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The Daily PollPoll: Should a sex offenders register be made public?
As startling figures emerge on convicted offenders breaching their notification rules, it looks like legislation will tighten up around a sex offenders’ register. But how far should it go?
FIGURES REVEALED BY the CSO show that around 10 per cent of released sex offenders have breached the requirement to notify gardai of their current address.
Independent TD Denis Naughten said that Ireland needs to put a sex offenders’ register on a statutory footing. While he doesn’t believe that the register should be fully open to public viewing, he said community and parent organisations should be able to request information on any convicted sex offenders living in their area.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter has indicated that such legislation may soon be passed. However, it is unlikely that it would go as far as the so-called ‘Megan’s Law’ in the US where any member of the public can access the sex offenders’ register.
How do you feel about making information on sex offenders public?
Poll Results:
Any member of the public should be able to view a sex offenders' register (1124)
The system we have right now - where gardai have discretion to warn an individual or group - is fine (340)
Only certain community groups should be able to view a sex offenders' register (338)
When someone has served their sentence, they should be free from scrutiny (108)
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