Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior and the Law

Book excerpt: Whether the issue is sexual predators, abortion, same-sex marriage, sexual harassment, or internet pornography, stories relating to sexual matters regularly make headlines in the news and provoke strong emotions. But until now, researchers looking for policy information on these issues have been limited to reading books that often express particular points of view, or to searching multi-volume professional legal resources. Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior and the Law is a single comprehensive volume, written specifically for the non-lawyer, that addresses sexual policy in the United States, as shaped by federal laws, state laws, and court cases. This unique new resource provides balanced, reliable treatment to some of the most important, highly publicized topics in society today. In approximately 150 encyclopedic entries, Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior and the Law addresses: Broad policy areas, including entertainment industry regulations, laws for teenagers, as both victims and perpetrators, and the legal aspects of marriage Significant laws, including the Child Online Protection Act, Megan′s law, and rape shield laws Medical and health policies and issues, including DNA evidence, stem-cell research, and genetic information The role of government agencies and institutions, including the Food and Drug Administration and the FBI′s Crimes against Children unit Encyclopedia of Sexual Behavior and the Law also covers significant court cases, private organizations and institutions, significant people, and many more relevant subjects. This new volume will serve as a useful guide to this complicated subject for researchers in university, community college, high school, and public libraries.