Read more: Local, State, National, Crime, Community, Sex Offender, Megan's Law, Missouri Supreme Court Ruling, Attorney General, Adair County Prosecutor, Law
KIRKSVILLE, M0. -- A Missouri Supreme Court ruling means big changes for sex offenders.
Fact Finder learned starting Wednesday, any sex offender living in the state of Missouri must register.
Missouri created a sex offender list in 1995 called Megan's Law with changes made in 2000.
But any sex offenders convicted before those laws were made did not have to register.
“I think it's a way for the Missouri Supreme Court to really go to the intent of Megan's Law. The intent of Megan's Law is to give us those of us that are citizens that are not convicted of sex crimes awareness of who has been and where they're at and whether they live in a community with a lot of children whether they live in a neighborhood with a lot of children,” said Adair County Prosecutor Mark Williams.
Attorney General Chris Koster issued the following statement on Wednesday’s ruling by the Supreme Court on Missouri’s Sex Offender Registry:
"I am pleased the Supreme Court has ruled that all sex offenders must now register on the Sex Offender Registration list, without exception. Parents and communities deserve to know when sex offenders live nearby, no matter when the offender committed the offense. The Sex Offender Registry is designed to protect children and adult Missourians from sex offenders who might harm them, and the Court's ruling supports that goal."
