The Hard Target: Sex Offender Registration

The Sex Offender Registration laws are a hard target for reformers seeking to improve the criminal justice system in Connecticut. Simply put, it is a political loser to be seen as advocating on behalf of those convicted of sexual offenses, or certain offenses against minors. Correspondingly, it is easy to legislate long sentences and significant collateral consequences of conviction for these offenses.

Whatever may happen with the political process, the Sentencing Commission has recently forwarded a policy recommendation to the General Assembly and Governor Malloy that would allow those on the sex offender registry to petition for removal from the registry. To be removed, the registrant would have to show that they reduced their risk to the community.