Case Law Summary

Sex Offender Registration and Notification in the United States
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Contents

I. SORNA Requirements

A. Generally

B. Who Is Required to Register

1. “Conviction” and Offenses That Must Be Included in the Registry
a) “Conviction”
b) “Sex Offense”
c) “Substantially Similar”

2. Independent Duty to Register

3. Retroactivity

4. Homeless and Transient Offenders

5. Registration for Military Convictions

6. Juvenile Registration

C. What Registration Requires

1. Tiering and Recidivism
2. Appearance Requirements
3. Required Registration Information
4. Updating Information
5. Immediate Transfer of Information
6. International Travel

D. Where Registration Is Required

E. When Registration Is Required

1. Initial Registration
2. Duration and Tolling

F. Public Registry Website Requirements and Community Notification

G. Indian Country

H. Federal Incarceration

I. Reduction of Registration Periods

J. Failure to Register

1. Generally
2. Strict Liability / Mens Rea
3. Notice of Requirement to Register
4. Continuing Offense
5. Travel
6. Venue
7. Affirmative Defense / Impossibility
8. Impeachment

A. Constitutional Challenges

1. Commerce Clause
2. Necessary and Proper Clause
3. Bill of Attainder Clause
4. Full Faith and Credit Clause
5. Privileges and Immunities Clause
6. Supremacy Clause
7. Right to Travel
8. Separation of Powers and Nondelegation Doctrine 
9. Ex Post Facto
10. First Amendment / Internet and Social Media
11. Fourth Amendment / Unreasonable Search and Seizure 
12. Fifth Amendment / Takings and Double Jeopardy, Self Incrimination
13. Sixth Amendment / Right to Jury Trial, Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, and Apprendi v. New Jersey and Alleyne v. United States
14. Eighth Amendment / Cruel and Unusual Punishment
15. Tenth Amendment / Federalism
16. Fourteenth Amendment / Due Process and Equal Protection

B. State Constitution Issues

1. Administrative Procedure Act
2. Americans with Disabilities Act
3. Child Custody
4. Chevron Deference and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo
5. Civil Commitment
6. Conditions of Supervised Release and United States v. Haymond
7. Defamation
8. Fair Credit Reporting Act
9. Firearms
10. Habeas Corpus / Post-Conviction Relief—State Custody (28 U.S.C. § 2254) and “In Custody”
11. Housing
12. Immigration and Deportation
13. Plea Agreements
14. Sentencing Enhancement Under Federal Law (18 U.S.C. § 2260A)