From Michigan to Georgia to California, dozens of attorney generals, and governors have been campaigning on a get-tough on pedophiles platform. This at a time when child sexual abuse (CSA) has declined over the last ten years.

Over the last few months, several states have passed packages of punitive legislation: expanding online registries that require offenders to post their photos, home and work addresses; restricting offenders from living 500-1,500 feet from a school/day care; GPS tracking; and mandatory sentencing. Like other politicians, when President Bush signed legislation in the Rose Garden this past July, children are in the frame for the press conference.

Many groups of CSA survivors, treatment providers of offenders/victims, and long time CSA researchers are strongly critical of these new policies. They call them untested, expensive, fear-mongering, and self-serving to politicians. Yet, their voices have been largely absent in media coverage.

Being based in DC, I have been following the laws Virginia (VA) passed in July because they are promoted as “state of the art” but also closely resemble what is happening in other states.

Interviews in the story include:
staff and volunteers from Citizens Against Sexual Assault (CASA); Staci Haines from Generation Five; and Patrick Lincoln from Men Can Stop Rape.