Articles written by NARSOL.
Names have been changed to protect the innocent. By Sandy . . . “My son would call me several times every day, and now we’re cut off from all communications.” Matt’s voice choked up even more before he continued. “He is devastated. I am devastated.” Matt and his son, like a great many others in Mississippi, are victims of recently…
Read More
Based on comments by our wonderful readers, I have edited this piece by adding an additional paragraph. S. By Sandy . . . The Mississippi Legislature July 1 passed a bill that may be well-intentioned but is ill-conceived and potentially destructive. Senate Bill 2009 stipulates: . . . . it is unlawful for a person required to register as a…
Read More
Versions of this piece, in letter form, were sent to Commissioner Tobia of Brevard County, Florida, and to Dave Berman, an editor and writer of this piece in Florida Today. By Sandy . . . John Tobia, County Commissioner in Brevard County, Florida, is proposing that the county levy additional 1000-foot restrictions on those on Florida’s sexual offense registry, adding…
Read More
By Sandy . . . We are well accustomed to those on sex offender registries making the headlines. A registrant in Washington State named Wes Heyden recently dominated the news cycle for several days in a most unexpected way. The founder and owner of a popular coffee shop which, under his leadership, expanded to a chain with more to come, came…
Read More
By Sandy . . . After several months, the Corona Virus – Covid-19 – shows no signs of abating. Indeed, it is spiking with higher numbers than at any previous point in some states. New Mexico is one of these. Social distancing and staying-at-home when possible, along with frequent handwashing and disinfecting of the environment, are known to be the…
Read More
By Sandy . . . At this time of public outrage and demands for meaningful criminal justice reform, one area in need of serious attention is the racial make-up of our states’ sexual offense registries. In 2018 a study was done that has been largely ignored. It shows conclusively that in every state in the union except one – Michigan…
Read More
By Richard . . . WHEW! “It is done,” was my personal thought at 4:30 p.m. Saturday the 13th. But the feeling was pure excitement and satisfaction. The NARSOL LIVE Webcast has concluded, and the simple comment “Well received” is the clear result. It is with some personal pride that I say the Conference Operations Committee did an outstanding job…
Read More
By Andy O . . . I read an editorial from the Washington Post Saturday entitled “George Floyd’s death shows exactly what police should not do.” One paragraph really stood out: We’re still learning more about the case, but the episode suggests poor training, insufficient supervision, a dangerously adversarial mind-set, A CULTURE OF ENTITLED AUTHORITARIANISM, and a disregard for the lives…
Read More
By Larry . . . The case of Doe v. Rausch contains a very thorough analysis regarding the history of sex offender registration in Tennessee and the developing body of case law in the Sixth Circuit which resulted in a favorable outcome for Doe. Due to the limited scope of the court’s ruling, I think that the chances of an…
Read More
By Larry . . . T.S. v. Pennsylvania State Police was just decided by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth Court is the intermediate court of appeals which leaves open the door for the state to seek review in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. This case has the potential to remove a significant number of people from the state’s sex…
Read More