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Over the years, the Florida Legislature has required county sheriffs to more closely monitor sexual offenders and predators.

But here’s the problem: the state creates the law, yet places the responsibility on county law enforcement. http://highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/unfunded-mandates-state-tasks-counties-but-offers-little-or-no-compensation-20140817/

It seems a five-year-old Surprise boy was on the playground last spring when suddenly he pulled his pants down. The kid was hauled to the office and forced to sign a form that essentially labeled him a budding sex fiend. http://www.azcentral.com/story/laurieroberts/2014/08/12/kindergartener-disciplined-for-sexual-misconduct/13922243/

The Woody Allen sex scandal of 2013 triggered a national conversation on who to believe, with people lining up on each side as if they knew what really happened. Based on recent research on how people navigate the often tricky waters of sexual negotiation, Dr. Carol Tavris shows that it is entirely possible in some sexual assault cases neither side is lying, but instead both sides feel justified in their positions. This talk was considered one of the best ever given at The Amazing Meeting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SpVVsOUsLo

Michigan's Prisoner Re-entry Initiative has been heralded as one of Michigan's crowning achievements in the state's justice system. The Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (MPRI) promotes public safety by increasing the success rates of prisoners transitioning from prison to the community. http://www.miccd.org/2013/11/transforming-prisoner-reentry/

February 21, 2014 A City and Law Enforcement Quick Guide to Sex Registrant Residence Restrictions: Evidence-based vs. Emotion-based public policy making, Or "Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should"  http://www.cce.csus.edu/portal/admin/handouts/Just%20the%20facts%202-26-14.pdf

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - A mom faces a charge of child neglect after she allowed her son to go to a nearby park alone. She says he's old enough but Port St. Lucie Police disagree. Now she's fighting back. "I'm totally dumbfounded by this whole situation," says Nicole Gainey. It began last Saturday afternoon when Gainey gave her son Dominic permission to walk from their house to Sportsman's Park. "Honestly didn't think I was doing anything wrong," says Gainey, "I was letting him go play. It's a half mile from their Port St. Lucie home. Dominic says it only takes him about 10 to 15 minutes to get there. During the walk, the 7-year-old passed a public pool. Someone there asked him where his mom was. http://www.nbc-2.com/story/26137822/mom-arrested-for-letting-7-year-old-son-go-to-park-alone#.U9hFJ7HjTfd

What GAO Found

The Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART Office) within the Department of Justice (DOJ) has determined that 19 of the 37 jurisdictions that have submitted packages for review have substantially implemented the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Although the SMART Office has determined that 17 of the jurisdictions that submitted packages have not yet substantially implemented SORNA, the office concluded that 15 of these 17 jurisdictions have implemented at least half of the SORNA requirements; the office has not yet made a determination for 1 jurisdiction that submitted a package. A majority of nonimplemented jurisdictions reported that generating the political will to incorporate the necessary changes to their state laws and related policies or reconciling legal conflicts are among the greatest challenges to implementation. For example, officials from 27 nonimplemented jurisdictions reported reconciling conflicts between SORNA and state laws--such as which offenses should require registration--as a challenge to implementing SORNA. Officials from 5 of 18 jurisdictions that responded to a survey question asking how DOJ could help address these challenges reported that the SMART Office could provide greater flexibilities; however, SMART Office officials said they have offered as many flexibilities as possible and further changes would take legislative action. http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-211

A registered sex offender and family members who had to live in a one-bedroom motel room to comply with a Dallas town's residency restrictions have standing to challenge the ordinance, an appeals court has ruled. http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sex_offender_living_in_hotel_room_may_challenge_towns_residency_restriction/

CBS 58's Investigative Reporter Sarah Barwacz brought the issue to lawmakers back in May after finding child predators living next to schools, daycare centers, and parks. It was legal for child predators to live next to schools and parks because there was no law against it. Some council members we spoke with felt Milwaukee had become overrun with offenders. After several months of working with lawmakers Tuesday we got a law passed. http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/Bottom-Line-Update-Sex-offender-law-passes-after-CBS-58-Investigation-268213522.html

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to impose new requirements on states for confining juveniles suspected of crimes. The rules could require state and local officials to spend significantly more money at a time when federal aid for juvenile justice is declining. http://www.thecrimereport.org/news/inside-criminal-justice/2014-07-new-jj-rules