The 1989 kidnapping and disappearance of 10-year-old Jacob Wetterling in St. Joseph, Minn., spurred the first federal law that required states to create and maintain databases of registered sex offenders. Since then, other crimes involving children have motivated legislators to take action. Laws and measures have been passed that enhance the safety of the innocent by attempting to unveil the secret pasts of sex offenders to their neighbors and the public.

Jacob, his brother and a friend rode their bikes to a video store 10 minutes from home. As they left the store, a masked man wit...

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