Controversial cases involving sex offenses have sparked public debate concerning the appropriateness of certain sex offender laws and their applications. These controversies have sometimes involved sex offender registries, associational restrictions prohibiting those convicted of certain sex offenses from seeing their families or associating with minors, and residency restrictions banning them from living near schools. Sometimes they have involved minors who engaged in sexting with other minors. Prosecutors typically argue that the restrictions are necessary in order to protect the rights of the public, especially vulnerable children.