No, You’re a Sex Offender!
Via Slashdot: Having trouble with an annoying neighbor or an irritating relative? Have them declared a sex offender. Here in Ohio, it’s quick! It’s easy! No evidence required! No formal charges! No reluctant jury or costly trial!
A recently enacted law allows county prosecutors, the state attorney general, or, as a last resort, alleged victims to ask judges to civilly declare someone to be a sex offender even when there has been no criminal verdict or successful lawsuit.
The rules spell out how the untried process would work. It would largely treat a person placed on the civil registry the same way a convicted sex offender is treated under Ohio’s so-called Megan’s Law.
The person’s name, address, and photograph would be placed on a new Internet database and the person would be subjected to the same registration and community notification requirements and restrictions on where he could live.
You know, sometimes I think maybe I’m just paranoid. Maybe the Constitution isn’t being shredded. Maybe our rights are safe. Then I read something like this and I know this fight is real.