Banning the Bad Guys

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Since more than 80% of child-sex-abuse victims know their attackers--they're usually relatives or friends, not schoolyard stalkers--even stricter registration requirements and GPS tracking may not prevent a large number of sex crimes. Still, the desire to do something remains strong. "It's very hard to measure cause and effect," says California state attorney Bill Lockyer. "It seems logical, though, that if authorities know where the sex offender lives and works, and if neighbors can find out where they live, that will help both law enforcement and potential victims to protect themselves." The Children's Safety Act of 2005, which would require all states to provide uniform information about their sex offenders, is currently working its way through Congress. If it is passed, failure to register or keep one's registration current would be a felony.

Of course, no law will ever bring back the lives of past victims. "There is an eternal scar," says Walker, Sjodin's mother. "And as family members, we are forever imprisoned." As more states step up their monitoring of sex offenders, a growing number of them may find themselves imprisoned for life as well--even if they are no longer behind bars. --With reporting by Tim Padgett/Miami, Jeffrey Ressner/Los Angeles and David E. Thigpen/Des Moines