Megan's Law: Protection or Privacy (Issues in Focus)

Fodor, Margie Druss

ISBN 10: 0766015866 ISBN 13: 9780766015869

Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc, 2001

Synopsis

Explores the debate over a collection of laws that require neighbors to be told if high-risk convicted offenders move into a community, and why some believe this infringes on a person's right to privacy.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grades 7-10--Fodor lays the foundation of her discussion of laws regarding police registration and community notification of sex offenders with her coverage of the story of seven-year-old Megan Kanka's abuse and murder. She uses the heartrending stories of children who were victims of unspeakable crimes to discuss the history of laws to protect children and to describe characteristics of a child molester. The author examines the case for and against Megan's Law and its federal version as protection for children versus privacy violation. Concluding the volume is a commonsense chapter entitled "Teaching Children to Watch Out for Themselves." Fodor uses relatively straightforward language throughout and explains such terms as bill, sentence, and victim in the glossary. However, employing the same few cases of molestation and murder to illustrate varied points may make the text repetitious for some readers. Average-quality, black-and-white photos are scattered throughout. Extensive chapter notes complete this work.
Joanne K. Cecere, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Central Valley, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 6-8. Much of this Issues in Focus title focuses on the case of seven-year-old Megan Kanka, who was raped and murdered by a previously convicted sex offender living in her neighborhood. Out of this case and others like it came federal and state legislation requiring that members of a community be notified when there is a convicted sex offender living in their midst. The rights of parents to keep their children safe, however, must be weighed against the privacy right of persons who have already served time. The book examines the arguments on both sides, covering many of the nationally known cases that involved young victims of sex crimes. Although somewhat disorganized, this is an up-to-date, informative examination of a controversial area of the law. Back matter includes safety tips for children and parents, extensive notes, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and Web resources. Todd Morning
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Enslow Pub Inc
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0766015866
• ISBN 13: 9780766015869
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 128