ACTION ALERT: OPEN COMMENTS NOW ACCEPTED FOR US DEPT. OF JUSTICE

ACTION ALERT: OPEN COMMENTS NOW ACCEPTED FOR US DEPT. OF JUSTICE PROPOSED RULE CHANGES FOR SORNA

On August 13, 2020, the US DoJ submitted a proposed rule change to Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), the provision of the Adam Walsh Act (AWA) that covers the sex offense registry and community notification laws. As of 2020, 157 jurisdictions (18 states, 135 tribes and 4 territories) have substantially implemented SORNA’s requirements. This is our opportunity to flood the Federal Register with statements of opposition.

You can read the entire statement on this proposal (and find the link to make an online statement about the changes) at –

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/13/2020-15804/registration-requirements-under-the-sex-offender-registration-and-notification-act

This is a rare opportunity to place our concerns over this bad law into public government record. We don’t often have opportunities to present our opposition on the federal level. There are many proposals made to SORNA under this proposal of concern.

First, AG William Barr is trying to reestablish the delegation of decision making of AWA policy to the AG which was previously given to disgraced former AG Alberto Gonzalez back in 2006. The goal is to apply the AWA retroactively in spite of rulings like Does v Snyder which found SORNA to be punitive. As one person in the FAC comment section put it, “It expands the law of strict liability and basically gives the US Attorney a ‘Carte Blanche’ to do what he/she wants to do.”

Second, readers have expressed concerns over the expansion of info to be collected and disseminated to include expanded employment info, including professional licenses. This is a huge concern since currently, only about half of US States list some form of employment info.

There have been other concerns, as noted at ACSOL:

According to the proposed regulations, individuals will be required to notify their local registration office if they leave the jurisdiction for seven days or longer. This requirement is proposed allegedly in order to protect children who reside at the location(s) where a registrant may visit.

The proposed regulations also address overseas travel for those subject to the International Megan’s Law. Specifically, the regulations will require registrants to provide additional information to the federal government regarding their overseas travel such as whether they have dual citizenship and/or a passport issued by another country.”

This is also an opportunity to voice opposition against the public registry altogether. As of August 24, 2020, 51 public comments have been made, but we need as many as possible. Registered Persons, loved ones of registrants, and those who oppose the registry in general should make a statement as soon as possible.

HOW TO MAKE A STATEMENT

Comments MUST be submitted by October 13, 2020 to be included.

Comments can be submitted anonymously or you can use your real name and/ or organization affiliation, and if you use the electronic submission form, direct comments are limited to 5000 characters, but a full statement and other articles you wish to submit can be made as attachments; up to 10 attachments up to 10MB can be added.

Comments may be mailed to:

Regulations Docket Clerk, Office of Legal Policy

U.S. Department of Justice

950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Room 4234

Washington, DC 20530

If you’d rather file electronically, go to the link below and look for the big green button near the top of the page that says “Submit A Formal Comment.”

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/08/13/2020-15804/registration-requirements-under-the-sex-offender-registration-and-notification-act

Derek W. Logue of OnceFallen.com
Registered Citizen/ Civil Rights Advocate
#abolishtheregistry

 

 

 

 

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