted on. Not an employee, but they are fine with me working with them privately off campus. I had a 100 person petition signed to keep me,and now the facility won’t let the clients wave facility’s “liability”. But they allow a retired convicted child molester live there.on lifetime parole. I am on 3 yr probation. Janet? Anything like this Cross your desk before? No therapy license involved. Just state bs. The molester could act again_ where’s the child protection
Has anyone checked the Ashley Madison data dump to see if Ben Guest has an account?
Congressmen,scutos,and the president should all listen to Pema Chodron. She makes so much sense!
I often wonder if being legally required, under threat of arrest, to produce myself to my local police station, and subject myself to questions by law enforcement, constitutes an “illegal detention”, and a violation of my 5th amendment rights.
Each year, when I call to make my appointment around the time of my birthday, I am asked if anything has changed with regards to my housing, vehicles, etc. Most years, the answer is no. Since my information does not change that often, and the paperwork is the same year after year, why does it take the deputy in charge of registration, an hour or two to complete the process? At what point does this become “unreasonable”? Law enforcement cannot generally detain you for an unreasonable period of time? Clearly, we are being detained during the registration process as we are not free to leave. If we leave prior to the process being complete, we are violating the registration laws and, thus, are subject to arrest. Registering IS a detention by law enforcement!
Being compelled to answer questions, of ANY type, is a violation of our 5th amendment rights. As citizens, we have a right to not speak with law enforcement, or answer their questions. Yet, the law mandates that we provide law enforcement with certain information, thus, requiring us to answer their questions. Again, this is under threat of arrest. How is this not a violation of our 5th amendment rights?
Had a creepy drive on the 79 going through Hemet/Winchester.. Right on the side of the road was this huge billboard saying “We are watching you Sex Offender” by Valley Watch…
Not sure if that was a threat…
Please stop this cruelty. I. Begging. I just want to see my family and hug my kids. 40 old pictures doesn’t make me deserve this. My career my family my friends NY life is gone. Please stop please. I cry every night for my wife. I may never see her again. I hurt so much. What I did was wrong, but this is torture
Los Angeles is considering harsher penalties for those who solicit underage prostitutes. So….if s/he is 15 and commits a terrible crime, then s/he is charged as an adult. But if s/he has sex, s/he is an underaged minor.
If s/he consents, it’s a felony charge for her/his partner.
But if money is offered or exchanged, it’s only a misdemeanor charge for the partner.
Wait, what???
http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/los-angeles-harsher-penalties-child-sex-buyers-33313282