Fake Victims Lead to Real Arrests in Online Child Sex Stings Federally funded police task forces carry out thousands of online stings each year, despite little evidence that they prevent abuse. Steven Yoder
Why the U.S. Marshals Spend Millions on Sex-Offense Registrant Sweeps The real aim of these operations might be to boost support for cops. Steven Yoder
New York Watchdogs Lack Data to Track Judges’ Compliance With Bail Reform Although the new law took effect in January, state data showing how courts are applying it won’t be available until July 2021. And without funding, courts in small towns and villages may never collect the data. Steven Yoder
COVID-19 Hit New York City Homeless Shelters Hard, But Some Are Forced to Stay There Many city residents who’ve served time for sexual crimes have families who want them back, but a 19-year-old law keeps them away. Steven Yoder
Wisconsin Came Close To Changing A Rule That Often Leaves People On Sex Offense Registries Homeless Republicans are leading an effort to get rid of blanket restrictions on where some people with sex-offense records can live. A Democratic governor is blocking them. Steven Yoder
New York State Judges Are Jailing People Who Can’t Afford Their Fines State law must change to stop judges from using jail time to force the poor into paying penalties they can’t afford, says one advocacy group. Steven Yoder
New Law Forces Dozens on Tennessee’s Sex Offender Registry From Their Homes The legislation also makes it illegal for many ex-offenders to be alone with their own children. Steven Yoder
Florida’s Sex Offender Registry Proves Inescapable Critics say the state's policy of keeping non-residents registered bloats the list—and harms public safety. Steven Yoder
Charlotte District Attorney Says He Won’t Stop Prosecuting Panhandlers A judge’s decision could end the practice of jailing people for soliciting money along streets and highways, but DA Spencer Merriweather has been slow to embrace the change. Steven Yoder
Texas D.A. Who Sent Woman To Prison For Five Years for Voting Made Her Own Election Mistake Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson prosecuted Crystal Mason for casting an illegal ballot. But Wilson escaped charges for a possible election violation of her own. Steven Yoder
Why Sex Offender Registries Keep Growing Even as Sexual Violence Rates Fall Lists that include out-of-state visitors are inflating the numbers and keeping fear at a boil. Steven Yoder
As Deadline Approaches for Homeless Ex-Offenders in Florida, County Threatens to Jail Them Steven Yoder
