How do you feel knowing that there are currently 4,191 active sex offenders roaming the streets of Victoria? Do you feel safe? Do you feel vulnerable? Let me turn my gaze to the following poster, the larger font indicates only a portion of the currently active sex offenders, the smaller font highlights many of the victims, unfortunately due to the large number of victims they do not all fit into the poster. Furthermore, as a member of the Liberal Party currently pushing for a public sex offender registry, I want to ensure that every Victorian feels safer in their community, regardless of their circumstances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay. However, as a Victorian you have the right to know who the most dangerous and sanctioned sex offenders in Victoria are and where they are located. That said, the opposition's proposed public sex offender register will actively identify and notify the public of any serious sex offenders in their suburb, providing them with their name, photo and any distinguishing characteristics, such as tattoos, hair and physique. This log will also highlight frequent areas where offenders are known to be located. Of the 7,193 offenders currently on the “private list,” more than 4,000 are active. Do you know who they are? Not convinced? According to research compiled by Victoria Police, there was a 45% increase in sexual offenses from 2012 to 2016. In 2017, a convicted child sex offender was released back into the community of Healesville. , living just 250 meters from the nearest high school. The school and nearby residential area were not notified until a victim came forward and notified the school. The bottom line is that if there is a convicted sex offender in your area you should know about it. This is a moral and ethical right, which must be respected in Victoria, as you and every other Victorian have a right to know. Having said that, were you aware that there is a public sex offender registry in WA? This legislation was passed and enacted in 2012. It is now 2018 and similar legislation has not yet been passed. Why not? Of the 1694 sex offenders in WA, 800 of these are considered high risk. As a result, they were displayed publicly to ensure they were known throughout WA. This in turn resulted in a decrease of 28 crimes in the first year. This not only highlights why Victoria needs a public sex offender registry, but reinforces the need for it. Similarly, in the United States there is Megan's Law, a similar registry that alerts area citizens to high-risk offenders, which went into effect in 1997. This registry has prevented over 4,628 sexual crimes according to the US Department of Justice . Ultimately, the registry has saved lives and will continue to save lives by informing citizens of high-risk sex offenders. However, some people argue that passing legislation for a public sex offender registry would only encourage vigilante behavior and recidivism. However, this is not the case, seen in both WA and the US, vigilante behavior was not high risk, they were and are offenders roaming the streets freely. Furthermore, an opposing argument that continues to emerge is the restriction and prohibition of the privacy and freedom of these offenders. However, these offenders abused their privacy and freedoms as Victorian minded citizens.