Author: FAC Contributor #3

Spectrum posted an article today asking the question; “Many first-time sex offenders on the spectrum may not understand the laws they break. How should their crimes be treated?” Many autistic individuals become embroiled in the criminal justice system because they commit offenses without understanding the implications of their actions or the law. Often these are sexual offenses. The consequences are

Lawmakers are using “stranger danger” myths to keep almost a million Americans out of work and on the verge of homelessness. Following are some excerpts from a GREAT article in the Huffington Post Winters is a member of an expanding and invisible American underclass. In 1994, when Congress passed the first sex offender registration law, the list was reserved for

My name is Melissa Grady and I a faculty member at the Catholic University of America’s National Catholic School of Social Service. I along with my colleague Jill Levenson, professor at Barry University in Florida, are conducting a study aimed at understanding the role of trauma and later sexual offending. There are two surveys associated with this study. The first

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Steven Stryker, a Navy veteran, died after his court-appointed guardian, Rebecca Fierle, determined that he should not receive life-saving actions, despite Stryker’s desire that they be administered. According to the Sentinel, “When investigators interviewed Fierle, she told them it was difficult to find facilities for Stryker because he was a registered sex offender.” But that

As soon as I saw the headline, I started to worry for New Mexico. The New York Times last week ran a story with the headline, “Jeffrey Epstein Registered as a Sex Offender in 2 States. In New Mexico He Didn’t Have to.” and I immediately thought to myself, ‘OH NO!’ How long will it be until the State of

If you had the opportunity to view the “Untouchable” documentary, you will recognize that Shawna Baldwin is the young woman featured in the film.  Shawna was the guest speaker on the July Monthly Membership call where she shared her story, her courage to be heard, and her decision to let her voice make a difference.  She also offered suggestions for