A Chancery court judge has rejected the American Civil Liberties Union’s challenge to a state law requiring GPS monitoring of certain convicted sex offenders who have been released from custody and are on probation. Full Article
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AZ: Accused found not guilty of sex crime
KINGMAN – Although ____ _____ of Kingman was found not guilty of molestation of a child Tuesday in Superior Court, he still lives with the stigma of being accused. “This has been 13 months of absolute hell. Being accused as a predator, a child molester, anything among those lines, a sex offender. Full Article
Read MoreNJ: Are Reforms Needed For Megan’s Law?
When ____ ____ got out of prison for a rape he did not commit, he spent the next 20 years on New Jersey’s sex offender registry. Only when he was formally cleared this month did his name come off a list that carries a lifetime of stigma. The case has put a spotlight on whether the registry — created by Megan’s Law and designed to notify parents of predators nearby — is too broad and even ineffective. Full Article
Read MoreFL: Facing legal challenge, Pasco County changes strict sex offender law
The Pasco County Commission on Tuesday amended its sex offender ordinance, the 2015 law that severely restricts where certain registered offenders can live or even go in the county. But why the commission changed the law — which is being challenged in court — is in dispute. Patrick Leduc, the attorney who is challenging the county’s ordinance on behalf of three registered sex offenders, said the changes were designed to protect the ordinance from his legal challenge. Full Article
Read MoreNY: Senate passes Funke bills to root out, crack down on sex offenders
The New York State Senate today passed S.4776, a bill sponsored by Senator Rich Funke, which would expand the information available on the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) sex offender registry’s website. The Senate also passed S.4765, a bill sponsored by Funke that would make it a felony for a sex offender to fail to appear at a court hearing to determine the risk level of the offender. Both bills passed with bipartisan support. Full Press Release
Read MoreAL: Court rules Martin’s lawsuit against Chilton Co. over anti-clustering law can continue
We previously reported on the case Martin v. Houston, CASE NO. 2:14-CV-905-WKW [WO] (M.D. Alabama 2016), in which the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama considered a pastor’s religious discrimination claims involving the state legislature’s enactment and enforcement of a sex offender law that prevented the pastor’s transitional housing program. The law in question (Alabama Code § 45-11-82) (the “Act”) prohibited individuals whose names are listed on the Alabama sex offender list from living together in the same home, and further provides that offenders cannot live on…
Read MoreMA: Judge Critical of Sex-Offender Registry Confirmed to Massachusetts High Court
Making a mild criticism of sex offender registries looked like it could have hurt a Massachusetts judge in her bid to serve on the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. But on Wednesday the Governor’s Council, an eight-member elected body responsible for approving judicial nominees, voted unanimously in favor of Superior Court Judge Kimberly Budd’s nomination to serve as an associate justice. During a grilling by the Governor’s Council last week, Budd had said the state Sex Offender Registry is too expansive, ensnaring people who are far from a threat to anyone.…
Read MoreOR: Calling all Sex Offenders
Are you a sexual deviant? Are you a serial rapist? A child molester? A sexual predator? Well welcome to Oregon, the government has got your back. Full Article
Read MoreFL: FAC Members Sue Florida Over Internet Identifier Law
Moments ago, The Florida Justice Institute, Inc. and the law firm of Weitzner & Jonas, P.A. filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to strike down the State of Florida’s requirement that registered citizen’s “Internet Identifiers” be reported. Full Article
Read MoreMN: Appeals Court overturns conviction of man accused of soliciting a minor for sex over the internet
In a decision unique to the digital era, a man’s conviction for soliciting a minor for sex over the internet was overturned because he wasn’t allowed to claim the child lied about her age. Full Article
Read MoreMA: Nominee’s comments make her unfit for Supreme Judicial Court
BOSTON (State House News Service) – Superior Court Judge Kimberly Budd’s “ideological statements” have “no place on the Supreme Judicial Court and render her unfit to serve as a justice,” according to Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, a Taunton Republican. … Under questioning by Governor’s Councilor Robert Jubinville, Budd also said she thinks there are too many crimes included on the Sex Offender Registry, including people who don’t need to be on the listing. “Not from my professional experience, but just hearing about people who wind up on the registry that don’t…
Read MoreFL: Sex Offenders’ Fight for Rehabilitation
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) – For sex offenders living in Leon County, getting reintegrated into society means connecting with the right people. The Insiders team looked at why finding housing and employment is much more difficult than most think. Full Article
Read MoreIL: Inmate may have to register as sex offender for flashing guard
For the first time, a Cook County Jail inmate may be required to register as a sex offender for repeatedly exposing himself to correctional officers, a sheriff’s official said Thursday. ____ ____, who is awaiting trial in a 2015 murder in Humboldt Park, was held in contempt of court Thursday by Judge Vincent Gaughan for allegedly exposing himself to a female guard on Wednesday, said Cara Smith, policy chief for Sheriff Tom Dart. … Smith said she hopes the possibility of ____ becoming a registered sex offender sends a message…
Read MoreNY: Low-level sex offender monitoring by state coming to an end
A bill to extend supervision of low-level sex offenders for another decade failed to gain approval in the Legislature in 2016. Full Article
Read MoreIN: Life parole lacks active monitoring
Earlier this year, 33-year-old ____ ____. was charged with molesting four local children. He recently agreed to plead guilty and to disclose details about even more victims. The Mishawaka man admitted to similar incidents before, in two other Indiana counties. He left prison in 2010, and as a sex offender on parole, he was subject to strict rules including no alcohol, drugs or pornography. He couldn’t be around children or change addresses without permission. That period of parole supervision, which included frequent contact with a parole officer and the possibility…
Read MoreNY: Gov. Cuomo orders Pokémon Go prohibition for sex offenders on parole
For sex offenders in New York, it will be Pokémon No Go. Gov. Cuomo Sunday ordered that the state make it a condition of parole for sex offenders that they stay away from Pokémon Go and similar interactive games, the Daily News has learned. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is barring all registered sex offenders under supervision from downloading, accessing, or playing such Internet gaming activities, under the directive. Full Article Related Pokémon NO! Disturbing investigation finds pokémon popping up at high-level sex offenders’ residences (NY Senator Jeffrey…
Read MoreNC: Sex Offender Premises Restrictions Revised in Response to Doe v. Cooper
The General Assembly amended G.S. 14-208.18, the law that makes it a Class H felony for certain registered sex offenders to go certain places. The changes are a response to Doe v. Cooper, a federal case in which the trial judge enjoined every district attorney in the state from enforcing the parts of the law he found to be unconstitutional. Today’s post takes a look at the revised law. Full Article Related NC: Federal Judge Enjoins Enforcement of Sex Offender Premises Restriction NC: Bans sex offenders from spots children gather
Read MoreIN: Judge keeps sex offender’s voting suit alive
A registered sex offender’s lawsuit against the Indiana Secretary of State and other parties will proceed, a federal judge ruled Thursday, denying the defendants’ motion to dismiss. Blackford County resident ____ ____ filed the federal suit alleging his First and 14th Amendment rights were violated because he cannot vote at the local polling place located in the Blackford County High School auxiliary gym. ____’s suit challenges I.C. 35-42-4-14 that prohibits “serious sex offenders” from entering school property. The law took effect in 2015, and ____ meets the definition of serious sex offender…
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