The Lincoln Journal-Star Editorial Board says it’s time to rework sex offender registries in the United States, with now more than 800,000 people listed on registries across the country.
Most of them are on the list for life, carrying the stigma and onerous restrictions of a registered sex offender with no chance of ever getting off the list. All offenders are treated the same, whether they are first-time, misdemeanor offender for, say, indecent exposure or serial rapists.
That stigma created by the public listing has, in a way, made it much harder for all offenders — even less dangerous ones — to become productive citizens. They are targeted for vigilante attacks and unable to get jobs or find a place to live.
Read the full editorial here.