| Megan's
Law which addresses sex
offenders and child molesters was
signed by President Clinton on May 17, 1996. Megan's Law was much needed, despite Washington State's 1990 Community
Protection Act which included America's first law authorizing public
notification when dangerous sex offenders are released into the
Community. It was the brutal 1994 rape and murder of seven-year-old
Megan Kanka
by a previously convicted sex offender that prompted the public demand for broad based community
notification, hence bringing forth Megan's
Law.
Megan's
Law requires the following two components:
Sex Offender RegistrationThe 1994 Jacob Wetterling Act requires the States to
register sex offenders convicted of sex crimes against children. Sex offender
registration laws are necessary because:
- Sex offenders pose a high risk of
re-offending after release from custody;
- Protecting the public from sex offenders
is a primary governmental interest;
- The privacy interests of persons
convicted of sex offenses are less important than the government’s interest in
public safety;
- Release of certain information about sex offenders to public agencies and the general public will assist in protecting
the public safety.
Megan's Law & Sex Offender Community Notification
Megan’s Law allows the States discretion to establish
criteria for disclosure, but compels them to make private and personal
information on registered sex offenders available to the public. Community
notification:
- Assists law enforcement in
investigations;
- Establishes legal grounds to hold known sex offenders;
- Deters sex offenders from committing new sex offenses;
- Offers citizens information they can use
to protect children from convicted child molesters, sex offenders and victimization.
To view sex offenders, Megan's Law, convicted sex abuse molesters information and resources
to see what form of notification your state provides, please click
on your state.
|
