Few things are more terrifying to a parent than hearing a sexual predator is in the neighborhood. What is worse is not being aware that a child molester is nearby. Throughout the United States, there are online databases available for parents to find out if a predator is near their home.
In 1990, the Community Protection Act was past in Washington State this was the first law authorizing public notification when dangerous sex offenders were released into the community. The law had very little impact on communities until the horrific rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka. Her family was unaware that a known child molester had moved in across the street from the family, subsequently the Kanka family battled to have local communities notified when a sex offender was in the neighborhood.
The result was Megan's Law passed in 1996 by President Bill Clinton. It is an amendment to the Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children Act. Megan's law has two specific parts; the first is a statewide registration of all sexual offenders convicted of sexual crimes against children. The second part allows community notification of all convicted sexual offenders in the area.
Megan's Law compels each state to provide the private and personal information on registered sex offenders to the public. The registry can include name and picture, alias, age, date of birth, height, weight, place of residence, and a list of convictions. Many databases have maps, which will pinpoint the street where the offender lives.
Available to the public are a number of websites, which can assist in searching for local sexual offenders.
meganslaw.com a subscription site that allows searches by state included with the subscription a Red Alert when an offender has moved to the area.
Klaaskids.org a site that provides a searchable map for the United States as well as information on missing and exploited children.
These databases are not meant as a means to harass or threatened those people listed but a way for parents to become aware of a threat to the safety of people in there neighborhood.
Also keep in mind that sexual offenders are required to update there address yearly, that doesn't mean that they actually do it. The police forces have heavy caseloads and budget cuts and it is getting difficult for law enforcement to track down those that skip registry in a new place. In addition, many names of listed offenders on the registers are not by definition "sexual predators." Some people are on the register because of bad decision-making not because of an overt threat to society.
Perhaps the best defense is keeping an open line of communication with the children, encouraging honest, forthright discussions on sex, boundaries and respect. Also reminding kids not to talk to strangers and if a person or situation feels wrong to come tell a parent, teacher or trusted adult.
