prop83.orgStories from ex offenders relating to prop 83
From Bob H.
I am a sex offender.
20 years ago, on the most tragic night of my life, I fondled my daughter. I didn't remember doing this for about a month, being in an alcohol induced blackout at the time. When the memory came to me I was so shocked and horrified I went to the police and told them about it. Seemed like the right thing to do. This immediately got the courts involved and also family therapy, alcohol abuse treatment, individual counseling and a felony conviction. The felony conviction meant jail time, probation and continuing therapy.
Also registering for life as a sex offender.
Through this tragedy I was able to continue to have a connection with my daughter and pay for her therapy and child support. My kid (now grown and living a good life) has forgiven me and we have a healthy father daughter relationship.
In the last twenty years I've remained sober, gone to ten years of therapy, lived a good and productive life. My record is clean since then (and before then). I have never been considered a pedophile by any mental health practitioner. I live within 2000' of a school. Prop 83 would make me move from the house that my wife and I own and love.
If prop 83 was in effect when all this happened I would have gone to prison for at least 25 years, been on parole for 10 years and have to register and wear a GPS tracking unit forever. Did I mention that they could classify me a sexually violent predator and keep me in a locked mental institution for life?
Please Vote No on Prop 83
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From Megan F
I am the girlfriend of a registered sex offender. His offense, a plea on a false sexual assault accusation, occurred 20 years ago. (Like many others, he pled guilty to something he didn't do so that he wouldn't serve life in prison, on the advice of a public defender. He served five.) As the result of Prop. 83, we will have to move. But where is another story! The state says 2,000 feet from schools and parks, and the cities are starting to impose additional restrictions.
His "offense" was against a female adult, yet he is assumed to be a danger to children, as are all sex offenders. Patently untrue! My offense is what? Being the loved one of a registered sex offender? Yet I am to be banished along with him? Or do I have to give him up in order not to be banished? We've had a loving six year relationship, and if anything, this unjust witch hunt makes me want to fight even harder for him. Please Vote No on Prop 83
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From Mckim Los Angeles
There's a movie titled: "Waiting to Exhale." I know the feeling. Ever since the passage of Megan's Law and internet disclosure, I have not been able to take deep recuperative breaths. I feel as though I am always in "Fight or Flight" mode. That's just what Megan's Law has been allowed to do to me and my family. For 13 years we have lived in this neighborhood, now in my neighborhood three times they passed out Megan's Law Website fliers about my husband. We have endured banging on our home over 5 times, a horrible, vile note put on my front door and now some neighbors who used to wave and smile, turn the other way when they see us. My family has to live this way because my husband did something wrong over 20 years ago, before we even met. How is perpetrating this rage onto innocent families, or the former offender going to protect children? Can't you see these laws are hurting children, not helping them? My husband is very ill and disabled. He is not a threat to anyone! There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't remember his crime and regret it deeply. Prop 83 would make us move from our home....where will we go? Money is in short supply.....Please say No to proposition 83
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From Alan G.
... Many years ago I was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years probation for a sex offense and required to register. I am considered low-risk. Our defense gave us a good chance of winning in court. Money, prevailed since mounting a strong defense would cost tens of thousands of dollars on top of tens of thousands already spent. Justice is expensive. The alternative seemed reasonable: Pay the price and get on with life. I have done just that, rebuilding my life and becoming prosperous once again. I am living in peace and harming no one, raising a family and adhering to the requirements imposed. I’ve had no problems with the law, not so much as a traffic ticket. The terms of the law, as written way back when the incident took place, allowed me to pay the price and assimilate back into society. I contribute to the community and have a close family. I am not an individual with insurmountable demons to conquer.
Prop 83 will cause us, via the residency restrictions, to move or eventually move from the geographic areas that provide good schooling, decent jobs and an environment conducive to raising kids. If prop 83 passes, the thinking is that a child in a park or going to school will be saved from a predator. (the 'predator' in our family in this case). However
another child will be irrepairably harmed, severely harmed, by either losing a parent and breaking up the family or having to be exiled away from that which allows them to grow and having to share the stigma with the parent.
Please don’t vote for prop 83
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From Frank G
Approx. 12 years ago I behaved inappropriatley with a minor. I realized my wrong and apologized but it haunted me for eight years
before my victim told the story to her mother. It led to my arrest.
I took full responsibility for what I had done and as a result, I was sentenced and also given 5 years probation and counseling. From the beginning to the end of my counseling I was open and honest as well as interested in everything I could get out of counseling to help me understand why I could allow myself to do what I did. I have completed my counseling
and probation without any violations.
We purchased our home 8 years ago and we now realize we may be in danger of losing our home. We live in a town where it would be very difficult to find a place within 2000 ft from a school or park. We are currently, barely inside this radius. We have had to refinance our home and currently owe more than it is worth because of the recent drop in home values. We would become homeless if this law is passed and would have to depend on some government program or funding to survive. My wife and children could likely not remain living here if I had to move. I would have to move out of town where and pay rent and utilities on top of the cost of maintaining my home for my family. There probably would be so many costs that we would not be able to keep our home.
Think about it, aren't there enough problems feeding the homeless now
without placing an enormous burden on our social services and welfare and unnessesarily displacing thousands of people?
Please vote no on proposition 83.
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I am a registered sex offender. I made my one mistake at a party in the late 1970s, where I met a girl who turned out to be underage.I pleaded no contest to oral copulation and was sentenced to probation. I have since built a career, a home and a family.
I have spent almost 30 years overcoming a single mistake. Megan’s Law has already repunished me once, making me a pariah in my neighborhood.
Now, Jessica’s law wants to punish me again. Am I that much of a threat?
Bill D - California
prop83.org