Programs
A Message From the President and CEO
Al Lenhardt In 1994, seven-year-old Megan Kanka, was raped and murdered by a neighbor, who was a convicted sex . . .
Al Lenhardt
In 1994, seven-year-old Megan Kanka, was raped and murdered by a neighbor, who was a convicted sex offender. Megan's family had lived happily for 15 years in the Hamilton Township , NJ, area until the dreadful day that Megan was lured into a neighbor's home with the hope of seeing his puppy. Thirty yards from her own doorstep, Megan lost her life. Unbeknown to the Kankas, the neighbor was a convicted sex offender and had previously served six years in prison for aggravated assault and attempted sexual assault on another child.
Over 400,000 citizens signed a petition demanding immediate legislative action on a law that would give parents and community members the right to know about sex offenders living in their neighborhoods. Within three months, the New Jersey State Legislature passed “Megan's Law,” requiring the state to notify members of the public about the presence of dangerous sex offenders in their area. In 1996, Megan's Law was added as an amendment to the Wetterling Act, which required states to register sex offenders. Megan's Law required them to make this information available to the public.
Last year the U.S. Department of Justice took additional action in working with state and local partners to keep communities informed about sexual predators. The National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSO PR) website was launched in May 2005. This nationwide, Internet-based, searchable site keeps parents and community members informed and engaged. Using this technology every citizen will soon be able to search the latest information for the identity and location of known sex offenders in every state. Sharing information with concerned citizens and parents is integral to protecting communities from sexual predators who wish to harm children.
Even in the debate in some circles surrounding the NSO PR, I believe that it will help prevent the abuse of our most vulnerable citizens, our children. The NSO PR is key to helping keep our children safe by identifying high-risk offenders, including sexually violent predators. We must protect and defend our children from known predators, and the NSO PR is seen as an important tool in helping parents and communities do just that.
In 1994, seven-year-old Megan Kanka, was raped and murdered by a neighbor, who was a convicted sex offender. Megan's family had lived happily for 15 years in the Hamilton Township , NJ, area until the dreadful day that Megan was lured into a neighbor's home with the hope of seeing his puppy. Thirty yards from her own doorstep, Megan lost her life. Unbeknown to the Kankas, the neighbor was a convicted sex offender and had previously served six years in prison for aggravated assault and attempted sexual assault on another child.
Over 400,000 citizens signed a petition demanding immediate legislative action on a law that would give parents and community members the right to know about sex offenders living in their neighborhoods. Within three months, the New Jersey State Legislature passed “Megan's Law,” requiring the state to notify members of the public about the presence of dangerous sex offenders in their area. In 1996, Megan's Law was added as an amendment to the Wetterling Act, which required states to register sex offenders. Megan's Law required them to make this information available to the public.
Last year the U.S. Department of Justice took additional action in working with state and local partners to keep communities informed about sexual predators. The National Sex Offender Public Registry (NSO PR) website was launched in May 2005. This nationwide, Internet-based, searchable site keeps parents and community members informed and engaged. Using this technology every citizen will soon be able to search the latest information for the identity and location of known sex offenders in every state. Sharing information with concerned citizens and parents is integral to protecting communities from sexual predators who wish to harm children.
Even in the debate in some circles surrounding the NSO PR, I believe that it will help prevent the abuse of our most vulnerable citizens, our children. The NSO PR is key to helping keep our children safe by identifying high-risk offenders, including sexually violent predators. We must protect and defend our children from known predators, and the NSO PR is seen as an important tool in helping parents and communities do just that.
