Internet & Social Media Bans Lifted in NY For Convicted Sex Offenders
For years, New York’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) has enforced blanket internet & social media bans for anyone forced to register as a sex offender.
While this isn’t strictly a research article, this progressive development in the justice system is great news.
The Problem with Blanket Internet & Social Media Bans
It’s very difficult for convicted sexual offenders to get acclimated back into society. It’s even more difficult without internet or social media access in 2022. The internet is essential in order to find employment.
Additionally, it is also an avenue for social communication.
“This is a crucial settlement that underscores the reality that in the 21st Century the internet and social media are prerequisites for speech and participation in society…”
Daniel Lambright, Senior Staff Attorney at the NYCLU
With assistance from Rutgers University and the New York Civil Liberties Union, the United States District Court approved a settlement in Jones V. Stanford. Offenders who didn’t use a computer to commit their crime will no longer be banned from internet use.
Not All Restrictions Are Going Away
However, some limitations will remain in place.
“Moving forward, social media and internet restrictions will be limited to circumstances where there are legitimate and particularized concerns about a person’s likelihood of sexually reoffending by using the internet or social media or where restrictions are deemed necessary to ensure compliance with a specific goal of rehabilitation”.
This is important. Even though the settlement is giving internet access to sex offenders, there is also a need to keep recidivism low.
Hopefully with the new limitations, will continue to prevent contact offenders from committing internet offenses.
Read the original article from the New York ACLU.
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