New JPI report reveals harmful impact of federal juvenile sex offender law

November 25, 2008 |
Valor

Information from The Justice Policy Institute
The Justice Policy Institute (JPI) recently announced the publication of a new report, Registering Harm: How sex offense registries fail youth and communities. The report pointed out that during the next year, “states throughout the country will determine whether to comply with the Adam Walsh Act.” The Adam Walsh Act is a federal law that “requires mandatory public registration for youth over the age of fourteen who are convicted of certain sex offenses. Congress passed this law in an attempt to protect our children from sexual violence.”
JPI emphasized, in the report, that “the Adam Walsh Act won’t keep our children safe. Instead this law will needlessly target children and families, undermine the very purpose of the juvenile justice system, and consume law enforcement resources.” It is important to note that states do have the option to opt out of the law.