They wave hello as you garden, they watch over your house when your family is away, and they watch your kids when you’re in need of a helping hand. Most people would consider their neighbors as friends, or at least people they know pretty well. However, what if you don’t know your neighbors as well as you may think? Since your neighbors are those that live closest to you, it is important that you spend some time making sure you can trust them – especially with your kids. When it comes to the risk of encountering a California sex offender, you can never be too careful.
Did you know that there are over 700,000 Registered Sex Offenders in the United States?* Yet, identifying a pedophile is becoming increasingly difficult, as they are generally friendly, “average Joe’s” who appear normal to the outside world. The Center for Sexual Offender Management reviewed commonly held misconceptions about Sex Offenders. Here are a few facts that might alter the way you think.
- Most sexual assaults are not committed by strangers. Surprisingly, Sex Offenders are usually someone known to the victim or victim’s family.
- “Persons who commit sex offenses are not a homogenous group, but instead, fall into several different categories.” Sex Offenders are both men and women. They come in all different shapes and sizes.
- Sex Offenders usually put your family through a “grooming” process where they work hard to get close to the family and earn the child and family’s trust. A sex offender may be someone you least expect.
Although this is an uncomfortable subject for us all, as parents it is important to stay alert and ask these questions. Are there sex offenders in my area? Fortunately, there are websites such as the Registered Offenders List that can point you in the direction of helpful tools that can keep you and your family safe from sexual predators.
It is always better to be safe than sorry. And who knows, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two.
Recently a mother did a search for registered sex offenders on the internet and said,
“Had a sex offender 2 doors down – never knew it till this. My BFF searched – her husband of 5 yrs was listed and she never knew.”
Is your child on a sports team? Search the sex offender registries for their coaches and the parents of their friends. These are people you leave your children alone with. Make sure you know who they really are. Some information may shock you.
Megan’s Law
Megan Kanka was a beautiful young girl that lived in a peaceful neighborhood in New Jersey. One day she went out to play in her yard and was never seen alive again. It turns out that a twice-convicted child molester had been released from prison and moved into the house across the street from her. Nobody was aware that he was a sexual predator, that had been in prison for sexually abusing children. It was because of the horrific rape and murder of Megan Kanka that Megan’s Law was formed. This law is the very reason why you, and every other concerned citizen in the country, have the right to see who the sex offenders are and where they live. You have the right to know the truth; make sure you use it.
***Registered Offenders List is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and resources to its visitors regarding registered sex offenders that live near you.