If we were talking about monitoring men and women who have grabbed strangers and raped or molested them in a violent way, I’d not be so upset over Colorado Sex Offender Registration / Deregistration laws, including those related to Failure to Register. But that is not the case. In an effort to look like they are doing something productive (and therefore should be reelected), our state legislature continues to make it impossible for people to serve their time, learn their lesson, and move on.
Sex Offender Registration / Deregistration Laws are Too Broad
Legislators in Jefferson, Arapahoe and Douglas County have sex offender registration / deregistration laws which require strict adherence to laws requiring registration of vehicles, chat names, home addresses, work addresses, email addresses and internet chat names. How does this make anyone safe? Sex Offender Registration, C.R.S 16-22-103, requirements exist whether an offense involved the use of the internet, whether the victim was a woman known for years, or whether a car was involved. This one size fits all continues to plague the state of Colorado.
Hidden Costs of Sex Offender Registration are Easy to See
Hidden costs are huge under Colorado’s Sex Offender Registration / Deregistration law. Those required to register every time they get a new email address must take time off work and pay a ridiculous registration fee. Imagine having to leave you job every time a piece of your information changed. Maybe you bought a new car or your job assigned you a new url email. It is not just the money outlay to the police department. The person required to register will lose time and money at work, and employers will lose a productive employee. It is hard enough for a sex offender to get the job – let’s not take it away from them too.
Are Special Interests Groups Making the Rules?
I emphasize again that persons involved in violent stranger attacks are dangerous and until proven safe, they should be strictly monitored in Denver, Adams and Broomfield County. But why should a guy who pinches a woman’s butt in a bar while drunk be required to survive years of sex offender registration? This is overkill and it is killing our state. Legislators should stop courting special interests groups with hidden agendas and write legislation which makes sense. Less government is better government.
If you are charged with Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, C.R.S. 18-3-412.5, be smart, exercise your right to remain silent and call our criminal defense lawyers at 303-731-0719 today. Together, we can protect your future.