I would like information from anyone that has been affected by the offender registration law requirements. I am particularly interested in hearing from those persons whose convictions occured prior to the enactment of current law preferably non-violent sentences satisfactorly completed prior to 1996 and those with no other offenses. I nedd this information to possibily pursue a class action suit for civil rights violations. Sounds absurb I know however the current scheme is a violation of civil rights.

Can someone tell me how these laws do not violate the United States Constitution?

My Thoughts:
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.co...aw-issues.html

Other Users:
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.co...-be-heard.html
http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.co...abel/UserStory

Once you are convicted felon you do not have the same rights as every other citizen. You may also want to post this under criminal to get more responses.

In california we have a constition that protects us from cruel OR unusual punishments. At one time around twenty years or so a man named reed was convicted of lewd conduct in public 647(a) and forced to register as a sex offender for life. His case was heard before the California Supreme court. Because 647 (a) is essentially a victimless crime and the sentance to register is for life. They decided that the stigma associated with sex offender registration constituted cruel punishment all out of proportion to the offense.

The california legislature changed the penal code to remove this violation from the enumertated registerable offenses under chapter 290 p.c.

Recently a higer state court set that decision aside after comming to the decision that the reed court erred when they concluded that sex offender registration constituted punishment. They declared it to be a mere information scheme, so now there is essentually no case to take to the supreme court for cruel or unusual punishment unless the legislature does something new. The U.S. supreme court is even less sympathetic to sex offender appelants. They require that the punishment be both cruel AND unusual

DRCarrow, are you still interested in hearing from persons whose convictions occurred prior to 1996? My husband was convicted of a 288(a) in 1989. He has no other convictions of anything! Because of him being on the internet / Megans law, we live in constant fear. He also can't get employment which puts us nto poverty. Are there any advocates for people in our situation. This was a non violent crime. There was no rape, sodomy, oral sex, or penetration of any kind. My husband was an economically poor man who couldn't afford an attorney. Had he been able to have afforded one, he would never had been convicted of a felon 288(a) . It is unfair that non violent non repeat offender be classified on the internet with violent repeat offenders. When the public view them on the internet, they catagorize them all together. The internet/ Megans law doesn't let the public know the date of the offense or the date of the conviction. My Husband was convicted over 20 years ago! Many non violent and non repeat offenders are now homeless. Some have even committed suicide! It is unfair to be punished again once a person has paid the price! My husband was never sent to prison. With feeings of hopelessness,Wife of an expo facto victim