ME- Maine Supreme Cout Oral Arguments on its Registry and Ex Post Facto Clause

Great Video 30 minutes:

2-11-2009 Maine:

PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER) -- The Maine Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday afternoon on whether the sex offender registry law can be applied retroactively.

The man challenging the law was convicted in 1996 of a sexual offense involving a thirteen year old girl. He was nineteen years old at the time. He served two years in prison and was supposed to be on the registry for fifteen years.

In 2001, the law extended a lifetime registry requirement retroactively back to 1992. It has since been extended again to convictions dating back to 1982.

The Maine Civil Liberties Union says that's unconstitutional.

"We're not saying that people shouldn't be punished for crimes that they commit. This isn't a case about whether they should have to register on the sex offender registry. This is a case about the Ex Post Facto clause of Maine's Constitution. That means that the legislature can't create new punishments for people after their offense has been committed," says Zachary Heiden of the MCLU.

But the state says the registry requirement is not punitive and the bottom line is protecting children. ..Source.. by WCSH6.com