What are the arguments for and against sex offender registries and notification laws?
What will be an ideal response?
It is increasingly difficult to keep tabs on sex offenders as they move from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, changing their names and appearances along the way. People who advocate sex offender registration and notification cite the significant number of sex offenders under community supervision, the fear of recidivism, and the protection of children and their families. The challenge is to balance the communities' rights to access public information with the protections provided to convicted offenders. The three basic objections to notification laws center around punishment, privacy, and due process issues. Some offenders claim that registering subjects them to additional punishment. However, in April 1998, the Supreme Court rejected constitutional challenges that claimed that the laws' notification requirements represented an unconstitutional added punishment. Another concern of opponents is that notification will lead to harassment of offenders and increased acts of vigilantism. However, Internet access is quickly revolutionizing the way the public keeps informed of the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. In many jurisdictions residents are now able to access a registry online, enter their zip codes, and obtain information on sex offenders living in their area.
You might also like to view...
________ is the geographical area designated as part of a police agency's territory as well as the type of crimes the agency is authorized to enforce
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word
A citizen transporting a seriously injured person to a hospital is not subject to prosecution for violation of various traffic laws because of the defense of ________
Fill in the blank(s) with correct word
Which component of Agnew's general strain theory is the source of strain that earlier strain theories focused on?
a. The failure to cope with economic competition b. The failure to achieve positively valued goals c. The removal of something positively valued d. The imposition of noxious stimuli
Dahle's study proved the efficacy of using oral and written media together. His findings indicated the bulletin board is the most effective type of communication within an organization
Indicate whether the statement is true or false