{"id":27616,"date":"2022-01-10T20:16:40","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T20:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/?p=27616"},"modified":"2022-01-10T20:16:40","modified_gmt":"2022-01-10T20:16:40","slug":"tenn-ag-defies-experts-by-opposing-changes-to-sex-offender-registry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/2022\/01\/10\/tenn-ag-defies-experts-by-opposing-changes-to-sex-offender-registry\/","title":{"rendered":"Tenn. AG defies experts by opposing changes to sex offender registry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<\/p>\n<div>\n<ul aria-label=\"Story Highlights\" class=\"gnt_ar_sh\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_sh_li\">Sandy Rozek is communications director, newsletter editor-in-chief\u00a0and website content editor for the National Association\u00a0for Rational Sexual Offense Laws,\u00a0an organization that advocates for laws based on facts and evidence and for policies that support the successful rehabilitation, restoration\u00a0and reintegration of law-abiding registered people\u00a0into society as the path to a safer society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Herbert Slatery\u00a0III, the Attorney General of Tennessee, has\u202f<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/ag.hawaii.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ALI-NAAG-Letter-Final.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">signed a letter<\/a>\u202fcondemning recent revisions to the American Law Institute\u2019s Model Penal Code on sexual crimes. This is contrary to what evidence shows would make Tennessee safer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img\"><img class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" style=\"height:332px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/10\/13\/PNAS\/6984d231-498e-4663-ac1b-87d3b342f030-Screenshot_245.png?width=660&amp;height=332&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" elementtiming=\"ar-lead-image\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/10\/13\/PNAS\/6984d231-498e-4663-ac1b-87d3b342f030-Screenshot_245.png?width=1320&amp;height=664&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A screenshot of Tennessee's sex offender registry website, managed by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Earlier in 2021, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ali.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">ALI<\/a>, an influential body comprised of attorneys, judges\u00a0and scholars in various fields of research (currently including seven members of U.S.\u00a0Courts of Appeal and justices on the highest courts of several states), published its recommendations for revising laws dealing with sexual offenses. Being the first update to this section in 50\u00a0years, this is long overdue as the body of evidence and documented research around this topic has exploded in the past several decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Decades of research should lead to legislation update<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_img gnt_em_img__inset\"><img class=\"gnt_em_img_i\" style=\"height:313px\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/12\/23\/PNAS\/278c3975-7781-43af-b21a-95c55436d6cc-Sandy_Rozek.jpg?width=300&amp;height=313&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" data-gl-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2021\/12\/23\/PNAS\/278c3975-7781-43af-b21a-95c55436d6cc-Sandy_Rozek.jpg?width=600&amp;height=626&amp;fit=crop&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sandy Rozek\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">At the heart of any change to the implementation of sexual crime legislation is the desire within us all to keep our children safe from sexual harm. This desire is reflected in the goals of the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/narsol.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">National Association\u00a0for Rational Sexual Offense Laws <\/a>as well as in the ALI updates, all of which are evidence based and reflect several decades of research showing the most effective strategies and best practices in this arena.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Unfortunately, criticism also followed on the heels of ALI\u2019s new recommendations. It came from the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.missingkids.org\/HOME\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">National Center for Missing and Exploited Children<\/a>, from some law enforcement agencies, and now from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/ag.hawaii.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/ALI-NAAG-Letter-Final.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">the attorneys general in two-thirds of our states<\/a>. It is worth noting that, in addition to wishing to keep children safe, all of these entities benefit\u00a0\u2014\u00a0either financially, politically\u00a0or both\u00a0\u2014\u00a0from maintaining the status quo. Also worth mentioning is that not once in its five and a half pages does the letter signed by the attorneys general cite any source or even make reference to any evidence that the current laws have proved to be effective in their desired outcomes. Sweeping statements such as, \u201cThe proposed changes to the [ALI] model penal code relaxing the sex offender registry would pose a significant risk to the public \u2014\u00a0especially children,\u201d are made with no evidence whatsoever supporting them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_hf\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-type=\"method\" data-gl-method=\"loadHb64\" aria-label=\"STATEWIDE SUBSCRIPTION EMBED\" data-t-cel=\"hb64\" data-gl-hb64=\"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\"\/>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Four areas of change proposed<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The changes recommended by ALI revolve around four areas: limiting registerable offenses to the more dangerous ones;\u00a0providing registry access to law enforcement only;\u00a0modifying registration terms and abolishing lifetime registration;\u00a0and abolishing blanket restrictions that curtail all registrants\u2019 rights and freedoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The registry as we know it today was designed in the wake of a few\u00a0horrific situations where children were abducted and murdered, and it is for such cases as these that it was intended. The similarity between the perpetrators of those crimes and the nearly 1 million people who are listed on sexual offense registries today is non-existent, with children themselves being registered <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/papers.ssrn.com\/sol3\/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2709091\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">as young as 9\u00a0<\/a>for childish, inappropriate behavior. In many states, consensual teenage sexual activity, even <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberbullying.org\/sexting-laws\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">teenage \u201csexting,\u201d<\/a> are registerable offenses. Law enforcement cannot focus on the few who warrant closer monitoring <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/commons.emich.edu\/theses\/766\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">when the registry is so diluted<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">Hear more Tennessee voices:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/profile.tennessean.com\/newsletters\/Tennessee-voices\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought-provoking columns.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The original registries also were accessible only to law enforcement. This position is in keeping with what research, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ojp.gov\/pdffiles1\/nij\/grants\/225370.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">experts in the field\u00a0<\/a>and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.atsa.com\/pdfs\/ppReasonedApproach.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">clinicians\u00a0<\/a>support as best practices in the treatment, management\u00a0and prevention of sexual offending. Cases of <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nydailynews.com\/news\/crime\/man-beat-sex-offenders-admits-vigilante-justice-wrong-article-1.3733638\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">vigilante action <\/a>targeting those on the registry, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2014\/05\/07\/justice\/south-carolina-neo-nazis-murder-sex-offender\/index.html\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">including murder <\/a>for no reason other than that the individual was a registrant, are directly traceable to the online availability of sexual offense registries. The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/226463284_Collateral_Damage_Family_Members_of_Registered_Sex_Offenders\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">negative collateral consequences <\/a>to children of registered parents are many and serious.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_anc\" id=\"gnt_atomsnc\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-method=\"loadAnc\" aria-label=\"Newsletter signup form\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ccresourcecenter.org\/state-restoration-profiles\/50-state-comparison-relief-from-sex-offender-registration-obligations\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Every state <\/a>has a lifetime registration requirement for some offenses, and for a few states, lifetime is the only option. Sixteen states have no path by which registrants may petition for or be granted early release from registration duty. The policies of the remaining states vary widely, from clear and doable to there might as well be none. With a significant number on the registry for life with no path to exit, a considerable number of whom have not reoffended since the initial offense 20, 30 or \u2014\u00a0with retroactive registration applicable \u2014\u00a050 years ago, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/mitchellhamline.edu\/sex-offense-litigation-policy\/2021\/06\/16\/american-law-institute-adopts-revisions-to-model-penal-code-that-include-major-changes-to-sex-offender-registries\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">ALI\u2019s recommendations <\/a>to remedy this situation are crucial.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">Sign up for our newsletter:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/profile.tennessean.com\/newsletters\/Black-Tennessee-Voices\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Depending on the state or the jurisdiction, those on sexual offense registries are subject to <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theoutspokenoffender.com\/explore\/sex-offender-residency-restrictions\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">a variety of restrictions<\/a>. Some of the most common are where they can live, work\u00a0and be; the exclusions are generally within so many feet, as high as 3,000, of places such as schools, daycare facilities\u00a0and parks. Some statutes include the phrase\u00a0\u201cAny place frequented by a minor.\u201d Restriction from <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/revisor.mo.gov\/main\/OneSection.aspx?section=589.426\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">any activity connected with Halloween <\/a>is fairly recent, and it is based on a totally fabricated construct linking sexual harm to children with Halloween. Where they are law, these mandates are enforced as blanket restrictions against all on the registry, even when they are not under community supervision, even when their offense of conviction was not related to a child or minor, and even when there has been no reoffense. This is an incredible waste of resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/dr-gene-i-katz-dmcj-dabs-ms-18326141\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Dr. Gene Katz <\/a>has a doctor of management degree in criminal justice, and is an ABS board-certified sex therapist\u00a0and an associate professor in the\u00a0College of Security Studies at\u00a0Colorado Technical University. He has extensive experience working with and treating individuals who have committed sexual crimes. Concerning physical restrictions for registrants, Katz says, \u201cQuite often, residency restrictions banish registrants from populated areas, forcing them to live far from their homes and families and limiting potential work sites willing to employ them, thereby defeating the goals of probation and parole and other desired rehabilitative outcomes. In addition, proponents of these stark measures cannot provide any credible evidence of public safety benefits; in other words, there are no scientific findings that support these draconian approaches imposed upon those who have been convicted of sexually-based\u202foffenses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><strong class=\"gnt_ar_b_al\">Sign up for our newsletter:<\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/profile.tennessean.com\/newsletters\/latino-tennessee-voices\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cThe American Law Institute,\u201d according to professor\u00a0<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iraellman.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|inline click|${u}\" class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\">Ira Ellman<\/a>, Distinguished Affiliated Scholar at the Center for the Study of Law and Society at the\u00a0University of California, Berkeley, \u201cis the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"gnt_em gnt_em_gl gnt_em__el\" href=\"\/picture-gallery\/opinion\/2021\/09\/01\/president-joe-biden-climate-change-cartoons-political-cartoons-editorial-cartoons-political-humor\/5682350001\/\" data-t-l=\":l|l|c|view gallery:inline promo\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - January political cartoon gallery from the USA TODAY Network\" data-g-r=\"nav_mo\" data-g-tn=\"pgcss\" data-g-mtn=\"pg5682350001\" data-g-moh=\"hpgm\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-expanded=\"false\" onmousedown=\"event.stopPropagation()\" onmouseup=\"event.stopPropagation()\" data-c-id=\"5682350001\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"gnt_em_gl_i\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" data-gl-src=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/01\/10\/USAT\/2f549c93-ee33-4251-94b9-5ed10196cac1-11122MarletteSaget.jpg?crop=2039,1147,x0,y0&amp;width=660&amp;height=372&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp\" data-gl-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/presto\/2022\/01\/10\/USAT\/2f549c93-ee33-4251-94b9-5ed10196cac1-11122MarletteSaget.jpg?crop=2039,1147,x0,y0&amp;width=1320&amp;height=744&amp;format=pjpg&amp;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" width=\"660\" height=\"372\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">These recommendations are evidence-based and will improve the law in regard to crimes of a sexual nature and those who commit them. They should be supported by the attorneys general in our states and territories. It is especially ill-fitting that the chief officers in legal matters in their respective states should set themselves against recommendations to laws designed to enhance public safety for all.\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside aria-label=\"advertisement\" class=\"gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al\"\/>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><em>Sandy Rozek is communications director, newsletter editor-in-chief\u00a0and website content editor for the National Association\u00a0for Rational Sexual Offense Laws,\u00a0an organization that advocates for laws based on facts and evidence and for policies that support the successful rehabilitation, restoration\u00a0and reintegration of law-abiding registered people\u00a0into society as the path to a safer society.\u202fWe are a national organization with an interest in both federal and state issues, policies and legislation.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennessean.com\/story\/opinion\/2022\/01\/10\/tenn-ag-defies-experts-opposing-changes-sex-offender-registry\/9121101002\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Sandy Rozek is communications director, newsletter editor-in-chief\u00a0and website content editor for the National Association\u00a0for&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27617,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27616","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27616"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27616\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27618,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27616\/revisions\/27618"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cjstudents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}