Reforming Florida’s Sex Offender Registry Laws
Last week brought a significant development in the fight for registry reform. In a case involving Florida registrant Clements, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court’s dismissal of a habeas corpus petition and remanded the case for further proceedings. Why is this such a big deal? Because the court ruled that Florida’s sex offender residency restrictions—when considered
Read moreHello from the FAC YouTube Channel! Thank you everyone for your continued interest and support of our channel. I’m getting ready to post a video of court highlights and watched a case I hadn’t heard before: People vs. Lymon out of Michigan. Once again I had to listen to a lawyer with a straight face make the government’s case that
Read moreFolks, the threat is real. For decades lawmakers have argued that being publicly listed on a sex offender registry is not punishment. The Florida registration statute even says “[r]eleasing information concerning sexual offenders… and the release of such information to the public by a law enforcement agency or public agency, will further the governmental interests of public safety. The designation
Read moreA new law going into effect in West Virginia this week requires people on the sex offender registry to pay an annual fee of $125. The law, which can be found here, will hopefully be challenged. Since the registry is supposed to be non-punitive, it is questionable whether a fee imposed as part of a criminal sentence or as a
Read moreEvery so often we like to refresh our reminder that there are scammers out there using the sex offender registry to target people. Today the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Hinds County (Mississippi) Sheriffs Office posted warnings that scammers impersonating law enforcement officers are calling people on the registry and demanding money in order to remove warrants against them.
Read moreA New Jersey appellate court ruled that individuals seeking removal must substantively prove they no longer pose a threat to public safety in any way, not just sexual reoffense. A Middlesex County judge granted two men’s petitions on the basis that they were not a substantial risk of sexual reoffense, but the state appealed arguing the court failed to consider
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