Source: ACSOL
Three leading advocates for registrants testified this week before a legislative committee in Oklahoma in support of proposed changes to that state’s registry. The changes, if adopted, would eliminate registration requirements for registrants who are physically or mentally impaired.
ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci provided the committee with information regarding the history of sex offender registries beginning with the creation of the first registry in the City of Los Angeles. That registry was focused solely upon tracking and monitoring gay men.
Restorative Action Alliance Executive Director Amber Vlangas testified about the harm experience by both registrants and their families. She also testified that current registries often do not help, but instead harm, survivors of sexual abuse.
Professor Stephanie Jerstad, a criminologist, testified that many registrants who are also seniors are being denied elder care solely because they are required to register. As a result, they are receiving care from unlicensed providers or well meaning family members who lack the necessary training.
During the hearing, one legislator stated that the Oklahoma registry may be getting in the way of public safety. Another legislator stated that most of the people on the registry “probably are not a threat.” She added that it is the legislature’s job to make sure they are not squandering resources on people who, after a certain period of time without re-offending should be allowed to get on with their lives.
Also during the hearing, statements from two registrants were read reflecting the challenges they and their families have experienced while on the registry including employment and housing difficulties. The committee is expected to share the information they learned with fellow legislators.
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Haven’t read the bill to be honest just the article. But I entirely agree with this. Because this ‘civil regulatory scheme’ is causing more harm than good to ALL of society and not just the people on the registry. You’re forcing people into homeless shelters simply because of the stigma of the registry, because the stigma follows you everywhere you go. Now they’ve made being homeless against the law causing you to be thrown in jail knowing there’s no money in the system for proper reintegration. It makes no sense. I’ve had to quit working because it started effecting my mental health, severely. It got to where I was working jobs on average of 3-4 months before I had to quit because of some form of harassment in the work place and everyone over looks it, even managers and h.r. Wasting financial means on a program that causes more harm than benefit instead of putting towards programs that could benefit reintegration into society. I also dont think it’s fair that most are denied an education simply because reputation or safety of the college, especially if everyone attending is over 18. Rules and regulations keep getting piled on every time we turn around making it harder and harder to move on with your life. Before my release I wanted to get a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering, highly interested. Even have the background in metal fabrication. I could be making good money right now. Yet I can’t. There’s no point. Go into debt knowing you’ll never find a job in that field simply because of the felony and everything attached too it. You are denied housing even though you pose no threat. Homeless shelters and churches are so over whelmed because of the registry alone. Alot don’t even accept you because they take women and children first. People are gonna die this winter because of this program. I don’t think it’s right that you can be denied hospice care or even healthcare in general simply because of your felony?! This is the only ‘crime’ that denies that. Seriel killers get treatment I mean come on. Just simply because you dont have insurance you can’t be denied in the emergency room so why is it any different? I could see being denied if you committed something serious in a healthcare setting but it’s still not right. Its inhumane. My life has been so stressful mentally and physically it has echoed into my family. Constant anxiety, depression, and anger and even paranoia. It has created and exposed mistrust in the system we as a country have built. Mentally I have quit working like I said, therefore becoming a burden on not only my family(which for them to bear makes me humble) but also on society. No one in society realizes the financial background of this entire program, which I think would honestly help. Exposing the cost of the doc per person, the benefits to support that person when they get out, etc. When released you have to work alot harder than most just to prove yourself, causing more wear and tear on your body. Anger and anxiety and paranoia becomes a normality. Statistics show that even knowing youre under surveillance you still develop some degree of paranoia… imagine that on a national scale from the 80s til now and even 20 years from now. I would have to say my best guess over 90% of the registry pulls benefits in some way, statistics of homelessness needs to be included. My family developed so much anger that it eventually ‘popped’. I become so angry I became blinded by what I was doing one day while I was digging a post hole. Using an iron digging bar(solid iron, 30-40lbs., the top the size of a door knob) I had 50% in the ground not aware I was pulling it towards me… the ground broke causing me to hit myself in the chest nearly causing my own end of life. My life was almost taken away from me in the matter of a split second simply because the program caused me to be angry at my family and the system. I dislocated my sternal plate and several ribs, strained every muscle in my neck, and even jacked my spine up. I’ve been fortunate enough to have this healthcare. Through therapy even law enforcement has backed off because of my situation because they realize that people simply want to move on with their lives. Granted there are some that are so hung up ‘protecting the community’ that they become blinded to reality and the right choices that need to be made. My family brought up a point yesterday that it’s ironic how the registry was supposed to list even people of domestic violence. Yet statistically speaking law enforcement has the highest rate of domestic violence, they are never charged because of immunities. They simply resign and move to a different department. How does that uphold public trust? How does that deter crime? How does that benefit society? The justice system is obviously broken. There needs to be a clear definition between civil regulatory schemes and criminal punishment. Simple as that. AND this immunity crap needs to end. Immunities and term limits are a huge part of the problem. Healthcare is a human right. As well as food water and shelter. Our country is supposed to help provide some form of means to achieve that. Our system is not only failing the people on the registry but the entire country. And people are so oblivious to it because they’re not part of the system and living an every day life wondering why they have to keep paying so many taxes towards a system that is greedy and has become a war monger. Checks and balances.
A dangerously high level of (what should be) common sense finally being injected into a registry conversation, to no longer register persons with physical or mental disabilities. It will be interesting to see if the bill’s authors suffer any blowback for that position. I can already see their opponents in the next election cycle claiming they’e endangering precious children by going soft on s** off******.
If they don’t, that may be a good indication that the public is not as apt to blindly eat what the fear-mongers and media sensationalists are trying to feed them. Even if the public doesn’t fully turn anti-registry, indifference is far more preferable. Especially if accompanied by a little scrutiny.
.During the hearing, one legislator stated that the Oklahoma registry may be getting in the way of public safety. Another legislator stated that most of the people on the registry “probably are not a threat.” She added that it is the legislature’s job to make sure they are not squandering resources on people who, after a certain period of time without re-offending should be allowed to get on with their lives.
Most registrants in Oklahoma and the other 49 states are not a threat, yet year after year lawmakers’ squarder resources on the registry all because of bullshit lies. What certain period time is good 5 or 10 years of not re-offending would be good for you lawmakers?