It was heartbreaking to read recently about Naperville 16-year-old Corey Walgren, who committed suicide following being threatened with sex offender registration for allegedly audiotaping a consensual sexual encounter with a classmate. For those of us who regularly work with youth on the sex offender registry, it also highlighted a truth that we know too well: Placement on the registry is a modern scarlet letter that can lead our young clients to want to take their own lives. Full Commentary
Related
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-naperville-north-suicide-lawsuit-20170524-story.html
From the article:
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Meanwhile, the damage done by placing kids on the registry is all too real. Once labeled a “registered sex offender,” it becomes harder for young people to find and keep gainful employment, to continue their education, even to find a place to live. Add to this the psychological burden of shame, isolation and stigma, and it becomes too much for some youth to bear.
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Yes, it’s a travesty about being a registered sex offender. It’s a tragedy what happened the 16 year old. But the quote above isn’t just trait for the youth, it’s a trait for all who are registered.
Ya just like if your actions causes someone’s death you are held accountable so why isn’t the officer and the other person are not brought up on involuntary man slaughter because there actions are a direct reason why this young man is dead, if it were someone else they would be in prison, so why do they get an get out of jail free card?
Note that there was no threat of jail or incarceration. Just sex offender registration, which publicly also necessitates the existence of societal shame that drove him to his death. Punitive? Is the bear blue? Does the sky sleep in the woods? Well, the registry makes just as much sense, doesn’t it?