A retiring Michigan judge expressed his frustration with the sex offender laws in a recent interview. Judge William C. Buhl said fear drove lawmaker to create a registry that included anyone who had committed a sex-related crime. Buhl said he would like to narrow the offenses that could be listed and change requirements that could keep offenders on the list for a minimum of 25 years. Buhl said he spoke for the majority of judges in Michigan but that others were afraid to speak out for political reasons.
Buhl cited the case of a 17-year-old who was pursued by his 15-year-old girlfriend. The teenager was charged with violating the state’s criminal sexual conduct law, even though the sex was consensual. Now he is on the list for 25 years. Buhl cited other cases where the laws seemed to be not fair.
The judge’s wish list included a process for evaluating and treating underage sex offenders. He said he also suggested that the only sex offenders on the list should be ones that “we need to worry about.” Those included violent rapists and child predators.
http://michiganmessenger.com/32878/an-ornery-judicial-view-of-mich-sex-offender-laws
