No state prison system, presumably, would argue against more stringent reporting requirements for convicted sex offenders or improved community notification systems.

These are two of the aims of legislation introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. The bill would also require sex offenders to wear tracking devices during their supervised release. Second-time offenders would wear the devices the remainder of their lives. The bill also would establish a sex offender DNA database.

Hatch and Foley are correct that more needs to be done to keep innocent children from sexual predators. Whatever Congress does, federal funding must accompany any new mandates. Hatch and Foley should also consider new money for sex offender treatment programs, because most sex offenders will someday rejoin society. Society will be better protected if convicted sex offenders successfully complete therapy.

In Utah's state prison system, there are long waits for 220 available treatment slots. Convicted sex offenders cannot receive parole dates unless they have successfully completed the sex offender program, which takes about 18 months. Currently, some 600 inmates' names are on a waiting list.

Corrections officials believe that sex offender treatment is highly effective. A recent Department of Corrections study found a remarkably low rate of recidivism among parolees who completed sex offender therapy. Among approximately 400 convicted sex offenders paroled between 1991 and May 2, 2004, nine returned to prison on new convictions within a year of their parole. Of the nine, only two involved charges of a sexual nature. Corrections officials say this is a substantially lower rate of recidivism than the general offender population. The statistics make a compelling case for expanding the number of therapy beds available in the community.

Although many cases involving sex offenders rise to national prominence because they involve abductions of children and young women, most sex offenders prey on family members and close acquaintances. Once they have served their prison terms, many return to their hometowns.

Obviously, sex offender registries help inform communities of sex offenders in their midst. They can be very useful tools if they contain accurate information. However, sex offender registries do not include all sex offenders. Some have not yet been caught. The cases of accused sex offenders whose cases are winding through the criminal justice system are not part of the registry.

Under the best of circumstances, sex offender registries are but one tool, and the battle to protect children from sexual predators needs to be fought on many fronts. Agencies that deal with this issue must have ample resources to wage meaningful fights.