Sex offender tracking vital

A couple of proposals winding through the legislative process aim to keep better tabs on the men and women on Utah's sex offender registry.

One would require registered sex offenders to renew their drivers' licenses yearly, which would provide the state an up-to-date address for the offender. Another would require convicted sex offenders to pay a $75 fee to register with the state. The fee is intended to cover the cost of the registry and apprehend sex offenders who do not properly register with the state. The only reservation with this proposal is whether registered sex offenders will have sufficient incomes to cover the registration fee on top of other fines and restitution they may be ordered to pay.

Clearly, any means that would help to make the information on Utah's sex offender registry more accurate is laudable. The system relies on self reporting, and some convicted sex offenders are not compliant with the requirements. Unfortunately, the Department of Corrections has lacked the resources to track men and women on the registry who have failed to update their personal information.

Although the state, as a matter of public policy, has determined the community deserves to know about convicted sex offenders in their midst through the database, there is likely some fear on the part of sex offenders that they will be targets of harassment or violence. This was not the intent of the database. However, it may explain why some convicted sex offenders are less than dutiful about reporting address changes or the purchases of new vehicles. Regardless, they have a responsibility to keep their information up to date.

The sex offender registry is an important tool for parents and others who have children under their care. It is a far more valuable tool if the information is accurate, which these legislative proposals should enhance. But as the Deseret Morning News has opined many times, the registry is no substitute for close supervision of children in public and private settings. Many sexual predators offend multiple times before they are caught. Those people will not be on any registry. Nor will juveniles who sexually assault other juveniles. Parents and other trusted adults who focus on information provided by the registry must also be cognizant that sex offenders most often prey on people in their own families or their circle of influence. In other words, most victims of sexual offenses know their attackers.

The benefits of the sex offender registry should not be discounted, but it is not an end-all. It is information the public deserves to know and information that should be as accurate as possible. These two measures would help ensure the database is a more valuable tool among the many checks families and others responsible for the safety of children should be utilizing.