The state of Georgia requires the disclosure of every sex offender’s address in a given area. Research also show that 67% of sexual assaults are victims under the age of 18. Almost 2/3 of all sexual assaults are committed by someone who knows the victim. At the moment all 50 states have a registration and tracking system to monitor the sex offenders’ movement. In the past there have been various attempts to enact laws that help register people who’ve committed crimes (sexual assault). The most noted law was the Jacob Wetterling Act; this law required states to put into action a Crimes against Children and Sex Offender Registry. Jacob Wetterling has never been found.
The steps to registering as a sex offender is a tedious process that takes time and can be very nerve racking for any individual within the area. Within 3 days of conviction, release from prison, or placed on probation the offender must register in person with the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO). Fingerprints must be submitted and the CLEO must notify institutions of higher learning or is enrolled. The registration is lifetime and under no circumstances may be removed unless all offenses requiring registration are reversed, vacated, the registrant is pardoned of the offenses requiring registration, or petitions are filed and granted with the court under the appropriate circumstances. A fee may be required for registration varying by county.
A sex offender’s name should be made public for many reasons. Knowing there’s an offender in your neighborhood creates a sense of awareness. Studies have shown by The Department of Justice show that more than likely offenders will become repeat offenders. If offenders are likely to become repeat offenders then parents have reason to believe their child could be next. It’s common for victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone.
When the person was assaulted as a child, he or she may wait years or decades. They’re many reasons why: victims may want to deny the fact that someone they trusted could do this to them; they may want to just put it behind them; they may believe the myth that they caused the assault by their behavior; or they may fear how other people will react to the truth.
Reasons for not releasing a sex offender’s information is very limited in thought but the ideas are very eye-opening.
