California To Post Sex Offenders' Data On Net

KingFish

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law on Friday that would post information on sex offenders on the Internet, giving Californians easier access to details on violators.

Under the legislation, the home address, name, photo and other details of sex offenders will be posted online. Previously such information was only available at places such as police stations in California. "By providing sex offender information on the Internet, California will finally join the majority of other states that make this information accessible to parents and others," said Schwarzenegger, a father of four.

This will certainly stir debate as it directly pits the rights to privacy of sex offenders against the public right to know... -KF

Source: c|net

Crimguy

You might hate me, but I represent sex offenders all too often. While they're obviously pretty sick individuals, and many pose a serious threat if untreated or monitored, my experience in Arizona has shown that the only tangible effect of these websites is the ability for the neighbors to find out there's a sex offender in the neighborhood, which in turn results in the neighbors vandalizing and driving the individual from the neighborhood. One client I had recently had about 100,000 dollars of damage to his house when he got out of jail.

I do not see how it prevents crime. A pervert can drive a car to another neighborhood, after all . . .

primesuspect

We have that information available on the internet in Michigan. One thing that bothers me about it is that "3rd degree CSM" offenders are right up there with 1st degree offenders.

(3rd degree CSM being something like an 18 year old dude having sex with his 17 year old girlfriend and the parents pressing charges, or other things like that)

It's a complicated problem though. Since I have two young boys, I certainly want to know if any of my neighbors are convicted pedophiles. I also want to know if a convicted rapist lives in my neighborhood. I wouldn't vandalize his house. I WOULD tell my kids to avoid that person. It's a tough situtation.

TheBaron

Texas does this already as well