Term 'sex offender' misused

2-23-2009 National:

What do you think of when you hear the term "sex offender?" I imagine most of you immediately envision a monster of a person, someone who is a vile and immoral creature who has been convicted as a pedophile, rapist or sexual predator. These people are a serious danger to society and should be justly convicted, incarcerated and rehabilitated as necessary.

I'll tell you something that is grossly unjust that most people are not aware of: Did you know that there are 18- and 19 year-olds who are "getting caught" engaging in consensual sex with 15- or 16-year-olds, and who are being charged and convicted as these same aforementioned "monsters?" This is due to the ambiguous nature of how our sex offender laws are written in Vermont, as well as many other states in our country. These "monsters" are not only being sentenced to prison, but are also being forced to register as sex offenders for 10 years from the date of being released from prison which means the general public immediately assumes that they must be a danger to society.

How is it that these "perpetrators" are being categorized in the same class of criminals who are considered filthy animals? And how are these ex-cons able to ever move on with their lives if both the state and the public continue to persecute them for their "mistake?"

Something is vastly wrong with our criminal and judicial systems and some serious modifications need to be made. It is an outrage that these particular "perpetrators" are becoming "victims" themselves to the propaganda that is perpetuated by these labels that are so loosely utilized and misunderstood by the media and public at large.

The term sex offender is grossly misused and I find this misrepresentation more offensive than anything. Why? Because good-hearted people are being scorned, fingers pointed at them, and accused of things that are clearly not true due to the generalized nature of the term sex offender.

Why is it that a 19-year-old has to have his or her future reputation severely sabotaged for 10 years for the mistake of expressing an act of love with a person with only a three- or four-year age difference and being classified as a "monster" because of it? Does anyone not see that this broad categorizing is a perverse means of governmental manipulation and control?

Let it be known: not all sex offenders are child molesters, rapists or sexual predators. Some may just be someone who may have made the mistake of being human and expressing the physical act of love with a teenager who is just as capable of making the same mistake. Perhaps we should stop casting stones and look at people for who they are and not for the labels that are given to them by bureaucratic dogma.
Amy Hagan lives in Richmond. ..News Source.. by Amy Hagan