Megan's Laws as a Case Study in Political Stasis

Abstract

Sex offender registration and community notification laws, today commonly known as Megan's Laws, are typically seen as consumate products of legislative panic. Unlike many other panic-driven laws, however, the political forces motivating Megan's Laws have not dissipated, and the laws have grown exponentially over time, despite research casting considerable doubt on their public safety efficacy. This symposium contribution examines how and why Megan's Laws have endured - even thrived - notwithstanding concerns over their utility, and reflects upon their likely continued political impregnability in the years to come.

Keywords: Megan's Law, sex offender, registration, community notification