Michigan Sex Offender Registry Act Declared Unconstitutional – What It Means To You!

Michigan Sex Offender Registry Act Declared Unconstitutional – What It Means To You!

If you or someone you know is a registered sex offender in Michigan (Michigan SORA), this ruling of a federal judge will surely provide you great relief!

United States District Court Judge Robert Cleland issued a ruling that invalidates portions of Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry Act (SORA). According to the judge, there are key portions of Michigan SORA that are unconstitutional. His decision or ruling is a result of the lawsuit filed by a group of sex offenders in 2015.

Judge Robert Cleland mentioned in the ruling that the state can’t foribid a convicted sex offender to live or work near a school. The judge also said that the state is violating the convicted sex offender’s First Amendment rights by requiring them to divulge their phone numbers and personal email addresses after they got out of the prison.

In his statement, Cleland mentioned that for several years, registrants have been forced to comply with unconstitutional provisions of SORA. He said that he expects the Michigan lawmakers to redraft a law that won’t violate the rights of the offenders.

“The court anticipates that its ruling will reignite efforts to finalize a new, unified registration statute that can survive constitutional review, as has the national model, SORNA,” the judge wrote. Cleland gave the state 60 days to rewrite the law. If they are not able to pass a new law, the existing law would become unenforceable for pre-2011 registrants, according to Cleland’s decision.

For more info regarding Judge Robert Cleland’s ruling, check out the following documents:

SORA DECISION (PDF)

STIPULATED ORDER FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT AND FOR 90-DAY DEFERRAL OF DECISION ON INJUNCTIVE RELIEF (PDF)

If you (or someone you know) is a registed sex offender in Michigan, this ruling will have a massive effect on your case or situation. If you want to know about it, contact Nicole Blank Becker today for free consultation.

Contact Attorney Nicole Blank Becker for a Free Consultation!

(248) 515-6583

law@nicoleblankbecker.com