 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Murder of Jacob Wetterling. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2024. |
Patty Wetterling | |
|---|---|
 Wetterling in 2014 | |
| Born | Patricia Lynn King November 2, 1949 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Education | Minnesota State University, Mankato |
| Occupation(s) | Community organizer Political activist |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Political party | Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party |
| Board member of | International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children |
| Spouse | Jerry Wetterling |
| Children | 4, including Jacob |
Patricia Lynn Wetterling (born November 2, 1949) is an American advocate of children's safety and chair of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Her advocacy particularly focuses on protecting children from abduction and abuse. She has become one of the most vocal critics of current sex offender registry laws, painting them as overly broad and unnecessarily causing tremendous harm to many.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Her advocacy began after her son Jacob was abducted in 1989 and culminated in passage of the federal Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration Act. She was a candidate for the Minnesota Sixth District seat in the United States House of Representatives as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party candidate in 2004 and 2006, losing to Republicans Mark Kennedy and Michele Bachmann respectively. In September 2016, the remains of her son Jacob were discovered and positively identified.
- ^ Pesta, Abigail (July 28, 2011). "Teens Charged as Sex Offenders - Accidental Sex Offenders". Marieclaire.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
- ^ "Patty Wetterling questions sex offender laws | City Pages". Archived from the original on November 13, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- ^ Gunderson, Dan (June 18, 2007). "Sex offender laws have unintended consequences". MPR news.
- ^ Mellema, Matt (August 11, 2014). "Sex Offender Laws Have Gone Too Far". Slate. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
- ^ Sethi, Chanakya (August 15, 2014). "Reforming the Registry". Slate.
- ^ Wright, Richard (March 16, 2009). Sex Offender Laws: Failed Policies, New Directions. New York: Springer Publishing Company. pp. 101–116. ISBN 978--0-8261-1109-8. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015.