Sponsor A Child

Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for life. This holiday season, a donation as small as $27 to Safe Horizon will put a victim of violence and abuse on the road to self-sufficiency. Safe Horizon’s first gift catalog ever offers supporters concrete examples of how their contributions will help people affected by crime and abuse.

The catalog organizes opportunities for giving into six categories that encompass Safe Horizon’s comprehensive range of services for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, human trafficking, stalking, sexual assault and other violence crimes. Categories include:

Sponsor a Child of Hope
For $24 dollars a month, the same price as two movie tickets, you can sponsor a child victim of violence and abuse. Your gift will provide them with meals, clothing, counseling and more. $288 sponsors a Child of Hope for an entire year.

Sponsor a Child of Hope

Self-Sufficiency
Put someone on the road to self-sufficiency. Victims will be able Equip them with the tools they need to keep their appointments and the resources to buy what they need… to live a normal life.

Pave the way for a victim

Direct Care
Each year Safe Horizon furnishes newborn kits, formula, medical treatment, clothing, snacks, beds, and blankets to children and families surviving violence and abuse.

Give them a touch of home

Provide Protection
Your gift can start victims on the road to recovery by providing protection through new phone numbers, giving them a legal advocate, and giving them access to Safe Horizon’s 24-hour hotline.

Give the gift of protection’

Counseling & Support
Healing takes time! Safe Horizon invests the time to comfort, encourage, counsel, and support our clients. When you give, you help to empower, support, and provide medical attention to those who have suffered deep wounds in life. You provide options for those who felt they had no options at all.

Provide a listening ear

Children & Youth Services
Each year, Safe Horizon reaches more than 18,000 homeless youth. These older children live on the streets, away from home and school, and in need of education if they are to have a chance at a normal, self-sufficient life.

Provide the gift of a safe place to a child or help a young adult a fresh start

A Brief Glance At Safe Horizon

Safe Horizon is the nation’s leading victim assistance organization. Their core mission is to provide support, prevent violence, and promote justice for victims of crime and abuse, their families and communities. They operate 65 sites that are located throughout the five boroughs of New York City – in court houses, police precincts, schools, shelters, and community offices. These programs address 6 key issues:

Domestic Violence
Safe Horizon is the largest provider of domestic violence services in the country. Collaborating with the criminal justice system, Safe Horizon offers innovative programs that provide women with support throughout the complex process of leaving violent relationships and building safe futures. For survivors of domestic violence, stalking, rape, and sexual assault, Safe Horizon offers services that help them and their children move toward safe and independent violence-free lives.

Abuse
Crime and abuse can have a devastating impact. Not just on the direct victim but also on his or her family. Safe Horizon offers a variety of services to help individuals and their families work through immediate trauma and the long run as well. Additionally, Safe Horizon recognizes that many survivors feel further victimized by a court system that is unfamiliar to them. Safe Horizon advocates guide them through the complicated process and help them to understand their rights.

Immigrants & Refugees
Since 1988, the Immigration Law Project (ILP) has provided free and low-cost services to victims of crime, torture, and abuse in immigration proceedings. ILP has represented hundreds of battered women in Violence Against Women Act self-petitions and adjustment proceedings as well as gender-based asylum claims.

In December 2001, Safe Horizon established the Anti-Trafficking Program (ATP), currently the largest such direct service provider on the East Coast. Since its founding, they have worked with hundreds of cases both within and outside the New York metropolitan area.

Helping Youth
Safe Horizon reaches young people where they are – in the schools, on the streets, and in their communities. Their youth programs provide immediate, practical assistance to youth in need, while providing a stable, non-subjective setting to address and explore issues of violence.

Legal Services
Safe Horizon established the Domestic Violence Law Project (DVLP) in 1991. Since its inception, DVLP has provided high-quality legal representation to thousands of low-income and indigent battered women in orders of protection, custody, support, and divorce proceedings.

The legal programs operate a legal hotline that provides information, advice, and assistance to battered women. Over 1,200 women call the hotline each year.

Advocacy and Policy
Safe Horizon’s Government Affairs office advances public policy initiatives on behalf of victims of violence and abuse. Through legislation, budget initiatives and regulatory advocacy, the Government Affairs office strives to create new avenues to safety for our clients.

Safe Horizon is an IRS recognized non-profit charity organization. Charitable contributions may be tax-deductible. Help support Safe Horizon by clicking here to donate.

Written by
William Lee, Editor

Domestic Violence Organizations

Although it is typically envisioned as occurring between partners, domestic violence is any emotional, physical or sexual abuse by a household member. Rather than being isolated events, domestic violence tends to recur and increase in severity over time.

Victims often wrestle with feelings of fear, loyalty, guilt and shame. Further aggravating the situation is that victims are often financially dependent, and many will live out their lives in fear, unaware that help is available.

Today, more and more communities are responding to the needs of these victims, and more and more victims are reaching out to them for help. Laws.com is taking an active step towards stopping this terrible cycle of violence by compiling a list of resources for victims of domestic violence, as well as the people in position to spot signs of domestic violence, to report instances of DV. They are listed in alphabetical order by state.

Click here to view list

National Network to End Domestic Violence

The National Network to End Domestic Violence, a social change organization, is dedicated to creating a social, political and economic environment in which domestic violence against women no longer exists and perpetrators are held accountable. NNEDV’s primary membership is an alliance of the 56 state and territorial coalitions against state domestic violence coalitions, allied organizations and supportive individuals. By working closely with its members and national partners, NNEDV has gained an in-depth understanding of the ongoing and emerging needs of domestic violence victims and the advocacy programs that serve them. NNEDV makes sure that these survivors’ needs are heard and understood by policymakers at the national level.

NNEDV Projects
Economic Justice Program
One of the greatest barriers to escaping violent relationships is economics, especially in an economic downturn. The groundbreaking partnership between The Allstate Foundation and NNEDV works to address the pervasive and destructive barriers that domestic violence poses to the safety and security of women and their families by helping victims of domestic violence become financially independent from their abusers. The program focuses on providing the knowledge and skills that will help victims of domestic violence achieve economic self-sufficiency. As part of this groundbreaking partnership, the Allstate Foundation and NNEDV provide direct support to survivors through the Education and Job Training Assistance Fund. Through the Fund, survivors receive small grants to help them achieve their educational and job-related goals. To contribute to this life-saving fund visit, http://nnedv.org/getinvolved/donate.html.

Amy’s Courage Fund
In 2007, NNEDV renamed its Direct Assistance Fund to Amy’s Courage Fund in honor of Amy Lynne and other victims who have tragically lost their lives due to domestic violence. Through this direct assistance fund, NNEDV offers emergency financial grants of up to $2,000 to domestic violence survivors and their children in the immediate aftermath of escaping who are fleeing abusive homes. To contribute to this life-saving fund, visit http://nnedv.org/getinvolved/donate.html.

Safety Net Project
NNEDV’s National Safe & Strategic Technology Project (Safety Net) educates victims of domestic and sexual violence, their advocates, allies, and the general public on strategic ways to use technology to help escape abusive relationships. Safety Net also trains police officers and prosecutors on how to identify and hold perpetrators accountable for misusing technology to further abusive behavior.

Training and Technical Assistance
NNEDV staff work with state domestic violence coalitions to assess programs’ needs and help them develop appropriate training and technical assistance plans. NNEDV also provides affordable expert speakers and trainers for conferences, workshops and training institutes.State and territorial coalitions against sexual and domestic violence provide critical leadership in coordinating states’ efforts to end violence and strengthen services for survivors. NNEDV’s program works to increase the effectiveness of these organizations and local service providers.

Transitional Housing
NNEDV provides technical assistance and training to the state and territorial coalitions against domestic violence, local domestic violence programs, other nonprofit organizations, and local and state agencies in creating the best practices for transitional housing and related services for women survivors fleeing domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking.

Census
The National Census of Domestic Violence Services (Census) is an annual noninvasive, unduplicated count of adults and children who seek services from U.S. domestic violence shelter programs during a single 24-hour survey period. Conducted by NNEDV, this Census takes into account the dangerous nature of domestic violence by using a survey designed to protect the confidentiality and safety of victims. In 2008, 60,799 victims sought services from 1,553 service providers in one day alone. Programs answered 21,683 crisis hotline calls. During the same 24 hours, 8,927 requests for help went unmet mostly due to the lack of funding.

NNDEV Partners and other Organizations
The NNDEV has a long list of member state coalitions fighting against domestic violence.

Fight Rape

Rape remains an issue shrouded in a cloak of mystery – the most common victims are intimate partners and many do not have the fortitude to testify against a ‘loved’ one. Research since the women’s movement in the 1970’s confirms the magnitude of the rape problem. In 2005, the National Crime Victimization Survey estimates 192,000 rapes and sexual assaults occurred against people age 12 or older. The following are some must-know facts about

Intimate Violence
NCVS figures show that intimates accounted for more than a quarter of all rapes and sexual assaults in 2005. Non strangers account for 73 percent of all rapes and sexual assaults in 2005. Battering is even more common than rape. According to the NCVS, about 48,000 aggravated assaults and over 276,000 simple assaults were committed by intimates against women in 2005.

Age
Age plays a large factor in intimate-partner violence. Younger women are far more likely than older women to experience IPV. According to data collected between 1993-2004, Women in the 20-24 age group are most likely to experience IPV.

Social Class
The idea that rape and battery transcends social class is a common idea, however, NCVS statistics have found that the poorest women have rates of rape and battery 6.6 times higher than those for women in the highest income bracket.

Despite federal efforts, as well as NGO efforts, to compile useful statistics, data on rape is decidedly unreliable. Take for instance, Catholic Church sexual-abuse scandal that reached public attention in early 2002. The lack of visible signs of injury contributed to an estimated 11,000 cases of molestation since 1950.

Laws.com is devoted to helping prevent crime as well as stopping crime in its tracks. The following is a list of organizations that advocate for rape victims, they are listed in no particular order. If you would like to see your organization on this list, please contact us at Editor@Laws.com.

Men Can Stop Rape

Men Can Stop Rape is an international organization that mobilizes male youth to prevent men’s violence against women. They help individuals build the capacity to challenge the harmful aspects of traditional masculinity, to value alternative visions of male strength, and to embrace their vital role as allies with women and girls in fostering healthy relationships and gender equity.

DC Strength Training
This is Men Can Stop Rape’s most comprehensive strength training. Held twice a year (January and July) in Washington, D.C. Their next session will convene on January 7-9, 2010.

Campus Strength Program
The nation’s most comprehensive strategy to engage college and university men in rpeventing violence against women. This is an especially crucial part of their mission, as women between the ages of 20-24 are the most likely to experience unwanted sexual advances.

Strength Trainings & Workshops
Having trained more than 9,000 professionals and provided technical assistance to more than 200 agencies and organizations.

Arming Women Against Rape and Endangerment (AWARE)

Founded in 1990, AWARE’s mission is to educate the public, organizations, and individuals about issues related to personal safety. They are a source of training, information, and support for people – primarily women – learning how to cope with violence. AWARE training focuses on self-protection and self-defense skills that can enable women to avoid, resist, and survive situations ranging from low levels of aggression to extremely violent assault.

2010 Course Schedule
Assault Prevention
Basic Pistol
Basic Shotgun
Defensive Aerosol
Defensive Handgun
Defensive Shotgun
Handgun Retention
Persuader Use
Responsible Use of Lethal Force
Private Lessons Available

RAINN: Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network is the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE and the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline at rainn.org, and publicizes the hotline’s free, confidential services; educates the public about sexual assault; and leads national efforts to prevent sexual assault, improve services to victims and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Here are some of their programs:

National Sex Assault Hotline
Among its programs, RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. This nationwide partnership of more than 1,100 local rape treatment hotlines provides victims of sexual assault with free, confidential services around the clock. The hotline helped 137,039 sexual assault victims in 2005 and has helped more than one million since it began in 1994.

National Sexual Assault Online Hotline
In 2007, RAINN expanded its hotline services with the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline, the nation’s first secure web-based hotline that provides live and completely confidential help to victims through an interface as intuitive as instant messaging. In November 2007, RAINN won the 2007 NPower Greater DC Region Technology Innovation Award for its innovative use of technology in the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Helping Policymakers and the Media
RAINN is a frequent resource for television, radio and print news outlets — as well as local, state and national policymakers, law enforcement and rape treatment professionals — on the issues related to rape and sexual assault.

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center serves as the nation’s principle information and resource center regarding all aspects of sexual violence. It provides national leadership, consultation and technical assistance by generating and facilitating the development and flow of information on sexual violence intervention and prevention strategies. The NSVRC works to address the causes and impact of sexual violence through collaboration, prevention efforts and the distribution of resources. Here are some of their programs:

National Sexual Assault Conference
A two and a half day advocacy conference providing advanced training opportunities and information regarding sexual violence intervention and prevention.

Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention
This project highlights resources, research and tools that support the development of bystander intervention approaches to prevention.

Preventing Sexual Violence in Disasters
The NSVRC works to increase access to information on the prevention and response to sexual violence occurring during and after disasters.

Rape Prevention & Education
By providing resources and technical assistance to sexual violence coalitions, health departments, and other organizations working to develop comprehensive prevention strategies.

Sexual Assault Response Teams
This project includes resources to support the development and enhancement of SART’s.

Health-care Initiative
In collaboration with the CDC, this project supports health care professionals as active partners in sexual violence prevention.

Walk A Mile In Her Shoes

Frank Baird first proposed Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault and Gender Violence in 2001. The Men’s March started out small and has grown each year since, with larger crowds attending each March and Marches held in multiple locations benefiting multiple rape crisis centers. Check their calender, by clicking here, for a full list of events.

Scheduled Walks
February 13, 2010 – Nairobi, Kenya, Africa
March 6, 2010 – Suwanee, GA
March 8, 2010 – Miss State, MS
March 10, 2010 – Missoula, Montana
March 26, 2010 – Fayetteville, NC
April 1, 2010 – Arlington, TX & Grass Valley, CA
April 7, 2010 – Muncie, IN
April 10, 2010 – Coral Gables, FL; Laredo, TX; Redding, CA; Weldon, NC
April 11, 2010 – Bethlehem, PA
April 13, 2010 – Concord, NH
April 16, 2010 – Kankakee, IL
April 17, 2010 – Lubbock, TX; Plymouth, NH; Springfield, IL; Troy, NY; Watseka, IL; Westminster. MD; Williamsburg, VA
April 18, 2010 – Bloomington, MN; Milford, CT
April 22, 2010 – Pittsburgh, PA
April 24, 2010 – Findlay, OH; Howell, MI
May 1, 2010 – Joliet, IL; Madison, WI; Rockland, Ontario, Canada

Violence Against Women

This piece of legislation was made into United States law in 1994, marking the year as one of the most productive in terms of women’s rights in decades. The Violence Against Women Act’s main focus was for the federal government to provide money to local authorities, so that they were better able to investigate and prosecute cases of domestic violence or any other violence against women. The act was signed by President Bill Clinton on September 13th of 1994, allowing the government to provide 1.6 billion dollars every year.

Along with the increased investigation and prosecution of violence against women, VAWA also provided funds for people accused of violent crimes to keep them behind bars for longer periods of time before the actual trial, the convicted felon is required to provide reparations for their crimes, and in cases that prosecutors choose not to prosecute, the victims may pursue civil actions. This bill, that was originally drafted by current Vice President Joe Biden’s office, has proved very important in cases of domestic violence and has been reauthorized in the year 2000 and 2005, with then President George W. Bush signing the bill into law.

Originally, after studies were done by the World Health Organization and there was a large push from several women’s groups, law enforcement agencies, and prosecutors, the Violence Against Women Act was meant to protect women from domestic violence. Since then, the act has changed to add quite a few more groups of people within the law and provide funding for them as well. From 1994 forward, VAWA has gone on to protect women that are experiencing violence while dating, sexual assault, cases of stalking, and also funds training for these subjects so that they can be dealt with in an efficient manner.

Even though this act has been helping women, children, and teens all over the United States, there are still people that are against it. Many believe that there are aspects to the law that are unconstitutional, such as increasing the time that an accused person spends in jail before the trial. There are also complaints about things like the mandatory HIV tests for anybody that is accused of violence against a woman, claiming that these types of tests violate an American citizen’s right to privacy.

The Violence Against Women Act will have to be reauthorized once again in 2011, and it is important that this actually gets done. The people out there that are fighting against VAWA will be hurting millions of our nation’s women if they succeed in their purpose. Keeping the spotlight on such an important law and letting the public know just how much it is helping should keep this legislation in the law books for a very long time to come.

Safe Home

To keep domestic violation acts a part of United States law and to further the protection of our country’s citizens, it is very important that there are advocates out there for these causes making sure that everyone understands the necessity of this type of legislation. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is an organization that is working hard to get the public organized and find leaders to head the fight against violence in their communities. The NCADV believes that building coalitions on the local, state, regional, and national levels is a great way to initiate changes in the way society views domestic violence, how they are educated about it, and how to make changes from a legal standpoint.

The goals of the NCADV are very ambitious. They are diligently working toward a complete elimination of domestic violence in all areas and among all races, religions, and economic standings. They want to empower women and children by showing their support for laws like the Violence Against Women Act, which provides funding for investigation and prosecution of domestic violence cases. As with any great cause, the best way (and usually the first step) to reach your goal is through raising awareness and educating the public. NCADV does this by providing facts and statistics about domestic violence, they educate the public on how to recognize the signs so that they can do something about it, and they help people to understand the impact that violence can have on an entire family.

If you visit their website, NCADV.org, you can find a bounty of useful information. For people that are planning on leaving their unhealthy relationship or violent household, there are guides on how to create a “safety plan” for yourself. When taking this kind of step, it is important that it go as smoothly as possible and that the victim’s safety is assured. That is why knowing how to make a safety plan for yourself is such a necessary action. There are also updates and alerts regarding public policy available to visitors on the website, there is information about domestic violence laws, and what you can do to influence legislation as well as congress.

A program that is run by the NCADV that really tugs at the heartstrings is the Cosmetic and Reconstructive Support Program. The services of this program are provided for survivors of domestic violence that are unable too afford cosmetic or reconstructive surgery on their own. Often times the violence that these people faced leaves them with scars or similar problems. For the “Face to Face” program, professional cosmetic surgeons volunteer their time and expertise to help the victims of these crimes. There is also a program by the name of “Give Back a Smile” that provides cosmetic dentristry to survivors.

For this group to continue to provide fantastic services to the public, they need people to donate to their organization and to the cause. On their website there are several ways that somebody can help out if they choose to, including the donation of a car or phone, starting a shelter for battered women and children, volunteering your time to help those in need, and many more. Visit the NCADV webpage and see what they have to offer for yourself.

MADRE

“I want to thank MADRE for your support. Preventive medicine, nutrition, and maternal health care… These are things we never had before.” – Health worker in Jucuaran, El Salvador.

MADRE is setting the model for smart feminist activism by working in partnership with women in local, regional, and international organizations to advance social justice by meeting urgent needs and creating long-term solutions. Their ultimate goal is to achieve an egalitarian world in which women participate effectively in all aspects of society.

MADRE’s work in needy countries such as Aghanistan, Nicaragua, Iraq, Colombia, Kenya, and Sudan focuses on three areas: peace building, economic and environmental justice, combating violence against women, and improving women’s health. By partnering with organizations at various levels across the world, MADRE has succeeded in achieving a broader range of goals than most organizations would be able to handle.

In Afghanistan, one in three women experience physical, psychological or sexual violence; every 30 minutes, a woman dies in childbirth; 87% of women are illiterate; 70% of girls have no access to education; and 44 years is the average life expectancy rate for women. In response, MADRE created the Afghan Women’s Survival Fund to enable women who are threatened with violence to escape to safety.

In Iraq, Islamist political forces are hell bent on dismantling women’s legal rights. The result has been a double-edged blade in which women face oppression from both internal and external forces. Extremist militias have waged a systematic campaign of violence against women in which they beat or kill women for dress or behavior that goes against Islamic tradition. Even in their homes, women have faced a sharp rise in gender-based violence within families, this includes domestic battery and “honor killings.” MADRE fights the good fight by working with the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq to meet the needs of women fleeing from violence and it’s program Underground Railroad for Iraqi Women offers women who are threatened by death, such as an honor killing, the means and support to escape danger and begin to build a new life.

The above examples are especially graphic examples of MADRE’s work, but they don’t just save women from imminent danger: in Kenya and Nicaragua MADRE provides clean water and in Sudan and Nicaragua the organization holds programs to teach farmers to promote economic independence.

Get involved in the fight, learn more about MADRE and how you can help by visiting their website. If you choose to donate, know that every individual donation helps, as 76% of donations are from individuals, and that $0.91 of every $1.00 donated goes to actual program services. In addition, you can pick and choose what program area that you would like to donate to.

Side of Truth

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a national nonprofit animal protection organization based in Washington, D.C. Started in 1995 as a high school club, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds since its early days—today it has 6 full-time staff members and dozens of volunteers from coast to coast who are committed to exposing the hidden horrors of factory farming and empowering others to choose compassion by leaving animals off their plates.

COK relies on an arsenal of strategies to bring about positive changes for farmed animals—conducting undercover investigations inside factory farms and slaughterhouses, taking animal agribusiness to court for cruel practices and misleading marketing, airing 30-second pro-veg commercials on MTV, successfully working with corporations to reduce or eliminate their use of eggs and offer more vegan options, and teaming up with volunteers nationwide to host local events such as leafleting and feed-ins.

One of COK’s current campaigns prominently featured on its website involves urging Dunkin’ Donuts to offer vegan doughnuts and other menu items in all of its more than 6,400 stores nationwide. Launched in July 2009, the campaign includes a website, DunkinCruetly.com, which asks consumers to contact the company about this important issue. Dunkin Donuts had not yet shown that it’s taking this issue seriously, so in Sept. 2009, COK released the results of an undercover video filmed by a COK investigator who worked inside Michael Foods, which supplies eggs to Dunkin Donuts and is one of the nation’s largest egg producers. This video reveals hens trapped in the wires of their cages, a bird being decapitated by an employee, rotting corpses left in cages with live hens, and other horrific conditions for hens. Thousands of people have contacted Dunkin Donuts after seeing this video, yet the company is still refusing to act responsibly.

Those wishing to learn more about COK’s mission to build a better world for all animals can visit www.COK.net for campaign updates, various resources, event listings, and more. Additionally, their website TryVeg.com offers all the tools needed to start transitioning to healthier and more humane diet, including a free Vegetarian Starter Guide and dozens of quick and easy recipes.

Are you interested in joining Compassion Over Killing efforts to stop animal abuse? Call 301-891-2458 or email info@cok.net

www.ndvh.org

Stop Sex Offenders

On Tuesday, November 10th of this year, a young girl by the name of Shaniya Davis was taken right from her home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She was then taken thirty miles to a hotel where she was raped by a 29 year old man, and then deprived of oxygen until she lay dead in that same room. Later that day the rapist and murderer, Mario McNeill, just dumped the now deceased girl on the side of a rural road as if she were a piece of old trash. Shaniya Davis was just five years old when these atrocities occurred, and she will not be around to celebrate her sixth birthday.

The real problem here is that cases like this happen so often that it can often make you want to lose faith in humanity. It can make us all forget that the people in this world are inherently good, there are just some people out there that go out of their way to ruin the lives of honest, innocent people. Some of these rapists and murderers are targeting our nation’s youth and abusing them for as long as they can get away with it. When they finally do come face to face with the law, they serve their time and then they are right back out there, committing the same crimes and making neighborhoods unsafe for children to step outside. Is this really the way we want to continue on? More importantly, do the kids of the United States not deserve more?

In cases of repeat sex offenders, we as a people need to recognize that the current system is not working properly and then take responsibility for changing this broken system. When somebody commits a crime of a sexual nature for the first time, going to prison for any number of years is not going to magically make them productive members of society. According to reports, the chances of a sex offender coming out from behind bars and going back to their previous ways is anywhere from 52-80%, and those are no small numbers. As much as we would like to believe so, prison simply is not rehabilitating sex offenders in a significant way.

There are talks now all around the country about whether repeat sex offenders should be given the death penalty for their crimes. What we should be concentrating on is keeping these people from having a chance to repeat their offenses in the first place. Why should we wait until these people go out and harm even more children and ruin more lives when we can try to stop them before they even have a chance. Technology has advanced quite a bit in the last decade, and we may be able to keep tabs on past sex offenders in ways that were not possible in previous years. We should be aware of who these dangerous individuals are and we should know what they are doing, but we should also keep their safety in mind as well. For example, if it were mandatory for criminals to have their sex offender status stated on their license plates, they would be harassed and assaulted on a regular basis, and that is not the goal.

What could work, however, is some type of tracking device or GPS that would keep police alerted of their location. If a past sex offender comes within a few hundred feet of a school, playground, or anywhere else that children frequent where these criminals do not belong, authorities would be aware of the situation and able to respond to it immediately. The way that this can be done is by developing a way to place tracking devices or GPS units onto license plates or other necessary parts of a vehicle, or creating a special driver’s license that incorporates GPS technology. There are currently ankle bracelets that are worn by those that are under house arrest, perhaps an unobtrusive variant of that technology can be used. Keeping our children safe is a top priority, and we can have the assurance that convicted sex offenders will not be committing the same crimes, we just have to come together and call for action.

The sex offender registry, while it is a great idea, is just not doing enough to solve the problem. Every day that we hold off on making these simple measures a reality, there are more and more children that are being molested, raped, and even murdered at the hands of sexual deviants. We should be spreading the word that past sex offenders are not being surveilled in the proper way and that it is up to us to keep our citizens safe. If you agree with these sentiments, then please help us spread the word. The legislators should be hearing about what their constituents have to say about their unhappiness with the current system. Young children like Shaniya Davis should have a chance at living a normal life, and none of us want tragedies like these to occur again.