General Chat

Hi Judy, you and other overseasers may not know that the family of Sarah Payne - a 7 year old abducted and murdered here I think 3 years ago by a repeat offender - are campaigning for a so-called 'Sarah's Law'. It would be the equivalent of your 'Megan's Law'. It would be interesting for us if you could tell us how it works in practice - there are some here in the UK who are against such a law on the grounds that it would increase vigilantism. Is this the case do you know? Anything you can tell us would be helpful. Maz. XX

In the States we have Megan's Law. It was passed by the New Jersey Legislature in 1994. The law was named after 7-year-old Megan Kanka, who was abducted, raped, and murdered by an ex-convict who had two prior convictions for sex crimes against young girls. All 50 states now have sex offender registration laws - which require some form of notification. All sex offenders are required to register with the sheriff of the county in which they reside within seven days of release from prison or moving to a new county. The law requires information about certain sexual offenders to be distributed to people who are potentially at risk. Upon sentencing, the trial judge places sex offenders into one of three categories - sexual predator, habitual sex offender, of sexually oriented offender. In the more serious circumstances, community notification is made. Among the entities that are to be notified are: school superintendents, police chiefs, neighbors (defined as those immediately adjacent to the offender's property, or in the case of apartment dwellers, neighbors sharing common hallway), as well as day care operators and others in the area. Offenders must provide the county sheriff with their name and address, declare their classification, declare the offense(s) for which they were convicted, and be finger-printed. A federal grant awarded in 1999 will create an electronic SORN network. Workstations will be provided to each county sheriff and Ohio prison to facilitate the registration and notification of sex offenders. Unfortunately it took the death of a 7 year old child to get the law passed.....perhaps something worth while to look into and initiating in your area. Judy

Maz, Don't ask, you'll stir up the hornest's nest! The message has been removed now so there seems to be little point to keep discussing it. Crista

Hi M - I know you didnt mean me - - its just that some people dont read things properly and make assumptions - and they were people I had never been in contact with - so they didnt know me at all. hugs - she

Sorry She if people thought my comments were aimed at you, they were not as you know. You were one of the kind people who supported me when I needed it. I never write your name in caps, only as above. But once again I apologise. I have sent you email She. M.

Hello Lisa, Now I've read through this thread, I understand why there was such strong reaction to Sylvia's remarks. I'm sorry to say, but sexual abuse seems to be part of the history of life down the ages. I know several people, relatives or friends, who have been abused in this way, and it is absolutely appalling! Anyone who has had to endure this kind of experience, often worsened by having to be concealed and never properly resolved, has my deep and heartfelt sympathy. I'm sure there's nothing new in human behaviour, the only difference in our lifetime is that modern communications, media etc enable us to know more speedily what is going on in other parts of the country. Also, new laws are intended to deter, prevent, discover and punish offenders. All we can hope is that the law and society will be able to change human behaviour at least a little, and meanwhile make sure that the people (usually men) who exploit and take advantage of other more vulnerable people for their own pleasure, are weeded out and dealt with properly. What the right penalty should be, I can only leave to each of you to decide for yourselves. Sadly, Philip

can I just say - PLEASE - it was NOT ME who made the offensive remarks - several people saw the name SHE in caps and thought it was me who had done so. I have had a few rather cutting e-mails from people - not very pleasant for me to read after getting home from sitting at a hospital bed for the fifth day in a row.

I made a pact with myself a while ago not to make comments about anything 'SHE' had to say on any matter, but how can anyone stand by and let her get away with it. How can someone say they have worked with gay people and paedophiles, and make insulting comments like this, she would have respect and compassion, also, why would gay people and paedophiles be in the same group, absolute lies and rubbish. I would not find a problem sitting in a room with gays and lesbians, they are not the perverts, they are ordinary people like us, who live their lives (when they are allowed), who love and care for others, they don't deliberately go out to ruin young people's lives with abuse and lies. I am also going to report this person to the abuse manager, before I am drawn into one of her slanging matches again, and end up with certain people telling me I am in the wrong. M.

Although I had decided not to 'join in' this thread I have as I often do read through the GC members comments with interest as I'm sure many of you do. I found a certain members comments extremely rude and insulting and feel I should not 'stand by' and do nothing. Ihave reported it to the abuse manager. Hopefully either the member concerned will remove or if not hopefully GC will do soon. Perhaps if others feel the same they should use the abuse manager too.

So Sylvia are you saying that all Homosexuals are very dangerous, I dont think you really mean that do you. I would remove it pretty quick before anybody else reads it I think it is very insulting indeed.

LISA we all know that you didn't put this message up to upset anyone, i for one !!!!! if my experiences although bad help someone not feel alone it is worth it, at least we aren't ashamed to talk of the bad things and if it helps just one person and makes people aware then it has to be good. !!! like i said i am a survivor of abuse, people seem to accept talking about these things in todays society, it has gone on for thousands of years but we know longer tolerate the skeletons in the cupboard, we want to do our best to stop it!!!!!!!!!!!! survivor sandra

so grateful for you who had the courage to bring your past experiences up.sorry if i caused upset by doing this wasn't intended but it might help children that are in that position to tell someone and get these people caught.i didn't say but i was one of the lucky ones to escape from two sex offenders who were caught a week later by the police.they tried to get me into their car.

hi sandra i agree with you im also a survivor, its so shocking and suprising how many people have been or are abused. tracy

Yes we should know, and they should be locked up for life!!!! I confronted my abuse at 21 and was called a liar, then it came back to haunt me 2 yrs ago my sister brought it all up again, and i nearly ended up with a breakdown as she had told one of my adult children, i never wanted my kids to know, as i wanted to protect them. It was weird as at the same time i was in touch with 3 friends we grew up together, and 2 of them had also been through the same thing, not with the same person ,yet we never spoke of it as kids, we had spent the weekend together and the booze, made it easier to talk. I also worked with young adults that had been victims and abusers, some abused as they had been abused, and were young it was all they knew. The people who do it are sick and should be put away, they destroy lives, and all of there victims pay for the rest of their lives. ME i'm not a victim I'm a SURVIVOR sandra

There's only one way to regard that Len, a disgusting act of abuse by a perverted adult. M.

When I was about 10, in Guys Hospital, I was sexually assaulted by a female nurse who I guess would have been in her twenties. She masturbated me. How do you regard that ? Len

hi valley im 36 now(hate saying that) and its over 28 years now i have managed to deal with it, i still see this B*****d about now and again , i cross the road if i see him, his wife was a good freind of my mums and his sons were my childhood freinds . i beleive he will get his come upance one day. tracy

Valley, it's been 36 years for me, I only told my mother 12 years ago, but my hubby and children know now. Him, the evil b*****d has had testicular cancer now hows that for ironic (or possibly the power of prayer). I am sorry if I offend, but I would like to see them all given the death penalty or kept somewhere like death row. M.

hi valley i admire you for having the courage to speak out about this awful crime that was commited against you. I wish i would of had the same courage when i was a child i never told my parents what happened to me, there are only two people that know my very best freinds and him that did the crime. tracy

lisa i have e-mailed you through contacts tracy