Be an Advocate

This entry is related to my entry from a couple weeks ago.

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was signed into law last year (July 27, 2006).

Child predators are living in our neighborhoods and we don't know about them. Repeat offenders are relocating and can't be found. Convicted predators are not receiving just punishment.

Please take a moment of your time to let our government officials know that this is an important issue. You can write your own letter or simply copy and paste the sample letters here. Let your voice be heard. We know there is strength in numbers. Pass this on to everyone you know. PLEASE give five minutes of your time, and help save a child.

To find the email address of your Senator(s), click here

Dear Senator:

As your constituent, I am writing this letter to urge you and your colleagues to act swiftly to fully fund the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. The provisions of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act must be funded now so that law enforcement can protect children and communities from the scourge of convicted sex offenders.

I urge you to fully fund all of the mandates within the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I am particularly concerned about the following:

1. To implement an effective and comprehensive national registry database and website of sex offenders.
2. To build capacity in the federal law enforcement system to enable law enforcement to track and capture noncompliant sex offenders and bring them to justice.
3. To implement a national DNA database so that law enforcement can accurately and promptly verify DNA evidence.

Citizens must have access to accurate and timely information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their community. The 50 states and the federal government must be afforded adequate resources to build and maintain an effective national sex offender database. A national sex offender database is a critical safeguard to protect America’s children and with each passing day that the provisions of this law are not funded, the danger to children is heightened. When information about the identity and whereabouts of convicted sex offenders is not accessible, accurate and verifiable, our communities are at grave risk.

I strongly urge you to act now to fund the mandates passed in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act so that our children are kept safe from these dangerous predators and law enforcement has the necessary investigative resources.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.

Sincerely,
(your name here)

To find the email address of your Governor, click here

Dear Governor:

As your constituent, I am writing this letter to urge you and your appropriate state agencies to act swiftly to implement the state requirements under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Although the Adam Walsh Act provided that states have three years to comply with the requirements, delay in implementing these changes will jeopardize the safety of children and the community. Law enforcement needs the resources to protect children and communities from the scourge of convicted sex offenders.

I urge you to fully implement all the state mandates within the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. I am particularly concerned about the following:

1. To implement an effective and comprehensive mechanism to verify the residence of the most high risk sex offenders at least once every three months.
2. To collect DNA samples from sex offenders who have not already provided them to local law enforcement.
3. To complete fingerprint-based background checks on all foster and adoptive placements to ensure that foster children are placed in safe homes.

Citizens need access to accurate and timely information regarding convicted sex offenders living in their community. The 50 states and the federal government are responsible for building and maintaining an effective national sex offender database. A national sex offender database is a critical safeguard to protect America’s children and with each passing day that the provisions of this law are not implemented, the danger to children is heightened. The states are at the forefront to provide reliable information about the identity and whereabouts of convicted sex offenders. That information needs to be accessible, accurate and verifiable, or our communities are at grave risk.

I strongly urge you to act now to implement the state-directed mandates passed in the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act so that our children are kept safe from these dangerous predators and law enforcement has the necessary investigative resources.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent request.

Sincerely,
(your name here)

Thank you, Carolynn! I knew the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act had been signed into law, but wasn't aware that it has not been fully funded or implemented.