Sex Offender Laws Have Gone Too Far

This five-piece series in Slate traces the history of US sex offender laws, beginning with the case that established the federal sex offender registry.

This five-piece series in Slate traces the history of US sex offender laws, beginning with the case that established the federal sex offender registry. The series spotlights three areas of the sex offender registry that have expanded in decades since its establishment (expanded definition of sexual offense, increased duration of time spent on the registry, and increased range of restrictions placed on sex offenders), making the United States home to the most punitive sex offender policy in the world. Nicole Pittman, quoted in the article, is a Stoneleigh Fellow and NCCD senior program specialist working on reforming sex offender law. To learn more about Ms. Pittman’s work, click here.