How the Supreme Court Spread a False Statistic About Sex Offenders

When a false idea gains traction, spreading far and wide, it’s always interesting to try to trace it back to its source to figure out what caused it to catch on in the first place. The New York Times has an NY Times: Dubious Data Belies Supreme Court’s Stance on Repeat Sex Offenders, and it pertains to a common myth about sex offenders: that they have extremely high recidivism rates relative to other types of criminals. Full Article Related NY Times: Dubious Data Belies Supreme Court’s Stance on Repeat Sex…

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Stay in the loop with ACSOL news and events! Starting immediately, ACSOL alerts will be distributed via SMS Text message, in addition to the existing email option. Enter your e-mail address in the right sidebar —> or below for email alerts, or text the word acsolalerts to 25827 in order to receive the same alerts as a text message – no computer or smart phone needed.

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Public Crime Registries Rarely Work, So Why Do They Continue to Grow?

____ ____ says he’s a changed man. After spending 25 years in jail for killing a man during a home invasion, ____ is looking for a second chance: “I’m not in the lifestyle I used to be in. I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I’m just trying to build something up before it’s too late. I’m 55 years old and I don’t have social security, retirement, or a pension.” While it’s difficult for most ex-felons to reintegrate into society, ____’s road is particularly tough. That’s because he is required to…

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Dubious Data Belies Supreme Court’s Stance on Repeat Sex Offenders

Last week at the Supreme Court, a lawyer made what seemed like an unremarkable point about registered sex offenders. “This court has recognized that they have a high rate of recidivism and are very likely to do this again,” said the lawyer, Robert C. Montgomery, who was defending a North Carolina statute that bars sex offenders from using Facebook, Twitter and other social media services. The Supreme Court has indeed said the risk that sex offenders will commit new crimes is “frightening and high.” That phrase, in a 2003 decision upholding Alaska’s sex offender registration law, has…

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