WA to consider introducing public Sex Offenders Registry

[MadeInOz]

Law to list sex deviants online

WEST Australians will be able to see photos of sex offenders living in their area by entering their postcodes on a website.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/west...-1226186608113

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Personal Opinion: If they actually looked at the system in the US, such as introduced under the Adam Walsh Act, among others, they would see the problems that it is causing. My problem with it is twofold 1) it continues the pattern of ongoing punishment of offenders after their time has been served. 2) It creates an atmosphere of paranoia, and can lead to vigilantism, or the ever-popular "Not In My Back Yard".

There is already a national register for offenders against children, known as ANCOR, (Australian National Child Offender Registry), which can require monitoring/ongoing reporting for 5 years, 10 years or life. Granted, there is no public face to this register, but the reporting requirements to police are extensive and onerous. (including vehicles owned, employment details, any interstate travel, etc etc)

I believe that studies have shown that most people are abused by someone who is either known to them, or is a member of their family. At the end of the day, I think these kind of measures serve to placate the victims rights, and campaign groups, but don't have a measurable productive impact in society.

[Becky2]

Originally Posted by MadeInOz

Law to list sex deviants online

WEST Australians will be able to see photos of sex offenders living in their area by entering their postcodes on a website.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/west...-1226186608113

--------------------------------

Personal Opinion: If they actually looked at the system in the US, such as introduced under the Adam Walsh Act, among others, they would see the problems that it is causing. My problem with it is twofold 1) it continues the pattern of ongoing punishment of offenders after their time has been served. 2) It creates an atmosphere of paranoia, and can lead to vigilantism, or the ever-popular "Not In My Back Yard".

There is already a national register for offenders against children, known as ANCOR, (Australian National Child Offender Registry), which can require monitoring/ongoing reporting for 5 years, 10 years or life. Granted, there is no public face to this register, but the reporting requirements to police are extensive and onerous. (including vehicles owned, employment details, any interstate travel, etc etc)

I believe that studies have shown that most people are abused by someone who is either known to them, or is a member of their family. At the end of the day, I think these kind of measures serve to placate the victims rights, and campaign groups, but don't have a measurable productive impact in society.

I agree MadeinOz. I guess all we can do is sit back and watch the first time it all ends in tears and someone is beaten or worse for a crime for which they have already paid the price. Given that as you say the majority of offenders are related to their victims and that recidivism for this particular crime is amongst the lowest I deplore the amount of money that is being spent on this knee jerk shock jock driven reaction.

[Samkuro]

Yeah, I have to admit I don't agree with it, particularly having the photos up of the offenders... it's been seen in the past about a child sex offender being driven out of their home by the locals, cause today tonight or 60mins got wind of it and tracked down the offender...

And although I don't agree with it, I can understand the family point of view to have it, cause they want to know who is in their neighbour hood... and as it was said on the tv when they showed about it the other day on one of the morning shows... most child sexual abuse is usually done by a family member or close friend... not a stranger in the community who's been caught and sent to jail and put on the register...
So I can't really see how this would help...

[Bezzz]

There now talking about this for Vic.
How are the guys suppose to move on after serving there time with something like this? Not to mention there familys are they stuck paying for this for the reast of there lives? And what about the guys who didnt do it and are doing time for it? Do they have to keep paying for it?
The whol thing seams pretty silly to me.

[number8]

I think it gives people a false sense of security. Instead of looking at the people who have contact with their children, they will be on the lookout for previous offenders and not taking steps to protect the children from those they are at the most risk from - the unidentified offenders near to them... the family and friends in their everyday life.
Children need to know what is OK and what is not, and that no matter what threats are made to them, that there is a safe person they can confide in if there is anything they are unsure of or uncomfortable with.
The chances of a child being abused by a previously identified offender is much less than from a person they know or have contact with....