Good news. A Win in Illinois!
In April, we wrote about an FAC member currently exiled from his home country because of International Megan’s Law.
One of our members, who has a decades-old conviction, for which he got probation, left the country 17 years ago and hasn’t come back. He went on to live a good life in this other country, established a business, got married and had three children. In October, his mother fell gravely ill and he returned to see her. When he flew into the country (another state) he did what he was supposed to do and registered his one-week stay, letting them know he would be going home on November 7th.
Our country sent a “green notice” to the country he now (and for the past 17 years) lives, warning them of his arrival, flight information and registration flyer. Not surprisingly, the authorities were waiting for him and upon arrival he was immediately turned back. Unwilling to step foot in the US again, he’s currently exiled in a third country, unwilling to be subjected to a lifetime of persecution in the US and unable to return home to his family. He desperately misses them and they miss him.
The state he visited was Illinois and his presence on their registry is what precluded his return to his family.
Just several hours ago, attorney Ron Kleiner, who appeared pro hac vice in Illinois, argued a petition to have this individual removed from their State’s registry, The court granted his petition, finding that the individual’s continued presence on the Illinois registry was a grossly disproportionate punishment for the crime, served no benefit to the people of Illinois (as he is no longer there) and ordered his immediate removal from their registry!
This is a significant win, a tremendous relief to the individual who can now be re-united with his family and hope for those who are listed on a registry in a State they no longer live!
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Can someone site this case? I have searched all over the interwebs and can’t find anything. I would love to see the actual court case of this as-applied challenge for myself and not just the articles and comments describing how great this was. Thank you.
COME TO FLORIDA ON VACATION AND LEAVE A LIFETIME REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER
A registered individual goes to Florida on vacation, does the right thing and registers with the Sheriffs office in the county he is vacationing presuming he’ll only be on the registry during the time he is in Florida. WRONG!
Although he is only required to register in his home State for 10 years and eventually is removed at the end of 10 years, he will be on the Florida sex offender registry for life! That’s because Florida, to inflate their registry count, keeps people on its public sex offender registry after they returned to their home state, moved out of Florida, were deported or even died!
The purpose of “Megan’s Law” is to inform the public of “dangerous” people in their communities. But what purpose does Florida’s registry serve when the individual is no longer in the community and no longer in the state? Only to shame for life!
Worse, Florida is perhaps the only state that allows its registry to be indexed by search engines. Meaning; if you Google your name, your sex offender flyer comes right up. As harmful as this is for registrants in Florida, it’s particularly harmful and unnecessary for a registrant who is no longer in the state, who is not on a publicly indexed registry in their state or who has been removed from the registry in their home state.
Less than half the people on the Florida sex offender registry are living in Florida communities. Less than half!
Individuals on the Florida registry who are no longer in Florida, coordinated in conjunction with the Florida Action Committee, are looking to bring a lawsuit against the State seeking their removal from the Florida registry. If anyone is interested in participating or contributing to the challenge, please contact [email protected].
Warg, Agreed, Florida shows its punitive registry, when it refuses to remove dead people, vacationers, and people who no longer live in the state. If we could fund this case, and win , Florida would lose 1/2 the money it receives. The best way to hurt Florida, is in the pocketbook. I wonder how different the Florida registry will look, and how lawmakers will treat it, when the funding starts to dry up. Lets face it , follow the money is what’s it all been about for Florida..
Susan, I totally agree with you. This challenge would help everyone in Florida and out of state people WE ALL really need to get this challenge funded.
As a non Florida resident I am furious as all non Floridains should be . There stealing Federal money that my federal taxes are going for and falsely cooking the books to get it . Fraud ! fraud ! Fraud!
NY does this as well, but their site doesn’t pop up immediately when I search my name, instead there are a few sites similar to the mugshot sites.
I haven’t lived in the US for almost two years and they refuse to remove me on the grounds of the Doe v O’Donnell ruling even though my original offense occurred in another state which would fall under the decision of Richard which had the same outcome as this Illinois case.
Hopefully something comes of this as I don’t want the same to happen to me and be separated from my family and life
Roe* not Richard
I had a 8 yr sentence for sex abuse in Texas and they making me register for life . This happen 37yrs ago .
There are two ways to send donations for the OUT OF STATE LAWSUIT please send check to Ron Kliener directly at 905 SW 9th terrace. Fort Lauderdale FL, 33315 Note: Please send signature required.
If it’s a credit card call Ron Kliener directly to give payment… (954)540-0170
Option b) is to go to the FAC website under Donate click on Out of State Challenge. Make sure you choose the Out of State Challenge, so the money gets to the appropriate Challenge.
If you want to live a peaceful well rounded life after probation, it appears the only way you can is to leave the state. The suit Ron Kliener is bringing may not help you now, but it may help you later to escape Florida, and not have to deal with State and city restrictions.. I was sadden when it was decided that we ( all SO’s and loved ones,) were separated, not to be one group, but as those in Florida and those outside. I believe Ron Kliener can win this suit and it would help all in the long run. I have looked several times, trying to find the funding graphic for this suit, never could find it..
Would love a one way exit visa out of this place to go somewhere one could live like a human being instead of like a tagged animal released back into the wild Just a thought
I’ll be right behind you and I won’t be surprised if there is a huge exodus of people right behind us as well.
That is the whole plan behind the scheme ( really scam ) to force sex offenders to leave the state but continue to collect federal money as if they were still Florida residents . The federal government should help finance the law suit and sue the state for fraud.