Sex Offender Registration for Parolees
CA monitors sex offenders through a tracking program. Now with Chelsea's Law, parolees will also be subjected to increased restrictions and requirements.
October 12, 2010
Sex Offender Registration for ParoleesSexual violence is one of America's biggest social issues and, irrespective of age, gender, educational background, economic status or age, impacts every community across the nation. Even after the enactment of various federal and state protections such as the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act, Jessica's Law and Megan's Law, the 2010 rape and murder of 17-year-old Chelsea King by a convicted sex offender has Californians wanting heightened monitoring of sex offender parolees.
For decades, California has had sex offender registration. The first such laws were enacted in 1947 and have evolved over time. Claiming the largest number of registered sex offenders in the nation, California maintains a comprehensive database and monitors sex offenders through its Sex Offender Tracking Program, which includes a GPS-tracking component.
Robert Coombs, California's Sex Offender Management Board chair, even subjected himself voluntarily to a GPS-monitoring experiment. The experiment, part survey and part evaluation of crime monitoring capabilities, was intended to prove the usefulness of the GPS technology as a tool for monitoring sex offender activity and also discover the shortcomings of using these devices to track parolees.
What Impact Will Chelsea's Law Have on Parolees?
As a result of Chelsea's Law, sex offender parolees will be subjected to increased restrictions, as well as those requirements mandated by Megan's Law. Lifetime parole and GPS supervision with no possibility of discharge for crimes are among the new legal restraints. Experiments with new procedures have included tests of the 24-hour GPS tracking of new parolees. As recently as August, a new component of sex offender monitoring now includes Internet and e-mail alerts. Members of Facebook, Twitter and basic e-mail services can be notified of sex offender parolees who have violated GPS-tracking protocols and may be in the community. Through these services, the names and images of the parolees are disseminated to the public.
The primary goal of sex offender policies and programs is to protect the most vulnerable members of our communities, primarily children, and to reduce risks for future sex-related abuse and crimes. Registration programs are also intended to monitor the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders and as a tool to dissuade parolees from committing new criminal acts. Many Californians hope the new program restrictions are helpful in achieving these goals and may serve as an example for heighten public awareness and safety.
Article provided by Law Offices of Kerry L. Armstrong, APLC
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