Author: The Registry Trap

Justin Fawcett was 20 years old when he died of a drug overdose in his bedroom–just a month after learning that he would be required to register as  a sex offender for the next 25 years.

The crime that landed Justin on the Michigan sex offender registry was a consensual sexual relationship with a 14-year-old high school classmate when he was 17.

Justin’s parents, who say their son was despondent after learning that he would be placed on the registry and hopeless about the future, became advocates for more sensible registry laws in Michigan. Ultimately, Michigan did implement some changes to protect underage “sex offenders,”–seven years after Justin’s death.

Did the Punishment Fit the Crime?

When you look up Frank Rodriguez on the Texas sex offender registry, you’ll find that he was convicted of Sexual Assault of a Child. That sounds like something a potential neighbor might want to know about, but in truth it’s what the state of Texas called it when Frank, then a senior in high school, had consensual sex with his 15-year-old girlfriend.

That was more than 20 years ago.  Today, Frank and his “victim,” Nikki, are married and have four daughters…and they and their children are still paying the price for their high school relationship.

Frank’s job prospects are limited. He can’t coach his children’s sports teams, He can’t leave the state without registering with local law enforcement. And, any neighbor who opts to check the area for sex offenders will be greeted with the news that he sexually assaulted a child.

The Accidental Sex Offender