LETTERS: PUBLISHING LIST ISN'T THE ANSWER

To the editor:

This letter is in regard to your decision to print the sex-offenders list. I don't think you should.

I have one question, and it is directed to all married men with children. What would happen to your life if your wife decided to accuse you of molesting your child just to get you out of her life? You see, everyone already things you're guilty because of the charge. Why would anyone say it if it weren't true? She takes it a step further by coaching the child to make sure the charge holds up in court. Again, everyone thinks why would the child say such a thing if it weren't true? All through the trial everyone keeps wanting you to plead guilty, but you don't -- even though a guilty plea would keep you out of jail -- but you know the truth. On the last day of the trial (the worst ordeal of your life) you find out your lawyer has taken a job for the prosecuting attorney's office. They want to give you a new lawyer (on the last day), but you just want this ordeal over. Because of your faith in the system, you think, how can they convict me of a crime I didn't commit? To your horror, they do, and you have to spend almost three years in prison for something you didn't do. After prison, you just try to get on with your life, and the same system passes a law that you have to sign up on this list to further persecute you. Remember, the only think you did wrong was to believe in "innocent until proven guilty." Finally, when you think your life is back to normal, the do-gooders want to print that list to ruin your life again.

The story you have just read it true. I'm sure he's not the only one ever unjustly charged and convicted.

I'm really sorry about all of the children who are raped or molested, but this list is not the answer. Do you really believe that anyone who would rape and murder a child would balk at breaking a law to sign up on a list?

Also, what about the people who are guilty and, to expedite their trial, they make a deal, and this guilty person doesn't serve any time at all. They aren't on the list, but they could still do it again.

All I'm trying to say is a list is not going to protect our children, especially when some of the people on the list aren't guilty, and some of the people not on the list are guilty.

Give it some thought, and thank you for considering this.

FRANCES JENKINS

Jackson