False security on sex crimes: Bill would require notice on Facebook, but would it do any good?

7-12-2012 New Jersey:

Can you imagine scrolling through Facebook updates and seeing a friend’s name, followed by, “is a sex offender”?

That’s essentially what state Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman envisions. The Republican from Somerset County is proposing a law that would require every sex criminal to share that status on social networking sites — just as they’re required under Megan’s Law to register with authorities, who must notify neighbors.

This bill, modeled on a recently enacted Louisiana law, is in some ways redundant. Facebook already forbids convicted sex offenders from using its site. And in New Jersey, anyone convicted of a sex offense in the past 18 years is already under parole supervision for life. As a rule of that parole, they’re forbidden from using any social networking sites. Some are barred from using a computer for anything at all if they used one to commit their offense. Bateman’s law would extend some restrictions to sex offenders convicted before 1994.

The problem is this: The law isn’t likely to save any children. Megan’s Law is popular because it gives parents a sense of control over their children’s safety. It is tough to argue that parents should not have the right to know when a sex offender is living next door, or chatting with their children in a Facebook group.

But there is no evidence these kind of restrictions actually work. Sex offenders who do repeat can get around these barriers with ease. They can break the rules, travel to a neighboring town without reporting it and victimize children there. They can use a phony name on Facebook. And remember that most sex offenders are never caught, so they face none of these restrictions.

As well-intentioned as it is, Megan’s Law was found not to make much difference, according to a 2008 study in New Jersey. It has failed to reduce either new first-time sex offenses or prevent repeat offenses. So why would extending it to the online world be any more effective?

This proposed law is part of the relentless search for security against sex criminals — and as another scarlet letter, it’s probably futile. The bill is more about gaining political mileage than improving public safety.

If these laws provide a false sense of security, they may even do damage. Talking to children, supervising their online activities and teaching them to be on guard is more likely to help. ..Source.. by Star-Ledger Opinion