Sex-offender laws may spur re-offenses

The truly strange thing is, this arrangement is a vast improvement from an encampment of sex offenders in a lot in downtown Miami. The lot had to be abandoned because it bordered a center for sexually abused children.

Somehow, I don't see how living under a bridge is a vast improvement to sex offenders living in neighborhoods. Don't get me wrong. I'm not sympathetic to people who prey on children, women or for that matter, men. I understand, however, that many child sex offenders were themselves molested as children.

But does it make sense to house people who have served their time in conditions worse than prison? Wouldn't it tempt them to run, or worse, re-offend, so they can have a roof over their heads? This sounds like the law of unintended consequences to me.

As much as I don't like the notion of a sex offender living in my neighborhood, I prefer Utah's approach to Miami's. We know he's there. He knows we know he's there. His parole officer knows he's there.

But knowing this should not lull us into a false sense of security. Many sex offenders commit multiple offenses before they are caught. It's best to side on the error of caution all the time because the bogeyman may not be on a sex offender registry or in Florida's case, living under a bridge. He or she may be right next door.

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Marjorie Cortez, who believes knee-jerk reactions to social or public safety issues frequently bring about unintended consequences, is a Deseret Morning News editorial writer. E-mail her at marjorie@desnews.com.