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MEDIA COVERAGE See
also Hall of
Shame: journalists, politicians, and others
who fuel the fire of fear and hatred for children who violate sex laws 8 year old boy charged with sexual "assualt" MSNBC Dec. 31, 2006 Authorities say that an 8-year-old boy who was charged with sexually "abusing" a 6-year-old boy told police he got the idea after watching an R-rated movie. The Buffalo News reports that the 8-year-old, who was released to his mother, faces charges of criminal sexual act and aggravated sexual "abuse," both felonies. Police devote increasing resources to enforcing state's growing list of sex offender laws Herald & Review, Decatur, IL Dec. 30, 2006 A law took effect Jan. 1 that dictated when juvenile "sex offenders" turn 17 they have to register as an adult and thereafter will be treated as an adult, Chervinko said. Boy, 5, Accused Of Sex Harassment NBC4, Washington, DC Dec. 20, 2006 A 5-year-old boy "sexually harassed" a kindergarten classmate by pinching her buttocks, Washington County public school officials say. Twenty-eight Maryland kindergarten students were suspended during the 2006-06 school year for "sex offenses," including "sexual assault," "sexual harassment" and sexual activity, according to state data. Juvenile sex law test heads to higher court Daily Herald, Chicago Dec. 11, 2006 This is the first test of the law that went into effect Jan. 1 requiring juvenile "sex offenders" to register on public adult registries when they turn 17. The state has 1,348 registered juvenile "sex offenders." Teen, both a perpetrator and victim of sex offense, presents legal puzzle Salt Lake Tribune, UT Dec. 6, 2006 A 13-year-old Ogden girl could be both an "offender" and a "victim" for the same act - in this case, having consensual sex with her 12-year-old boyfriend. The Utah Court of Appeals last December upheld the judge's refusal to dismiss the allegation. Ohio Supreme Court overturns case of 11-year-old sex offender Middletown Journal, OH Dec. 4, 2006 In a 4-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the boy's constitutional rights were violated when he was forced to take the polygraph test and make self-incriminating statements. The boy identified only as "D.S." was found guilty of "molesting" two boys that were about 11 years old in Warren County Juvenile Court in 2003. Sex offender law ineffective The Daily Journal, Kankakee, IL Dec. 4, 2006 The residency law applies to all people registered for sexual crimes, including men and women convicted of having underage consensual sex while in high school. Taken together, the prohibitions place nearly all the homes in some counties off-limits -- amounting, in a practical sense, to banishment. Sex offender override fails in House The State Journal-Register, Springfield, IL Nov. 16, 2006 Rep. Annazette Collins, D-Chicago, sought the override, saying all juvenile "sex offenders" are forced to register, even if the offense was relatively minor or did not involve a sex act. Parents of Young Sex Offenders Say Arizona's Laws Too Strict KTAR Radio, Phoenix Oct. 30, 2006 "He has few, if any prospects, for any real future"..."How many of you would like a poor decision you made at the age of 13 follow you around for the rest of your life?," asks Richens. At one point, the panel was told there are 100,000 underage Arizona children who are sexually active and under current law, they could all be charged with sex crimes. Woman wants to 'unadopt' troubled boy CNN Oct. 10, 2006 "You don't want to throw somebody away," said Helen Briggs, a longtime foster mother. "But sometimes you have to." After the youngster molested a 6-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl in 2003, he was deemed a "sexual predator" by psychologists. Challenger says senator too easy on sex offenders Daily Herald, Chicago Oct. 10, 2006 A new law that took effect earlier this year now makes all juvenile "offenders" register for life...An offense that might land someone on the juvenile list includes consensual sex between two teens, Harmon said. N.J. court broadens sex-offender label Philadelphia Inquirer Oct. 4, 2006 Defense attorneys have long argued that increasing punishments for sex crimes have turned some cases of sexual experimentation by juveniles into crimes and that Megan's Law requirements can make lifetime registered "sex offenders" of confused youngsters. Court Upholds Juvenile Registration as Sex Offender New York Times Oct. 3, 2006 A 12-year-old boy who violated a 6-year-old playmate with an object must register as a "sex offender" under Megan’s Law, even if the act was not sexually motivated, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday. 'Sex offender' label makes no distinction Dallas News Oct. 2, 2006 An 11-year-old who fondles a 10-year-old classmate could be forced to register as a "sex offender" for a decade. An 18-year-old who's more than three years older than his girlfriend could spend a lifetime on the registry for having consensual sex with her. And once they're on the list, these young "sex offenders" are virtually boxed out of society -- unable to find jobs and housing, and trapped in a vicious cycle of evictions, registration violations and more jail time. Should juvenile sex offenders be named on the Internet? Canton Repository, OH Oct. 1, 2006 President Bush signed the Adam Walsh Act in July. The law would put "sex offenders" as young as age 14 on a national registry along with adults. Critics have expressed concern over publishing the names of juvenile "sex offenders" on the Internet, saying it is an obstacle to reforming kids and may even be an invitation to adult offenders to prey on these kids. Wash. juvenile sex offender law requires teachers be told Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sept. 20, 2006 If the young man your daughter sits next to in social studies happens to be a registered "sex offender," that fact is no longer a secret at Washington public schools, thanks to a new law that took effect this month. Teen sex offender must notify dates' parents Newsday Sept. 18, 2006 A convicted teen "sex offender" must warn the parents of anyone he dates about his crime until he is 18 after the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to hear arguments in the case. Rosenthal said the office fears the decision could allow other courts to impose the notification requirement on other juvenile "sex offenders"... If there's a sex offender student, schools will know Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sept. 18, 2006 A new law that went into effect Sept. 1 makes school officials aware if children in their classrooms have been convicted of sex crimes. But some juvenile justice advocates worry that this law is unnecessary because state prison statistics show that juvenile "sex offenders" are much less likely to commit new crimes than anyone convicted of other felonies. Court weighs warnings about young sex offenders The Star-Ledger, NJ Sept. 12, 2006 A new scale designed to assess the risk posed by juvenile "sex offenders" routinely exaggerates the dangers posed by children under 14, a deputy public defender told the state Supreme Court yesterday. Scully sees little merit in intervention camps ABC News Sept 4, 2006 The New South Wales Government says the Opposition's plan to put young "sex offenders" in special intervention camps will do nothing to help their rehabilitation. Police Minister Carl Scully said, "There is no way we are going to allow 15-year-old gang rapists to go and learn how to cook and ride horses." New plan for child sex offenders The Age (Australia) Sept 3, 2006 Young people under the age of 16 who have committed a sex crime or are identified as being at risk of offending could be referred to the camps for treatment. NSW opposition juvenile justice spokeswoman Catherine Cusack told News Ltd it was important to understand the special nature of these "paedophiles." Summer Press Tour, Day 16: An Explosive Interview Washington Post July 26, 2006 People who molest children should have chips embedded in the rectum that would explode if they violate their parole, "America's Most Wanted" star John Walsh told a photographer for Fox and father of two at Summer TV Press Tour 2006 as a couple dozen speechless TV critics looked on. [Note: John Walsh was leader of the movement to pass HR 4472 which places juveniles on the national sex offender registry, against recommendations of child welfare, mental health, and justice organizations. Note also that technically, one-third to one-half of "child molestation" is committed by children themselves.] Life in the Shadows Creative Loafing July 19, 2006 Of the more than 10,600 registered "sex offenders" living in Georgia, thousands are on the registry for having consensual sex when they were teenagers, or for lesser crimes such as flashing, peeping through windows and sexual battery, which often translates into inappropriate touching. Congress Considers Bill To Include Juvenile Sex Offenders On Federal Registry WJXT News 4, Jacksonville, FL July 11, 2006 Juveniles might soon learn the hard way. A new bill being pushed through Congress could include juvenile "sex offenders" on a new federal registry. Sex crimes break the lock on juvenile records USA Today July 10, 2006 Some states have recently reconsidered putting juveniles on sex offender registries. In Missouri, a teenager convicted of consensual sex with another teen can appeal to be removed from the non-public police registry. The proposed federal law would require states to put juveniles on public registries after sex offenses are handled in juvenile court. Boys, six, accused of sexual assault EDP24, UK July 8, 2006 An investigation is under way after two six-year-old boys were accused of "sexually assaulting" two five-year-old girls at a primary school in west Suffolk. Tougher sex crime bill lowers consent age Island Packet, SC July 5, 2006 The so-called "Romeo clause" means people 18 or younger can have consensual sex with someone as young as 14. Evans doesn't like that change, either. Bill Byars, director of the state Juvenile Justice Department, testified that he didn't want lifetime electronic monitoring required for someone under age 17 who is sexually experimenting with someone and may not know that much about sexuality. Smith says "there's going to have to be lots of cleanup" of the new law when the Legislature reconvenes in January. Challenge to Indiscriminate Ga. Sex Offender Law Validated The New Standard July 3, 2006 The Southern Center for Human Rights and several people targeted by the law are arguing in a class-action lawsuit that it is unconstitutional because it does not distinguish between people who are violent sexual predators and those who are in the registry for having consensual sex with under-age peers. One of the named plaintiffs is in the registry merely for failing to stop her under-age daughter from having sex with another teen. Another plead guilty to a "sodomy" charge when she was 17 years old, after being caught engaging in consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old boy. Va. Students to Be Checked for Sex Offense CBS News June 22, 2006 A new law requiring Virginia's colleges to hand over prospective students' personal information to police for cross-checking against sex offender lists is coming under fire from privacy advocates and education leaders. U.S. Appeals Court Rejects Arousal Test for Sex Offender L.A. Times June 21, 2006 Critics, including the American Psychiatric Assn., have called the test unreliable, according to the appellate court's opinion. Noonan called the test Orwellian because it would not only measure Weber's genitalia but also probe his "innermost thoughts as well." "A prisoner should not be compelled to stimulate himself sexually in order for the government to get a sense of his current proclivities," Noonan wrote in his concurrence with Judge Marsha Berzon's opinion. "There is a line at which the government must stop. Penile plethysmography testing crosses it." Kids banned from child care centre Sunday Times, Australia June 20, 2006 Three children aged under six have been banned from a WA childcare centre after being accused of sexually "abusing" other children. WA's Department for Community Development investigates allegations they sexually "interfered" with other children, also aged under six. Court: Juvenile sex offender must warn date's parents of case Newsday May 16, 2006 A teenage convicted "sex offender" has to warn the parents of anyone he dates about his crime until he is 18 under a decision upheld Tuesday by a New Jersey appeals court. Child Welfare Investigates School Sex Acts WTOP Radio, Washington, DC May 3, 2006 The incident involves a 5-year-old girl allegedly engaging in sex acts with several boys on a playground at Green Castle Elementary School during recess, Montgomery County Police say. Sex, lies and prison Townhall.com May 3, 2006 The moral of Gorman's story is that boys and men accused of rape have little hope of reclaiming the life they once knew, regardless of whether they're guilty or innocent. Online, juvenile sex offenders treated same as adults Delaware News-Journal April 22, 2006 The easy, online availability of juveniles' personal information worries their families and counselors, especially in light of the slayings of two adult sex offenders in Maine last weekend. Judge rules against Kline in teen-sex case Wichita Eagle April 19, 2006 Kansas' chief law enforcement officer misread the law, a federal judge in Wichita ruled Tuesday. In a case watched across the nation, U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten ruled that Kansas health care providers should retain discretion in deciding what teenage sexual activities they report to the state as "abuse." Attorney General Phill Kline had wanted most sexual contact involving children under age 16 reported. Give judges discretion on juvenile sex crimes Detroit News April 17, 2006 Stigmatizing juvenile offenders without a chance for some sort of legal process may well doom them to a marginal existence with no chance to recover from a youthful mistake. Court eyes kid games in age of sex crime Star-Ledger, NJ April 5, 2006 The New Jersey Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday on whether a teenager who, at age 12, was caught "playing doctor" with his 6-year-old brother must register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. Teen Faces Child Porn Charges For Posting Pics Of Friends NewsNet 5, Akron, OH March 29, 2006 Prosecutors charge Ryan Zylstra, 17, posted a picture of two teens having sex on his blog. The photo was taken at a New Year’s Eve party at Zylstra’s home. Zylstra now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges, which are felonies. Childhood sex offender seeks a second chance Detroit Free Press March 29, 2006 DuBuc was just 10 years old when she was charged with molesting her younger stepsiblings. ...five years of reporting have convinced me that only a fraction of the 23,000 registered offenders who are not incarcerated pose a continuing threat. Many of the rest are former youthful offenders like DuBuc, who face lifetimes of ostracism for childhood sex play. Woman, teen face child porn charges ABC 6 News, Providence, RI March 29, 2006 A woman and a teenage girl are accused of posting sexually explicit photographs of themselves on the Internet. Police say Elizabeth Muller, of North Smithfield, and an unnamed 16-year-old from Lincoln were arrested and have been charged with one count each of child pornography. Westfield girl, 18, charged with having sex with minor Indianapolis Star March 24, 2006 A Westfield High School girl is being prosecuted on felony charges of sexual misconduct with a minor for having sex with a 15-year-old schoolmate. The father of Laura M. Wilcox, an 18-year-old senior indicated that he and his wife were puzzled by the case involving consenting teens. Lawmakers try to accommodate consensual teen sex WCAX-TV, Burlington, VT No date (ca. March 2006) A Senate committee has taken up a House-passed bill that seeks to decriminalize sex between consenting teenagers, so long as they're both at least 15 and within three years in age. Vermont's age of consent under current law is 16 and a 17-year-old having consensual sex with a 15-year-old can be prosecuted for sexual assault on a minor. Ohio
Supreme Court weighs merits of youth polygraphs Bill's failure
leaves bitter feelings Jury
says 'no' to punishing teen in assault Nipple Pincher
Gets Juvenile Detention Children
Harassed at Alarming Rate Panel
OKs bill on sex-crime penalties Kane
teen challenges new sex-offender law Welcome,
Auntie Em, to Kansas Dunklin Democrat, Kennett, MO Feb. 23, 2006 KHS principal Ed Siebenhuener introduced the first speaker, Crawford, who focused on the laws relating to sexual misconduct and made students aware that he and others are prepared to enforce the law. Kissing game lands boy, 11, on sex charge The Scotsman Feb 21, 2006 An 11-year-old boy has been charged in connection with an alleged sexual incident involving a fellow pupil of the same age. The boy's mother said: "They were kissing, it was a game of dares. My son wants to clear himself. He said he would never kiss a girl again." A city council spokeswoman said: "Since this is an ongoing child-protection issue and a report has gone to the Procurator Fiscal and Children's Reporter it would be inappropriate for us to comment." Overhaul
sex registry or cause more damage Government
should ‘butt out’ of young people’s sex lives A Kansas Case
Reveals the Dark Side of Mandatory Reporting Is The State
Condemning Our Kids? Boy,
6, hit with sex harass rap Registry
is called unfair to young Trial
Opens in Challenge to Law Over Teenage Sex Kansas
AG lauds teen-sex ruling Atlanta Journal-Constitution Jan. 24, 2006 If the bill passes, a youth of 13, 14, 15 or 16 who engages in mutual sexual activity with a child under 14 could be prosecuted for aggravated sexual crimes, tried as an adult and face a minimum 25-year sentence. Franklin E. Zimring, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, called the bill "a penal policy nervous breakdown." Should juveniles
be on sex offender registry? Teen’s
10-Year-Term for Consentual Sex Draws Attention to Georgia Law State
panel works on details of new child-sex law |
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