Sex offender registry

A Sex offender registry (SOR) is a database of peoples who have been convicted of criminal sex offenses.

SOR in the United States

Various jurisdictions have different criteria for being placed on the registry. In the US, each state has its own registry database. Currently, there is no Federal registration database, but legislators are currently pushing for such a registry.

Limitations of Movement and Employment

SORs in the states typically require the registrant to notify their local or state law enforcement agencies whenever they change residency. In most cases, the registrant is not told of the full set of restrictions, rules, regulations or stipulations that might result in violation of the registry and charged with that violation.

Registries also have restrictions on how close registrants may live near places where children congregate. State lawmakers are constantly pushing for the expansion of limitations and movement restrictions, usually measured by feet from such an area.

Some lawmakers are pushing for what they call "Offender-Free Zoning"

Public Perception and Civil Rights Controversy

There is currently no other offense in the US that requires or even has such a database. Burglary, drug use, domestic violence, and manslaughter (to name a few), are offenses which are more commonly carried out repeatedly yet have no database to safeguard the public. The common justification for this is that these other offenses are "curable" whereas a sexual deviancy is not and thus it is needed for tracking.

Civil rights and liberal political organizations are constantly stalling what seems to be an inevitable trend of harsher and more stringent laws against offenders.

Minors on the Registry

Minors who commit sex offenses are increasingly being required to be placed on SORs. This current and controversial trend is making news nationwide, causing a few to rethink current policies regarding registration.

SOR in the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom currently keeps a SOR. Whilst the public has no automatic entitlement to access there are already some trials in progress that allow limited disclosure. The News of the World has been instrumental in campaigning for a so-called Sarah's Law that would allow such limited disclosure nationwide.