In Your Backyard

A funny thing happens when you blog about the way you feel when a child sex offender moves into your community. Other sex offenders and supporters of sex offenders from across the great, wide internet come to your online community too.

Until I took a closer look at my stats and analytics from my last post, I found it interesting that a slew of my anonymous commenters were blatantly discrediting the validity of online sex offender registries - a system enacted by law for public safety thanks to the tireless efforts of John Walsh of America's Most Wanted fame. To them, the registries are filled with streakers and people who pee behind buildings - not people like my new neighbor who was convicted on multiple charges of sexual assault against a child.

I found it curious that knowing this, so many people encouraged me to engage my new neighbor, to reach out to him and help him not re-offend.

I found it downright disturbing that certain commenters posing as "just dads" are actually activists fighting to repeal the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

Look, I don't often choose to write about controversial topics like this. I rarely - if ever - write about politics or religion. It's never been my goal to rankle the ire of anyone - let alone a bunch of criminals or criminal supporters.

But in this case, I felt the need to speak up because I believe the law needs to be changed. I believe people have a right to know when convicted child sex offenders are released from prison and move in next door.

Parents must always be vigilant when it comes to ensuring the safety of their children. They should reinforce messages about stranger danger, inappropriate touching, and so on from the earliest of ages. I understand that most sex assault crimes against children are not random acts; they happen by relatives and other known, trusted adults. I also understand that most of these crimes go unreported.

That said, I believe that when we do know about the release of a convicted child sex offender, the state has an obligation to inform its residents - not by the mere existence of an online registry but by a proactive notification such as a letter, an eblast, or a knock on the door.

My local community took action the moment we became informed - if only through word of mouth.

• We contacted the schools, local police, and state representatives. With their support, a community meeting is set in which police, educators, and social workers will teach parents how to talk to each other and their kids about stranger danger and the like.

• As a courtesy (not a requirement), police hand-delivered a letter of notification and a copy of the relevant page from the sex offender registry to local residents.

• We're lobbying to move our bus stop deeper into our neighborhood.

• And naturally, we're all more vigilant and aware.

These are positive, productive actions in the interest of public safety, education, and awareness. And they respect the rights of citizens as they do convicted child sex offenders. Had we known two months ago when our new neighbor moved in, we would have acted sooner.

As a final point about this entire issue, so I can happily return to writing about my usual fare like my love of hummus and the fact that my house smells like my dog, I will say this:

I didn't know that I wouldn't be notified when a sex offender moved in next door.

I didn't know that it was completely up to me to check an online registry about the whereabouts of known child sex offenders.

And if I didn't know, maybe you don't know either?

I do hope you are moved to check your own state's notification laws regarding sex offenders, and of course, talk to your kids about matters of safety again and again and again.