Megans Law Essay -- Megans Law Violence Sex Crime Criminals

Megan’s Law   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When people think of their neighbors, do they think of violent sex crime offenders? Many people have to deal with this every day of life. There are now laws that inform people of a community when a sex crime offender moves into their town. These laws are said to keep violent sex crime offenders from striking again, but do these laws really work is the question that many people ask? The answer all depends on the opinion of the person who is being asking. Many supporters say that the law is keeping sexually violent predators from striking again, but many critics say that the law is unethical and breaks many amendments. This is another question proposed when the topic of Megan’s Law is brought up, is it breaking any of the amendments or is it necessary for community members to know whether a sex crime offender is living is in their neighborhood? The judge who was deciding this case ruled in favor of the critics, that Megan’s Law was in violation of the Constitution. But then finally President Bill Clinton stepped in and created a total package called the Jacob Wetterling Act. This Law was said to almost end all of the Sex crime cases to come in the future, but did it?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Megan’s Law has once played an intricate part in the life of my family members. In 1995 my aunt a resident of a nearby suburb of Seattle, Washington encountered a scenario which involved the notification of sex offenders.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   She resided next to what appeared to be a pleasant and friendly bachelor. He was very out going and kind to the people in the community. The residents of the community had no idea he was once a child molester about to move in on his next victim. After living five months in this small community he sexually abused a seven year old girl. After going to jail citizens of the community discovered this was not his first offense. This brought great controversy in the notification of sex offenders in communities also known as Megan’s Law. Megan’s Law is said to be one of the most controversial topics among lawyers today. In this paper one will see how Megan’s Law is enforced, how the name came about, the regulations of Megan’s Law, how the federal government stepped in and created laws enforcing sex crime offenders to register with the town’s Police, some brief opinions of the people on how they would react if they knew that a sex crime offender moved i... ...w is one of the most controversial topics among lawyers today. Whether you are a supporter or a critic of Megan’s Law, every person is entitled to their own opinion over the issue. I know that if I had children I would sure like to know if there was a convicted Sex crime offender or a Child molester living in my community. Works Cited Aseltine, Peter. "Megan’s Law Upheld, With Limitations." Trenton Times, 23 February 1995. Bai, Matt. "A Report From the Front in the War on Predators." Newsweek, 19 May 1997: 67. Jerome, Richard. "Megan’s Legacy." People Magazine, 20 May 1995: 46-51. Mader, Anthony. "Megan’s Law." Trenton Times, 18 May 1996. Martens, Steven. "Law Gives Parents False Sense of Security." Iowa State Daily, 19 October   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1995. Reno, Janet. "Final Guidelines for Megan’s Law." 17 November 1999. Saunders, Stephanie Cara. "Megan’s Law." 19 November 1999.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shank, Joshua Wolf. " Do Megan’s Laws make a difference." U.S. News and World Report, 9   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  March 1998: 27. Verniero, Peter. "A Citizen’s Guide to Megan’s Law." 18 November 1999.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚