Sex Offender Fail

[Greenday]

I don't think it was in the U.S.

Then it's not too relevant since both you and I live in the US. There are countries where when a woman is raped, SHE is the one who gets punished.

Singapore might be the country you are thinking of though since they are extremely strict with their laws and punishments.

[Eisa]

^But it still is at least semi-relevant because you can get SERIOUS time when you're busted for drugs. And most of the time, you don't for sex crimes.

[blas87]

This is true. And violent crimes are also not treated as serious as they are.

Two boys from a college nearby killed a guy they had a scuffle with at a bar, and the next thing on the news was "UW Stout to determine if Joe Blow and John Smith will be kicked out of the university and the hockey team."

Err....the question should be how long they have to serve in PRISON, not if they can return to school or not.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

When is there ever leniency when it comes to sex offenders? I guess I'm jaded by all the 18 year old rapists who had the audacity to have consensual sex with their 17 year old girlfriends.

Or the kids in college who make the mistake of getting drunk and pissing on a building on public. That's worthy of being considered a sexual offender.

Or how about that lovely double standard. If a guy gets drunk and waves his willie in public...he's a sexual offender. If a woman gets drunk and drops her panties in public...She's on the latest "Girls Gone Wild" video.

I do agree that there are some crimes where the sexual predators (the asshole who anally violated an 11 year old girl and killed her comes to mind) are really deserving of being slowly lowered into an industrial sized blender. However there is due process and bail is something that is allowed to those who are accused and have yet to have it proven that they are guilty of the crimes charged.

Bail I have no problems with. It's the light sentencing when they are found guilty that pisses me off.

[KabeRinnaul]

Sometimes "I thought she was older" is a valid excuse (old link, but still up when I checked).

Personally, I'm against sex offender registration for two reasons. First, it essentially extends punishment past the actual sentencing and makes the punishment effectively indefinite. I've always felt that violated the 8th Amendment. Second, it covers far too much ground. Public indecency/indecent exposure isn't the sort of thing that demands life-long consequences.