IN: County prosecutor – State effort valuable tool for parents seeking child care

A new state registry is meant to help parents look into the backgrounds of the people their children spend time with. Last year, the Indiana State Legislature approved a child abuse registry, which became available in July. The registry, which is searchable by name, will provide information about everyone convicted of child abuse-related offense in Indiana from the past five years. Full Article

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Editorial, 8/5: Ruling gives justice to juvenile offenders

[journalstar.com] The blindfold seen on statues of Lady Justice worldwide represents how the judicial system must not be affected by outside influences. All who enter a courtroom must, too, be treated fairly. A Monday ruling by the 8th Circuit Court confirmed that justice must be blind to geographical boundaries and equitable to all juvenile Nebraskans, regardless of where they committed their offenses. By reaffirming that a teen should not be placed on the state’s sex offender registry because of a juvenile court ruling in his previous home state of Minnesota,…

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The Well-Meaning ‘Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act’ Could Be A Trojan Horse

It’s hard for me to argue about a proposed law called Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. After all, I’m co-founder and CEO of ConnectSafely.org, an internet safety group, and have been active in child protection organizations for decades. But this proposed law, which has the support of several prominent Republican and Democratic senators, may have some unintended consequences both for tech companies and the very people the bill hopes to protect. Read more Additional article from Slate.com  

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LA: Debate builds over suggestion by child rape victim’s mother to create sex crimes arrest list

ST. TAMMANY –  Should there be a public list for sex crimes arrests similar to the state’s convicted sex offender registry? The mother of an alleged child rape victim is making that suggestion after learning her child’s accused attacker had been free on bond for almost eight years, awaiting trial for child pornography charges. “I’d love to open up a dialogue because there’s no reason that what happened to my daughter should happen to anybody else’s daughter,” she said, “That way we can look at these people and say, hey,…

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WI: Milwaukee may dramatically loosen sex offender residency restrictions

The City of Milwaukee may dramatically loosen its residency restrictions for sex offenders. The city’s current ordinance bans many sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of places like schools, parks, and day care centers. A measure set to be considered Monday by the Common Council would reduce that “buffer” to 500 feet. Full Article

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PA: Cumberland County DA Freed to request U.S. Supreme Court review of sex offender decision

Roughly two weeks ago the Pennsylvania Supreme Court deemed the state’s current sex offender registration law to be punishment and ultimately barred by both the state and federal constitutions when applied retroactively. That decision may now end up under review from the highest court in the country. Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said Friday his office would ask the Supreme Court of the United States to review the decision, which was handed down on July 19. Full Article

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WY: Sex offenders now pay the cost of supervision

Previous source of cash has run dry, so the state charges registrants for every change of status. A new Wyoming law means sex offenders must now pay to register or make changes to their registration. If they ignore the new law, they’re subject to criminal charges. It’s a big change for both offenders and law enforcement. In Teton County, where many residents are transient, the law was already tough to enforce. “Say we get a tourist come in from out of town who isn’t currently registered in Wyoming,” Teton County…

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PA: Some lawyers, prosecutors disagree on child interference convictions being Megan’s Law offenses

Philadelphia resident ____ ____ became a registered sex offender in Pennsylvania last year after pleading guilty to interfering with the custody of her daughter. But if prosecutors had let the 49-year-old noncustodial parent plead guilty to a different crime for signing her daughter out of school without the consent of the girl’s legal guardian in 2015, ____ wouldn’t find her photo and personal information listed with convicted child molesters, kiddie porn collectors and rapists on Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law registry. Pennsylvania prosecutors know what criminal offenses carry so-called Megan’s Law attachments,…

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TN: White County Inmates Given Reduced Jail Time If They Get Vasectomy

Inmates in White County, Tennessee have been given credit for their jail time if they voluntarily agree to have a vasectomy or birth control implant, a popular new program that is being called “unconstitutional” by the ACLU.   On May 15, 2017 General Sessions Judge Sam Benningfield signed a standing order that allows inmates to receive 30 days credit toward jail time if they undergo a birth control procedure. Full Article Women who volunteer to participate in the program are given a free Nexplanon implant in their arm, the implant helps prevent…

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