The Dobbs Wire: Life on the registry — an uncommon perspective

Uncommon perspective:  A woman writes about life on the sex offense registry.  Found on the internet, four interesting essays by Sonia Van den Broek – let’s hope she is well and thriving.  Have a look!   -Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire       CounterPunch | July 27, 2012 The Self-Identity of a Sex Offender   By Sonia Van den Broek   Excerpts:  People are constantly changing their self-identities, either to project the desired image or to gain personal growth.  The men and women on sex offender probation have no choice about their identities. They are sex offenders, solely and clearly. Questions…

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The Dobbs Wire: Thowing garlic at the house – Scenes from a moral panic

Paul Shanley has been released from prison after serving 12 years; he’s now 86 years old and frail. Shanley had been a priest and was a central figure in Boston’s clerical sex abuse scandal.  The evidence that landed him in prison was scant and dubious – repressed memories.  Coverage by major media outlets including the Boston Globe and Boston Phoenix was notably biased and ugly, working to gum up the scales of justice.  If the conviction was questionable, Shanley nonetheless paid the price.  Now that he’s getting settled in an apartment, the Worcester Telegram couldn’t resist an opportunity to spotlight…

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