Should names of juvenile offenders be released to the public - for all crimes committed?
465460
No because they are juveniles, and are protected.
887027
Wow - I didnt know this.\n\nIf its true then it would be an isolated incident and I think punishing the majority from having fun because of an idiotoc minority is not fair.\n\nAs long as this youth is convicted and given an appropriate punishment such that justice is done then fine, plus it will serve as an example to others of what will happen if you choose to harm others with fireworks or otherwise.
1031157
Yes absolutely. Kids are too precious to be put at any kind of risk, the information needs to come straight from the police in a monthly bulletin available only from police stations so innocent men or women didnt get accused. After that the real paedophiles are fair game, they deserve all and more of whats coming to them.
907395
That's incorrect. Traditionally, many newspapers have decided on their own not to publish the names of underage victims of crimes and criminals, and some victims of crime who are adults. However, that kind of prohibition is not something that can be constitutionally legislated in the United States.
506230
I think that is a great idea for dateline to do stories about child sex offenders.  If you are a parent or have nieces and nephew this a serious problem.  They are everywhere and they don't care who they hurt in the process.  Most of them had children themselves and did not care.  They are a serious threat to our children in todays society.  I am all for it as long as adults and parents take it serious.  Know who your children are chatting with and take an active roll with them.  It is better for them to catch them now before someone's child is taken as a victim.
439280
With the technology today and DNA testing I think that yes with the crimes you have mentioned. They are horrible crimes to other individuals and children and until we really crack the whip and say this will not be tolerated those crimes will continue against the innocent. With tougher penalties maybe they will think twice before committing the crime.
925013
The first two obviously don't know what the term means, and jp is has erronious information.  Some state's (like Texas) will continue prosecution even if the parents opt out of prosecuting.  \n\nNot sure the jailtime, but one things for sure, he'll most likely be labled a "sex offender" and have to register his address on the state's website for all to see, and he won't be able to live within 1000 feet of a school, bus stop, park, or church.  it's 2000 in some communities.\n\n\nIt would appear that some edu-ma-cation is in order here: \n\nStatutory Rape is CONSENTUAL sex with someone who is not of legal age to give consent.  IOW, it's screwing while in junior and high school for most of the country.
374686
What state do you live in? Honestly you should not have to file anything because all juvenile records should be sealed.  You should speak to the county clerk's office at the courthouse where you live.
391305
They do tend to ruin far more lives than one-time murderers.. so, no, they shouldn't get the same punishment.  Pervs deserve a much harsher punishment.  And, if you look up the laws and cases involving murders of children, you'll be upset to know that if you kill a kid, here in TX, anyhow, you'll probably only be charged with "injury to a child"...  don't know why but it's easier to kill a kid and get off than for killing an adult..  The law is wrong!
256599
No, this is the stupidest thing the government's ever advocated. Like "Devotional" said, even the best parents will get saddled with a bad kid sometimes.\nHow about putting the responsibility on the committers of the crimes? \nThe other instances where it's just a ticketable offense, it's clearly just about gaining more revenue - after all, the kid won't have money, but the parents will.\nIn criminal offenses, make the kids accountable for their actions. Parents can watch over their kids 24/7. There's time before school, and the time after school, and the going to friends' houses that parents can't be there.
164651
it depends if the DA has decided to press charges.  If so..then yes.  If not, I am assuming this is why you were released.
790491
i think so. if the minor understood what they were doing and knew what the outcome would be then yes they should be tried as adults.  there areway to many young people out killing each other and know they can get away with it, because they will go to juvie and be out when they are 18.  i say lock them up with the adults so they can truly learn a lesson.
1097458
The offenders willfully gave up their rights when they commited a sexual assault. They violated another's rights. I think notification isn't enough. They should require them to live far away from their victims. The only victims are the actual victims of the crime.
900126
The first few posters don't have a clue as to what they're talking about - strictly speaking from the emotions rather than from logic. Because California has been registering sex offenders since 1947 and Megan's List goes back to 1944, the felony sex offenders who did molest children did their offenses WAY back (like 40 years ago) and we don't think it proper to put someone in state prison for life for child molesting (25 years, but not life). And since California has something like 107 different offenses that qualify someone for a sex offender in this state, many of these are felony sex offenders, but the majority are not child molesters.\n\nI wonder when society is going to realize that a sex offender is an offender but not necessarily a child molester or child rapist. \n\nAlso some of you stated that they should clear out the petty thieves and place the sex offenders back into prison. Ever hear of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights? Ex post facto? Do these concepts ring a bell with anyone?  Once you have paid the consequences at the time of sentencing, the government cannot re-arrest you to pay additional consequences for the same offense. \n\nI seriously doubt if the GPS requirement will go through. The state currently has 1,000 high risk sex offendes on GPS. This initiative is talking about placing 80,000 anklets on felony sex offenders. The cost is astronomical and seriously limited technologically. The California Department of Corrections has a hard enough time handling the 1,000. Multiply that by 80 and it's nearly impossible.  \n\nTwo other considerations - the state has not had an epidemic of sexual offending by strangers, never has. Most of these stranger danger cases have happened in other states and opportunistic politicians (Sharon and George Runner, sponsors of 83) have taken advantage of the public hysteria. We do have interfamilial child sex abuse cases, as do all states. Yet GPS will not work within homes. Expensive and useless technology.\n\nThe other consideration - the politicians who were up for reelection wanted 83, the public wants it, but the experts who deal with the problem day in and day out (parole agents, the California Coalition on Sex Offending, CALCASA (84 sexual assault advocacy centers), and many, many others thought it was a red herring. \n\nIt's hardly a liberal judge thing letting people out of prison. If anything, California is a punitive state when it comes to criminal justice system. But our prisons are extremely overcrowded. We just went on a prison building spree to build spaces for 100,000 prisoners in the past 20 years; we now have 173,000 in state prison alone. The feds have threatened to take it over. This propsotion will just add to the problem and may be the tipping point to a federal take over. \n\nYou reap what you sow. California has been in a get tough on crime for a long time, but the taxpayers don't want to pay the bill. something's got to give.
39497
I think the history of the list is different from state to state as far as when it first came into existence. \n\nI also think that it should exist, however, it should be more specific about the offense or divide the list into several groups. Some offenders were at college Frat parties and hooked up with a 16 year old posing as a fellow college student. They are not really a threat to society like the troubled people that are sexually attracted to children. Some people were naked on a boat or tent on their campsite and were unknowingly seen by passers by that happen to be minors. They are not exactly pedaphiles.\n\nIt is not really fair that they are put on the same list as the ones with psychological disorders. But the public seems to stereotype them all into one big group.
858492
this is a great website...often times, they even have photos of the offenders in your area.\nhttp://www.familywatchdog.us/Search.asp
357177
Done.  What is wrong with you people?  Did you not click on the link and see that it is a petition to put a law in place?  This little girl named Amy was STRANGLED to death by another child.  The child should DEFINATELY be punished, if you ask me.  I have children and if my children killed another child, I would hope they would recieve the proper punishment.  It is the responsibility we have as parents to raise our children correctly.  And if they screw up, there is an age where a child knows the difference and I do feel they should be accounted for their actions.\n\nOh, and you don't have to be a resident of Georgia to sign it.  I am a resident of Arizona, and my signature went through just fine.