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Proposed CA Bill Would Create Domestic Offender Database
AMuse writes "The Ledger brings us a New York Times report that a newly proposed bill would create a web-searchable database of persons convicted of domestic violence. Fiona Ma, the bill's author, claims: 'If you're online, Googling and looking for information on someone you met in a bar or on MySpace, this would provide a tool for people to go and look to see if someone who is suspicious and a little creepy has a history of violence.' Is this evidence that the opponents of Megan's Law are correct, and sooner or later all of one's run-ins with the law will be searchable by the public?"
Anyone can request anyone else's criminal record.. it's public knowledge.. so if you really feel strongly that criminal records should be searchable, feel free to go request the criminal record of anyone you like and put it on the Internet.. Google will take care of the rest.
How we know is more important than what we know.
I think the Megan's law thing is great and all but it probably needs to stop there. I understand wanting to be safe and all put this goes towards public humiliation. Domestic violence laws are already kinda weird in regards to the situation where often, just the fact that the police get called means somebody HAS to go do jail. I don't think we need this kind of thing for every single violent crime. I think even Megan's law is a bit harsh and needs to be reevaluated since I'm sure, as with all other "Justice", there are a ton of people who's lives are ruined that probably didn't need to be. (ie There was that case in GA where a 17yr old boy got a BJ from a 15 yr old girl and got 10 years in prison and has to walk around with the 'Sexual Predator' moniker for the rest of his life) Let's leave it rest with Megan's law.
You'll have that sometimes...
Seriously though, I agree with you because of the room for lies too. These days, if somebody just says that their spouce hit them, it's over Johnny, somebody's going to jail.
You'll have that sometimes...
It's lucky that all people with a criminal past are "suspicious and a little creepy".
Absolutely, completely not acceptable. Megan's Law is already borderline acceptable. The only reason I see that Megan's Law should be allowed is that minors can't really control the situation they are in so it gives the parents a tool to help keep their kids away from situations/people that might take advantage of a child's lack of understanding. Adults can make decisions on their own. If a guy is exhibiting symptoms of domestic violence (jealousy, control, isolation) and the other ADULT doesn't decide to leave thats on him/her. Last I checked, once you serve your sentence your debt to society is paid - they shouldn't be continually exposed to harassment, social isolation, and discrimination.
...And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me." - Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984)
It shouldn't be ok to hit anyone. Man or Woman. Domestic violence shouldn't be tolerated either way. If it's in self defense and you're a man, I'm sure your the one to take the blame though.
Sex offenders will have to where a big red "S" on their outer most layer of clothing/jacket/etc, domestic offenders a big "D," and adulterers...
this is just silly... These lists and databases post only enough information to be dangerous. Sure, the rest of the information is out there for people who'd actually spend the time to research it and judge for themselves, but who's really going to do that after seeing Joe Neighbor on the list..? This just caters to the idea of mob-justice.
Leave the databases with law enforcement... That by itself will be bad enough.
--- no sig to see here... move along.
But aren't things like police records not private??? It was my understanding that you could freely pull this kind of information anyway. Could be wrong...
I believe you meant to say, there's never an excuse to beat up on anyone.
You can't argue that women are equal to men, then turn around and say that women get special protection.
These laws are pretty much designed to target men to protect women and children. As a man, I want a database that shows every single intersection between those I meet and the legal system. If I were single, I'd want to know everything the government knows about the criminal record of every woman I consider dating. Huh, you mean you really were married three times in the past five years, all to rich men? Wow, that's interesting. No second date for you, honey. You've filed rape charges against several men after going on dates with you in the past few years. You're not getting a second chance!
Put up or shut up. The 14th amendment demands equal protection before the law. Either expose everything, or don't do anything.
I'll add one more comment.
You said:
"...someone who falls victim to their rage"
Yes I understand that you think of people who commit spousal abuse as victims.
I was wandering if you just miss-poke and if you will publicly apologize.
I believe you meant to say, there's never an excuse to beat up on anyone.
Yep, just today when driving to work I heard a brief news on radio about a recent study made in Finland (link in Finnish).Briefly:
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A two-part study was made in 2006 among 17-20 year old men serving their military service in Finland - a total over 2000 young men who had been in a relationship participated. Of those, nearly 17% said that they have been hit by their partner at least once. Critics of the study have commented that the definitions of "relationship" and "hitting" were not clear enough and that the number is therefore too high.
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Violence in a relationship is NOT just a problem with men hitting woman, and I have seen opinion pieces in newspapers where those men who uphold the principle that they should "never hit a woman" are quite upset and shaken when their wife/girlfriend hits them (repeatedly) and only thing they feel they can do is try to protect themselves (and maybe their kids) from blows.
It is said that women who end up in abusive relationship tend to stick in that relationship despite of the violence (and there are many speculative reasons why) - and while this is propably true, so can be the opposite. It is really hard for a "man of principle who would never beat up a woman" to admit to himself, his friends and ultimately to the police that he is a target of violence from woman, and can't really do anything about it.
As there are (stereotypical) males who drink too much on a friday night and then hit their wife/girlfriend when they nag about drinking / don't want to have sex etc. there are women who can be loving wives and mothers, but when rage takes them on they can throw a frying pan at you (happened to a friend, multiple times...).
But exposing these types to the whole Internet to see forever (Internet remembers, the sentence is for life) is not right and won't solve the problem.