Thank you for sharing your deeply personal and painful experiences. I want to acknowledge the tremendous courage it takes to talk about the abuse you endured. Your strength in seeking counseling and working towards healing is truly commendable.

I agree that the protection of children and the prevention of sexual abuse is incredibly important. The effects of sexual assault are profound and long-lasting. It is crucial that we, as a society, support survivors and work to prevent such harm from happening to others.

Your story resonated with me on a personal level. I, too, experienced sexual harm when I was young, involving a cousin of mine. For many years, I struggled with feelings of shame and confusion. Reading “Harmful to Minors” by Judith Levine profoundly changed my perspective and helped me forgive both myself and my perpetrator. In her book, Levine cites fascinating research by Sharon Lamb with women at Bryn Mawr College, which provided interesting distinctions between normative play and abuse that helped me realize my situation was probably more the former than the latter. It sounds like your situation was much more abusive than mine was, but I suspect you could still find some healing in the book too.

I also encourage you to consider joining a Peer Support Circle with Restorative Action Alliance. These circles offer a space for both survivors and those who have caused harm to share their stories and experiences in a safe, supportive environment. There are circles just for survivors, just for those who have caused harm, and combinations of both, which provide something just like the listening sessions you suggest in your email. I’ve spoken to many participants on both sides of the aisle who have found these circles to be a powerful and healing experience.

At Women Against Registry, we strive to ensure that efforts to protect children are effective and evidence-based. The registry, while well-intentioned, has been shown in numerous studies to be ineffective in reducing sexual violence. We believe that the resources spent on maintaining the registry could be better utilized in ways that directly support survivors and prevent future abuse, such as through education, counseling, and prevention programs.

For instance, research indicates that 91-93% of sexual offenses are committed not by individuals who are on the registry, but much more often by someone known to the victim like an uncle, a pastor, a Scout leader, or a coach. Additionally, recidivism rates for people required to register for a sex-related offense are very low compared to literally every other type of crime. The “frightening and high” quote you may have read has been disproven again and again, and Robert Longo, the author of the article it came from, wishes he had never published it. The real recidivism rate is estimated to be between 1 and 5%, and it decreases as people age.

Also, the registry can create a false sense of security and divert attention from the more common threats to children. And in fact, you might be surprised to learn that the State of Kansas Department of Corrections has a statement on their website giving 20 well-researched reasons why residency restrictions for people forced to register are forbidden in their state.

Your voice and experiences are incredibly important in this conversation. I would love to continue this dialogue with you and explore how we can work together to create a safer and more supportive world for everyone.

With sincere respect,

Anne Croat
Director of Membership and Engagement
Women Against Registry