Paper Example on Sex Offender Registration Laws

Introduction

The registration of sex offenders is due to the kidnap, rape, and murder of Kanka in Hamilton township in New Jersey. After the incident, Meghan Kanka's parents said they would never have allowed her to play outside if they knew their neighbor was a previously convicted sex offender. He lured her into the house to play with his puppy, and 24 hours later she was found killed and dumped in a nearby park. There was an outcry countrywide which led to the passing of Megan's law, which requires the registration of former convicts of sexual offenses (SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT (SORNA), 2018).

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Adam Walsh Sex Offender Registration and Notification (SORNA) of 2006 established a registration system which requires that sex offenders register themselves and update their information. In the state of Texas, for example, former convicts for sexual offenses are required to register for ten years or their entire lifetime ( Texas Sex Offender Statute, 2018). The question of whether they should record or the period of registration is not up to the judge. Various statutes determine the registration period. One may face felony charges if they fail to register.

Ways to Reintegrate Sex Offenders and the Challenges They May Face

One way to reintegrate sex offenders back into the society is to conduct education programs and campaigns in the nation aimed at changing the mindset of the community members. The community members should be taught to accept these people back into the society. They should be made to understand that the former convicts made a mistake and they paid for their actions (Quinsey et al., 2005). An excellent way to start is to have programs where members of the public volunteer to go and visit people in jail that are few years or months away from being released. Such visits boost the morale of these convicts and make them look forward to the release because they feel accepted.

Biblical Perspective of Sex Offenders and the Legislations

Registration of sexual offenders is a controversial issue. According to Ephesians 1:7(The New King James Bible), God can redeem and transform people's lives. However, it is a high risk to expose children to danger based on the concept of redemption without establishing without absolute doubt that the former convict has reformed. A significant portion of the American population is Christian. Colossians 3:13(The New King James Bible) teaches Christians to forgive each other and refrain from judging their fellow human beings. Human nature is to sin, and the Bible's perspective is that sin will always be present in the world. The bible does not work like the justice system but provides for the existence of the justice system. As much as the justice system recognizes the teachings of the Bible, its core function is to give justice to the society. Therefore, since man is to error, the justice system will always be operational. Some sex offenders do reform for the better, but some of them still hold on to their old habits. The justice system just cannot that chance and has to monitor these individuals to prevent members of the society from getting hurt by sex offenders.

References

Quinsey, V. L., Harris, G. T., Rice, M. E., & Cormier, C. A. (2005). Violent Offenders: Appraising and Managing Risk (Law and Public Policy). American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.

SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION ACT (SORNA). (2018, March 6). Retrieved from The United States Department of Justice: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/sex-offender-registration-and-notification-act-sorna

Texas Sex Offender Statute. (2018). Retrieved from City of Hitchcock Police Department: http://www.hitchcockpd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=67&Itemid=64&limitstart=1