Author: FAC Contributor #1

Retroactive enforcement of Tennessee’s sex offender registry law is being challenged in a federal court lawsuit that mimics a separate, successful appeal that led to the nullification of retroactive laws in Michigan. The case, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville, argues that Tennessee’s registration laws are illegally applied retroactively. It notes that the laws and restrictions on those offenders have

UPDATE:  Patty Wetterling gave a presentation last week at a Birchwood Village, MN city council meeting—and may have convinced some to set down their pitchforks.  It was a timely visit as Birchwood has been wracked with controversy–whether to reintegrate individuals who are on the sex offense registry or legally banish them from living in the town; similar controversies rage around

When WFTV news asked FAC president, Gail Colletta, to participate in a news piece on Sex Offender clustering, we were weary of the opportunity, considering WFTV’s history of fear-mongering and myth spreading. Still, we thought it would be a good opportunity to educate the viewers on how the residency restrictions are counter-productive and classification of registrants should be risk based,

The New Jersey Supreme Court is considering whether parole rules totally prohibiting internet access for sex offenders on lifetime parole are constitutional. A lawyer representing a convicted sex offender asked the court on Nov. 7 to strike down the state parole board’s total internet ban for his client, identified only as J.I., arguing that it violates the offender’s free speech

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) — Do all the people on Nebraska’s Sex Offender Registry really need to be there? Do you think we should know the whereabouts of every sex offender in the state? Some people don’t think so. Groundbreaking research at UNO found that most sex offenders do not reoffend. Research showed that putting every sex offender on a public

The number of “sex offender” registries continues to expand and proliferate, according to a recently released federal government report. There are now 24 nations that have existing “sex offender” registries as well as an additional 16 nations that have considered or are considering the creation of “sex offender” registries. The 24 nations that currently have registries are Argentina, Australia, Bahamas,

Last week the 1st District Court of Appeal in Florida sent a registrant back to the trial court with the instructions that his convictions and sentence for a second charge resulting from the same course of conduct be vacated. The case (Elsberry v. State) came on the heels of a recent opinion from the Florida Supreme Court that ruled double

“Hard to See” is a play based on the lives of the residents of a small village tucked away in the middle of corn fields in Pahokee, Florida. The village is a colony of former sex offenders left with very few housing options. While the village was initially rejected by the others in town, Pahokee eventually embraced the registered citizens,

Candy and costumes cover the Tri-State on Halloween night, often under the watchful eye of mom and dad. But who’s watching the people who can’t be seen? Whether it’s called “Operation Trick or Treat,” or “Halloween Search,” or any other name with a black and orange theme, law enforcement across the country check up on registered sex offenders on the

The Supreme Court agreed Friday to decide whether North Carolina can ban registered sex offenders from using social media websites and other sites that allow minors to have accounts.   The North Carolina General Assembly enacted a law in 2008 that bans the use of “commercial social networking websites” by registered sex offenders.   Lester Packingham had been convicted six years