Episode Information
Under "Megan's Law" - convicted sex offenders must register with a state-run database. But some communities have taken this idea even further.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton: photo by Chion Wolf Cities like Danbury and Bristol have created so-called "Child Safety Zones" - which make public parks, beaches, swimming pools and recreational facilities off-limits to sex offenders. Other ordinances like this put limits on where sex offenders can live.
Meanwhile, the town of West Haven has tabled a planned Child Safety Zone law - amid legal concerns about the constitutional rights of sex offenders.
Today, Where We Live, we'll talk about whether laws like these keep children and communities safer - or wether they
Attorney Tara Knight: Photo by Chion Wolf further punish offenders who have already served their jail time.
Join the conversation! Add your suggestions, questions and comments below.
email to wherewelive@wnpr.org
While I was driving home, listening to the show I heard your guest say that the local high schools were sending out lists with names and address' of sex offenders. this sent a chill down my spine. there must be a way of handeling sex offender on a private level b/t authorities and the sex offenders themselves. Branding people was a "scarlet letter" just seems so fundementaly and constituional wrong to me.
Thank You
Megan Miller
Middletown, CT
email to wherewelive@wnpr.org
My step-mother is a corrections counselor in the State of CT and has dealt with a number of sex offenders including those who have committed violent sexual crimes against children. While she was shopping at Toys R Us recently she saw a former client, who was out on probation, strolling the aisles alone. She called his supervising officer and reported him as in violation. As a parent myself this story terrifies me and although I do have concern for the civil rights of those sex offenders that have not committed crimes against children I do fully support child safe zones for protection against those who have. Perhaps the solution is to more precisely classify these offenders so that those who are classified as a danger to children will be more specifically targeted.
Lana
Woodbury, CT
 This is rediculas!  What
 This is rediculas!  What crime was committed? Maybe this PERSON has children? Violating this person for merely shopping is outrages. We parents often shop at, TOYS R US, alone! Strolling the aisles alone, is one of my pastimes.Â
child safety zones
As a clinical social worker for over 20 years who has seen many many children in treatment for sexual victimization I would like to comment on the lack of safety for children and to support the comments of the caller from the Women's Center. I have never had a child come to see me in therapy who was sexually victimized by someone they did not know. This means parents, schools, churches, communities need to learn about the dynamics of the offender- victim relationship. It is crucial that an educational component regarding these relationships become more public and more advocacy work encouraged.