Fighting for the Constitutional Rights of all American Citizens.

Legal Committee

 

RSOL’s mission and purpose include assisting those individuals who are:

  • accused of sex related offenses;
  • subject to sex offender registration;
  • accused of (sex offender) probation/ parole violations;
  • subjected to any unconstitutional conditions of supervision; and
  • deprived of constitutional rights or liberty after the expiration of their sentence.

Identifying the Need

Many individuals (primarily registrants or family members) contact RSOL inquiring about a number of issues, but the majority of questions revolve around some aspect of registration.
RSOL recognizes that there is a need for comprehensive reform in the area of sentencing of sex offenders and registration. RSOL believes that its mission can be furthered by the assimilation of a team of legal professionals who have either defended those accused of sexual offenses or who are interested in the broad spectrum of issues related to sex offender registration.

With limited resources, RSOL recognizes that it cannot undertake any individual’s case unless that case has broader implications for a significant number of similarly situated persons. RSOL’s top priorities are:

  1. Challenging the constitutionality of retroactively imposed registration requirements that result in significant diminution or deprivation of liberties applied to persons convicted prior to the existence of registration;
  2. Challenging significant increases in duration of registration or additional deprivation of liberties imposed after the person’s registration period began; and
  3. Challenging the judicial imposition or probation/parole imposed sex offender registration requirements on individuals not convicted of a registerable sex offense.

Given this understanding, the committee’s goals are:

  • Develop a strategy to combat unconstitutional registration laws utilizing a combined approach of both litigation and legislation;
  • Identify jurisdictions whose registration laws are most vulnerable to various constitutional attacks;
  • Develop criteria to determine which cases could potentially have national significance;
  • Provide recommendations for building a legal fund for use in significant registration cases;
  • Build a referral database of attorneys with experience defending those accused of sex offenses and violations of supervision conditions;
  • Provide basic information in the form of a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document that can be disseminated to those accused of sexual offenses or individuals subject to registration.

Seeking Attorneys with a Passion for Reform

Our Legal Committee is seeking attorneys with an interest in sexual offender issues. Key areas being developed at this time are:

  1. Locating at least one attorney from each state with an extensive knowledge of that state's laws and policies regarding sexual offenses and sexual offenders who could act as resource person for the committee pertaining to any state-specific questions that arise.
  2. Building a database of practicing attorneys sympathetic to our purpose and goals. RSOL members would be referred to these attorneys after a brief self-screening process which would help them determine (1) whether they might have a viable case and (2) whether they are willing to actually go through with that case.
  3. Participating on the Legal Committee to develop criteria and strategies for combating unconstitutional, excessively punitive laws and policies.

To get involved, please request more information by contacting us.

Also, see our F.A.Q. page