Defining punishment: courts split on notification provisions of sex offender laws
Article Abstract:
All 50 states have enacted versions of 'Megan's law,' requiring the registration of convicted molesters of children. Such laws have survived many constitutional challenges ranging from due process to ex post facto. Courts have concluded that registration does not differ from other incidental consequences of criminal convictions. At least 20 of these states have, however, also required public notification of a sex offender's presence in the community, which some courts have found to violate the ex post facto laws. The US Supreme Court is likely to take up the ex post facto issue with respect to sex offenders.
Publication Name: ABA Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0747-0088
Year: 1997
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ABA backs unified family courts
Article Abstract:
Various ABA entities including the ABA Steering Committee on the Unmet Legal Needs of Children are proposing a unified family court system to make the courts respond better to dysfunctional families and prevent child abuse. Such a system would have jurisdiction over all domestic matters including divorce, child custody and visitation, alimony and child support, adoption, domestic violence and child abuse. Other ABA entities which have been investigating family law matters are described.
Publication Name: ABA Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0747-0088
Year: 1997
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Ruling every which way; courts cautiously explore the strange, new tests for DNA
Article Abstract:
Advances in DNA testing are proceeding apace, but judicial acceptance of these tests in court seems to have stalled. Restrcition fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was the DNA test first to appear in court, while polymerase chain reaction typing (PCR) is the latest innovation. The latter has two significant advantages, its ability to use older, degraded examples and need for only a very small amount of material. PCR is, however, much more susceptible to error than RFLP testing.
Publication Name: ABA Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0747-0088
Year: 1998
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