No, this doesn't qualify for our Cool Web Site department. It's actually quite sad that this type of information is needed. But it is needed information and it's very important information. Information with which I urge you to become familiar!
The kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford a few weeks ago, by a convicted sex offender who lived near her home, reminds us that there are people living amongst us who can destroy our lives. But tragically, poor Jessica's case is not a rare occurrence. A quick search of Google news, using the term "sex offender" shows all too well that they are still able to prey on the innocent. The body of
Jetseta Gage, a 10-year-old girl from Cedar Rapids, was discovered last week and again...it was realized that she had been kidnapped and killed by a registered sex offender.
After
the brutal 1994 rape and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka by a previously convicted sex offender, who was quietly living just down the street from Megan, public outcry helped get Megan's Law on the books. President Clinton signed Megan's Law into law on May 17, 1996. The law has two parts which basically say that all persons convicted of a sex crime must regularly register their whereabouts and also that this information can be made public. Subsequently, states began compiling this data and making it available via the Internet and through local police offices.
However, the information is only valuable if you know that it's out there and take the time to review it. Find out who is living in your neighborhood! It's one thing to warn your children about Mr. Stranger Danger so they know how to protect themselves from strangers. But if it turns out that the person who can cause them the most harm is a neighbor they may know, who might live right down the street, their guard is let down. They can too easily become vulnerable and be preyed upon.
These predators must register and their information is clearly available with a few clicks. But people don't think about looking...so the information isn't as useful as it should be. Granted, the law prohibits you from harassing that person in any way. Everyone likes to think that they're living in a safe community. But that may not be the reality. However, knowing the vicinity and faces of these predators can help you and your family become more aware and, hopefully, help to protect you from harm.
Take the time to investigate and arm your loved ones with the defensive information you feel they need to stay safe.
You can easily find the sites for your state and locale by searching the web. But to make it easier to find what you need, below are links to sites that will help.
Note that there are actually some sleazy web sites that take advantage of your need to want this information and attempt to charge you to find data that is freely and easily available! Amazingly, one site even purchased the domain name for Megan's Law. Don't be fooled! This information is freely available. You can obtain it via the sites above that will link you to the database within your own state or you can also simply go to your local police station and request to see a list of those sex offenders registered in your district.
And remember, even if you don't have children, these are lists of all persons convicted of any type of sex related crime. The databases generally indicate the offense category to decipher if it was related to children or adults. So take the time to review the information for your neighborhood.
Knowledge is power!
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