We Are Not in Favor of a Public Sex Offenders Register

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Should the national sex offenders registry be made public?

Bahamas Crisis Centre founder Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson weighed and said making the registry public could do more harm than good.

Our Evlynn Ferguson picks up the story from here.

Crisis Centre chief Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson drew a line between public demand and responsible protection.

While speaking at a press conference to announce plans for the Day of Parenting Symposium, Dr. Dean-Patterson was asked to respond to calls for the sex offenders registry to be made public.

She made it clear she’s not a fan of that view.

Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson – Founder, Bahamas Crisis Centre

“The sexual offenders register was passed, and is in place. But it’s not a public register, and we are not in favor of it being a public register.”

Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson – Founder, Bahamas Crisis Centre

“I know the public would like to know who these sex offenders are. But we are not the United States or the United Kingdom, where the size of the country allows you to identify these sex offenders, but have them someplace where they’re not gonna hurt children.”

The activist added that she believes the registry must be handled with care, balancing transparency with the safety of children and ensuring the right people are equipped to act.

Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson – Founder, Bahamas Crisis Centre

“The persons who need to know, who are obligated and directed to protect children, are the ones who should have access to this register and who are responsible for the sex offenders who are released. That is the police, social services, and the prison. Those are the key people who should have this information and could deal with the information in a way that protects children, but also doesn’t enable vigilantism, which has been the experience in other countries where the sex offender register is public.”

Dr. Dean-Patterson also pointed out that in other countries, laws have mandated that sex offenders be banned from public places frequented by children, including schools and parks.

She went on to explain that in The Bahamas, the duty must fall on institutions like the police, prisons and social services to track and manage those who have been released.

And that, she said, calls for the public to trust the system.

Dr. Sandra Dean-Patterson – Founder, Bahamas Crisis Centre

“So really, it calls for the public to have confidence in the system. And I don’t know if the public is as confident, or comfortable, with the system protecting our children as it should be. And so it is a discussion that has to be ongoing. And we need to put all sides to it. But we have to be alarmed and vociferous about our refusal to accept, or to tolerate, the violation of our children.”