On Thursday, July 27, 2006, Richard Whidden, Jr., NLC Executive Director and Senior Counsel, and Keely Knipling, NLC Associate Counsel, were honored to attend the bill signing ceremony for the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act at the White House. The bill is named for Adam Walsh, the late son of John Walsh, host of “America’s Most Wanted,” who was abducted and murdered 25 years ago.

The legislation creates a national database of convicted child molesters, plugging gaps in existing state and other local notification requirements. The bill also increases penalties for those who not only commit sexual crimes against children but those who fail to register with the state afterwards as well. For instance, an offender who does not keep his or her registration up to date in any state in which he lives or works could face felony charges and up to ten years in prison. There are currently more than 560,000 registered sex offenders in the United States, however, there is an estimated 100,000 who are either not registered or do not have up-to-date registrations. The Walsh Act also provides for the addition of 200 new federal prosecutors and 45 new computer forensic scientists to work on such crimes.

On the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, NLC Executive Director Richard Whidden commented, “This law is one of the most significant federal laws in years focused on protecting children and families. We are gratified that Congress has passed this legislation and look forward to the states adopting its provisions. The National Law Center will assist states in providing legal analysis, education and training on these laws to help protect our children and families.”

Related:

Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006

White House Website