Sex Offender Laws in the US
This comprehensive document speaks to the glaring shortcomings of US sex offender laws including but not limited to:
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The registration laws are overbroad in scope and overlong in duration, requiring people to register who pose no safety risk;
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Under community notification laws, anyone anywhere can access online sex offender registries for purposes that may have nothing to do with public safety. Harassment of and violence against registrants have been the predictable result;
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In many cases, residency restrictions have the effect of banishing registrants from entire urban areas and forcing them to live far from their homes and families.
Human Rights Watch would like to thank all of the survivors of sexual violence, former offenders and their families, social workers, advocates, law enforcement officials, and attorneys who shared their experiences and perspective with us for this report.We are especially grateful to those who trusted us with very painful and personal stories.
You can view this extensive and still relevant document and continue reading here.