Kansas lawmakers are considering reworking the state’s criminal registry system to avoid spiraling violations. A proposal would cut back penalties for failure to comply with the state’s registry for people convicted of sex, drug or violent crimes. The penalties would be reverted back to prior levels before the current harsher penalties were approved.
Kansas has some of the toughest registry laws in the nation, and Jennifer Roth of the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers says it’s time to ease up. She says currently something as simple as failing to update an address in the registry can be a serious felony.
"That's the same as an aggravated arson, or an involuntary manslaughter, or an aggravated robbery," said Roth. "That makes no sense."
The change would also eliminate the public registry for some drug offenses. The Kansas Sheriff’s Association says the proposals go too far, but agree the registry laws do need to be updated.