ABSTRACT
On August 22, 1997, when a federal appeals court ruled that New York’s “Megan’s Law” was constitutional, thus paving the way for the state to release the names of 5,000 sex offenders after they leave prison, state Attorney General Dennis Vacco exclaimed, “The essence of today’s ruling is that community notification does not amount to punishment. This is indeed a great day for victims’ rights” (“Court Upholds,” 1997, p. 1A).
