How Many Sex Offenders Live On Your Block?
For any parent, learning that a convicted sex offender lives on
the same block, can be a chilling discovery. The thought of it
alone, can be disturbing. Most parents can't imagine that
someone, who could be so potentially dangerous, may live
somewhere on their block or along the path their child takes to
school. However, it is highly likely that there are registered
sex offenders in your neighborhood.
Beginning in the mid 1990's legislative actions established
guidelines for tracking convicted sex offenders and making such
information available as part of a community notification
effort. In 1994 the Jacob Wetterling Act began requiring states
to register individuals convicted of sex crimes against
children. The "Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and
Identification Act of 1996" was enacted by Congress to provide
for the nationwide tracking of convicted sexual predators.
"Megan's Law" (1996) further served to clarify the public nature
of information and authorized the release of relevant
information that is necessary to protect the public. Together,
these three key pieces of legislation have shaped the structure
of sexual registries, nationwide. Today, almost every state
maintains a registry of sexual offenders, and makes this
information easily accessible via the internet. Some states may
not allow online access. However, they will explain, online, the
procedure to follow to gain access to their registry.
Currently there are approximately a half of a million registered
sex offenders in the United States. They live in cities and
towns all across the country. They are in "poor" and "affluent"
neighborhoods. And they could be on your block. The
twice-convicted pedophile who raped and murdered Megan (Megan's
Law) Kanka lived across the street from her home. Every parent
should make it a priority to do a quick search to educate
themselves about potential risk exposures thatmay be
"dangerously" close. It is commonly said that, "What you don't
know can hurt you." But more importantly, what you do know can
save your life!
As you search the various databases it is important to realize
some important issues. Not all databases are complete. Some only
have listings for a small time period. Others only list certain
types of sex offenses. While these registries represent a noble
effort to empower the community with access to information about
dangerous individuals that may still pose a threat, they are by
nature incomplete. Not all jurisdictions update and maintain
them with the same level of commitment. And compliance to
maintain them is not known. You must also realize that every
"offender" had a first victim and not every offender is caught.
Those offenders would not be listed on any registry or criminal
database.
The FBI maintains links to the various state's registries.
Access their links at: (http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/states.htm
). However, surprisingly it is not the most up-to-date list
available. The Klaas Kids site is a good site with extensive
details about the types of offenders that appear on the various
state's registries. Access their database at: (
http://www.klaaskids.org/pg-legmeg.htm ). And a newly updated
link list has just been posted at the SafeKidsReport site, at: (
http://www.SafeKidsReport.com ).
For parents, access to this invaluable information will serve
many goals. One, it will help families to identify potential
risks in their own neighborhoods. Two, it will encourage parents
to initiate defensive behavioral changes that may dramatically
protect their children from predators. And third, it will
inspire parents to educate their children about the dangers that
exist and the safety strategies that will help to protect them
from harm.