Arizona’s Sex Offender Laws: Recommendations for Reform
Tamara Rice Lave* Full Article. Introduction In this Article, I consider ways in which Arizona’s laws regarding sex offenders should be reformed. I begin by focusing on laws that are designed to deal with the danger posed by convicted sex offenders: registration requirements, residence restrictions, and civil commitment. I contend that the state has overstated the risk posed by convicted sex offenders and that the laws meant to control them may do more harm than good. Next, I turn to police sexual violence. I argue that the state needs to go further in criminalizing this abhorrent conduct in order to promote the rule of law and protect vulnerable persons. I. Laws Designed To Control Convicted Sex Offenders I start this Part by considering the motive for laws controlling sex offenders:…