kawisixer01 said:
"Sex offender" is also a tag that is used for a pretty wide brush stroke as well... I have learned to research the case before you go making broad judgement.
From the OP:
protias said:
He had served time for having sex with underage girls he knew (family acquaintances).
I think the label fits. More than one occurrence, convicted by a court, served time.
I, too, know someone who served time because his girlfriend was too young (he was maybe 2-3 years older?), and her parents were fine with everything they did (including him sleeping over at their house, in her bedroom, with her) until she got pregnant.
Then he was stupid enough to talk with the cops. They had nothing to convict him on until he admitted their relationship & actions. He's labelled for the rest of his life, too, though I would have absolutely no problem with him living in my home or having contact with any children. Make that any person, whatsoever.
I think the statutory rape laws need to be changed somehow to take into account relationships that are close in age, and consensual. If it's an adult who coerces a child, even a teen, that's wrong. But if they're within maybe 18 months or 2 years of each other's age, it shouldn't be a crime.
(I'm leaving the "you shouldn't be having sex at that age" and the "you shouldn't have sex until you're married" arguments completely out of the equation. Those are moral judgments, to be made & enforced by the parents. In the case of my friend, the parents were fine with everything until she got pregnant. Hypocrites.)