Sex Offender Registry Paper
English: 2010
October 16, 2013
Sex Offender Registry
Sexual violence, especially involving small children, is a horrible crime and the worst nightmare of every parent. While every personal story of such violations is heart-breaking, it is important to examine how the entire American public is affected by inconsistent political action in defining sexual offences. Hence, in order to approach the dilemma that faces many individuals about what defines a sexual offender, it is essential that we examine the current sex offender law definitions and the reform needed to resolve the challenges of proper sex offender classification.
Sex offender laws, also known as ‘Megan’s laws’ were designed to protect communities from sex offenses by helping …show more content…
It is important to note that there are approximately 700,000 sex offenders that appear on registries in all 50 states of our country; however, their crimes may vary extensively from highly violent sexual predation down to those who have made several foolish decisions, such as public nude exposure (Yoder). Therefore, a significant percentage of those people listed in sex offender registries pose almost no threat to children or other possible victims, making it difficult for us to know who is really dangerous to the public …show more content…
Anyone responsible for sexual assault should be held accountable; nonetheless, I strongly believe that the punishment should fit both the offense and the offender (“Unjust” 656). Many sex offenders, especially violent ones, are at a high risk of committing a similar crime and we as a community should be able to deter such crimes. However, the challenge is that not all sex offenders are the same, and laws dictating who has to register have become so general that they vary from crimes as brutal as the sexual abuse of a child to more minor offenses, such as being caught urinating in a public park (Yoder).
In conclusion, sex offender registration serves as a warning system for our communities. It is necessary and will hopefully save many potential victims from unspeakable crimes; however, in order to meet the purpose of such system a reform in the registration requirements is needed. Consequently, the federal and local state governments should revisit the notification laws by excluding minors and non-violent offenders. In the end, the present way of such law execution will only lead to additional fear, confusion, and a misplaced sense of justice in our
October 16, 2013
Sex Offender Registry
Sexual violence, especially involving small children, is a horrible crime and the worst nightmare of every parent. While every personal story of such violations is heart-breaking, it is important to examine how the entire American public is affected by inconsistent political action in defining sexual offences. Hence, in order to approach the dilemma that faces many individuals about what defines a sexual offender, it is essential that we examine the current sex offender law definitions and the reform needed to resolve the challenges of proper sex offender classification.
Sex offender laws, also known as ‘Megan’s laws’ were designed to protect communities from sex offenses by helping …show more content…
It is important to note that there are approximately 700,000 sex offenders that appear on registries in all 50 states of our country; however, their crimes may vary extensively from highly violent sexual predation down to those who have made several foolish decisions, such as public nude exposure (Yoder). Therefore, a significant percentage of those people listed in sex offender registries pose almost no threat to children or other possible victims, making it difficult for us to know who is really dangerous to the public …show more content…
Anyone responsible for sexual assault should be held accountable; nonetheless, I strongly believe that the punishment should fit both the offense and the offender (“Unjust” 656). Many sex offenders, especially violent ones, are at a high risk of committing a similar crime and we as a community should be able to deter such crimes. However, the challenge is that not all sex offenders are the same, and laws dictating who has to register have become so general that they vary from crimes as brutal as the sexual abuse of a child to more minor offenses, such as being caught urinating in a public park (Yoder).
In conclusion, sex offender registration serves as a warning system for our communities. It is necessary and will hopefully save many potential victims from unspeakable crimes; however, in order to meet the purpose of such system a reform in the registration requirements is needed. Consequently, the federal and local state governments should revisit the notification laws by excluding minors and non-violent offenders. In the end, the present way of such law execution will only lead to additional fear, confusion, and a misplaced sense of justice in our