State Pushing for Federal Sex Registry Changes

5-8-2010 Maine:

The federal law's provision regarding juveniles is troublesome, state officials say.

Maine officials are pushing Congress to make changes in the federal sex registry law. Attorney General Janet Mills says particularly troublesome is the federal requirement that juvenile sex offenders be placed on state registries for life. "All states have a great deal of difficulty imposing the very tough restrictions on juveniles that that act calls for," she says.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins hears the concerns. "Those issues do need to be recognized and worked out, but I think it's important to remember that this law serves a very important purpose as far as protecting our children."

Under the current "Adam's Law," the state has until July 1st to apply for another waiver from the U.S. Justice Department. Mills thinks the waiver will be granted.

But as the law currently stands, the state will face sanctions a year from July if it does not change its sex-offender registry to comply. ..Source.. by Maine Public Broadcasting Network