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Megan's Law is named after seven year old Megan Kansas, a New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a known child molester who had moved in across the street from the Kansas without their knowledge. Megan's parents embarked on a national crusade to change federal and state laws to allow for community notification of released sex offenders. This law is very controversial because some say it infringes on the rights of privacy guaranteed in the U. S. Constitution.
The question is what is worth more: potentially saving a child from experiences that could cause damage that would last all their lives, or guaranteeing the privacy rights of convicted sex offenders? Personally I feel that once someone violates the rights of others, their own rights should be of less value. However, there are two sides to every story. The Constitution states, and the Supreme Court has upheld, that everyone has the right to legal representation, even poor people. Thats why during police shows, when someone makes an arrest, they always say, If you cant afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.
Also, the Declaration of Independence says our inalienable rights include the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Occasionally, people do things that make us believe that they dont deserve the rights the rest of us enjoy. Critics of Megan's Law believe that like it or not, constitutionally these rights apply to everyone. When we start to make exceptions, no matter how worthy the cause, we could be starting down the dangerous path of letting a majority of people pick and choose who has which rights. Megan's Law was passed in New Jersey last fall.
The law requires that residents be notified when a convicted sex offender is released from prison and moves into their neighborhood. When the State Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the law in July of 1996, it ordered that hearings be held to give convicted sex offenders the chance to appeal decisions by county prosecutors, who decide how serious a risk the offender poses to the community and how widespread notification should be. This law is viewed as a way to protect children from convicted sex offenders. Unfortunately, for every child molester who is convicted, there are several more out there who will never get caught. Just as often as they are neighbors, child molesters are family friends, relatives, baby sitters and other trusted people.
This is why some people feel that realistically, this law probably does very little to protect children from sexual abuse. They feel all it does is brand certain people for life and give parents a false sense of security. Some convicted sex offenders may never stop committing these horrible crimes, but some do. Shouldnt people who have paid their debt to society should at least be given the opportunity to lead productive, peaceful lives? This law makes all the offenders open to ridicule, discrimination or even vigilantism. The question is where do we draw the lines?
Is it worth the inconvenience of a convicted sexual offender to protect, at least to some effect, an innocent child? Some people, myself included, say yes.
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Research essay sample on Convicted Sex Offenders Megan Law
