Sex Offender Registry
Many, if not all, states now
require that all persons convicted of sex crimes to register
themselves in a database. The databases are public so that we
can see if any sex offenders live in our neighborhoods. If you
don't see your state listed here, it means that I couldn't find
an online database. It does not mean that your state doesn't
require sex offenders to register. You should check with your
local police department if you have questions about a database
or to see if one exists for your area. Many are listed by city
and not by state.
These registries are not totally
accurate, however, because although sex offenders may be required
to register, many police departments don't check to make sure
that criminals are registering. Remember that these individuals
don't live within the confines of the law anyway, which is why
they are convicted criminals in the first place. I encourage
you to look for your state and find out who has been convicted
of a sex crime and where they live. We have every right to know
so that we can protect ourselves and our children.
