Privacy.

• Position: Brief Article

U.S. District Court

SEX OFFENDERS

A.A. v. New Jersey, 176 F. Supp.2d. 274 (D.N.J. 2001). Convicted sex offenders challenged the constitutionality of a New Jersey constitutional provision and the Internet Registry Act amendment to the state's "Megan's Law" statute, that authorized a system for making sex offender registration information publicly available on the Internet. The offenders moved for preliminary injunctive relief and the court granted the motion in part. The court found that the Internet disclosure statute was not punitive in its effects or intent and that the compilation and dissemination of publicly-available information on offenders did not violate their privacy rights. The court noted that the legislature expressly disavowed any intent to inflict additional punishment on offenders and stated that the statute was intended solely for the protection of the public. The legislature prescribed penalties to deter the misuse of information. But the court found that offenders' home addresses were not adequately safeguarded by the Inte rnet disclosure system and the court issued a preliminary injunction limiting disclosure to offenders' county of residence. (New Jersey)

U.S. District Court

SEX OFFENDERS

Doe #1 v. Williams, 167 F. Supp.2d 45 (D.D.C. 2001). Individuals who were required to register as sex offenders under the District of Columbia's Sex Offender and Registration Act (SORA) challenged the constitutionality of the act. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs, finding that the public notification provisions of the act violated...