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Protecting Your Child: Is
There a Sex Offender Next Door?
The growing concern over the
number of sexual offenders in our neighborhoods and on the Internet has
led to
a significant increase in the amount of information released to the
public. It
is easier than ever before to find out if sexual offenders are living
in your
neighborhood. This information can and should be used when you are
formulating
plans to protect your children. Fortunately, this information is
readily
accessible via public databases and the Internet.
While many local law
enforcement agencies are creating task forces to hunt down sexual
predators,
televisions shows such as Dateline are attempting to take matters into
their
own hands. Dateline producers track sexual offenders by posing as
children and
teenagers. They speak to potential offenders, agree to meet them for
sexual
encounters, notify authorities, and have them arrested upon arrival at
the
designated meeting place. Some residents have expressed outrage at the
thought
of sexual predators being purposely lured into their neighborhoods, but
the
majority of people asked have expressed a sense of relief in knowing
these
criminals are being removed from the streets.
Thanks to Meagan’s Law,
sexual offenders released from prison are required to register with the
township they are living in, regardless of where they move, for the
rest of
their lives. Because sexual predators tend to be repeat offenders,
constantly
tracking their movement is essential to protecting children across the
country.
Even if you do not find sexual predators registered in your
neighborhood, you
must keep a cautious eye out for any strange or suspicious activity.
Unfortunately, depending on the nature of their offense, not all
offenders are
required to register under Meagan’s Law.
The public, of course, has a
right to know whether or not convicted sexual offenders are living in
their
neighborhoods. You can find this information by searching online
databases.
These websites will give you information about any sexual offender
registered
in your neighborhood, including a photograph and the nature of his or
her
offense.
Remember, local sexual
offenders are not the only individuals you need to be concerned about.
Many
predators are more than willing to travel to meet their victims. Some
come from
relatively close distances and others are willing to travel across the
country.
Keep track of the people your children are talking to in both real life
and
online.
It’s important for
you to
speak to your children about the dangers of sexual offenders and online
predators. They should know whether or not sexual offenders live in the
area,
but they should also be encouraged to treat everyone with respect
unless given
a reason to act otherwise.
If you enjoyed
this
article you should read:
Dateline Tracks Down Sexual Predators
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