by Kelly Piercy

Created on: July 26, 2008   Last Updated: July 30, 2008

There are two sad facts about American Society. Both these facts are the result of a single factor. America has become the victim of editorial bias presented as News'. The first fact is that Americans, in general, base their opinions on the infamous thirty second sound bite'. The second fact is that Americans find they are too busy to research and verify the information presented in those sound bites.

The media has one goal. That goal is to sell soap. Politicians have one goal. That goal is to continue to be a politician. Any advertiser will tell you the best way to sell soap is to tell the potential customer what they want to hear. Any campaign manager will tell you the best way to win votes is to be on the side of the mood of the electorate. Combine these two and you discover that it is the truth that becomes the first victim.

A single hot button issue certain to gain market share (in the media) and votes is sex offenders. This is a small class of persons denied the right to vote (in most states by virtue of a felony conviction) and economically deprived by ostracism. Both media and politicians know this is a safe place to generate fear, garner votes, and sell soap.

The media and politicians leap whole-heartedly on to the 100% bandwagon. State after State, and now the United States, is passing more and more restrictive requirements about where former sex offenders can live, work, or even stand. The fallacy is that this will somehow protect society from this class of crime.

Nowhere is it supposed that sexual offenses are neither acceptable nor minor crimes. However, there are some real facts that have become lost in the hysteria about this class of crime.

These facts are:

1. The actual rate of recidivism for sex offenders after release from prison is five point three percent (5.3%.)
2. Eighty percent (80%) of all sex offenses are committed by a trusted family member or friend (to include Minister, Priest, Teacher, relative, or family friend.)

source: US Department of Justice http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#sex

The simple fact is that since the inception of Registration, Publication of Registrants, and Residency Restrictions there has been no significant change in either the first time offense or the rate of recidivism for this class of offenses.

The only change that has obtained from the wave of Megan's Laws and Adam Walsh Acts is cost. The burden of establishing registries and enforcing residency restrictions has diverted funds and manpower of law enforcement agencies

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