The Michigan Sex Offender Registry has been at the heart of controversy for many years now. We’ve been accused of violating the rights of convicted sex offenders, putting extremely harsh restrictions in place that make life after release almost impossible, and we’ve even been sued over the issue. So far, it doesn’t seem to have had much effect.
One federal judge decided that enough was enough, and gave the state of Michigan 90 days to update our sex offender registry laws, or pay the price. But are we going to make the deadline? Or does Michigan have another long fight ahead of us?
There’s already been a lot of back and forth on this issue…
In August of 2016 a decision was made by the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati (which has jurisdiction over Michigan) that the restrictions placed on sex offenders by our registry were unconstitutional. Obviously, Michigan was quick to disagree, and we appealed to the Supreme Court asking to have that ruling reversed.
The Supreme Court, however, refused to even hear the case, which left the appellate court ruling in place. But since several years went by and nothing changed, Michigan settled back into it’s unconstitutional position without being held accountable. Until U.S. District Court Judge Robert Cleland decided he was tired of waiting for us to get our act together.
Michigan was given 90 days to update our sex offender registration laws!
According to Judge Cleland, Michigan is guilty as charged of treating convicted sex offenders like “moral lepers”. The federal appeals court found Michigan’s sex offender laws to be in violation of constitutional protections against increasing penalties for a crime after its commission and adjudication.Lawyers refer to this unconstitutional act as “ex post facto”.
Excessive restirctions like the one where sex offenders can’t live, work, or even stand within 1,000 feet of a school, or the fact that they have to register all vehicles, email and social media accounts, and job changes with the Michigan State Police are a violation of constitutional rights. So are we going to make the deadline? Good question. Judge Cleland gave the legislature until August 21st. And it’s already the end of June. The clock is ticking…
Want to protect your rights in Michigan? Don’t get convicted of a sex crime!
We’ve been telling our readers this for decades, and it’s still the truth – the best way to avoid having your rights trampled on by the government, you need to keep your name off the sex offender registry! The best way to stay off that list is to not convicted of a sex crime. Whether you live in Lansing, Howell, Big Rapids, Midland or Grand Rapids, you run the risk of being forced to register as a sex offender if convicted of a sex crime in Michigan. Don’t want to end up on the list? Hire the best sex crime defense attorney available!
Here at The Kronek Firm, we’ve been aggressively fighting to protect the rights of people accused of sex crimes all over the lower penninsula. Our experienced sex crime defense attorneys have a reputation in Michgan courts for tirelessly pursuing justice for each and every client we represent. We don’t back down, we fight hard don’t give up. So if you’re facing sex crime charges in the lower peninsula of Michigan, make sure you’re on a team that knows how to win! Call 866 766 5245 right now. (1 866 7NoJail) Put a warrior on your defense team.