New Jersey Bars Sex Offenders From the Internet

eldavojohn writes "New Jersey just passed legislation making it illegal for sex offenders to use the internet. NJ congresswoman Linda D. Greenstein said, 'When Megan's Law was enacted, few could envision a day when a sex offender hiding behind a fake screen name would be a mouse-click away from new and unwitting victims. Sex offenders cannot be given an opportunity to abuse the anonymity the Internet can provide as a means of opening a door to countless new potential victims.' While they still can search for jobs, this is a major expansion over the prior legislation which barred them from social networking sites like facebook or myspace."

You think you know what a Sex Offender is?

[renbear]

I've seen a number of vitriolic posts talking about those horrible sex offenders, as if they knew exactly what one was.

You don't. Trust me, you don't. Yes, it includes rapists, child molesters, etc... but the actual set of offenses that cause someone to be called a "sex offender" also includes stupid little things like flashing, victimless crimes like newlyweds making hanky-panky in a technically-public area, questionable crimes like public urination... all sorts of things that infuriate the puritanical elements of our society. It makes a nice, easy-to-administer Scarlet Letter for everyone the puritans hate.*

I would not have as much problem with this law if it actually applied only to the rapists and child molesters. Unfortunately, it does not.

* The label is also often used to repress closeted gays... "Those durned fagnits, having sex in the parks! This'll learn 'em!"

Re:WTF?

[Darkon]

Everyone has heard a similar story, or has a friend of a friend that this happened "personally" to. Problem is, it's all complete bullshit. Show me one credible source that documents someone being labelled as a sex offender for having consentual sex with a younger girlfriend

OK, how about these:

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2007/10/26/wilsoned_1028.html [ajc.com]

Google for the names mentioned and you'll turn up news reports in credible newspapers, court documents, etc. There's even a report of a girl getting the sex offender label for having sex with a younger boyfriend.

The manufacture of madness

[Anonymous Coward]

The Manufacture of Madness: A Comparative Study of the Inquisition and the Mental Health Movement (Paperback)
by Thomas Stephen Szasz is an interesting book. The author makes the point that if something is simultaneously a sin, a crime, and a mental illness what you are really dealing with is societies prejudice. This has been true of drug use, homosexuality, and sex offenders.

Re:WTF?

[Verteiron]

Furthermore, there was a well-publicized story not long ago about a man who has to register as a sex offender now after getting drunk and taking a leak in a public park. They got him on indecent exposure, and now he can't drop his own kids off at school (or use the internet in NJ, apparently).

Re:WTF?

[Verteiron]

Everyone has heard a similar story, or has a friend of a friend that this happened "personally" to. Problem is, it's all complete bullshit. Show me one credible source that documents someone being labelled as a sex offender for having consentual sex with a younger girlfriend (and before someone bothers quoting statute, yes I am aware that there are laws against such things in most states; I'm asking for a instance where someone has been prosecuted and than placed on a sex offender registry solely for that crime).

I'll do you one better [usatoday.com].

Prosecuted for posting nude pictures of her 15-year-old self. Charged with sexual abuse of children, possession of child pornography and dissemination of child pornography. I think the court's rationale was that they were prosecuting her on behalf of her older self, whose life she potentially ruined.

Re:WTF?

[DarkOx]

If you're intoxicated you cannot consent

Actually thats not true at least in Ohio. Provided you knowingly allowed yourself to become intoxicated, ie you were not drugged, or decived about something being an acholoic beverage, you are responsible for your actions and decisions while intoxicated. Almost every college kid is warned about this at freshmen orientation.

If you get liquered up and someone takes advantage of you its your fault in the eyes of the law. Now other statitory exceptions may apply like if you sell me you beater car while I am drunk, and its a lemon, I still have lemon law protection and such. There is no exception for concentual sex between adults though. If he/she is drunk and you get them to consent to sex, its legal. I would call you an asshat as would most decent human beings but we can't put you away for it.

Re:Who is a sex offender?

[fastest fascist]

From the article:
"The bill applies to anyone who used a computer to help commit the original sex crime."

Now, the bill is still obscene, but it does not apply to all citizens labelled as sex offenders, as the whole conversation here seems to assume. If only people would R T F A ... So many bits wasted.

Re:Yeah, this'll be overturned soon

[STrinity]

States routinely place restrictions and requirements on the jobs a parolee can take, and some states already make it illegal for convicted sex offenders to work around children. Like it or not, there's nothing unconstitutional about punishments that extend beyond mere jail time.

Sounds like we need the real story...

[pmazer]

From http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205204285 [informationweek.com] New Jersey Bars Some Sex Offenders From Internet: The new law prohibits anyone convicted of using a computer to commit a sex offense from using computers or accessing the Internet for part or all of their parole.

Re:Who is a sex offender?

[Synn]

It's not bullshit, it'd called reality.

In reality, these people will be coming back into society, so we really better make sure they've been "conditioned" to not repeat their crime.

Re:WTF?

[LocalH]

Not bullshit [google.com].

WARNING: misinformation alert!

[QCompson]

"The bill applies to anyone who used a computer to help commit the original sex crime." Now, the bill is still obscene, but it does not apply to all citizens labelled as sex offenders, as the whole conversation here seems to assume. If only people would R T F A ... So many bits wasted.

I really have to wonder what your agenda is when you post something such blatant misinformation. From the FA:

The bill applies to anyone who used a computer to help commit the original sex crime. It also may be applied to paroled sex offenders under lifetime supervision, but it exempts work done as part of a job or search for employment.

And later in the FA:

The State Parole Board currently supervises about 4,200 paroled sex offenders whose sentencing guidelines call for lifetime supervision -- regardless of whether their original crime involved the Internet.

To sum up: the bill doesn't apply to all sex-offenders, but it most certainly will apply to sex-offenders whose crime did not involve the internet.