A group of former sex offenders may continue with their lawsuit, challenging the constitutionality of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC’s) restrictive policy on internet access for those convicted of sex crimes. A federal district court has ruled that it is premature at this early stage of the litigation to dismiss the lawsuit. Full Article
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This is a winnable case for Registrants. There is precedence for this.
Packingham v. North Carolina is an important case because the United States Supreme Court upheld a decision that SO’s being prohibited from accessing social media websites violated First Amendment Rights.
I hope the Registrants aimed high on their lawsuit because this is the only way the system will change – in the pocketbook!
Take IDOC for all they’re worth! Show them no mercy for they show you none.
Big difference in this case vs a case that covered all registrants. This one, I believe, is about RSOs who are currently in control on the DOC and on parole and/or probation. Huge difference in the latitude given by courts to control people still on supervision.
It will be interesting to see how it works out though.
Since some government entities have started using electronic-only methods of document submission as well as using the internet to post notices, it’s going to become harder and harder to impose a total ban on internet use. That would effectively cut people off from access to their government in those localities.