All Episodes
The complete Registry Matters archive.
-
RM381: Does a Conviction Erase Parental Rights?
This week on Registry Matters: Advocacy groups finally force Pennsylvania State Police to answer for eight years of ignoring a legally mandated telephone registry verification system. Plus, we examine the 11th Circuit’s en banc ruling that recognizes parental rights as fundamental while stopping short of striking down Alabama’s ban on registrants living with their own…
-
RM380: SCOTUS Limits Police Phone Tracking
This week on Registry Matters: Florida has passed a law making it illegal for registrants to speak to minors in public, raising alarming First Amendment free speech questions. Then, a Louisiana man spent 179 days in jail over charges that were ultimately dropped, exposing how registry and probation systems can inflict devastating errors with zero…
-
RM379: Where You Did It Is Where They Try You
This week on Registry Matters: The Supreme Court hands down a unanimous venue ruling that could have far-reaching implications for federal jurisdiction over registry-related prosecutions. Then, Larry and Andy untangle the confusing web of multi-state supervision — explaining which state controls your sentence and which state controls your registration requirements, and why the answer matters…
-
RM378: Prosecuted for Trying to Stay Compliant
This week on Registry Matters: A Michigan Supreme Court ruling forces the state to vacate convictions under an unconstitutional registry law, offering hope to registrants who were prosecuted for trying to stay compliant. Plus, we explore whether requesting a new parole officer is a realistic option — and why filing official complaints can often make…
-
RM377: Why Innocent People Plead Guilty
This week on Registry Matters: We explore why innocent people plead guilty and how plea bargains, while providing certainty for all parties, require proper judicial oversight to ensure fundamental fairness. Plus, we discuss the challenges registered parents face when banned from their own children’s school campuses, and the practical accommodations they can propose like Zoom…
-
RM376: Can You End Lifetime Supervision Early?
This week on Registry Matters: New Mexico authorities face scrutiny for enforcing registration laws that don’t actually apply to a registrant, plus we examine whether Missouri’s blanket travel notification requirement constitutes unconstitutionally broad compelled speech. We also hear the sobering story of a registered person who submitted 700 job applications without a single hire, and…
-
RM375: Why Courts Refuse to Call Registration Punishment
This week on Registry Matters: We examine a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that upheld the sexually violent predator designation as non-punitive under the Eighth Amendment, exploring why courts continue to refuse calling registration punishment. We also dig into Michigan’s sweeping employment ban that would prohibit all 45,000 registrants from working in youth-serving businesses, and the…
-
RM374: 45 Years Locked Up for What He Might Do
This week on Registry Matters: A federal court finds that Illinois’s civil commitment program violates due process by warehousing people for up to 45 years without adequate treatment. Plus, we explore the paradox of legal challenges to registry regulations — when winning in court can trigger political backlash that produces even harsher laws. Show Notes…
-
RM373: ACSOL & PLF Challenge SORNA — The Win Was Already Won
This week on Registry Matters: A court blocks the federal government from prosecuting registrants in California, ruling that state certification of registration requirements is a prerequisite. Plus, we examine a case where a retired law enforcement officer’s son was caught in a sting operation targeting fictitious victims and received what many consider disproportionate punishment. Show…
-
RM372: Does Protecting Kids Require Spying on All?
This week on Registry Matters: North Carolina officers lose qualified immunity after arresting a registrant who was following their own instructions to travel — a stunning case of law enforcement accountability. Plus, we dig into Meta’s $375 million verdict and why the real story isn’t the fine, but the expanding surveillance infrastructure being built in…