ACSOL: Take action in response to proposed changes to SORNA
From ACSOL:
The purpose of this email is to alert you that the proposed federal SORNA regulations are now moving forward after receiving approval from the Office of Management and Budget. Below is an article that I have just written about this and I hope you will not only notify the members of your group about this development but also urge them to do something to stop the regulations from becoming final. I have identified 3 methods and you may know of more. Please join me in getting out this important message. Thanks! Janice
SORNA Regulations Moving Forward, Now Awaiting AG Approval
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved proposed SORNA regulations issued more than a year ago. This is a significant step forward toward finalization of the regulations which are now under consideration by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“Every registrant, family member and supporter must voice their opposition to the proposed SORNA regulations,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “This is the only possible way to stop the regulations from causing great harm to every person on the registry as well as their families.”
ACSOL recommends that individuals state their opposition to the proposed SORNA regulations by using three different methods. First, call the U. S. Department of Justice and leave a comment on the agency’s comment line at (202) 353-1555. Second, send an online message to the agency at https://www.justice.gov/doj/webform/your-message-department-justice. Third, mail a letter to Attorney General Garland at U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20530-0001.
Each communication should include the following information and/or information in the attached response which was developed by a team of legal professionals and sent to the U. S. Department of Justice in September 2020.
- Proposed regulations we oppose published in Federal Register on Aug. 13, 202, in Proposed Rulemaking, Docket No. OAG 157 (AG Order No. 4759–2020)
- Proposed regulations would significantly harm almost 1 million U.S. families
- Proposed regulations are vague because they create requirements that registrants cannot meet such as registering up to 4 times a year
- Proposed regulations have a chilling effect on travel within U.S. that will harm family members in need as well as limit educational opportunities
- Proposed regulations violate state rights to determine registration procedures
- Proposed regulations have a chilling effect on First Amendment rights of registrants because they require disclosure of remote communications identifiers
There is no deadline by which Attorney General Garland must reach a final decision regarding the proposed SORNA regulations. Therefore, that decision could be made at any time. The decision of the Attorney General will be published in the Federal Register and Congress will have 30 days to review that decision before it becomes law.
Proposed regulations – Aug 2020
Response to proposed regs – Oct 2020 – FINAL
THIS IS STRICT LIABILITY ON STEROIDS!
HOPE THE HONORABLE AG WILL TAKE HIS TIME TO VERIFY AND VALIDATE THE FINDINGS! and change things, so that all can co-exist!
THIS IS OFF THE CHAIN!
If I move from Florida to Maryland, I won’t have to register in Maryland, since their supreme court recently relieved anyone whose offense predated Oct 1995 from having to register. However, according to present federal SORNA rules, I need to continue registering for another couple of years (at which time I’ll have registered for 25 years). However, Maryland says they won’t register me for SORNA. The federal govt won’t tell me how I’d go about registering for SORNA if Maryland refuses to register me. So, I also wonder, if federal SORNA adds more registration rules on top of what a state requires, will the state even be willing to support those rules? If not, how would a PFR in that state be able to conform to federal SORNA?
RayO
Good Lord man. This is more confusing than a one armed man trying to solve a Rubix Cube. I feel bad for all of us because I think they purposely make things so difficult to comply with that we get arrested. Judges already ruled that WE are responsible for knowing the laws that affect us on the registry.
Can someone mail me a copy of the 10,000 page registry requirements? I think the real predators are those making new laws that can send you to prison but are supposedly not punitive in nature.
I am pissed for people like you Ray, me and so many others. I have abstained from numerous Holiday visits to relatives because I do not want to have to register their home. I am missing Thanksgiving which will be a week long stay for my family out of state. My family offered to pay for my trip but like I said, I don’t want compliance officers showing up at their doors and causing family grief.
Also, I am ashamed of the judges that are afraid to do the right thing due to letting their emotions and personal feelings about sex offense get in the way of the law and constitutional rights.
RayO, Again, I am sorry that things are so confusing. If you figure it out, let us all know.
RayO….
I will have the same predicament in several years!
Is Federal Law Supreme over State Law? What is the Legal Protocol?!??
Most Attorneys won’t touch this sort of thing; Some may, that is if you have a big wallet to pay for their ‘research time’
So, Once Again, it is a Slippery Slope..
You Just have to hope you get the Right Judge!
As CherokeeJ says, keeps us informed of any new information that you may receive or uncover
Thanks
CARDONA v. COMMONWEALTH How will they get around this in KY?
I’ve read all 92 pages. In my opinion, this will have no effect on registrants who are only required to register in Florida, since Florida’s requirements are already as stringent as, or more stringent than, those required by Federal SORNA. This may impact registrants in other states with requirements that are less strict. In Florida, we already have to register 2 times or 4 times per year (there is no one who must only register once a year in Florida). Our temporary residence reporting requirement is 3 days, whereas it is 7 days in Federal SORNA. Also, we are already required to report internet identifiers and vehicle information. So I really don’t think this will matter at all for us in Florida. Yes, registrants in states with less strict laws may be impacted, especially where the registration periods are significantly different in their state law vs. Federal SORNA.
Here is my honest opinion
It seems the more lawsuits and wins we (As a collective) get or grief we cause to the U.S or state Government, they hit back with 100 times the force. We get a win, they create a new counter active law.
Also the Governments will spend MILLIONS just to win against one registered person. That is because that one win could affect just that one person but can be used as a precedence for future cases.
This reminds me of Mike Tyson. People fought him and were brave enough to get in the ring for the chance to earn some money. Most got knocked out willingly in the first 30 seconds to keep from getting brain damage. BUT, eventually someone defeated Tyson and his reign was soon short lived once someone proved he was not invincible.
I just hope this does not take too many more years, as many of us are getting old (My Crime took place 30 years ago) and I do not want to end up in prison as an elderly person knowing there is almost no health care in the system (I experienced almost dying in there). And for what? Most are being sent back for a simple FTR and getting more time than their original offenses.