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There is a direct relationship between awareness of fair housing law and fair housing enforcement, as Abravanel shows in his article on the Urban Institute study. It confirms many of the impressions that advocates have about public knowledge of fair housing law and provides a powerful tool to advance the cause of fair housing. However, it is disturbing because it shows that most people who perceive a violation are unwilling to file a complaint, thus substantially diminishing the effectiveness of the law.The study confirms that people who know the most are the most likely to file complaints. This conclusion shows the need for more fair housing education, but further information is needed about why people do not think that filing a complaint is worthwhile. If the reason is that the remedies are perceived to be ineffective, more effective remedies must be provided and the public must be educated about them.

Sex offenders pose special problems for the criminal justice system. A traditional criminal case could not commence before a criminal act occurred. However, it is argued that criminal prosecutions do not effectively protect the public from future violations by sex offenders. Consequently, legislators have looked to civil remedies to prevent irreparable anti-social conduct before it occurs. These remedies have included sterilization, preventive detention, registration of offenders, and denying access to the internet. Each of these remedies poses serious treats to individual freedom. Psychologists and lawyers bear a heavy responsibility to ensure that these remedies can be justified.

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