Megans Law essays

Megan's Law essays A Mediation of Two Different Views on Megans Law Next to murder, sex related crimes involving children are arguably some of the most heinous offenses. Convicted murderers face the death penalty or incarceration for life, thus protecting society from further harm. The question of how to deal with sex offenders once they have served their prison term is a highly debated topic. One solution, deemed Megans Law, is a piece of federal legislation that requires sex offenders to register with local authorities and notification is sent to the community where a sex offender plans to reside. The specifics are left to the state, but they generally inform the community of the offenders name, address, offense, place of employment or schooling, license plate number, and a photo or physical description of the person. Additionally, the community is discouraged against vigilantism and warned that crimes against the offender will be prosecuted. Representing both sides of the debate over the necessity of Megans Law are authors Bruce Fein and Jim Breig. They concur that sex-criminals released into society can pose a threat to the community but differ on the constitutional validity of the law and their solution to this problem. In his essay, Yes: Community Self-Defense Laws are Constitutionally Sound, Fein agrees there is a need for community self-defense laws and argues that they are constitutionally sound. Fein lists three main reasons for holding his views. First, he says, [Community] notice does not inflict punishment in the constitutional sense. The offender may be stigmatized within the community, but loss of reputation does not impair constitutionally protected liberty (38). A similar example of this can be found in the publication of the FBIs 10 Most Wanted list of criminal suspects. Although a stigma is attached to these individuals, nobody argues the con...