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Stricter Rules For Sex Offenders Save Email Print
Posted: 7:42 AM Dec 1, 2008
 Last Updated: 7:42 AM Dec 1, 2008
18 comments
A | A | A

Stricter new rules governing sex offenders are taking effect in North Carolina.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported that the rules taking effect Monday triple the time from 10 to 30 years that an offender must remain on a state registry. Offenders also are required to register in person with the local sheriff within three days of changing addresses.

Offenders also are required to stay at least 300 feet away from a place where children gather, like day care centers and schools. One offender said his sheriff said he couldn't go to church because there was a nursery in the building.

The new rules were approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mike Easley this year.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by: tom Location: j-actionville on Dec 3, 2008 at 09:39 AM
to kim who thinks it is wrong.Look your are kinda wright about people being wrongfully acussed, but they should think about who they hang out with and not put their self in that spot.I think you have it wrong 95% is probaly guilty and 5% is notbut i know your just angry b/c it happend to a freind,or family member that has been charged with the crime and think their not guilty, but truthfully how does anyone know the truth anyways there is 3 sides to every story the victim,suspect,and the truth and no one ever knows the trurth but god him self.I think the offenders deserve everything they get done to them. WATCH WHO YOU ASSCIATE WITH AND KEEP YOU NOSE CLEAN,AND IF YOU FIND YOUR SELF ATTRACTED TO A YOUNGER PERSON PLEASE MAKE SURE THEIR AT LEAST 18 THAT AINT SO HARD.and to all the angry parents whos kids has done something wrong like this and is mad about it your fought you should know the people your kids date and hang around.
Posted by: mom Location: nc on Dec 2, 2008 at 02:26 PM
I think it should be a LIFELONG registry. The victims have to live with what happened to them for the rest of their lives
Posted by: tod Location: 7 springs on Dec 2, 2008 at 06:16 AM
the registry is very flawed in that it only has offenders who offended b4 1996 or so. Many people get a false sense of safety because of who is not on it. Rest ( un) assured there are probably people ij your church , school, hospital, etc that are convicted molesters, not to mention the many , many who havent been caught or plead to lesser charge. As parents we must be vigilant. As responsible citizens let your neighbors know about offenders in your area, whether on the registry or not, and let the offender know that you know .It is a little messed up that some are on registry for being 18 and having sex with slightly younger agreeing partner, but hey date someone your own age , not a child . My job puts me in contact with dozens of offenders and many do reoffend, not all get caught. If as someone stated lawyers wont help get offenders names off the registry when times up, then good, it means maybe lawyers do have standards. To offenders: shut up and die or something
Posted by: MADDOG Location: GREEVILLE on Dec 1, 2008 at 09:34 PM
I agree with KIT.They said after 10 years you can go back to trial and have your name removed.But that is not true.WHY? Because you can not get a lawyer to take that kind of case.So these people are hung out to dry and their whole life is messed up.
Posted by: b Location: kinston on Dec 1, 2008 at 07:47 PM
editors edited the details, don't know why cause the story I was posting was featured for days on witntv last june 07, but maybe they will let this in if I dont name names. TAXPAYERS: YOUR MONEY PAYS A CONVICTED FELON ADMITTED CHILD MOLESTER who ia a doctor for the state of nc. The info is available on ncmedboard.org he is not on the registry cause he molested in 1996 b4 there was a registry. Some have lost their jobs for being on registry when they had consentual sex with someone a couple years younger not that I condone that, but this guy and others are in high paying tax payer funded jobs after molesting little girls. If you agree that tax payers shouldnt pay child molesters , in this case 188,000/ year let your legislators know. To the editors, your own station ran this story for a week 18 months ago , why boot me for referencing it in a relevant blog now?
Posted by: ME Location: USA on Dec 1, 2008 at 07:10 PM
Look I am on here because I want each and everyone one you to Know something.I was accused of this ugly mess in 19-- and I hire a layer.Big mistake,,,He gave me a line of Bull and told me this and that and did not do his job.Well not knowing the Law ,I listened to him.People ,I don't care what you all think of me.I will tell you this,People who really know me will tell you I AM NOT THAT KIND OF PERSON.I did 4 years in prison for something I did not do.I lost my wife because she could not take the pressure,My HOME,everything.After I got out and when to work,,I worked the same job for 7 years and then the rules changed and I lost that.I have been on the registry for 11 years and have not Broke any LAWs . I have never hurt anyone,even the one that started this mess,when to the LAW and told them she lied.To Late. Now you People going to tell me that I should stay on there for 30 years. I gave my life and Blood for something I did not do .. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?
Posted by: Sarah Location: Fayetteville, NC on Dec 1, 2008 at 02:05 PM
Good! These offenders should think about the consequences of their actions before they act. To me, I don't care if the person did the offense 20 yrs ago, I still would not want them near my kids. Ya never know if those feelings will come back into their minds.
Posted by: Kit on Dec 1, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Mary: I agree that that man should be on the registry. I guess my point is the registry is a very broken system that is way too broad that for the most part is comprised of innocent's(I mean this in a broad sense of kids that never should have been put up there and innocent people). Basically the people that should be punished so harshly are not the ones being punished that harshly. I also mean that people have gotten to the point where any case no matter whether it is true or not has been deemed true. And most the people in these predicaments are not told all their choices because of all the pressure put on lawyers and judges. Yes Children should never have to go through something like that. But innocent people shouldn't have to go through it either.
Posted by: Mary Location: North Carolina on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Kit, I do understand your point. There are a lot of people convicted of a crime that DNA is now proving they are not guilty. However, sex offenders do not normally stop with one child. Children that are abused have their lives ruined forever (it is ALWAYS with them). This I know as a fact. I would love to see the man that molested me on the registry, rather than on the Board of Deacons of his church.
Posted by: Kit on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Jane: Actually it is NOT a little more involved than someone just making an accusation and they get listed on the registry. Because once that accusation is made the person is already convicted before a trial even starts. I know these things for a fact. My guess is that anyone that thinks these things happening is ok have never been up close and personal with the actual happenings of a trial of falsely accused people. As for things happening to children, yes they happen I'm not saying that some people should not be on that registry. But I do believe anyone on there should probably have a retrial and if they were kids being kids should be taken off. That registry is a witch hunt and NOTHING more. It does not tell you the truth, because most of those people aren't criminals. If you think they are then you mine as well believe in the tooth fairy or santa claus.
Posted by: Ann Location: NC on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I agree with this new law. If only the police and sheriff's offices would reinforce it. The offenders that plead guilty because they knew they did something wrong deserve it. They shouldn't be allowed around children or teens under 18. But then there are a certain few 'offenders' that did nothing wrong. They upset the wrong person and were wrongfully accused of something they didn't do. I think the court system should let people who are accued of something of this nature know all of their possibilities. It's a shame when an innocent man is sent to prison because he was accused of something he didn't do, but then the ones who molested or raped underage or of age people get a slap on the wrist. A friend of mine was falsly accused and sent to prison for 8yrs, then a man who molested 5 teenagers and admitted it, got a slap on the wrist with barely any jail time, not prison but jail. Now tell me where the justice is in that?
Posted by: Jane Location: NC on Dec 1, 2008 at 11:05 AM
I agree with everything Mary said. I won't say that it doesn't happen that someone makes false accusations. But I will say there are many many more perpetrators that are never reported or caught that continue to torment children. And yes it does stay with the victim forever. It is a little more involved than just someone makes an accusation and they are listed on the registry. The registry is for convicted persons. But beware, the "wonderful, upstanding" person you may be led to believe was set up or whatever, may just be the creep they say he is. They are EXPERT actors and manipulators. They rely on your being gullible enough to believe his "real story" to continue their agenda. They can't be rehabilitated and they don't stop by their own choosing. When you listen to their story and feel sorry for them, think of the victim. They will live with this forever. Speaking first hand.
Posted by: Kit on Dec 1, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Mary: Do you think it is excusable that people that did NOTHING at all wrong end up on the registry? Because if a person is even accused of this kind of crime most lawyers do NOT fight for that person they just tell them to take a plea. They do not inform their clients that there are other options because they are being pressured by society to convict their clients even when their clients never did a thing. Just happened to upset someone and that upset person decided to be vindictive. Even if a person KNOWS the law they cannot prepare against things like that.
Posted by: Mary Location: North Carolina on Dec 1, 2008 at 09:37 AM
Sex offenders do not normally stop. True, some of the ones that show up on the list may have been boyfriend/girlfriend or someone lied about their age. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Children that are abused have their lives ruined forever (it is ALWAYS with them).
Posted by: amy Location: kinston on Dec 1, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I agree! I used to be closed minded until this happened to someone I know. Someone lies,you hire a high priced lawer that tells you to take a plea to get probation;so you do,but no probation 13months prision instead. Now you move on with life find someone who knows the real you and you have a child. You can't go to your childs school,pick them up from daycare or anything. What would you do? Think about it!! Your life is ruined becaused someone lied to get themselves out of trouble! By the way if you think people don't lie think about a girl that might tell a guy she is 18 and she is actually 15, she even has id "fake" to show she is 18. The guy is 21. They start making out heavily but don't "go all the way" this guy could be deemed a sex offender now. Oh yes, this is true and it does happen!! Would you want to be persicuted the rest of your life for someone else's lies?
Posted by: Dawn Location: Greenville, NC on Dec 1, 2008 at 09:24 AM
I am glad to see stricter laws for these criminals. I would much rather see "ONE" strict law for these parents who abuse their children. You can beat your children and get less punishment than drug dealers. NC law makers need to step up to the plate for our innocent children....sexually or physically abused!!! I beg you to contact your congressman and ask what he/she is going to do to make child abusers pay!!
Posted by: reality on Dec 1, 2008 at 09:19 AM
If they don't like the new laws they could spend the 30 years in jail instead.
Posted by: Kit on Dec 1, 2008 at 08:45 AM
Geez, when does this witch hunt end? I am not an offender but I know people that "supposedly" are. 5% of that registry MIGHT be actual criminals but 95% are kids that were being kids or falsely accused people from a spurned lover (yes people are that cruel that they will do stuff when they don't get their way). So we should ruin these peoples lives forever? I hate to say it but it makes me sick to think people actually agree with what goes on with this registry. It basically means they don't take the time to find out the truth. Just barrel on protect the kids. Well yeah kids should be protected, but this is getting rediculous. All it takes is one person saying he did this or she did that and all the sudden they are on this registry with no way off. Losing their jobs, their homes, etc.
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