Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification: Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Based on a keynote address delivered in conjunction with the Journal's annual symposium, this paper examines several of the major legal and policy issues associated with sex offender registration and community notification laws. Particular attention is dedicated to the Adam Walsh Act, a federal law enacted in July 2006 that continues efforts by Congress to foster changes in state registration and notification regimes as a result of its Spending Clause authority. In addition to discussing the federalism implications of the AWA, the paper examines several of its most significant provisions, including those calling for empirical assessment of registration and community notification, twelve years after Congress first pressured states nationwide to adopt laws in accord with its will.

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

JEL Classification: K14, K42