Is Megan's Law the Answer to Sex Crimes?

Megan's Law, a series of state-by-state regulations pertaining to the prosecution of sex offenders and their status in residential neighborhoods, was first passed in New Jersey in 1994. In the years that have ensued, similar laws have been passed on a state-by-state basis, most requiring that convicted sex offenders register with a list, or database, and notify their neighbors of their presence.

The law was intended to heighten awareness of the presence of sex offenders, in an effort to help parents be better prepared and more attentive to the safety needs of their children. But over the past 17 years since the law went into effect in New Jersey, the results have been decidedly underwhelming. While Megan's Law legislation was originally thought to be a solution to the growing problem of sexual predation, it has proven to be costly and at times completely ineffective.

Part of the problem with Megan's Law legislation is that it varies on a state-by-state basis. And while many states require registration with a database, states like Vermont have no such requirement. New Jersey requires notification of one's neighbors, but many other states do not abide by that requirement. And some states, such as Alabama, have strict rules pertaining to how far a sex offender must live from a school -- yet other states do not regulate such things at all.

The lack of consistency means that states must spend millions of dollars a year not only on enforcing their unique version of Megan's Law, but also in educating citizens -- whether they be responsible parents or sex offenders -- on what is required of them by Megan's Law statutes and what they must do if moving or relocating into, or out of, that particular state.

Still another problem is a loophole found in many states' Megan's Law legislation that allows sex offenders to move in with family members without reporting their new address. This is the case in Florida, where sex offenders only need to register the address of their own home, and not that of any relatives that they may be staying with (due to the perceived negative stigma of associating someone else's primary address with a sexual predator).

Megan's Law was passed in each state with the best of intentions; but until its requirements and punishments are uniform and enforced across state lines, it continues to be only a partial solution -- one that can be easily subverted by clever criminals while costing states millions of dollars.

This article is provided as information only and not intended as legal advice in any means or manner whatsoever, Attorney Michael Lowe provides focused legal counsel and representation within the area of Sex Crimes and various other matters related to criminal law, and has provided this for informational purposes only.