Should Kids Be Listed as Sex Offenders?

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:32 am

http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=603717&page=1

March 30, 2005 -- Shawn Murphy admits he forced his 11-year-old cousin to have sex with him, but when many of the people who know him in the eastern Iowa town of Russell found out about his crime, they said that since he's done his time and is going through therapy, he should be forgiven.

Maybe that's because Murphy, an 18-year-old senior at Russell Community School, was just 13 when he committed the crime. Maybe it's because Murphy seemed just like any other teenager, until he turned 18 and, in accordance with Iowa law, his name was posted on the state's sex offender registry Web site.

Sex Offender Registry Said Flawed, Inconsistent

Some parents were angry that they did not know there was a sex offender walking the halls of the school, which is attended by 150 students from pre-K through grade 12. They wanted him thrown out of school and were furious at school officials.

When the school held a meeting to consider the issue earlier this month, many of Murphy's classmates showed up wearing T-shirts with slogans supporting him, and after he spoke about his crime, some hugged him in sympathy.

"I forced my cousin to have sexual intercourse with me," said Murphy, who was convicted in juvenile court of third-degree sexual assault, sent to a sex offender rehabilitation facility, and ordered to go through counseling and register as a sex offender. "I messed up, and I'm truly sorry. And nothing can change that. I hope you guys can see me for who I am, not my past."

That is the difficulty in dealing with any convicted sex offender, but the problem may be particularly troublesome when dealing with teenagers, especially when juveniles Ã¢â‚¬ whether they are violent rapists or an older teen who had consensual sex with a younger boyfriend or girlfriend Ã¢â‚¬ are treated the same way as adults and forced to carry the label of sex offenders.

"It causes a lot of problems and doesn't make much sense," said Gail Ryan of the National Adolescent Perpetrator Network's Kempe Children's Center. "With juveniles, we have pretty strong consensus in the field that we shouldn't be calling kids sex offenders when they're adolescents, when they're still forming their identities."

But severe punishment is important for the victims and their families, said Laura Ahearn, the director of Parents for Megan's Law, a victims' rights organization focused of child sexual abuse victims.

"Justice isn't served unless there is severe punishment for a crime that can ruin a person's life," she said.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:06 pm

I don't care how old he was at the time. There is something wrong with anybody ANY age forcing someone else to have sex with them. There are some serious mental health issues here.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:10 pm

And I would love to know how Ladycops BS detector scores on this one....LOL

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:18 pm

I am a hardliner when it comes to ADULT sexual offenders and paedophiles, but I don't think that a 13 year old, when 18, should be listed in the registery for a crime comitted when he was 13

If he commits a simillar crime after 18 throw the book at him, but a 13 year old can be counseled.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:21 pm

Yeah, probably, but he is still sick in the head for sure. 13 and forcing someone to have sex? A child? Your OWN cousin? Now that is SICK. 13 is old enough to know better, child himself or NOT.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:21 pm

And by the way, what if that 11 yr old had been say..................7? And a girl? Wouldn't you feel differently?

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 1:25 pm

robinseggs wrote: And I would love to know how Ladycops BS detector scores on this one....LOLsexual proclivities are formed in early teens. but i say let him have strike two as an adult. to be fair. sorry for the victim.

David Hill · Post by **David Hill** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 7:51 am

at 13 he may have started puberty where his head may have gotten screwed up a little, I think he should b able to start over...

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 8:19 am

For repeated offenders of any kind I say 'Name and Shame'

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:48 pm

It's the "force" part that disturbs me. 13 is a little old to be messing around with your 11 year old cousin and actual sex is a little hard to swallow. If they were just playing doctor and went too far I could forgive that. And if the two cousins had sex willingly I could ignore that. The force part is the kicker.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 7:56 pm

Hard to know the truth, isn't it?

G-man · Post by **G-man** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:14 pm

I suppose it would depend upon the seriousness of the offence... rape would certainly a serious offense.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:22 pm

Is it automatic "rape" if they're both under legal age?

G-man · Post by **G-man** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:26 pm

I could look it up, but... I believe that one party has to be 18, at least... then it's automatic.

Lulu2 · Post by **Lulu2** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 8:27 pm

So--if they're just minors, it's not a crime? WHEW! Lets ME off the hook....:wah: