COLUMBUS - An Ohio legislative panel yesterday rubber-stamped an unprecedented process that would allow sex offenders to be publicly identified and tracked even if they've never been charged with a crime.

 

 

 

No one in attendance voiced opposition to rules submitted by Attorney General Jim Petro's office to the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, consisting of members of the Ohio House and Senate.

 

 

 

The committee's decision not to interfere with the rules puts Ohio in a position to become the first state to test a "civil registry."

 

 

 

The concept was offered by Roman Catholic bishops as an alternative to opening a one-time window for the filing of civil lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse that occurred as long as 35 years ago.

 

 

 

A recently enacted law allows county prosecutors, the state attorney general, or, as a last resort, alleged victims to ask judges to civilly declare someone to be a sex offender even when there has been no criminal verdict or successful lawsuit.

 

 

 

The rules spell out how the untried process would work. It would largely treat a person placed on the civil registry the same way a convicted sex offender is treated under Ohio's so-called Megan's Law.

 

 

 

The person's name, address, and photograph would be placed on a new Internet database and the person would be subjected to the same registration and community notification requirements and restrictions on where he could live.

 

 

 

A civilly declared offender, however, could petition the court to have the person's name removed from the new list after six years if there have been no new problems and the judge believes the person is unlikely to abuse again.

 

 

 

The attorney general's office said it continues to hold discussions with a group representing day care operators about one of the rules pertaining to what such facilities would do with information they might receive pertaining to someone on the registry if that person is living nearby..

 

Article here

 

 

 

So... Anyone can put you on the list, you get treated the same as the guy who got caught, tried and convicted for diddling little kids, and you have to wait six years to appeal and have your name removed? No problems with that at all because people are so honorable. Surely there won't be accusations based on revenge. [insert Bill Murrary here]

 

 

 

This means that without any kind of criminal verdict, anyone could be reduced to a social outcast for the rest of his life. Your name, picture and adress will be viewable for the public for at least six years. You will be known as a sex offender to your employers, neighbours and social circle, without ever actually being declared guilty before a jury of your peers.

Good God, Ohio, why?!

 

This is exactly the kind of material that would be made to be hilarious on Seinfeld.

That violates the Constitution in so many ways.

 

 

 

This falls heavily under the Miranda decision, since a person is recieving punishment without ever being formally charged for a crime.

 

 

 

This has got to be overturned by the Supreme Court. It's bads FAR outweigh it's goods.

Have you read the article? No opposition voiced. Of course this will be overturned by the supreme court, but the damage has already been done.

oh geez, ohio with its monitoring.. I hate sex offendors just like the next person, but this is way too far.

People can be tarred and feathered here, too. Look at Craig Charles for example - a woman got annoyed with him, accused him of rape, he got no privacy from the media. He had his face plastered all over the papers, got held on remand (in prison) for 8 months and then when it came to trial the woman said he was innocent. She just wanted to drag him through that. No compensation for him because you only get that if you've served part of a prison sentence wrongly.

Somehow I am not at all surprised.

Well, that's America for you..

Have you read the article? No opposition voiced. Of course this will be overturned by the supreme court, but the damage has already been done.

 

 

 

What publicly elected official wants to be know as the guy who voted against a bill protecting children from sexual abuse? I know the actual legislation is a steaming pile of doody but these are politicians remember.

What publicly elected official wants to be know as the guy who voted against a bill protecting children from sexual abuse?

 

 

 

How about the one who values common sense over witch-hunt mentality?

I read this article and I think, "I could swear we've made a stupid decision just like this before..."

 

 

 

And then I remember: Salem Witch Trials. Red Scare.

 

 

 

Please, America, don't go for the trifecta.

Damn. Talk about unconstitutional. :x

Well, that's America for you..

 

All I have to say. :boohoo:

I'd say this is pretty ridiculous. I can easily see this playing out like that one South Park episode where the kids what their parents to get off their backs so they say they are getting molested and then no more adults are around because everyone is in jail. Kind of similar I guess :P.

I'd say this is pretty ridiculous. I can easily see this playing out like that one South Park episode where the kids what their parents to get off their backs so they say they are getting molested and then no more adults are around because everyone is in jail. Kind of similar I guess :P.

 

 

 

wacky molestation adventure, episode 416.

 

 

 

i know that off the top of my head since that is probably my second favourite southpark episode. maybe my favourite.

 

 

 

but anyways, yeah this is pretty stupid. one state does it, then more will start doing it, then all will do it. one step closer to becoming a police state.

Innocent till proven guilty, lets scratch that, Guilty if someone hates you. Go Democracy!

Couldn't that be considered slander and therefore make anyone who has suffered this legally eligable to sue the state for damages? It'd be as bad as that 'dontdatehimgirl' website :uhh:

I read this article and I think, "I could swear we've made a stupid decision just like this before..."

 

 

 

And then I remember: Salem Witch Trials. Red Scare.

 

 

 

Please, America, don't go for the trifecta.

 

Hah, my thoughts exactly.

 

Say hello to the modern Inquisition. Funny how history repeats itself.