Reforms to Sex Offender Registry Essay

In the midst of an overburdened legislative and law enforcement system based on the sex offender registry, it is clear that it is failing at the objective it was created for. However, the political issue around the registry, fueled by public opinion, to eliminating it. A substantial portion of the population believes having access to the information helps to safeguard their families.

A proposed solution is to restructure the database as well as the process which is used to determine if a person should be required to register. It is based on the premise of risk assessment, which would be composed of various criteria and individual evaluation factors (Sethi, 2014).

The purpose of the new system would be to essentially filter registrants on their risk of reoffending, violent crime, or other factors which may endanger the safety or well-being of the public. It would guarantee the rights and provide an opportunity to rehabilitate any non-violent or underage individuals while protecting the community from high-risk offenders. It would consist of limiting community notification to only those who benefit from the information (i.e., sensitive employment).

Residency restrictions would be imposed only in cases of public danger. A more sensitive, flexible, and comprehensible approach is established to sentencing and review of registration in order to evaluate on a to determine any restrictions. Furthermore, supervision and periodical review of registrants would be established to maintain competency but also provide support for rehabilitation (Human Rights Watch, 2007).

Advantage I

A that the usage of the national sex offender registry remains at about 45 percent amongst the public. However, a majority have reported doing so on infrequent occasions and typically without a specific purpose or concern. The registry, in its current form, fails to serve as a public awareness mechanism. Instead, it leads to an increase in irrational behavior and specific targeting of offenders from the few people who proactively research the information (Harris & Cudmore, 2016). The issue around the registry is emotionally charged since news publicity horrifies many families about the safety of their children.

There is a belief that eliminating the system would remove a critical deterrent mechanism against violent offenders since that is what it was advertised to do. Similarly, lawmakers avoid the issue since it may compromise political capital (Editorial Board, 2017). The suggested reform would restructure the registry as a tool for public protection and awareness. Since only high-risk offenders would be registered, it would be more practical to engage community notification, creating a safety net without eliminating the system that provides information if requested.

Advantage II

A significant advantage of the proposed solution as its impact on law enforcement. are responsible for managing, monitoring, and acting upon the information in the sex offender registry. Numerous agencies have voiced concern about the effectiveness of the database as it does not serve as its primary role of supporting law enforcement in monitoring and . The sheer number of registrations wasted significant police resources on bureaucracy and the monitoring of non-dangerous criminals.