Recent News
Beyond Sex Registries: The Growing Web of Harmful Public Lists
Learn why the logic behind sex offender registries, a system already proven ineffective and harmful, has quietly expanded across the country to include a wide range of other convictions. Despite decades of research showing that public registries do not reduce crime [1], [2], [3] all 50 states and D.C., still maintain sex‑based registries, and at least 22 states and D.C. now operate additional registries for offenses such as violent crimes, drug‑related convictions, arson, domestic violence, animal abuse, child abuse, gang affiliation, and even white‑collar crimes. Some states have gone further, creating registries for people prohibited from owning firearms, individuals with multiple DWIs, and even “dangerous dogs.”
A Roadmap for Reform: Confronting the Unfair Practice of Registering Children and Young Adults as Sex Offenders
Across the United States, children are being subjected to one of the harshest penalties our legal system can impose: placement on a public sex offender registry.
If your loved one is a juvenile or young adult forced to register as a sex offender, this report may provide the evidence and context you need to engage your legislators and advocate for meaningful sex offender registry policy reform.
Stop Registering Kids and Young Adults: The Truth Lawmakers Must Confront
Across the country, youth and young adults are being swept into sex offender registries that were never designed for them, saddling adolescents with lifelong penalties for behaviors often rooted in immaturity rather than predation. Despite overwhelming research showing that young people rarely reoffend and respond exceptionally well to treatment, the majority of states in the US continue to impose registration requirements that block access to housing, education, employment, and community life. These laws disproportionately harm vulnerable groups — including Black, Brown, Indigenous, LGBTQ+ youth and those with disabilities. As public awareness grows, so does the recognition that these punitive policies are ineffective, unjust, and urgently in need of reform.