Branded for Life . . . [View All]

Children's advocates oppose Illinois law requiring juvenile sex offender registry

http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/12/09/news/illiana/ecef3a3c4f20d1628625723f001167a5.txt

While juveniles were responsible for at least 26 percent of all Cook County sex crimes in 2005, a law that requires juvenile offenders to register with local authorities lacks support among children's advocates.

In early December, the General Assembly could not muster enough votes to overturn a veto of a bill that would have allowed Juvenile Court judges to determine on a case-by-case basis whether juveniles must register as sex offenders.

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich vetoed the measure in April, but supporters remain hopeful that the registry law -- which treats juvenile sex offenders the same as adults -- will change.

"The current law requires (juvenile sex offenders) to register for 10 years or for life, nothing in between and no less than 10 years," said Elizabeth Clarke, president of the Juvenile Justice Initiative in Springfield. "If juveniles are found guilty of a sexual offense, they are required to automatically register on the adult registry when they hit 17."

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http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/12/09/news/illiana/ecef3a3c4f20d1628625723f001167a5.txt