The intention of this post is to provide a comprehensive set of links and documents related to the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I have also added the key links in this post to a list on the side of this page under the heading "Adam Walsh Act Resources." In addition, I have added a new category that I will be using from now on titled "Adam Walsh Act." This post updates and replaces my previous post found here. If there are any links or documents which you think should be added to this page, please email me and let me know. Here are the links and documents:
The text of the Act is here.
The DOJ proposed guidelines for the Act are here (added 5/18/07).
Responses to the proposed guidelines from The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Coalition for Juvenile Justice, and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (added 5/21/07).
The White House fact sheet about the Act.
A memorandum sent by the Department of Homeland Security about the Act.
These are memorandum about the Act prepared by the Office of Defender Services in chronological order (please read in reverse chronological order to get the newest materials first):
Memorandum I by Amy Baron-Evans and Sara Noonan about the Act in PDF form
Memorandum II by Amy Baron-Evans and Sara Noonan about the Act in PDF form
Supplement to Memorandum II by Amy Baron-Evans about the Act in Word form
These are documents about the Act that have been prepared by various states:
The Act's Wiki page.
An analysis of the Act by PASentencing.org.
A memoradum by the National Juvenile Justice Network about the Act's effects on Juveniles.
A page by the National Conference of State Legislatures about the Act.
These are links to posts here at Sex Crimes about the Act:
My summaries of court opinions concerning the Act's registration requirements
My summaries of court opinions concerning the Act's civil commtiment provisions
My summaries of court opinions concerning the Act's bail restrictions
My summaries of court opinions concerning the Act's limits on defense access to evidence
Posts about the Madera case in Florida
Posts about the Comstock case in North Carolina
Posts about the Templeton case in Oklahoma
Testimony by the Attorney General about the Act
A post about Professor Wayne Logan's article in the National Law Journal about the Act.
A post about the Summer 2007 issue of The Doing Time Times articles about the Act.
Please got to www.therapy-key.com and submit your petition(s) if you wish. 88% of child molesters are not reported (that means millions), and some would like to seek professional help to learn restraint.
CATCH 22: Therapists legally must report molesters, who then face incarceration and a lifetime afterward on the registry as social outcasts. Thus, they do not get help
--and neither are their victims helped.
YOU, THE VOTER, CAN REMEDY THIS SITUATION!
Let your lawmakers know that therapists must not be mandatory reporters.
There are strict conditions attached to this proposal. Please go to our website at www.therapy-key.com for the details.
EVERY SIGNATURE COUNTS! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Betty Schneider
Director, Therapy-Key
Posted by: Betty Schneider | May 27, 2007 at 01:55 AM
hey - I am NOT a dangerous person. I have a college degree and excellent work history.
do you think I can get a job while listed as a "sex offender"?
oh well - have it your way.
thanks for the over $10,000 in unemployment compensation, Medicaid for my family, and food stamps.
at least the taxpayers are supporting me, right?
ha ha ha
Posted by: joker | December 17, 2007 at 03:58 PM
Please include on your Sex Offender Advocacy links:
eAdvocate
reformsexoffenderlaws.org
Human Rights Watch Report on Sex Offender Laws
It has been almost a decade since most sex offender laws have been enacted. We finally have enough research, evidence and testimonials from victims, law enforcement, sex offender treatment providers, and sex offenders themselves to truly address this issue in a more effective and responsive way. The SO laws are punitive, politically motivated, constitutionally questionable and counterproductive which as a consequence makes society (and our children) LESS SAFE.
I can see the similarities that Nazi Germany used to demonize the Jews and the subsequent accepted persecution by German society. The sex offender registry's beginnings were in 1994 on the premise to inform only law enforcment of "potentially" dangerous REPEAT sex offenders. It has now mutated to where American society has accepted these non-reseach based laws and restrictions for sex offenders that are based on blatant lies and political grandstanding.
For example sex offenders have one of the LOWEST recividism rates, are shown to be very responsive to treatment etc. Of the estimated 2,000,000 sex offenders only 7-10% of them are truly "dangerous." Is someone who exposed themselves "dangerous?" We have legislated a 3rd class American citizen that now is told where they can or can't live, they must endure public shaming via internet registries that hampers the chances for stable, productive and non-offending lives, face a myriad of technical registration requirements or face felony arrest, can not be in certain shelters, can not use the internet, can not travel through certain parts of towns, can not enter their own child's education facilities, can not live with sick family members in order for care because of residency restrictions, face vigilanteism, harrassment and isolation, and have their innocent family face the scorn of the modern day witch.
If the results of the laws were making a difference then there is justification for imposing such harsh sex offender laws. But, they ARE NOT. They are more harmful! Society would love to see sex offenders burned at the stake. But history has shown the errors of our ways in persecuting other humans. What is more important is that we make society safer. We are creating a society in which certain sexual acts or even thoughts are worse than murder.
We cannot have the likes of John Walsh or politicians spearheading sex offender policies who have no merit or credibility especially after years of untrue rhetoric in regards to sex offenders. We must heed the advise from the Sex Offender Treatment Providers, research, and law enforcement who know first hand what works.
Posted by: so | December 28, 2007 at 07:43 PM