DB response

In 1994 a series of highly publicized acts by sex offenders let to federal and state legislation.  The 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the 1994 Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children act set guidelines for the sex offender registers establishment.  (Masters, 2017).  Jessica’s Law was passed in 2005 which bars sex offenders from living near or around schools or parks where children congregate.  (Masters, 2017). 

According to the South Dakota sex offender registry laws in my state of South Dakota are al follows: The sex offender registration laws in SDCL 22-24B-1 through 22-24B-37 apply to any person who has been convicted (either upon a verdict or a plea of guilty or plea of nolo contendere), or who has received a suspended imposition of sentence that has not been discharged pursuant to SDCL (23A-27-14), of a sex crime as defined in SDCL 22-24B-1, including convictions for attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation of sex crimes as defined in SDCL 22-24B-1.  A foreign criminal conviction which requires registration as a sex offender pursuant to the laws of the state where the conviction took place, also requires registration in South Dakota within three (3) business days of arrival into this state. The laws also apply to any juvenile fourteen (14) years of age or older at the time of the offense shall register as a sex offender if that juvenile has been adjudicated of rape as defined in subdivision 22-24B-1(1), or of an out-of-state or federal offense that is comparable to the elements of these crimes of rape or any crime committed in another state if that state also requires a juvenile adjudicated of that crime to register as a sex offender in that state. Registration requires submission of certain information, including the offender's signature, DNA, passport information, INS number and document type, professional licenses and other information. Failure to comply is a Class 6 Felony

Ways to effectively manage high risk sex offenders would include intensive supervision of offenders and a rehabilitative treatment approach.  Once again, the tax payers will have to pick up the bill to have these offenders rehabilitated.  I believe some sort of restitution, or contribution in the form of money, from the offender to a program should be mandatory. 

While I was researching the Christian viewpoint on sex offender registry, I came across an article in which a Liberty professor contributed.  And his points make sense.  Boz Tchvidjian is a law professor at Liberty University Law school and the founder of G.R.A.C.E., a non-profit group that consults with ministries on the issue of sexual abuse.  He believes that most churches err on the side of helping the offender instead of protecting the safety of children.  He suggests that sex offenders’ worship online and get involved in adults only groups where all attendees know their status. (Sells, 2017).  I would agree that we need to protect the children.

 

(n.d.). Retrieved 2018, from https://sor.sd.gov/about.aspx

Masters, R. E., et al. (2017). CJ: Realities and challenges (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Sells, H. (2017, November 01). 'There Is This Belief That We Have to Be Forgiving': Should Known Sex Offenders Be Allowed in Church? Retrieved from https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2017/november/there-is-this-belief-that-we-have-to-be-forgiving-should-known-sex-offenders-be-allowed-in-church