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CJJ SUBMITS COMMENTS TO THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL
On April 30, 2007, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice (CJJ), upon approval by the National Steering Committee and Government Relations Committee, submitted comments to the U.S. Attorney General opposing an interim rule that applies the provisions of the Adam Walsh Child and Protection Act of 2006 retroactively and would mandate that children and youth adjudicated within the juvenile court system for certain sex abuses register with a national sex offender registry.
CJJ’s comments primarily addressed the Attorney General’s interim determination that Title I of the Act, also known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA), be applied retroactively to certain children and youth regardless of when they were convicted. CJJ asserted that given the varied structures, laws, policies and service-delivery systems of the 56 different states and jurisdiction, it would be procedurally impractical and burdensome for the states to comply with SORNA retroactively. In addition, CJJ asserted that states, territories and the District of Columbia would be forced to take on additional costs or to consider use of federal juvenile justice appropriations in a manner entirely at odds with the core prevention, early intervention and system improvement goals for federal appropriations to states and localities under current federal juvenile justice laws.
CJJ also took the opportunity to argue that it is bad public policy for SORNA to be applied at all—whether retroactively or prospectively to children and youth, and to urge the U.S. Department of Justice and Congress to revisit the Walsh Act and strike a more compassionate and productive balance between victims of sexual abuse, particularly children, and child victims of sexual abuse who sadly exhibit abusive behaviors. To view the letter in its entirety, visit the CJJ Web site at here.
 Click here to download a copy of CJJ's comments.
For more information, please contact Tara Andrews, CJJ Deputy Executive Director: 202-467-0864, ext. 109, and andrews@juvjustice.org.
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