Sexual Offender Laws: Are They Working?
Megan's Law
On the Federal level, Megan's Law is known as the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act and is an amendment added to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. Pam Lyncher Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act coincides with Megan's Law that requires the FBI to register offenders across state lines.
The purpose behind Megan's Law was to make communities aware that there is a sex offender either working or living in their neighborhood. Is it working? There is really no way to tell for sure, but Megan's Law makes you aware that there is a potential danger lurking and waiting for your child.
New Jersey was the first state the adopt Megan's Law. The law was created after Megan Kanka was abducted, raped, and murdered by a sexual offender that moved in across the street from her family home.
Jessica's Law
Jessica's Law has been passed in 33 states and is pending at a Federal level as The Jessica Lunsford Act. If passed by Congress, Jessica's Law will reduce federal funding to states that do not comply with sexual offender tracking. Jessica's Law will also require that sex offenders who are convicted twice for not abiding by the sexual offender registration laws to wear Global Positioning Sensor (GPS) tracking devices for 5 years. Offenders that are considered Sexual Predators must wear the GPS for 10 years. States will be required to send out forms twice a year to the sexual offenders last registered address. If the forms are not returned with in 10 days, they will be considered non-compliant.
The original Jessica's Law was passed in Florida after the abduction, rape, and murder of Jessica Lunsford in 2005.
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
In 2006, Congress passed The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety, 25 years after the abduction and murder of Adam Walsh. Adam's father, John Walsh, hosted America's Most Wanted and is the founder of the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act is an extensive bill that covers a wide range of areas. Some of the topics touched in The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act are a national sex offender registry and significant changes to the sexual abuse, exploitation, and transportation of minors, laws that are already in place. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act also outlines new crimes, expands Federal jurisdiction over existing crimes, and increasing sentencing.
Sources:
http://www.fd.org/odstb_AdamWalsh.htm
http://www.sexcriminals.com/megans-law/
http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/documents/AdamWalshAct.pdf
http://www.jmlfoundation.org/
Published by Ryanick Paige
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18 Comments
Post a CommentHere's another female offender: "Silva Kantareva, a New York City resident, recently completed a two and a half year sentence. He had a prior conviction in 1996 after being accused of fondling four of his neighbors -- three girls and a boy -- whose ages ranged from 6 to 8. "
I'm grateful that we have these laws in place. I do feel there's quite a bit of room for improvement when it comes to enforcement.
Being a victim, I will probably never think there are enough laws or punishments for these HORRIBLE people. Great article and explination of the laws. You get five stars from me. I know it took great courage to write it.
There are a lot of great laws on the books that have worked to protect America's children, and I feel there is always room for more ordinances, but I think one of the most important areas that our communities and states focus on is ever-better enforcement of these laws.
They are not working everywhere, that's for sure. But Indiana took a big leap last July with legislators approving the Romeo & Juliet Defense for those who are 4 years or less apart in age and the male is no older than 18. Let's hope more states adopt this.
On another note, as much as I hate to think about a serious sexual offenders/predators liviing in my neighborhood (and there is), at least I KNOW where they are! I think it is a bad idea for those who cannot find a place to live and end up living in abandon houses, under bridges, or they lie about where they live. I'd rather know where they are!!!
W Thomas I agree about the 18 year old boys. I think that they should not be included in the mix. In my opinion they are not sexual predators or deviants and do not pose a threat. Chances are most of those cases are only going to court because the boy and girl break up and the girl is pissed off.
The answer is - barely, and badly - working. Because of the laws restricting where they can live, concentrations are happening in little teeny pockets within communities. Small towns - forget it, if it has a school, there's no housing far enough away from schools, parks, and daycare centers. And I have followed too many trials of 18 year old boys with 16 year old girls whose lives are going to be forever hellish because they are permanently branded a predator.
Important topic.
Really great information!
great info on a touchy subject.