Case Law Summary

Sex Offender Registration and Notification in the United States
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Contents

INTRODUCTION

CASE INDEX

Federal

State and Territory

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. 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
4. Continuing Offense
5. Travel
6. Venue
7. Affirmative Defense / Impossibility
8. Impeachment

II. Locally Enacted Sex Offender Requirements

A. Residency and Loitering Restrictions / Public Park Bans

B. Employment Restrictions

C. GPS or Satellite-Based Electronic Monitoring 

D. Risk Assessment

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
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
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)
Fecha de Creación: 28 de Septiembre de 2026