eebmore: Awesomest Perv Tracker, Ever

Awesomest Perv Tracker, Ever

August 29, 2005

Questionable constitutionality be damned (or not*), this is the coolest use of google maps I’ve seen as yet.

We’ve all seen those sex offender registries where you type in a zip code and receive the photo and address of all your favorite local child molesters (like we all haven’t typed in our home town addresses to see if any of the faces matched the ones from our high school yearbooks). Somebody has integrated the national sex offender registry with google maps.

Cool!

Wow! Look at all those red tags! My neighborhood is disgusting.

Personally, I’m of two minds about the whole sex offender registry thing (as I think anyone who likes both civil liberties and child safety would be). I’m just hoping the public library system doesn’t catch on to the fact that google has released the API for their mapping software. I would hate for my picture to pop up with a list of every book I’ve neglected to return since 1978.

* In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled that, as the intent for sex offender registry laws is regulatory and not punitive, they do not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the Constitution. Hmmm? Can anyone say elastic? (follow the link for more info)

[via gothamist]

11:59 AM | Permalink

Comments

So, I had to try this on my neighborhood and view each and everyone of those red pins-i'm a mom-and get all creeped out by familiar faces. But, there's no detail on the type or severity of offence these people were convicted of. No way to discern child rapists from flashers...

Posted by: molly at August 31, 2005 10:45 AM

it is to some degree. for instance, if you click on a name, it will tell you the charge or conviction. Like, say, third degree sex charge against a minor, with a reference code for the maryland state law (which can be googled), which in that case i think would be statatory rape of a 14 or 15 year old by someone 4 or more years older.

My big issue with it is when it is marked "under investigation." aka: not convicted. but, as the courts have decided, the sex registry is "regulatory" and not punitive, so the defendants are not protected by the constitution. that makes me very uneasy about, ya know, civil liberties and stuff.

Posted by: eebmore at August 31, 2005 11:37 AM

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