Thursday, July 27, 2006
Bush signs law for national sex offender registry
President George W. Bush on Thursday signed legislation that will establish a national sex offender registry and try to make it harder for sexual predators to reach children on the Internet.
The legislation, called the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, is named for Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old boy who was abducted 25 years ago on July 27, 1981, and eventually killed.
The boy's death prompted his father, John Walsh, to lead a long effort to seek greater protections against violence crime. He became host of "America's Most Wanted," a television show aimed at catching criminals.
"The bill I sign today will strengthen federal laws to protect our children from sexual and other violent crimes, will help prevent child pornography, and will make the Internet safer for our sons and daughters," Bush said in signing the new law in the White House Rose Garden.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that there are more than 560,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. About 100,000 are not registered or do not have up-to-date registrations.
The legislation will create a national sex offender registry, available to the public, to plug gaps in existing state systems and community notification requirements.
An offender who does not keep his registration up to date in any state in which he lives, works or attends school could face felony charges and up to 10 years in prison.
It will also create a registry for substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect to help law enforcement and child protective services.
Addressing concern about Internet predators and online pornography, the bill establishes education grants, and provides for 200 new federal prosecutors and 45 new computer forensic scientists to work on such crimes.
President George W. Bush on Thursday signed legislation that will establish a national sex offender registry and try to make it harder for sexual predators to reach children on the Internet.
The legislation, called the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, is named for Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old boy who was abducted 25 years ago on July 27, 1981, and eventually killed.
The boy's death prompted his father, John Walsh, to lead a long effort to seek greater protections against violence crime. He became host of "America's Most Wanted," a television show aimed at catching criminals.
"The bill I sign today will strengthen federal laws to protect our children from sexual and other violent crimes, will help prevent child pornography, and will make the Internet safer for our sons and daughters," Bush said in signing the new law in the White House Rose Garden.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimates that there are more than 560,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. About 100,000 are not registered or do not have up-to-date registrations.
The legislation will create a national sex offender registry, available to the public, to plug gaps in existing state systems and community notification requirements.
An offender who does not keep his registration up to date in any state in which he lives, works or attends school could face felony charges and up to 10 years in prison.
It will also create a registry for substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect to help law enforcement and child protective services.
Addressing concern about Internet predators and online pornography, the bill establishes education grants, and provides for 200 new federal prosecutors and 45 new computer forensic scientists to work on such crimes.
