A Sex offender is person who has perpetuated a Sex crime. A person will be classified as a sexual offender when he or she is criminally charged, convicted of, or has pled guilty to a Sex crime. Sex crimes include child sexual abuse, downloading child pornography, rape, statutory rape, and other offenses such as kidnapping.

Depending on the severity of the Sex crime the perpetrator may be classified as a sexual predator. More severe Sex crimes, more violent offenders, and repeat offenders are likely to be classified as predators.

Sex crimes are classified by levels. The highest levels include the most aggravating Sex crimes and include offenders who propose the most risk to the community. Crimes on the lower end of the Sex crime scale do not receive as harsh a sentencing and have fewer restrictions placed on criminals.

Each state has its own definition of a sexual offender and determines its own punishments. This simply means that sexual crimes are defined state by state.

Illinois has the most rigorous requirements of any state Sex offender laws. Sex offenders cannot live within 3 miles and 6 blocks of anyplace that children congregate.? This includes churches, schools, day care centers, parking lots, and playgrounds. It also includes bus stops. The bus stop provision makes it virtually impossible for a Sex offender to live in any metropolitan area of Illinois.

Sex offenders in Illinois may also be forced to face some of the harshest consequences in the country. A state law requires that all sexual offenders be surgically castrated.

All states have sexual offender laws. Here is a sampling of some of the general restrictions in several states:
Florida: A sexual offender cannot live within 1,000 feet of where children congregate. Alaska: A sexual offender cannot live within 500 feet of a school. California: A sexual offender cannot live within 2000 feet of schools, day care centers, or parks. Georgia: A sexual offender cannot loiter within 1,000 of any place where children congregate.

Two major laws have been passed to discourage repeat Sex crimes offenders. Jessica’s Law was first instituted in Florida before becoming the national Jessica Lunsford Act. It states that all Sex crimes carry a mandatory minimum sentencing of 25 years and the offender must wear an electronic monitoring device for his lifetime.

Megan’s Law focuses on the registration of sexual offenders. All sexual offenders are required to register. It is up to each jurisdiction to decide how the person will register and if the information will be made public. Most states give out sexual offender information over the internet. You can easily search for one in your area. Plans are now in the works to create a national Sex crimes registry information center on the web. ?

By: Jessi Moyle

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