WASHINGTON — In the eight years since 7-year-old Megan Kanka was raped and murdered by a paroled pedophile who lived across the street, all 50 states have adopted laws designed to let neighbors know when sex offenders live in their midst.
Megan’s Law has long been controversial. It has been attacked by civil liberties groups and ex-convicts, who say it stigmatizes offenders long after they’ve served their prison time. Law enforcement officials argue that sex offenders are more likely than other criminals to strike again, and that public safety must take precedence.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in cases that challenge different elements of the law.
The high court’s rulings will help states wrestling with how far they can go to protect children from sexual predators. A Connecticut case asks whether that state violates the Constitution by placing all sex offenders on an Internet registry without first providing a hearing to determine whether they still pose a danger. An Alaska case questions if those who completed their prison sentences before the state passed its version of Megan’s Law must be registered.
— Shannon McCaffrey, Knight Ridder Newspapers (KRT)