FL: Teen sex offenders for life

The private records of juvenile court are fully public in Florida, as far as young sex offenders are concerned. "A state law that went into effect July 1 will list teens as young as 14 on the same Web site as adults who are convicted pedophiles and sexual predators. The designation will follow them and their families as they enter schools, move to new communities and eventually apply for colleges, trade schools and jobs," the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. This is a double blow for teens who commit minor offenses, because they don't have the benefit of being tried before juries in juvenile courts and the privacy that has been afforded juveniles for over 100 years is suddenly gone. The article cites the view of "some public defenders and legal experts" that being listed for life with adult sex offenders could hinder these teenagers' rehabilitation. "Public defenders plan to challenge the [Florida] law," the Sun-Sentinel adds. For more on this, see "Juvenile sex offenders & Net registries."