Changes

==Laws and punishments==

==Laws and punishments==

The current trend towards punishment of offenders has been longer prison sentences, and upon release mandatory registration as a sex offender.  Legislation signed into law by President George Bush on July 27, 2006 mandates the requirement for offenders to update their whereabouts with law enforcement many times a year; it also provides for permanent incarceration of offenders deemed a continual threat to society.  This law was named for Adam Walsh, the murdered son of ''America's Most Wanted'' host John Walsh.<ref>Author unknown, "[http://rpc.senate.gov/_files/L49HR4427ChldprotBB072006.pdf#search='H.R.%204472' HR 4472--Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006]", ''Legislative Notice'' 49, July 20, 2006. Published by [[Republican]] Policy Committee ([[United States Senate]]), [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[John Kyl]] ([[Republican|R]]-[[Arizona|AZ]], chairman. Retrieved April 29, 2997. Requires PDF reader.</ref> Punishment also continues to an extended degree in prison, as child molesters are "marked" by other inmates for beatings or death.

The current trend towards punishment of offenders has been longer prison sentences, and upon release mandatory registration as a sex offender.  Legislation signed into law by President George Bush on July 27, 2006 mandates the requirement for offenders to update their whereabouts with law enforcement many times a year; it also provides for permanent incarceration of offenders deemed a continual threat to society.  This law was named for Adam Walsh, the murdered son of ''America's Most Wanted'' host John Walsh.<ref>Author unknown, "[http://rpc.senate.gov/_files/L49HR4427ChldprotBB072006.pdf#search='H.R.%204472' HR 4472--Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006]", ''Legislative Notice'' 49, July 20, 2006. Published by [[Republican]] Policy Committee ([[United States Senate]]), [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[John Kyl]] ([[Republican|R]]-[[Arizona|AZ]]), chairman. Retrieved April 29, 2997. Requires PDF reader.</ref> Punishment also continues to an extended degree in prison, as child molesters are "marked" by other inmates for beatings or death.

The state of Vermont has come under fire recently for being a "safe haven" for child molesters who wish for lenient or no punishment for their actions.  In one recent case, Judge Edward Cashman sentenced one such individual to 60 days in jail; the man involved, Mark Hulett, had molested a girl for four years, beginning from the age of 6. <ref>Authors unknown, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181498,00.html Light Sentence for Child Molester Leaves Vermont Judge Under Fire]", ''Associated Press'', January 12, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007, from ''[http://www.foxnews.com/ Fox News Home]''.</ref>

The state of Vermont has come under fire recently for being a "safe haven" for child molesters who wish for lenient or no punishment for their actions.  In one recent case, Judge Edward Cashman sentenced one such individual to 60 days in jail; the man involved, Mark Hulett, had molested a girl for four years, beginning from the age of 6. <ref>Authors unknown, [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181498,00.html Light Sentence for Child Molester Leaves Vermont Judge Under Fire]", ''Associated Press'', January 12, 2006. Retrieved April 29, 2007, from ''[http://www.foxnews.com/ Fox News Home]''.</ref>