Is Megan's Law Constitutional?
Is Megan’s Law Constitutional? State Legislators across the United States have enacted “Megan’s Law”; this requires all convicted sex offenders to register at their local police department and notify their community about what they have done and where they are currently residing. But is it constitutional? Many can that it leaks too much information about the offender’s life. Having this information for the public is very useful and should be used to know the whereabouts of sex offenders. There is a deep and emotional background to the concept of Megan’s law. Richard and Maureen Kanka gave birth to a beautiful daughter with blonde hair, on December 7, 1986. From her pictures, she seem like an amazing little girl who would brighten up anyone’s day. Megan’s parents had no knowledge that Jesse Timmendequas, the man living across the street from them was a convicted sex offender. On July 29, 1994, Jesse Timmendequas lured Megan into his home, only thirty yards from her front doorstep. It was there that this seven year old girl, was raped and murdered. Jesse Timmendequas was already convicted twice before the rape and murder of Megan Kanka. He was sentenced to ten years in the Adult Diagnostic and Treatment Center, a prison for sex offenders. After spending six years there, he was released early for good behavior. Timmendequas lived in a home that was owned by his mother with two other convicted sex offenders. Timmendequas invited Megan into his home he told her he had a puppy if she wanted to see him, when they got in his room, he tried to molest her, but Megan was screaming too loud, so he pushed her down to the floor and repeatly hit her in the head. After a few minutes he twisted a belt around her neck until she was unconscious. All throughout the United States, the Federal Government has passed “Megan’s Law” in an attempt to provide American citizens information about sex offenders living near them. These laws are known as Megan’s Laws because of Megan
Cited: ACLU (July 10, 1996); "Les Miserables and the Scarlet Letter All in One" Retrieved On-line, April 4, 2012 CNN. "Repeat Sex Offender Guilty in 'Megan 's Law ' Case." CNN.com. 30 May 1997. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.