The biggest problem with the sex offender registry is that it has become convoluted with names of people who shouldn’t be on there. Here is a perfect example”

Freeman pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion and was sentenced to probation in September 2003, court records show. By pleading guilty to the misdemeanor charge, he admitted to having sex with his 15-year-old girlfriend, who was two years younger. In Michigan, the legal age of consent is 16.

[SNIP]

Freeman, who had no criminal record, pleaded guilty to the fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with force or coercion charge on the advice of his public defender, he said.

While he broke the law by having sex with an underage girl, the police report says the victim was “not forced to commit any act” nor “did she ask him not to commit any act.”

A 17 year old and 15 year old have sex and it’s a crime. Actually according to this law it could be his 16th birthday today and his girlfriend’s tomorrow and if they have sex tonight it’s a crime. For this this young man must register as a sex offender until 2028.

This is a major problem with criminal justice in the United States and one that needs to be seriously addressed. Labeling someone as a sexual offender should be taken very seriously, not just thrown at people nilly-willy. Now that we have been doing that, the list has become essentially ineffective.