Sex offender
A sex offender is a person who has committed and been convicted of a sexual offence according to the laws of their home jurisdiction. Sexual offences range from rape and kidnapping to public urination and public nudity (streaking). Sexual offences do not have to involve a minor, and are not required to be violent. Sexual offences can be charged even without physical contact, as is the case with child pornography (where two young persons sending sexual pictures to one another over the Internet can be charged with production and distribution of child pornography).
Definition
Due to the wide variety of legal and cultural differences globally, the definition of sex offender varies from country to country. In some countries, consensual homosexual acts can still be charged and punished by imprisonment or execution.[1]
Tracking of sex offenders
In some countries that monitor and track sex offenders through a register, a person who was convicted for a sex crime may remain on their country's register for many years even after their sentence has been completed.[Citation needed] They may also be subject to additional restrictions as a result of their status on their country's register.
United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, a nationwide database called the Violent and Sex Offender Register, or ViSOR, is used to track: persons compelled by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to register; persons jailed for more than 12 months due to violent offences; and persons who are considered as at-risk of committing a violent or sexual offence. The register requires persons registered to inform police at least seven days before travelling to any foreign country and must additionally register any United Kingdom address that they reside at for more than seven days.[2]
United States
In the United States, sex offenders are monitored and tracked by the Sex offender registry.
In late 2017, the US State Department begun the process of revoking the passports of registered child sex offenders. The child sex offender must reapply for a new passport, and their new passport will identify them as a child sex offender. The action comes following the passing of a law in 2016 which was designed to reduce child exploitation.[3][4]
Employment
Due to registries existing in various more-developed countries, those placed on a sex offender register or prosecuted of a sex offence often have difficulty finding work after any sentence has been carried out. Many well-paying workplaces perform background checks on applicants prior to employing them, and are reluctant to hire a person who has been charged with a sex offence regardless of its nature.[Citation needed] The website SexOffenderJobs.com tells sex offenders to apply "everywhere that does not violate any sex offender law or stipulation of your release" in order to find a job.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Gay relationships are still criminalised in 72 countries, report finds | World news | The Guardian Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- ↑ Section 83 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
- ↑ New Passport Rules for Sex Offenders Accessed November 2, 2018.
- ↑ US passports to identify convicted child sex offenders - CNNPolitics Accessed November 2, 2018.
- ↑ Filling Out Applications - Sex Offender Jobs Accessed November 2, 2018
Reform Sex Offender Laws organizations | |
|---|---|
| National organizations | |
| State organizations | |
| Related articles | |
| Laws/issues | |
