Every state has addressed the registration and/or publication of a database of convicted sex offenders returned to parole or probation supervision. Your research assignment is to select a state (FLORIDA) for which you will conduct internet research. You are to give an overview of your chosen state’s laws that impact the sex offender registration requirement and publication of residence information. Your response should cover topics including, but not limited to:

1. Your state’s regulations that are specific to registration of the sex offender, that is, state what crimes trigger sex offender registration. Many sex offenses fall under the registration law while others do not. (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 1.”)

2. Procedural guidelines related to the implementation of the registration/ publication program (Information typically includes: How long after release or moving into a city/state do they have to register? For how long must they register and verify their address? Who pays for registration/publication? What information must the registrant provide? Etc.) Within this topic heading provide a link to your state’s offender registry and an additional link to the page displaying sex offenders who reside within your neighborhood or ZIP code (clearly identify this link as being from your neighborhood or ZIP). (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 2.”)

3. What are the penalties for noncompliance? Within this topic heading provide a link to your state’s penal code, code of criminal procedure, etc., which establish these punishments. (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 3.”)

4. Are there Constitutional challenges? (Be specific-have there been any court challenges to the state registration law? If so, describe the court case in manner similar to topic 7 below; within this topic heading provide a link to the case. If there are no challenges within your state, you may research challenges in another state if you desire.) (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 4.”)

5. State your belief whether the laws regulating sex offender lifestyle have gone too far. If you believe they have, in what way? If you believe they are reasonable, state why. Use critical thinking skills you have employed in the chapter assignments in answering these questions. (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 5.”)

6. State your belief whether legislation regulating sex offender registration/publication is or is not Constitutional. (Ensure you review the Bill of Rights before you give your opinion.) Use the critical thinking skills you have employed in the chapter assignments in answering these questions. (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 6.”)

7. U.S. Supreme Court cases. In addition to topics 1-6, research two U.S. Supreme Court cases dealing with issues related to sex offender registration. In each case brief, tell the facts of the case; how the lower courts (trial and appellate) decided; and how the U.S. Supreme Court decided–if the lower decision was affirmed or reversed. You may want to refer to cases decided during 2003 wherein the Court decided cases out of CT and AK. FindLaw.com is a good site to perform your research. Within this topic heading provide links to both cases. Cases decided by a state supreme court or an appeals court other than SCOTUS are not acceptable for this topic, cases must be U.S. Supreme Court. (In your paper identify this discussion as “Topic 7.”) Ensure your cases are U.S. Supreme Court cases and not a state’s supreme court.

Use the words “Topics 1-7” as your topic headings and below each topic heading provide the results of your research. This is the format for your paper: topic headings, the results of your research regarding that topic, and links to the sites you researched for that topic. I repeat: topic heading, your research, sites researched. (Do not repeat in your paper the description of the topics to be responded to; merely use the words “Topics 1-7.”)