8-4-2009 Tennessee:
27 States Have Some Type Of Juvenile Registry
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Should children who commit sex crimes be listed on a registry just like the adults? Should their names, faces and addresses be on public view?
Some say that having their name in the public destroys a chance to turn their young life around.
It is a serious debate with millions of dollars at stake.
Congress passed what's called the Adam Walsh act in 2006, which requires states to put certain information on their sex offender registries.
Over the past few years, lawmakers have been bringing the registry into compliance by doing things like adding sex offenders' online identities and changing registry requirements.
As it stands right now, the state must create a juvenile registry to comply with federal law.
"These teenagers that are committing violent sex offenses. This is not about sex play. This is the rape of a child and that is a serious sex offense," said Rep. Debra Maggart.
Maggart introduced a bill for the past two years to bring the state into compliance.
It would mandate that 14-18 year olds that commit the most serious offenses would go on a registry.
This bill is consistent with the Adam Walsh Act, which does not require ALL juvenile offenders to be on a registry!
If it doesn't pass, it could cost the state millions in grants that go to local law enforcement.
"We're gonna lose money. We're going to use burn grant dollar, and we need every dime we can get our hands on in the state," said Maggart.
But child advocates have fought the bill, saying that 90 percent of juvenile sex offenders can be rehabilitated and would destroy their lives.
"Putting children on the sex offender registry is bad public policy because it does not increase public safety, and it has the great prospect of ruining the lives of children who can turn their lives around and be very productive citizens," said Linda O'Neal, the executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.
They are hoping Congress will change the federal requirements.
"We hope once Congress gets beyond some of the major issues they've had to deal with, the stimulus and healthcare, so forth, that they will focus on this issue," said O'Neal.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation had asked for an extension to comply with the Adam Walsh Act, and U.S. attorney general Eric Holder granted an extension for every state.
At this time, not a single state is in full compliance with the law. Twenty seven states already have some type of juvenile registry. ..Source.. by Cara Kumari
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