https://www.change.org/p/south-carolina-state-senate-reform-sex-offender-laws-in-south-carolina?recruiter=497744666&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive via @Change
We are not "pedophile sympathizers" and do not condone abuse in any form! We are ex-offenders, parents, children, husbands, wives & friends of those forced to wear the modern day Scarlet Letter!
The purpose of this petition is to speak out to encourage the reform of the South Carolina Sex Offender laws. To help ex-offenders and their families be treated fairly with the laws that affect them, and to hopefully encourage our law makers who we elected to remember the slavery and Nazi aspects of the political hysteria that sparked an draconian epidemic. These ineffective measures that continues to increase punishment but does not prevent OR DETER criminal activity.
- That pursuant to South Carolina Code Annotated Section 23-3-430 (D), upon conviction of an offense not specifically identified, the presiding judge may order registration if good cause is shown by the solicitor.
- That the State of South Carolina, in adopting an across the board lifetime registration requirement, has not narrowly tailored the registration requirement to serve a compelling state interest.
- That the State of South Carolina, in adopting an across the board lifetime registration requirement, has established no rational basis reasonably tied to a governmental interest in exceeding SORNA’s tiered registration requirement which allows for cessation of registration for certain offenders.
- That the State of South Carolina, in adopting an across the board lifetime registration requirement, has established no rational basis reasonably tied to a governmental interest in requiring persons convicted of ABHAN, a non-specifically identified registration offense, to suffer a lifetime registration requirement.
- That the State of South Carolina, in adopting an across the board lifetime registration requirement, has established no rational basis for treating those convicted of ABHAN and Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree identically, while SORNA has found justification in treating them differently
- That the State of South Carolina has established no rational basis reasonably tied to a governmental interest in lifetime registration without judicial review.
South Carolina severity level is one of seven states with the most severe sex offender laws in the U.S.
In her 2015 book Protecting Our Kids? How Sex Offender Laws Are Failing Us, criminologist Emily Horowitz argues that our draconian sex offender laws "promote fear, destroy lives, and fail to protect children." With all of these stories circulating in the news, though, I've been wondering -- what's the best way to reform the sex offender registry?
We humbly pray about the growing national hysteria concerning sex offenders and deviant sexual behavior. Specific strategies include promoting research, treatment, and common sense legislation of real protection of children from sexual harm be coupled with civil liberties for all people concerned, including alleged sex offenders.
Only amending existing laws that violate the rights of offenders and do nothing to protect children, especially those that humiliate and shame offenders, those that criminalize consensual sex among adolescents and young adults, those that restrict the residences and employment of offenders, and those that continue to incarcerate offenders who have completed their sentences under so-called civil commitment. We need our state to consider working with such amendments to protect all people and citizens and also to oppose new, federally enacted draconian legislation.
Letter to
South Carolina State Senate
State Senator Darrell Jackson
State Senator Joel Lourie
and 4 others
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