ABSTRACT
On A ugust 22, 1997, when a federal appeals court ruled tha t New Y ork’s “ M egan’s Law ” was constitutional, thus paving the way for the state to release the names o f 5,000 sex offenders after they leave prison, state A ttorney G eneral Dennis Vacco exclaimed, “The essence of today’s ruling is that com m unity notification does not am ount to punishment. This is indeed a great day for victims’ rights” (“C ourt U pholds,” 1997, p. 1A).
