SexualOffenders.com Urges Senate To Quickly Pass Children's Safety Act of 2005

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Sept. 16, 2005 -- The Children's Safety Act of 2005 passed the U.S. House of Representatives last Wednesday by a vote of 371 to 52. Now SexualOffenders.com (http://www.sexualoffenders.com/) is urging the U.S. Senate to pass the bill, which calls for stricter monitoring requirements and new mandatory sentences for sex offenders.

"We ask the Senate Judiciary Committee to quickly present the bill to the full Senate, so that children can be better protected by law before the end of 2005," stated SexualOffenders.com founder David Scott. "The lawmakers of our country must act immediately to protect America’s children."

Along with tighter monitoring and sentencing of sex offenders whose victims are children, the Children's Safety Act of 2005 will create a national registry of offenders who have been convicted of sex crimes against children and allows for civil confinement of the most violent sexual predators. Many other provisions are included, some named after victims of violent sex offenders.

But regardless of whether the White House ultimately signs the Children's Safety Act of 2005 into law, the lion's share of responsibility in protecting children lies with parents, said Mr. Scott. "Passing the Children’s Safety Act of 2005 is a giant step forward in making the punishment fit the crime and keeping better track of sex offenders that prey on kids," he said, "but it should not replace the protection of a diligent parent."

And when it comes to keeping children out of the reach of sexual predators, knowledge of sex offenders and their typical patterns is essential. To help parents educate themselves, SexualOffenders.com posts information in a blog-style format, allowing parents to create topics for the purpose of sharing information about criminal sex offenders, their habits and the patterns many follow in targeting victims. The site is updated daily with informative articles and links to state and county sex offender registries, sheriff's offices and news of sex crimes and related prosecution from around the world.

"We all need to work together to reduce the problem of sex crimes against children," Mr. Scott said. "Parents, schools and law enforcement can help each other and learn from each other. The best deterrent against sex offenders is a caring, involved community."

SexualOffenders.com encourages those interested in the fate of the Children's Safety Act of 2005 to write to their Senators about the bill. Contact information for each state's Senators is available at http://www.senate.gov

SexualOffenders.com Re-launches With New Format
Revamped site lets citizens network for safety

CORAL SPRINGS, Fl., Sept. 10, 2005 – Knowledge may be parents' most effective weapon in the fight to keep kids safe from sexual predators. And parents all over the U.S. can now arm themselves at the newly launched SexualOffenders.com (/http://www.sexualoffenders.com/).

After a complete overhaul, SexualOffenders.com now allows citizens to share information they have about criminal sex offenders, exchange links and post comments in a blog-style format. The site is updated daily with links to state and county sex offender registries, sheriff's offices and news of sex crimes and related prosecution from around the world.

"Media reports of sexual offenses are on the rise, and parents everywhere want to know how to protect their children," stated SexualOffenders.com founder David Scott. "With the additional functionality of SexualOffenders.com, site visitors not only have access to relevant sex offender lists, but also to a body of knowledge provided by other concerned citizens. And that is probably the best protection they can have."

Nationwide, increasing numbers of Web sites like SexualOffenders.com are popping up as more people become interested in working to make their families and neighborhoods safer. Six-year-old SexualOffenders.com, at least, helps them reach that goal: the more information people have, the better able they are to spot suspicious activity and signs of abuse — and, said Mr. Scott, the more likely they are to report suspected crimes to local law enforcement.

"No one wants to be vulnerable to a sexual predator," Mr. Scott explained. "We urge parents to take steps to lessen their risk. Learning about the criminals in their neighborhoods is a step in the right direction, as is networking with other parents. Both can be accomplished at SexualOffenders.com."

Contact:
David Scott
SexualOffenders.com

info@sexualoffenders.com
http://www.sexualoffenders.com

In Wake of Hurricane Abuse Stories, SexualOffenders.com Urges All Parents to Educate Themselves

CORAL SPRINGS, Fl., Sept. 9, 2005 – As accounts of sexual abuse in some Hurricane Katrina evacuee shelters are beginning to be substantiated, SexualOffenders.com (http://www.sexualoffenders.com/) is warning parents nationwide to educate themselves about sex crimes and how to prevent them.

To assist in that effort, the site has implemented a blog-style format, allowing citizens to create topics for the purpose of sharing information about criminal sex offenders. The site is updated daily with informative articles and links to state and county sex offender registries, sheriff’s offices and news of sex crimes and related prosecution from around the world.

"People should not have to live in fear of falling prey to a sex offender," stated SexualOffenders.com founder David Scott. "We have updated our site to allow people to share their knowledge of sex offenders. Our goal is to enable citizens to really network and educate each other on spotting and avoiding danger."

Mr. Scott also offered pointers to help parents safeguard their families. First, he said, get to know the local sheriff's Web site. Many post up-to-date lists of sex offenders in the area. Some states and counties now offer e-mail alerts to inform families when sex offenders move into their neighborhoods; parents should sign up for those if available. And even when states do not have online registries, state police departments usually offer lists of registered sex offenders in each ZIP code free of charge to citizens. And finally, he cautioned, teens should stick to "group dates" and avoid one-on-one situations.

"Being involved in your local community is another great way to learn about dangers and resources in the area," Mr. Scott finished. "By combining self-education through sites like SexualOffenders.com with the wealth of knowledge and resources available through local, county and state law enforcement offices, people can get the information they need to stay safe."

Contact:
David Scott
SexualOffenders.com

info@sexualoffenders.com
http://www.sexualoffenders.com

Five Myths About Sex Offender Registries
All the Lists Are Not Created Equal

July 6, 2005 -- Though federal law requires all states to have sex offender registries, there are different laws governing them in each state. Here are five common misconceptions about the lists, from PedoWatch.org, a group dedicated to increasing awareness about threats to children from sexual predators.