Sex offenders USA

[Brian Ellis]

I was watching a CSI episode last night in which a bloke complained because he was on the sexual offenders' register. As recounted, he was a 17 year-old high-school boy and one night he got completely stoned on a mix of drugs. The following morning, still stoned, he went into the back yard of his parents' house, stark naked, and did "an Indian rain dance". He was seen by a neighbour who called the police. He was charged with indecency or some such and was placed on the offenders' register, even though he said he had done nothing sexual then or since (10 years later). My question is whether it is likely that this would happen, especially in Las Vegas?

OK, I know this is fiction, but ...

[Jammrock]

Yes and no. If I remember that episode correctly the neighborhood kids saw him dancing around, which is why he ended up on the list. Sex offenses against adults don't go on the list, thus rapists don't show up on the sex offenders list, only when children are involved do they get "tagged for life".

Though that is changing, and some states are beginning to put all felony sex offenders on.

[Technoid]

People peeing on walls has ended up in that list

[Gurm]

There are, unfortunately, plenty of misdemeanor-level offenses here in the USA that will get you on the sex-offender list for life.

Worse, even if you're later cleared of all charges, or have your juvenile record purged/expunged, you may be stuck on that list.

It needs work.

[MultimediaMan]

A Lot of work... we have some good laws out there, but the guidelines for enforcement would not pass constitutional muster...certainly not at the Supreme Court Level.

[Gurm]

And sadly, every time someone tries to fix these laws, the "moral majority" starts stirring up parents' groups, church groups, and what-have-you so before too long everyone is screaming that you're going to let dangerous kiddie pornographers and rapists get away from you... so it never even MAKES it to the level of being reviewed by ANYONE, much less the SCOTUS.