by Gabriella Samms

Created on: November 08, 2009   Last Updated: November 27, 2009

Once convicted, sex offenders are required to register with law enforcement agencies so that the community they live in has up-to-date information regarding their residence, physical characteristics and conviction information. Where once this information was only available by visiting your nearest police station or in some cities, calling a toll free number, we now have instant access on the internet to what we believe are violent, sexual predators. Is that not why a registry was invented for us?

The enactment of "Megan's Law" was the reason the registry became available to us and its purpose is to provide communities with vital information about sex offenders that may be living in their neighborhood.

Had the law been enacted sooner, Megan Kanka may still be alive today.

On the day she disappeared, Megan's parents had no idea that a violent, sexual predator had recently moved across the street from their home. This young, New Jersey child was taken from her family, and raped and murdered by an individual that should have never been near children.

In the wake of their tragedy, the Kanka's diligently sought for legislation that would afford communities a system that could possibly prevent their tragedy happening to other children. Because of their determination, all states have some type of "Megan's Law". The problem here is that not all individuals listed on a sex offender registry are violent, sexual predators, although many are led to believe the opposite.

The words "Sex Offender" can mean something completely different then we think it is, and the layout of the online registry can be just as deceiving. Our minds are led to believe that whomever is listed, is a danger to everyone that can be taken advantage of. The key is to know what to look for and how to read it.

The registry is only as up to date as the convicted is honest. Many individuals don't register, or don't re-register when they change residences. There is not enough man power to have Police continuously monitor who has or hasn't registered. Many sex offenders remain in society, unregistered, that people aren't even aware of.

To add to the frustration, there are individuals on the registry that are not violent offenders. Fondling yourself in public is an example. Another one is a scenario played out countless times each day and night across the world. What about boyfriend and girlfriend relationships? If your seventeen year old son was having consensual sex with his sixteen year old girlfriend

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