Somewhat out of the blue (although ostensibly related to a recent court decision in New Jersey), the New York Times published an editorial arguing for reform to Megan's Laws. From the unsigned editorial:
One danger has always been vigilantism. Child molesters living peaceably in a community after serving their time — and even some people mistaken for child molesters — have been beaten up or fired upon.
A disturbing new development is the proliferation of local ordinances that go beyond the reporting requirements of legislation like Megan’s Law by restricting where sex offenders may live. In some New Jersey towns, offenders cannot live within 2,500 feet of a school or playground. Often, the banned areas are so large as to effectively prohibit a sex offender from living anywhere in town.
These bans can do more harm than good. They will not deter a determined predator. Many law enforcement officials, including parole officers, have observed that they tend to bunch sex offenders in drug-infested, rundown neighborhoods that are poorly suited for anyone trying to turn around a life.
It's interesting to see such an editorial against registration laws as currently designed and residency restrictions.
HT: SexOffenderResearch.
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