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
Looks like I will need to add the AG to Phase 2 of the Media Blitz. I will do that before tomorrow’s first mailing of Media Blitz #1. It’s too bad that so many in ‘authority’ are so ignorant of the subject…or could it be that they have very little else to justify their position and salary. From the AG’s congressional hearing the past two days on parents and domestic terrorism, it is quite obvious that he is clueless and just a step behind ‘Uncle Joe’ in his senility.
The DOJ goes to great length explaining how this is civil and not criminal, and therefor can be applied retroactively. But explain to me why people will be criminally charged and sentenced to a potentially longer prison term than their original sentence for violating any portion of it? Every other civil infraction in the country results in basically a fine, as is the case of a traffic citation, which is a civil infraction (excluding DUI, vehicular manslaughter, etc.). And they’re going to apply this to everyone ever convicted of a sex crime? Really? Someone who was convicted 70 years ago and did their time will be going on the registry? The crap is going to hit the fan if that happens.
Disgusted
NO one has ever answered my question. And have seen no attorney do so either. Why does someone now days who gets arrested, has the ability to plea bargain based on the registry, but those of us who were sentenced before the registry, do not get to go back and say “Whoa, wait a damn minute, where was my chance to bargain”?
So those of us who were retroactively placed on registry for life are not being punished? Well if we had NO say in the matter, but new people charged do, how is that not discrimination?
No, you are either misreading Federal SORNA or not reading the entire law. No one who was convicted 70 years ago would still be required to register under Federal SORNA provided they have a “clean record” since release. Under Federal SORNA, the clock starts ticking upon release from incarceration or from sentencing if given probation or another sentence not involving incarceration, not upon expiration of probation as in Florida. Also, even Tier III offenders have their FEDERAL obligation to register end after 25 years if they have maintained a “clean record” (the length is 15/10 years for Tier I offenders, which don’t exist under Florida law, or 25 years for Tier II offenders, which probably represents the majority offenders in Florida). Federal SORNA is immeasurably less severe in every respect than Florida’s sex offender and sexual predator registration laws. If we could replace Florida’s sex offender laws with Federal SORNA, that would be a huge godsend.
If this were really about protecting the public as they claim, then there would also be a ‘murderer’ registry, a ‘drug dealer’ registry, and a DUI registry. This plainly shows they are NOT interested in protecting the public or those offenders would have a registry too.
They are liars!!
David
According to FAC in Florida there is a murder registry. Apparently though it must be private as I have never been able to access it. I wanted to see if any murderer lived near me so I could ban them from tricker treating at my house :)~
I’m gathering that they want to make registration regulations federal?
Can someone at FAC please brief this 92 pages? My takeaway from the little bit that I read is that even if you’re from a state that has a 10 or 15 yr registration and you’ve completed it, you’re going BACK ON IT in the Federal registry. Correct?
As usual what a complete load of crap from law maker’s. Now the government wants to tighten the noose further and impose lengthier sentences than most states for simple failure to register. A war is looming, and we are becoming the front line. The people only understand one thing, and that’s action and not simple words are enough.