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Enforcing Sex Offender Laws

People convicted of sex offenses in both West Virginia and Ohio are required by law to have their names, pictures and other personal information listed on state registries. In both states, members of the public concerned about whether sex offenders live near them can check the registries online.

The vast majority of those convicted of sex offenses comply with requirements that they register and, should they move, update their addresses with the authorities.

A few do not. Here in the Northern Panhandle, the only two listed on the state registry for failure to comply were reported last to be living in Ohio County.

One alleged scofflaw was indicted last week by the Hancock County Grand Jury. The man, Justin D. Graham, 35, was arrested and taken to the Northern Regional Jail.

His case is somewhat unusual because he was indicted for second offense failure to register.

It is rare that we presume to suggest to judges what action they should take in criminal cases. Generally, because they are in possession all the facts and are experts in the law, their decisions on sentencing are appropriate..

But potential dangers to the public are different. That is why sex offender registries exist in the first place, because of the potential for recidivism among those convicted of such crimes.

Law enforcement agencies are to be encouraged to make it a priority to track down and arrest those who refuse to comply with registry requirements.

Judges — unless they know of some extenuating circumstances — should hand down severe sentences in failure to comply cases.

It may deter some sex offenders thinking of trying to fly below the radar to know that if one is caught dodging the rules, stiff prison terms will be meted out.

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