Abstract
The past several decades have witnessed an increase in sexual violence against children. This epidemic has created a national fear, which Congress has tried to calm by quickly passing sex-offender registration and notification laws. Most recently, Congress passed the most encompassing sex-offender registration law to date by enacting the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Adam Walsh Act or Adam's Law). This Note argues that by hastily appeasing the public's desire of retribution and understanding, Congress passed legislation that harms those~ it ai~ to protect~hildren. The Adam Walsh Act subjects juveniles to the same sanctipns and restrictions as adults for similar crimes. However, juveniles who commit such crimes do so with very different motivations than do adult sex-offenders. Therefore, this legislation, which aims to protect American youth, harms them as well.
Recommended Citation
Enniss, Brittany
(2008)
"Quickly Assuaging Public Fear: How the Well-Intended Adam Walsh Act Led to Unintended Consequences,"
Utah Law Review: Vol. 2008:
No.
2, Article 9.
Available at:
https://dc.law.utah.edu/ulr/vol2008/iss2/9