NJ- Don't rely on help from sex offender restriction

6-18-2009 New Jersey:

I am troubled for reasons that go beyond reactions to the state Supreme Court's decision to ban local ordinances barring child molesters from coming within a certain number of feet from schools, playgrounds, and other areas highly populated with children. My feelings date back to my disenchantment of the original proposal of Megan's Law and the public's overwhelming willingness to embrace lame laws that disguise rather than address the heart of the problem.

I am not an advocate for sexual predators, and I am among the group that feels they gave up their individual rights when they chose to violate those of their victims. However, I was never a proponent for Megan's Law, as I feel it gives a false sense of protection to communities, places an undue burden on parents, and offers far too little a solution in deterring crimes against children.

Registering sex offenders is a noble practice in theory, but in reality how much of a benefit is it to you and your child? If you live in a town where there are no registered sex offenders, what is to stop a child molester in another town from exercising his freedom, entering your neighborhood, and roaming about until he is able to kick his feet in your child's sandbox? And if an offender does live in your town, are you supposed to keep your children locked up in the house all day?

If your child was molested after you received community notification, are you to share the blame, because after all, you knew this guy was lurking about? You can't throw eggs at the predator's home or threaten him in any way without risking arrest yourself. So are you to sell your home and move elsewhere? If so, are you obligated to tell the new buyers that a sexual predator lives in the area?

As for restricting a predator's whereabouts, how can you realistically bar someone from coming within feet from a child when children exist everywhere? They are not limited to schools and playgrounds. Pedophiles become clever at their "craft." They will find new ways to approach children at places where parents will least expect it rather than areas that are heavily supervised.

The real issue is if child molesters pose such a risk that they must be monitored and restricted, then they shouldn't be released to the general public in the first place. Many believe pedophiles cannot be rehabilitated, and far too often a child is murdered at the hands of a repeat offender.

A better solution is to keep them in work programs behind bars, place them in a controlled environment, or release them in the care of someone willing to take responsibility for their actions at all times. There should be more support groups available for pedophiles to seek help before they commit an unthinkable crime, and there should be greater distinctions between the penalties for molestation, rape, and murder.

If a pedophile molests or even rapes a child, but then let's the child live, there is still hope for the child. So there should be some hope for the pedophile to redeem himself behind bars. Murder, however, offers no hope, and penalties should be severe enough for child sex offenders to think twice.

So make your voice known to legislators who will protect our children and communities. Just be sure you are asking them to spend their time and energies in establishing laws that can offer the best possible solution. As it is now Megan's Law and community ordinances promise too much, too little, too late in child protection. ..Source.. by CentralJersey.com