Worried male suspect during police interrogation. 101219122

Status update: new law requires sex offenders to post on Facebook

A bill has recently been signed into law that will require anyone using Facebook or a social networking site who has also been convicted of a sex crime to post his or her status as a sex offender on his or her profile. Though this law will not affect anyone in Minnesota, it has dangerous implications and could set precedence for the Minnesota legislature.

Worried male suspect during police interrogation. 101219122

The bill’s author has said that this new law is merely an extension of his state’s sex offender registry and that, if challenged, it would be found constitutional. The law requires that anyone who has been convicted of a sexual crime or was once considered to be a child predator must put that he or she is a sex offender and list the crimes of which he or she was convicted on the social networking profiles. The individual must also include his or her home address and a physical description.

For someone that has been convicted of and served his or her punishment for a sex crime, this new law could make it even harder for the individual to integrate back into society. With his or her name on the sex offender registry, it will already be difficult to find a home, a job, or develop any relationships with his neighbors or friends. Luckily, however, there are very few people who actually look up individuals on the sex offender registry, so he or she could live with some anonymity. With this new law, however, there will be very few people who will not know whether someone was, at one point, a sex offender.

With the serious punishments that follow a conviction for sex crimes, including being put on the sex offender registry, it is important to seek out a strong criminal defense attorney whenever charges are filed.

Source: CNN, “New La. Law: Sex offenders must list status on Facebook, other social media,” Michael Martinez, June 20, 2012

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

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