Other States

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation increasing compensation for people who were wrongfully convicted. The new law allows exonerees to receive compensation not only for years they spent in prison, but also for years they were wrongfully subjected to parole, probation, or required to register as a sex offender. That raises an interesting question. Governments across the country have

When government officials are willing to speak honestly about difficult issues, they deserve recognition. At a recent Wisconsin county meeting considering a new sex offender residency restriction ordinance, a representative from the Department of Corrections acknowledged a reality that researchers, practitioners, and advocates have known for years: residency restrictions are ineffective. We applaud the officer for being willing to tell

California bill aimed at preventing registered sex offenders from holding local elected office was halted Tuesday after a Senate committee declined to advance the measure without changes opposed by its author. Assembly Bill 2753, introduced by Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria in February, would have prohibited anyone who is or has been required to register as a sex offender from running for

The Mayor of the Village of Bellmont, Illinois, is facing significant criticism after hiring a registrant to perform maintenance and manual labor work for the village. Mayor Linda Johnson made the decision to hire Matthew Berberich for maintenance work around the village. Regardless of anyone’s opinion about Mr. Berberich’s past, Illinois law does not prohibit him from obtaining lawful employment.

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that people convicted of certain sex crimes must serve an indeterminate parole term even if they do not serve time in state prison. In a unanimous opinion, the justices ruled that an Otero County man was improperly discharged from a 5 to 20-year sex offender parole term. “Indeterminate sex offender parole is in

A Missouri grandfather was arrested Friday night for doing something most families take for granted: watching his granddaughter walk across the stage at graduation. According to police, the 66-year-old man attended the graduation ceremony at Tiger Field House, where countless proud parents, grandparents, and relatives gathered to celebrate a milestone. But instead of leaving with photos and memories, he left