Many states in the U.S. have a perimeter law prohibiting convicted sex offenders from residing within a certain area of schools or public places. Do these laws help,or is it a false sense of security?
October 17, 2006 (Press Release) --
Lawmakers nationwide are currently working on new bills requiring that convicted sex offenders cannot reside within a certain radius of schools and certain public places. These “buffer zones” range between 500 – 2,000 feet. Even though the majority of the public feels that a perimeter law for offenders is a positive feature, is this law really going to provide protection or just a false sense of security.
Some people argue that once a convicted sex offender has done their time, their constitutional right allows them to become a regular citizen again and shouldn’t be punished any further. However, there are many parents out there who feel differently. “We have the right as parents to protect our children. I feel that these offenders lost some of their rights when they committed the crime,” said Angie Mangum, a mother of four from Springville, UT. Being on the sex offender registry is part of a convicted offenders punishment, and it is up to the public to help enforce the penalty by just being aware of who is on the registry.
The Center For Sex Offender Management (CSOM) shows that a sex related offence is different than other crimes. The CSOM states that 52 percent of convicted sex offenders will repeat again. The CSOM also states that sex offenders, such as rapists, pedophiles, and exhibitionists are among the highest reoccurring offence populations in the United States probation system. One highly overlooked statistic, but one of the most terrifying is a statistic is by the National Institute of Mental Health. The NIMH says that the typical child sex offender molests and average of 117 children, most of who do not report the offence. http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/stats.htm#Offenders
There are about a dozen states in the U.S. that currently have at least a 500 ft. perimeter from schools and certain public areas, and many more states are seriously pursuing a perimeter law. California is presently looking to adopt a 2,000 ft. radius law. Utah is also looking to approve a 500 ft. perimeter bill. But what about the states that currently have a perimeter law, and is it working for them?
Detective Brian Cross, from the Wilmington, Delaware, where they currently have a 500 foot perimeter law, says that perimeter laws seem to be a good idea, but if you can’t keep the sex offender registry current, the perimeter laws are not going to do much good. “Keeping the registry current is difficult because offenders forget to update their addresses or simply dodge the requirement by giving false addresses or claiming they are homeless,” said Detective Cross.
The truth of the matter is that every state still has a lot of work to do about their sex offender laws. More funds and manpower need to be spent in this area in order to make the current laws more useful. If you believe stricter penalties need to be put in place in your state for convicted sex offenders, then it is up to you to contact your government officials and let them know where you stand.
Some people argue that once a convicted sex offender has done their time, their constitutional right allows them to become a regular citizen again and shouldn’t be punished any further. However, there are many parents out there who feel differently. “We have the right as parents to protect our children. I feel that these offenders lost some of their rights when they committed the crime,” said Angie Mangum, a mother of four from Springville, UT. Being on the sex offender registry is part of a convicted offenders punishment, and it is up to the public to help enforce the penalty by just being aware of who is on the registry.
The Center For Sex Offender Management (CSOM) shows that a sex related offence is different than other crimes. The CSOM states that 52 percent of convicted sex offenders will repeat again. The CSOM also states that sex offenders, such as rapists, pedophiles, and exhibitionists are among the highest reoccurring offence populations in the United States probation system. One highly overlooked statistic, but one of the most terrifying is a statistic is by the National Institute of Mental Health. The NIMH says that the typical child sex offender molests and average of 117 children, most of who do not report the offence. http://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/stats.htm#Offenders
There are about a dozen states in the U.S. that currently have at least a 500 ft. perimeter from schools and certain public areas, and many more states are seriously pursuing a perimeter law. California is presently looking to adopt a 2,000 ft. radius law. Utah is also looking to approve a 500 ft. perimeter bill. But what about the states that currently have a perimeter law, and is it working for them?
Detective Brian Cross, from the Wilmington, Delaware, where they currently have a 500 foot perimeter law, says that perimeter laws seem to be a good idea, but if you can’t keep the sex offender registry current, the perimeter laws are not going to do much good. “Keeping the registry current is difficult because offenders forget to update their addresses or simply dodge the requirement by giving false addresses or claiming they are homeless,” said Detective Cross.
The truth of the matter is that every state still has a lot of work to do about their sex offender laws. More funds and manpower need to be spent in this area in order to make the current laws more useful. If you believe stricter penalties need to be put in place in your state for convicted sex offenders, then it is up to you to contact your government officials and let them know where you stand.
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