Civil rights organization says it’s unconstitutional to label people for life without individual review
DETROIT – Today the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU), on behalf of 10 people who all previously won federal court rulings that Michigan’s Sex Offenders Registration Act (SORA) is unconstitutional, filed a federal class action lawsuit against state officials over the latest version of the law. It is the fourth federal lawsuit the civil rights organization has filed challenging SORA in the past decade. The federal courts and the Michigan Supreme Court have repeatedly ruled that the earlier iteration of SORA was unconstitutional.
Today’s lawsuit, Does v. Whitmer, or Does III, filed in U.S. District Court, argues that the new SORA statute, which went into effect in 2021, is also unconstitutional. Specifically, SORA fails to provide for individual review or an opportunity for removal, forcing tens of thousands of people, including people who didn’t even commit a sex offense, to be branded as sex offenders and subjected to extensive, and in most cases life-long restrictions, without any consideration of their individual circumstances, which is a violation of their due process and equal protection rights. The 193-page complaint also argues that SORA imposes unconstitutional retroactive punishment, including by retroactively extending the registration terms of thousands of people to life.
Michigan has one of the largest registries in the country; there are approximately 45,000 Michigan registrants, and almost 10,000 more who live out of state.
“For nearly a decade, we have been fighting to put an end to an ineffective, bloated and unconstitutional registry that not only fails to protect survivors, but in fact makes families and communities less safe,” said Miriam Aukerman, ACLU of Michigan senior staff attorney. “The latest version of SORA is more of the same, and still puts tens of thousands of people on this list automatically without any consideration of their individual circumstances. What we’re asking for is very simple: consider the facts in each case before someone is tarred as a sex offender for life. Dying shouldn’t be the only way a person can get off the registry.”
See the available court documents at the links below:
Is it not considered excessive punishment. Considering in my case I did 8 months in jail, now subject to 5 years probation( which is the max) then be subject to 15 years of the registry. Thats got be excessive punishment since I already did time and now on probation for rest my sentence.
Issue 1 How much information about a person forced to register is provided to the public? The Public Sex Offense Registry site includes: person’s name, date of birth, registration number, photo, registration details, physical characteristics, known alias(es), scars, marks, tattoos, offense information, address information, campus information, employment information, and vehicle information. This info was compelled speech. It’s not information I wanted to give I was forced to give or it’s another crime if I don’t (misdemeanor) which then I could face prison time the. When I get out be compelled give the information anyways.
Issue 2 Can I track specific moves of a person forced to register?Yes. After doing a search for an PFR, click on the persons’s photo or “View Details” and you will be taken to the Details page. Click on “Track” in the upper righthand corner. Enter your email address two times and check the box to acknowledge that you agree with the “Terms of Use”. Click on “Register”. You will receive an email confirmation within 24 hours. Any time the PFR moves, changes employment, or enrolls in school, you will be notified via email.
source of information
(call me crazy but isn’t that not the definition of cyberstalking? Which if I am not mistaken is a crime. Also one point was considered a sex crime? So isn’t registry encouraging people to stalk PFR? To follow someone in that much detail is stalking especially if it’s not wanted. Which is also a violation of 3rd amendment of constitution right to privacy.)<== my own words.
Does it not stand to reason to those with common sense, when you have public say they think people on registry deserve to die. Not only prove the extreme stigma against people on the registry but also proves it’s dangerous for people that is on it. Also proves it’s isn’t being used to protect the public and children it’s being used as a hit list for those that are taking “justice” in their own hands aka vigilantes. The state should be responsible and held accountable for every incident and every PFR that is hurt or injured or killed or targeted on the registry. Considering the fact it’s their tool they claim it as such to monitor PFR. Also another point is watching those that are already in trouble with the law is counterproductive, considering the people who commit the crimes most are those who are unknown to state or federal because of not a having a criminal background. People shouldn’t fear the known, they should fear the unknown. So all actuality money,time,effort, taxes, resources are being wasted on a poor excuse called SORA because they make billions off it a year. It’s just another profit scheme.
I’ve also cited actual information off the Michigan sora site that states what is disclosed to the public, also fact people can be stalked, I mean tracked on the registry. Was not allowed pass this sites filter.
Has anyone tried this;
MI Forms MC 406a and MC 406b
I may be speaking opinion here, but I believe state police power they are to have is to protect the state upon specifics needs fitting for their jurisdiction, not also have the power given to them to monitor and watch anyone they select both virtually and physically useing the registry. I think thats an overreach of power and does not checkout through check and balances of power between both people courts and state. Constitution even spells out majority reserves of power left after what was spelled out for government is supposed be left to the people. Instead government is seeking more power. Again thst is tyrannical.
There’s a popular expression “ actions speak louder than words. If our words cant change things, then might be time take action. Everyone on and off the registry knows it’s highly unconstitutional. It’s closest the state has gotten try get more power while doing it illegally, and violating civil and constitutional rights.
I wrote a long in depth, detailed letter to AG Dana Nessel yesterday. No reply as of yet, I dont know if she’ll act on this but shes supposedly big on civil rights so we’ll see. I’ll update if I get a reply and for those that emailed MSP/AG or used the Injunction for a job or anything, update us in here if ya will. thanks
Is there any update? Like a conference, or court hearing or something to clarify and explain what is happening? What won’t happen? Also what can happen in future? Anything?
Because msp when I brought up vigilante attacks toward me(threats, vandalism to my car, and even mother got assaulted for being associated with me from last house I lived at) though msp said they haven’t heard people on registry being attacked. Well heres a source for them. Also for others that want evidence. https://on-vigilantism.blogspot.com/
Just checkin in, no response from anyone so far, AG or MSP. However, I have another matter dealing with a background check, they reported that data, it is legally invalid. In my case, the actual charge that qualified me for SOR doesnt show up anymore, only SOR listing. Without that, it would be clean. I’m in talks with a FCRA/Civil Rights attorney who told me Friday he’s reaching out to Co-counsel to help him with this case. I refuse to take no for an answer and neither of ya should, regardless what the state of Michigan says at this moment, last time I checked fed govt dont answer to Michigan. I’m annoyed, pissed, and more determined than ever to force them to comply and yes I have every intention on suing for punitive damages, along with alot of other things. Keep in mind, I have mentioned this to a company who used “Checkr”, they declined me, forwarded legal language to them and Checkr, background approved! Not getting into deep details either about my case with the FCRA attorney as its fresh. No way in hell i will let it go nor will I sit idle as they allow opportunities to be flushed down the toilet. Absolutly not!
One more thing, detailed complaints have been filed against this background company (First Advantage) with the CFPB and the FTC who investigate FCRA violations.
Out of courtesy of conservative star FBI strikes again. Former FBI supervisor faces 122-year sentence after convictions for multiple sexual assaultsJuly 29, 2025 by John Nightbridge
ROCKVILLE, MD – An FBI supervisor, Eduardo Valdivia, has been found guilty of multiple counts of rape and sexual offenses, facing up to 122 years in prison. Montgomery County’s State’s Attorney, John McCarthy, emphasized the gravity of the crimes and the misuse of Valdivia’s FBI training to target victims. Are t these same people responsible for throwing people on registry for sex offenses especially the ones that are “computer crimes”? Will he face the registry? Or get special treatment for being a FBI agent and endangering the public for being a “dangerous” person? Just to use the state and FBI own words against them.
Well, I decided to email Tim@the ACLU, I asked a couple questions and he emailed me back. Well needless to say he was a jerk.
He could of been a little more polite and professional in answering my email just saying anyway here is his response.
I do not know how many times I have to tell you we do not give individual updates. As to why nothing has changed, we sent out a notice of what was happening about one month ago. In short, the State filed for an appeal and the Judge granted it so everything is on hold until the appeal process is over. Because of that no one is removed and no bill will move forward and you must keep registering as you have done in the past.
Respectfully Tim P ACLU of Michigan SOR Specialist
I liked to get everyone’s response to this if that’s ok. Thanks in advance.
I made a post about news I found today about a FBI supervisor coercing and raping and sexually assault young women. It didn’t make past aclu filter. But question I had was will he be getting the same punishment with same stigma rest of us are forced to endure. Or will he get special treatment and be excluded from registry?
Mariam Ackerman said that they was going to clarify through the Court the things we won on that haven’t been appealed by the State She also said they were still negotiating on making some kind of settlement even though this probably won’t due much I would like to be informed I don’t believe that part has anything to due with the 6 Circuit Any news updates or thoughts would be appreciated
The last thing I read was a court mediator was looking it over to expedite ( fast track ) the ruling,
that said,I think this has gone on long enough. Send it to Robert’s and make him defend his position on this unconstitutional federal law!
And leave states laws to the states!
Heres a question, since im still on probation sand not “officially on registry” since im “in custody” still. Even though I had to sign all my information the date of my release from jail on the registry. Doesn’t that mean that since it’s ruled unconstitutional and all other rulings thst follow mean they can’t actually apply me onto the registry fully? From what I was told on previous page here, registry time dont start til after your off probation. So in this case, since it’s ruled unconstitutional the registry they want me on, wouldn’t they be required to remove me? If I get placed on new registry then wouldn’t that again be case of ex post facto?
I was searching and my understnding was that Oral arguments were supposed to be this week. However, I did not see anything at all. Does anyone know if Oral arguments occured today? The next scheduled dates for Oral arguments is September 2 – 5, Then Sometime in October.
From what I read here https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Bills/Bill?ObjectName=2025-SB-0424 the bill literally covers nothing what the judge ordered. All they did was fix some grammar issues redefines a few terms and put in 2 clauses to try cover the “gap” for possible sanctuary for out of state offenses. The bill is still completely unconstitutional. They didn’t fix anything.
This has to be the most illegally allowed criminal activity happening in America currently. None of this makes any type of sense except to say no one is really working in anyone’s favor here due to public opinion which isn’t even accurate. I truly can’t wrap my brain around the fact that this was already tried and brought to the highest court for pre-2011. I don’t understand how it’s possible for there to be a stay concerning pre-2011 ex post facto. This is all so corrupt! What are we actually waiting for the 6th district to rule on? Ex post facto? -that was already decided!! Tier classification? – that was already decided!!! – lastly decided by the 6th district court with SCOTUS refusing to rule!!! How are we here now looking to decide on the very same crap?!?
Let’s quit beating around the bush and start calling it as it is. There’s a thing registry is designed for public humiliation. It’s like durn western times having a picture posted on wall stating “wanted for whatever crime”. Way registry serves right now we are cuffed to a block where people throw knives and bullets at us. The restrictions created thst kept getting added to registry only served make it harder to integrate into society and make it hard to work live in a place, or survive. It was designed to kill us without them getting their hands dirty. The proposed bills now in circulation is to give death penalty to us. (Forgot which states) but that is evident enough what states intentions are with the registry. Courts are idiots if they believe the lies that it’s designed to prevent recidivism and protect society and children. It doesn’t it only serves as political homicide. Congrats, Michigan amongst other states are murderers. Definitely protecting people, when state themselves are trying kill people.
As far as I know this was the last court communication and it was off the record as far as I know;
Jul 18, 2025
Minute Entry for remote proceedings before District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith: Status Conference held on 7/17/2025 (Court Reporter: None Present, Not on the Record) (EBut) Modified on 7/21/2025 (EBut).
**** Check your self!!!!!!!!
just looked up my registry file and it was gone!
Cr*p I did a map search and found it 🤯
So I checked in today on my normal schedule. The print out form I received following my check in was a lot more simplified with little detail provided compared to prior print outs I have received. I still have no end date listed but it no longer says lifetime on it. There was a new section though that said pending address. I am still listed as a Tier 3 which is problematic along with no end date…this was concluded in 2020 and that is why the current stay should not be relevant to pre-2011.