I have handled a lot of sex offender registry modifications, but this was the first time that I have represented a female seeking removal from the registry. The client was subject to a lifetime sex offender registry requirement and lifetime supervision on a special sentence. The Client met all the prerequisites for modification and the Fifth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services stipulated to her removal from the registry. The State argued that she should not be removed because, among other arguments, that only one risk assessment tool was used and that tool did not account for manipulation of the victim. Through expert testimony, we were able to show that the risk assessment tool utilized is the only one validated for use on female sex offenders, and that the remaining tools could not be used because they are only validated for adult male offenders. The testimony further showed that the scientific research demonstrates that those who know their victims are less likely to reoffend than those who do not, and that female offenders have a much lower recidivism rate than males; only about 2% of female sex offenders reoffend. The court put a lot of stock in the expert testimony and removed the client from the sex offender registry.
