Megan's Law

Paper Summary:

Megan's Law requires known sex offenders to register their address with the state in which they live. The basis for the law was Washington State's 1990 Community Protection Act. However, it was the rape and murder of 7 year old Megan Kanka that prompted public demand for comprehensive community notification. This paper looks at how since that time the law has come under debate due to its potential violation of first amendment laws and the denial of the right to privacy of the sex offenders. It explores both sides of the issue and supports the thesis that Megan's law is necessary and that notification should not only be pursued, but that it should be pursued aggressively.

Outline:
Elements of the Law
The Controversy
Parents vs. Law Enforcement
Where Do We Draw the Line?

From the Paper:

"The number of known sex offenders in the United States is staggering. The state of New York alone has more than 14,000 sex offenders on its registry (New York Attorney General). The first portion of Megan's law that requires registration is not the source of controversy in recent debates. The law is relatively clear on the registration process. This process is largely under the control of law enforcement. Under the first portion of Megan's Law the types of offenders are divided into three types. They are classified as Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (moderate risk), and Level 3 (high risk) (New York Attorney General). This portion of the law is uniform across the country. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Children's Bureau Express. (CBExpress). "Megan's Law" May Apply in Cyberspace, College Campuses. July 2000. Vol. 1, no. 5. online. <http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/articles.cfm?article_id=137&issue_id=2000-07> Accessed November 26, 2006.
• Dorf, M. Megan's Law. Copyright, free speech among issues before Supreme Court. October 8, 2002. CNN. <http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/10/08/findlaw.analysis.dorf.scotus/index.html>. Accessed November 26, 2006.
• Elbogen, E. B., Patry, M., & Scalora, M. (2003). The impact of community notification laws on sex offender treatment attitudes. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 26, 207-219
• Electronic Privacy Information Center. (EPIC). Latest News and Events. Last Updated March 3, 2006. <http://www.epic.org/privacy/meganslaw/>. Accessed November 26, 2006.
• Hilden, J. Forum: Could expanding Megan's Law help prevent more abductions? CNN.com. 2002. <http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/08/columns/fl.hilden.megans.law/index.html.> Accessed November 26, 2006.

More papers on Megan's Law:

• Argumentative Essay # 95524 : "Megan's Law"
• Research Paper # 2987 : "Megan's Law; Problems Associated with Implementation"
• Essay # 72334 : "Megan's Law"
• Analytical Essay # 15881 : "Megan's Law"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: