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.

Cases, Laws, regulations and rules, Sex offenders, Ex post facto laws, states

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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.

Management, Cover Story, Family courts

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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.

Innovations, DNA testing, DNA identification

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