Megan's Law states something to the effect that sex offenders must register after release.
http://caag.state.ca.us/megan/

Actually, they have always had to register. However, this law makes it possible for anyone to go to their authorities and actually view the list. You can check up on someone suspicious or see if there are any molestors in your area. This started in my state and caused controversy because one man was harrassed by his neighbors. They wanted him out of their neighborhood and picketed his home and watched him constantly.

I think it's a good thing. If they let these monsters out knowing they will continue to be a danger to society they need to give people a way to protect themselves.

They have this in my state too (OR) I think it's a great idea.

--cheers

Let the people who don't want the offender's names released or publicly listed invite them to live in their neighborhood.

I sure would want to know if I lived near one.

A law like this makes sense for sexual offenders, because the recidivism rate is near 100%. These are people with a serius illness, and jail time isn't going to "cure" them. That being said, I don't believe that this law should be extended to other crimes which don't carry the same recidivism rate. If I were in jail for drugs, for example, I don't think that, once I have done my time, the information should be made public.

As a parent and as an individual, I would want to know if an ex-convict who served 10 years for armed robbery moved into my neighborhood, BUT - should I have that right? If the answer is yes, then aren't we saying that the prison system is an abject failure? It makes me uncomfortable, because many people who have spent time in prison in fact will not continue in crime when they get out, and having that information made public would be in effect punishing that person again and again, no matter what their current propensity for crime may be.

It will be easier to keep track of them!

The law is only for sexual offenders, I've heard no talk of extending it to other crimes.