NOTE: The following was written after the apprehension of Stephen LaValle, charged with the rape and murder of Cynthia Quinn.Women in this county and state, statistically, at least, are more often at risk than children. For every child molester on parole, there must be dozens of rapists and abusers on the loose.
Meghan's Law helps guide parents and police as to when it is sensible to be cautious and less than trusting of certain strangers, neighborhoods, or automobiles. But Meghan's Law does not apply to violent felons who do more or less the same things to grown women.
Don't we also need a "Cindy's Law"!
Indeed, a similar law would have allowed joggers to know the risks they might be facing in certain neighborhoods, or from a stranger who fits a certain description or photo, or from a particular automobile which just happens to be registered to a convicted killer. (Maybe a special license plate would be a good start!)
In Cindy Quinn's case, it was reported that the assailant's car had deliberately bumped another woman's car, somewhat earlier the same day, and that he attempted to accost her but she fled. If this earlier incident was reported or observed, it would be a simple matter to check if that vehicle was on the "hot list" for released violent felons, and therefore the matter should be taken more seriously.
Since such laws apply only to felons who are convicted after due process, they are essentially a condition of parole and therefore do not impair anyone's civil rights. Someone [like LaValle,] who had been convicted of assaults on women and recently released, would be subject to "Cindy's Law", and his identity and record would no longer be a secret to others who might cross his path.
If his car was then reported suspiciously parked on a country road or seen bumping cars in a parking lot, or someone fitting his description was seen accosting another driver, then there would be a much better chance of apprehending him sooner -- maybe before he had the opportunity to make a second try, later that day. Cindy's Law would also require the police would look more closely at, say, a suspiciously-parked car whose owner happened to have a record of attacking women. And citizens concerned for their safety would at least have the ability to be forewarned, by obtaining descriptions of persons and automobiles to avoid when on lonely streets or parking lots.