Passing This Along.
Sluggo, of Sluggo Needs a Nap, directs us to a site entitled “Sexual Offenders.com,†which contains links to state-specific governmental sites that identify sexual offenders.
The site for New Jersey is here. Before you can enter the New Jersey Site you must affirmatively agree to the conditions on the main page, which include a statement of the prohibitions against the misuse of information contained in the registry.
Considerably more comprehensive than some of the other state-specific sites I accessed, the New Jersey site permits searches by geographic location (county, zip code, locality or street name), name, date of birth, physical characteristics, vehicle description or license plate number.
Each entry contains the name and address of the registrant along with a detailed description and a photograph. The entries also identify the make, model, year and license plate number of each registrant’s vehicle. Finally, each entry contains a description of the sexual offense of which the registrant was convicted.
I agree with Sluggo when he observes that there is a serious potential for the misuse of the information contained in the registry, but I also agree with him that the registry is a good idea. I believe that nature of the crimes of which these people have been convicted and the tendency for sex offenders to be repeat offenders, outweigh the potential for abuse. In addition, those who would misuse the information face criminal sanctions.
I urge those with children to periodically take a few minutes to check the registry for your area.
It could save your kid’s life.
There’s something about it that seems wrong. I guess it’s just the idea that accepting this may encourage the state to form other registries. The truth is, though I’ve got an eight year old girl and I’m glad it’s there. And as long as it’s there it should be used. Not consistent, maybe, but that’s the way it is.
Comment by Sluggo — April 22, 2005 @ 8:04 pm
I got this link the other day and checked it out. Scary to know that there are five of them in my city alone. Ugh.
Comment by Moogie — April 22, 2005 @ 8:53 pm
Yikes, there’s one about seven blocks from my house.
Comment by Evilwhiteguy — April 22, 2005 @ 9:59 pm
Or if you have grandchildren. Check your neighborhood, their neighborhood, the babysitter’s, their mom’s new boyfriend. Overprotective & paranoid? Maybe. But given my previous line of work, I’m well acquainted with the results of these perverts.
And it’s not like they wear a sign. Most of them look like your average neighbor. They may be your neighbor. There’s a danger in relying too much on the registries….offenders aren’t exactly reliable about reporting their change of addresses. The registry is only as good as the agency enforcing it.
Arkansas’ website has similar conditions, but it only gives the block location not the specific address. I don’t think the information should be used to harass or harm those listed either. I just use it to make sure I keep me & mine the hell away from those listed.
Comment by rita — April 23, 2005 @ 9:03 am
Rita’s right. I just checked my town, and the two listed are both living in the nearby retirement community. Where my grandmother used to live. I also checked the town where my kids’ father lives since they spend considerable time there, and there were three within a 5-mile radius. Thanks, Sluggo & Jim.
Comment by Shamrock — April 24, 2005 @ 8:32 pm
Not hassle these monsters? Are you kidding me? I check the register in NJ from time to time. Any sex offender who ends up in my neighborhood will be made VERY unwelcome. With extreme prejudice. Unfair? Too fucking bad.
Comment by unclejuju — April 25, 2005 @ 10:04 am