Sex Offender Registry Is Not a Tool for Harassment
lynch-mob mentality threatens the registry system itself
Forum: CAVNET
Date: 09/30/2006
[CAVNET is an email list for professionals working within anti-domestic violence and sexual violence field. This following post was censored by the moderator without explanation and was not delivered to the list subscribers.]
On Apr 5, 2008, at 8:16 AM, Wendy Murphy wrote:
My client saw that a level 3 sex offender was working at McDonalds. She asked the management if they were aware of his history, after which, the man was fired.
[...]
When McDonald's fired Gagnon, his lawyer filed suit against the restaurant and my client. My client was sued for invasion of privacy, emotional distress, interference with contract and violation of our criminal offender record laws that provide privacy rights for criminals (though not perps on the registry) in their rap sheets.
On Apr 5, 2008, at 6:08 PM, Molly Dragiewicz wrote:
Thank you Wendy. This is a very important issue since I am noticing more and more abusers suing people who talk about their behavior or criticize their hate speech against women.
Molly,
This is not such a case. It's a case where someone went out of her way to harass and threaten the employment of a former offender who has served his sentence and is trying to rebuild his life. Her action may have been legal, but I still find it unethical and offensive (unless there's something else I'm not hearing).
Offender registry does not exist so that people can gang up on former offenders and make it impossible for them to work or to live in the community. Such lynch mob mentality is dangerous to civil society and makes me question the sex offender registry and notification system itself.
Emi Koyama
http://eminism.org/