In March, we were contacted by Attorney Amy Belger from Massachusetts. Ms. Belger was working on an Amicus Brief to be filed in the case of Doe v. City of Lynn, on behalf of registered citizens in the City of Lynn Massachusetts who were subject to a residency restriction.

Since Florida had been the “birthplace” of the residency restriction and South Florida, in particular, was where some of the most glaring examples of unintended negative consequences of these ordinances (see: Julia Tuttle Causeway) emerged, she asked for FAC’s help in supporting the pleading with some details about our situation, including the situation at the railroad tracks.

With the help of studies by Jill Levenson and pictures taken by Jeff Borg of the ACLU, the debacle in Florida provided a scary example of what could potentially happen in Lynn, Massachusetts if the ordinance were able to stand.

Fortunately, it did not stand and today the judge issued that opinion, rendering the residency restriction in Lynn invalid. (Decision can be read here: http://floridaactioncommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/CITY-OF-LYNN-DECISION-8-28-15.pdf)

Although the reasons were unrelated to the effectiveness of the ordinance or the tragic consequences in Florida, the court did recognize those on whose behalf the brief was issued by stating, “We acknowledge the amicus brief filed by Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Massachusetts Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, Inc., Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc., and Florida Action Committee.”

While it’s not a decision that helps us down here, in turn, the help will hopefully come back around when one of our challenges make their way up the court’s ladder. That’s why it’s important for all US Registered Citizens to stick together. With Unity Comes Change!

 

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