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Abstract: 

Twenty years after New Jersey enacted Megan’s Law, increasingly Draconian registration and notification schemes tailored to federal standards were passed across the country. Still, the ramifications of research into how and how often offenders offend remain largely unexamined. While psychologists and physicians continue to refine their data and opinions, prosecutors and legislators have migrated in the opposite direction, searching for a one-size-fits-all resolution. This article comprehensively examines the scientific and behavioral case for removing or reducing registration and notification requirements for older offenders, provides citations to both law and research that support relaxed measures, reviews court guidelines for risk assessment and adjustment, and outlines legal strategies for challenging notification schemes.

Keywords: Jacob Wetterling Act; SORNA; Risk of Reoffense; Federal Sex Offender Registration Code

Affiliations:  1: Associates in Psychological Services, P.A.; 2: Attorney at Law; 3: Associates in Psychological Services, P.A.; 4: Attorney at Law.