While informative and the intent of the article is focused on the most severe sexual offenses, I'm left with at least a couple of questions: 1) How do you find out a sexual offender is in your congregation in the first place? He/She probably isn't going to just volunteer the information. Do we conduct background checks for every person w…
While informative and the intent of the article is focused on the most severe sexual offenses, I'm left with at least a couple of questions: 1) How do you find out a sexual offender is in your congregation in the first place? He/She probably isn't going to just volunteer the information. Do we conduct background checks for every person who wishes to become a member? 2) I worked in the Felony Division of the court system for nearly 25 years. I have seen more than several cases where some poor dude had to register as a sex offender because, at 19 or 20 years old, he had sex with his girlfriend who told him she was 18 when she was really 16. The article doesn't address cases like that. I would like to see one that does.
This is a really tough issue. As for your first question, I agree its not practical to background check everyone who comes through the door. We mitigate that gap with a strong child protection policy. While there is an administrative component to the policy, we also employ physical procedures by locking up all rooms that are not currently in use and have a roving patrol walk past rooms in use (think during Sunday School).
Most states have a sex offender registry that is open to the public. It may be referred to as a Megan's Law directory in some places. While I understand your sentiment about over charging and abuse by some prosecutors, it is not up to us to look at each individual case. A conviction is a conviction and, as you must know working in the courts, a majority of sex offenders deserve to be on that list and have very high recidivism rate.
While informative and the intent of the article is focused on the most severe sexual offenses, I'm left with at least a couple of questions: 1) How do you find out a sexual offender is in your congregation in the first place? He/She probably isn't going to just volunteer the information. Do we conduct background checks for every person who wishes to become a member? 2) I worked in the Felony Division of the court system for nearly 25 years. I have seen more than several cases where some poor dude had to register as a sex offender because, at 19 or 20 years old, he had sex with his girlfriend who told him she was 18 when she was really 16. The article doesn't address cases like that. I would like to see one that does.
This is a really tough issue. As for your first question, I agree its not practical to background check everyone who comes through the door. We mitigate that gap with a strong child protection policy. While there is an administrative component to the policy, we also employ physical procedures by locking up all rooms that are not currently in use and have a roving patrol walk past rooms in use (think during Sunday School).
Most states have a sex offender registry that is open to the public. It may be referred to as a Megan's Law directory in some places. While I understand your sentiment about over charging and abuse by some prosecutors, it is not up to us to look at each individual case. A conviction is a conviction and, as you must know working in the courts, a majority of sex offenders deserve to be on that list and have very high recidivism rate.