Why are s*x offenders taken more SERIOUSLY then other criminals?

Question

Of course you want to protect your kids and whatnot... but I think what is done to SOME s*x offenders is borderline ridiculous.

On the radio this morning, this one man slept with a 17 year-old girl when he was 22 (she told him she was 18). Now, he is on a "list" which he will be on for 10 years as a s*x offender. He can't get a good job or a descend place to live because of it.

I believe this should only be done to sexual PREDITORS. Those are the people who you need to worry about.

But I think its an injustice what they do to some of these men.

No other crime carries this much weight and there are definitely worst crimes than sleeping with a 17 year old girl.

OPINIONS...

Answer 1

I completely agree with you. why arent drug dealers on lists, murders and DUI drivers!!! dontcha think those are the ones you REALLY need to look out for. I think for the most part people WATCH thier children and are aware of where they are at all times. but you cant help being run over by your neighbor who is always drinking and driving, and how about the shoot outs that are killing the innocent children everywhere!!

Answer 2

I'm sorry but these punishments are justified. The effects of introducing a minor to these kinda things effects them for the rest of their lives and some don't even get over it. It sexual abuse because they're not even mature enough to know what s*x is and that is like i mentioned b4 is a lifelong trauma.

One gets punished for sleeping w/a minor because in ALL situations, it is ur responsibility to confirm and know who u are sleeping with. When u get pulled over, da cops don't wanna hear that u didn't know that ur insurance expired or that ur license "somehow" was suspended and u didn't know. That's what puts in that predicament, not confirming. But that notion is not emphasised because the state sometimes wants u to figure things out and in the meantime take advantage of those who haven't yet.

Point blank, it is ur duty to find out if u're sleeping w/a minor or not and when u don't, u pay the consequences hard.

Answer 3

For once Mike, you and I actually agree on something.

It really bothers that they don't take into account the ages of the people involved and they don't do some kind of psychological evaluation on the "victim."

Age of consent laws are very tricky and even after someone has reached the age of consent an "adult" or 19 year old could have consensual s*x with a 16 year old and all h**l breaks loose for the guy.

I knew a guy in high school who at 18 was having s*x with his 15 year old girlfriend. Her parents found out and suddenly realize she wasn't the pure, white angel they thought she was. The forbid them to see each other and then pressed charges on him. Because of their ages he had to register as a s*x offender and had to give up his dreams of becoming a teacher because he wasn't allowed within so many feet of schools and parks. A 18 year old having s*x with a 15 year old is very different than a 18 year old having s*x with a 7 year old.

My husband is about 5 years older than I am and when we first met he wouldn't date me because in his words I was "jailbait."

I'd be willing to say in most cases with 15, 16, 17 year old girls and guys who are 2-5 years older than them, there is very rarely a victim. When there are victims you can almost immediately tell they are because true victims of any type of sexual assault have physical and emotional wounds.

Answer 4

Yes in this case the guy is the one having a crime committed against him by the state.  It is just yet again a case where the law is unjust.  Like so many other cases in this country (U.S.).  Unfair laws are all over the books in this country and in others.  It takes people with common sense stepping up and changing them to help it get better.  Unfortunately there is a shortage of people with common sense as well.    

Answer 5

In most countries, a 17 year old person can choose for themselves whether or not to sleep with someone.

If people feel laws which make it illegal for a 17 year old to have s3xual relations are unfair, they need to protest them to someone who can change them ~ like your local elected representative.

Most places, a 22 year old might be a little mature for a 17 year old, but certainly not illegal.

This is the law where you live because that's what YOUR community either wants or is too indifferent to take steps to change.

Cheers :-)

Answer 6

I agree with you ref. statuatory rape crimes.  The reason most sexual offenders are monitored more carefully is that other types of criminals can be rehabilitated s*x  offenders can't.

Answer 7

For me, it all comes down to the age of consent - it is ridiculously high for today's society...With the average age for teenagers to be engaging in sexual activity being 14 - it is insane that we hang on to a law that states 16 as the age of consent!

When laws are made, there are parameters - and all who fall within those parameters are treated in the same fashion.  I agree with you - a person who molests a 6 year old is very different from a 22 year old who sleeps with a 17 year old.  Yet, they are treated the same, as they fall under the same laws.  

Answer 8

Yes I agree that if there person hasn't actually forced anyone, and that the minor isn't that young there shouldn't be any conviction.

EDIT: I think this varies from country to country - in the UK the age of consent being 16 is just to protect the innocent. If an older teen or twenty something has consensual s*x with a girl or 14+ if she consents then the law don't do anything about it. It seems that in the USA they take it far out of context.

Answer 9

I agree. The ages are close, he thought she was 18 and it was consensual.  I think it should be done case by case. These types of incidences force us to take the side of the "predator" and in turn cheapen the cases that really are abusive.  I will never be one to say that age doesn't matter, because it does. Had this man been 25 and she was 15 I'd feel differently, but this is silly.  

Answer 10

I think rape is the most disgusting and repulsive crime there is.

However, I don't think sleeping with a consenting seventeen year old is a crime (actually, it isn't a crime where I live, the age of consent is sixteen - but for the sake of the question, I'll overlook that discrepancy). I think statutory rape should not be taken as seriously as that if the "victim" consented. S/he isn't really a victim then. If the it were a prepubescent child, that would be different, but at seventeen this young woman was an adult in all but the eyes of the law. Clearly, this law is at fault here - at seventeen, she was sexually mature and more than capable of consenting. The law should be changed as it is unfair and faintly ridiculous.

Answer 11

In this case, she tricked him into thinking she was an adult, so no "offence" was actually committed on his part.

Answer 12

I think feminist groups have used false research and misinformation to push for ridiculous and discriminating rape and domestic violence related laws to be passed. There seems to be an agenda there that goes like this, "if we can push the age of consent up to 18 we can get higher rape stats and use this information the get further funding and use that money to push even more ridiculous laws through, the more female victims and male rapists there are, the stronger our cause is. "

This was definitely the thinking behind the victimisation of Erin Prizzy and the suppression of the truth about domestic violence.

Here in Europe the AOC is 16.

Answer 13

I do see what you're saying. I think there is a BIG difference between a 20 year old having s*x with his consenting 17 year old girlfriend and a 40 year old man stalking a 15 year old. I think these issues are taken seriously to enforce a zero tolerance policy for any kind of gray area, regardless of what the individual situation may be. While it may not be fair for some younger people close in age, it becomes a big problem when it's a situation where a young person may be endangered, taken advantage of, or worse.  

Answer 14

There are crimes which carry more weight, but obviously there is some injustice here.  

In court Isn't it indefinitely retroactive as well? My first sexual experience was with a 18 or 19 year old girl and I was only 16 (and this was 4 states away from where I currently live) How serious would I be taken if I submitted my story to court? - as a man? 8 years later?

Answer 15

Only male s*x offenders are taken seriously , female s*x offenders are hardly punished at all.

Answer 16

Given the age of the 'victim' - no I don't see a crime here.

I don't see why there should even be a record.

Some would say you have to make sure of the age of the person - however that is subject to 'with in reason' - ie asking them.

The zealots here would have us take thier social security numbers, passport or birth certs and verify them before engaging in any activity.

Talk about getting unreasonable - while we are on this, should we also ge them to sign documentation, along with multiple witness statements proving they claim the above documents to be true along with their claim to their age and thier consent to sexual activity on the provision the checks come back ok?

Answer 17

Sexual crimes are very serious because they are a violation of the person's body as well as their mind, and the damage it can inflict goes way beyond physical.

But I agree, some people take it way too far. The case you mentioned? Ridiculous. She lied to him, he gets nailed and she gets off scot-free....not fair at all! She should be punished in some way for her part in the whole shabby affair, and her name should be known publicly so men know to avoid the little liar.

I agree, it is an injustice in some cases.