Posting #63 – Dear Today Show, Enough is Enough and Vt. State Senator

By: RSOL of Virginia
Date:  02/15/2009

The Today Show on the morning of April 15 featured, Vermont Moves to Reduce Teen ‘Sexting’ Charges: New Law Would Carve out an Exemption from Prosecution for Child Porn, http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30224261/

Donna Rice Hughes the "expert on internet safety" for Enough is Enough, a group in Great Falls Virginia, http://www.enough.org/inside.php?id=MCT58HEYO and Vermont State Senator John Campbell were the interviewees. Donna made an incorrect statement at the end on the interview that unfortunately misleads thousands if not millions of Today Show viewers

We have since written the Today Show today@nbcuni.com , Enough is Enough and the Vermont State Senator who is supporting/sponsoring this worthy bill.

We would like everyone to write the Today Show and Donna at Enough is Enough to deliver the correct information regarding "Sexting" and being listed on a public Sex Offender Registry. (Our letter to the Vt. Senator is below)

Dear Vermont Senator John Campbell,

    My husband and I were watching the Today show this morning as we normally do and had taken notice of the topic that covered “Sexting”.

    The statement was made by Donna Rice Hughes from Enough is Enough that "prosecutorial discretion is allowed that would prevent these children from being placed on the registry". This statement is simply not true in almost every state. Unfortunately, she is referring to Federal guidelines but all states mandate their own restrictions and regulations that are imposed upon those convicted of a "sexual" offense. This untrue statement would lead viewers to believe their child would never be posted on a registry when in fact they would be listed. I had hoped that you would have pointed out to Ms.Hughes that her statement was incorrect but the interview was ending so you could not elaborate.

   In Virginia a recent discussion was held during the 2009 General Assembly on how to go about arresting persons who have been convicted of a sex offense, including misdemeanors, who had been ordered by the Judge to not register. The arrest is in fact for violating the rules of the registry and a failure to register charge, which is now a felony in Virginia. Once again these persons had been told by the court that they will not have to register as a sex offender. The discussion also included possible repercussions to any and all Judges making such an order.

    The fact is during our many meetings with State and Federal Lawmakers that they are not fully aware of just how out of control the Registry has become. Just a quick tidbit of information, our organization has crunched the numbers and found that in Virginia 1 out of every 210 adult males are currently listed as a “Sex Offender”. This statistic is echoed across the United States. One could argue that America has a severe problem with mental health and sexual deviants or perhaps the system is including too many offenses, which we believe to be the case. Interestingly enough, most Lawmakers we've spoken to agree that the increasing numbers on the State Registries have made them a “useless tool”.

    The current Federal and State laws force most persons on the registry out of work and all too frequently out on the streets. If the person who is listed is truly trying to go on with his  or her life and become a contributing member of society this is hopelessly cruel. If the person is truly a threat to society and might harm someone else, homeless and untraceable is the last thing we should want. The Registry has become so dilute with non-threats that it has become a completely useless tool, except for those who would exact random violence on anyone listed. The laws have become a perversion of what they were intended to do and America needs to know.

    Currently in Virginia a select few misdemeanor charges will result in a minimum of 15 years on the registry, all others are for a lifetime sentence on the registry. This is not debatable or something that can even be petitioned against. The court is legally bound to ignore any and all requests until the minimum is served.

    The RSOL is a National Organization with thousands of supporters who have been directly and indirectly affected by these ridiculous laws. Our goal is return the registry to it's original intent, to warn society of real potential harm and not just a stockpile of names.

    We would ask that you please contact the Today Show and advise them that each State has their own regulations and restrictions and almost all states currently require lifetime, public registration for "sexting".

Sincerely
RSOL of Virginia