Why Megan's/Sarah's Law Is Wrong

Doctor John Reid, in a shameless attempt to win approval from the News of the Screws, embraces Sarah's Law.

There are any number of reasons as to why Sarah's Law is a bad idea. It does create a lynch mob atmosphere, it undermines the effectiveness of the police and removes any chance for the rehabilitation of the sex offenders. But there is a far more fundamental question that needs to be answered - if these paedophiles are so dangerous that they have to kept away from all schools and the public has to be warned about their presence, then why the hell are they being released from prison?

Paedophiles do offend again, with Roy Whiting's crime offering a terrible example. Yes we should look to rehabilitate people but if they still pose a risk to the public, they should stay locked away from the public. All Sarah's Law does is allow the state to abdicate it's responsibility to protect society from the likes of Roy Whiting, and instead puts the responsibility squarely in the hands of a lynch mob. This is not a question of sharing information, it is about adjusting sentences and how the criminal justice system works to ensure dangerous predators are not allowed back into the community.