But what about the number of registrants who are eligible to be removed from the North Carolina sex offender registry? Initial data show that 41% of Tier 1 (lowest risk) registrants are eligible to petition for removal. Remarkably, initial data indicates a significant number of North Carolina registrants reaching eighteen years or longer of compliance without one attempt at deregistration. 

What are the similarities between COVID vaccinations and petition removals? They are both free and could save lives allowing reintegration into society without the need to mask. Even if you miss a year, there is an opportunity to utilize either later down the road. 

The current cost to file a petition with a county clerk for sex offense removal in North Carolina is zero. That is a bargain compared to South Carolina’s $250 and Virginia’s $86 removal fees (excluding the required fingerprint fees). 

While there is high speculation that this will be the final round of free COVID vaccinations, the same could be said for a free registry petition. The new eCourts will go live soon all across North Carolina. It is an expensive endeavor that is free for now but eventually will require additional funding to maintain and sustain. Only time will tell. 

The bottom line is that there are opportunities at no cost readily available to the public that often is dismissive by the people who need them the most. Every legislative body in the nation is politically quiet without rattling a cage to develop austerity schemes in the form of cuts or cost-associated services. Eventually, America must begin recouping the money it spent on COVID in addition to the billions of dollars on other programs created. The public registry is no stranger and eventually will become a rallying point that fees must be assessed to become sustainable. If a person qualifies to petition for registry removal, then it may behoove them to do so quickly before it becomes a costly endeavor. 

House Bill 593 goes into law effective August 1, 2020. The new law is in direct conflict with the Grabarczyk v. Stein lawsuit that was decided in favor of Mr. Grabarczyk. Now that the Grabarczyk case is on appeal, many unanswered questions remain about how the matter will be disposed of. NCRSOL will continue to monitor results from the case and make updates whenever possible. 

But what the N.C. legislature failed to do was address how registrants are to seek shelter during a hurricane. Most of all, how do registrants get tested for COVID, especially when all the testing locations are on school grounds? You see, N.C. lawmakers do not want to understand the collateral consequences of the sex offender registry they created. They have been sold nothing more than tissues of lies that registrants are the most dangerous people in society. The facts are that registrants are perhaps the most compliant and least likely to be recidivists. Yet, lawmakers do not read scholarly journals nor listen to reason. Collectively, they perhaps represent the facilitation of “fake news” by ignoring data proven results by academics that remain neutral in registry issues. Instead, elected leaders continue to be persuaded by cash from lobbyists selling fear, lies, and deceit. Politicians don’t care about the people or crafting good laws. They only care about being reelected. 

Typically, elected officials are under the impression that during a state of emergency or pandemic that laws are magically suspended or waived. At least this is what a few lawmakers conveyed to me during conversations at the legislative building. Despite my best attempt at educating lawmakers, the reasoning always falls on deaf ears. Registrants are generally rounded up and arrested for seeking shelter during a state of emergency or criminally charged at a school because that is the only place where COVID testing takes place. Then the orchestrated attempt by police comes when the camera crews are summoned by a police press release splattering the image of “sex offender caught at school” all over the headlines for days. Nevermind that registrants are people that require COVID testing or shelter during a violent hurricane. But, your lawmakers don’t want to fix the laws that keep registrants and their families alive and safe from harm. Moreover, most media outlets fail to report the truth about the collateral consequences of the sex offender registries by falling into the trap of only reporting a constructive narrative to paint any registrant as the worst-of-the-worst. Police, politicians, and the media should address the moral issue rather than painting a false narrative. 

So, what do we do about it? There are many solutions, but it takes an army of registrants unafraid and undeterred to satisfy this mission. A solution begins with calling your lawmaker. Let them know that hurricane season is upon us. Every emergency shelter is at a school which is off-limits to sex offenders and their family. Demand that the law be changed during times of emergency proclaimed by the governor or town leaders. Additionally, speak about COVID-19 testing sites that are every school parking lot all across North Carolina. That means people on the sex offender registry cannot be tested on school grounds for a test that may save their life. Talk candidly about voting where nearly 96% of polling places are at school properties. Sure, there may be provisions within the law. But this isn’t the time to negotiate for what we should or shouldn’t bargain with when it comes to voting rights. This should be a time to exclaim registrants are people that deserve the same rights as any other person during times of emergency, pandemic crisis, and the ability to vote like any other American without special accommodation. Hold your elected officials accountable—otherwise, vote for another person to replace the voice that is supposed to represent you and second chances. Maybe, just maybe, registrants, registry family members, and allies of the anti-registry movement should consider running for public office to make our voice and concerns publically known? 

I don’t encourage people to get arrested to prove a point, especially when COVID in jails/prisons could equate to a potential death sentence. But perhaps that may be the next chapter in the anti-registry movement towards creating change. It will take brave people on the sex offender registry to be arrested for standing upon principle to reclaim his/her civil rights. No other person in America has to ask permission from a school to vote. No other person in America is excluded from seeking shelter at a school during a mandatory hurricane evacuation. No person in American must ask permission to buy or move to a new home or apartment. No person in America must ask permission to must ask the police for permission to go on vacation. No person in America is excluded from getting a COVID test based on where they may have the procedure performed. Sure, it is a huge gamble. But to have a civil rights case, we must find registrants willing to stand up and demand equality within their civil rights. Enough is enough! 

Now is the time to become vocal and make changes to draconian and Jim Crow styled laws penned by the elected leadership entrusted to represent your interests. Now is the time for registrants to fight back and reclaim his/her civil rights. Now is the time for action. I encourage you to contact your state representative and put your concerns in front of them. Demand change! Demand it now! Otherwise, lawmakers will continue to think we don’t put up a fight.  The clock is ticking to save the over 25,000 registrants in our state. 

Now is the time for action. Be a part of that action and become an advocate of change. 

• Limit the number of customers inside at any one time to 20 percent of allowed capacity under fire regulations, or five people per 1,000 square feet.
• Maintain 6-foot separation between customers at checkout lines and other areas where customers congregate.
• Routinely disinfect stores.

The order also encourages:

• Limit aisles to one-way traffic.
• Install plastic shields to separate cashiers from customers.
• Set aside specific hours for senior citizens to shop.
• Make hand sanitizer available for customers and staff.

The governor said, “Law enforcement has authority to issue class two misdemeanors (maximum penalty is 60 days in jail and a fine of $1,000). We believe retail stores understand and will follow rules. Families should also just send one person to the store. Try not to shop together. Get in and get out quickly.

The executive order states the requirements will last for 30 days unless extended by further executive action.

Officials say at least 42 inmates and one staff member on the medium-security side of the prison have COVID-19. However, Butner is a medical facility that treats the Bureau of Prisons systems. Infections from the prison into hospitals create a precarious situation demonstrating it may not be feasible to reduce the spread of the COVID virus if inmate exposure continues to rise. How will Butner hospital mitigate and prioritize inmates keeping them safe?

There are 15 cases on the minimum security side and at least one confirmed case at the medical center.​​ Those numbers should be a concern to family members of inmates housed at Butner. There have been discussions by reliable media sources that Butner facilities may be overcrowded. To forcibly relocate inmates from one crowded area to another may not be a practical and safer solution.

While the U.S. Attorney General exercised emergency authority under the CARES Act to further increase home confinement, there hasn’t been much data or information to suggest any level of inmates have been released, if any at all?

Butner federal prison is host to famous people such as Bernard Madoff, Samuel Israel, and Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela.  Some inmates at Butner federal prison are housed due to federal sex offense crimes. However, a majority of those serving prison sentences for sex crimes are low-level non-contact internet-based charges and convictions. Many of Butner’s inmates are serving low-level prison sentences that pose no significant risk to communities.  In today’s world a felony conviction could indicate any crime ranging from embezzlement, voting election fraud, to placing a bomb threat without actually carrying out the act. Prisons haven’t actually rehabilitated the incarcerated. It just made the prison system much more lucrative all while making the inmate population that much poorer.

There is no published data that demonstrates those convicted of sexual offenses or other low-level offenses are a threat to communities or the general public. Most sex offenses or other criminal convictions are plea deal based and prey on a one-time poor decision based on curiosity or other factors, those with mental conditions, or the disenfranchised. Yet, the media and fear-mongering among the general public judges’ others without mercy or redemption continue to ratchet up unfounded hysteria and false rhetoric.

Perhaps prison reforms should begin with prosecution reforms? Only time will tell to remedy our failing prison and criminal justice system.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement divisions are warning Americans not to fall prey for phone calls, texts, emails, or websites that ask for personal information. Most citizens are trying to figure out if they have a direct deposit plan on file with the Internal Revenue Service, scammers are pretending to be the IRS to capture your information and wipe out your bank accounts. 

The IRS, police, or government does not call citizens. While it may be true that banks will make collection attempts or notify the account holder of potential fraudulent activities. In a majority of cases, if someone calls you to say you have an outstanding warrant or to verify your social security or other financial information by phone, it is more than likely a scammer. To stay safe, treat any caller as a potential scam artist. 

Scammers are claiming to be “detective sergeant with your county sheriffs department,” calling homes of people on the registry and their family members. It happens all the time. Sheriffs departments and the State Bureau of Investigation are well aware of this scheme. However, sheriffs departments in North Carolina NEVER call registrants for compliance issues. But when these counterfeiter-cops call you, hang up and call police immediately. 

Scammers are becoming very talented and selfish in their attempts to intimidate, frighten, and drain vulnerable people out of funds. A basic rule of thumb is never to give out banking or personal information by phone. There are safer ways to stop scammers from targeting you. 

1. Never say you live alone or give out or family information to a caller. Do not verify your home address with any caller.  
2. Never give out your banking information by phone. Instead, hang up and call the bank or creditor phone number listed on the back of your debit or credit card. 
3. Police do not call your home for an outstanding warrant. It is best to hang up on people claiming to be police. 
4. The IRS doesn’t call Americans. Contact the IRS if you gave your social security number to a caller or worried about potential identity theft. 
5. If someone is trying to scam you online, by calling, or other unwanted means, you may contact the Federal Trade Commission and file a complaint. 
6. Always call your bank fraud department if you have concerns about your account being targeted. 
7. Do not be embarrassed if you have been scammed. Millions of people are scammed each year. 

Those who file their tax returns electronically and provide the IRS with their bank information will likely get their payments earlier via direct deposit. Some 88% of individual returns were filed electronically in 2018. Only those with closed bank accounts may have a paper check rerouted after the banking error has been sorted. 

Paper checks are expected to take longer to mail out. Those that have moved addresses since their 2018 tax return, may have to wait a bit longer. 

The IRS specifies on its website that no sign-up is required, and there is no need to call. The agency will post additional information, when it’s available, at www.irs.gov/coronavirus.

The best way to stop scamming is to report it each and every time. Reporting scammers may be the difference between potentially recouping the money you lost versus being silent and never recovering a dime.  If we can patiently wait for a stimulus check, then that same patience can slow down the sudden emotion by stopping a scam tactic by hanging up and never starting the conversation. Just because a person knows your name doesn’t ever imply that they know anything about you. Just hang up!

As for these counterfeit-cops? Their felonious antics will finally catch up with them and become just another sad statistic of our prison system.

• Are registrants still being required in your county to appear in-person?
• Have you had sheriff deputies knocking on doors for compliance checks?
• Have you called the sheriffs department to ask a question but are left in limbo with an answer?
• Has your county sheriff amended in-person requirements during the pandemic?

We would like to hear your stories so we can better assess what is happening in your community and county. So far, we have heard from a few registrants and family members, and despite the threat of the coronavirus, sheriffs departments haven’t seemed to have made adaptive measures to keep registrants, deputies, and the public safe.

Please contact us by email at contact@ncrsol.org . Be sure to include only facts, and what county you or the registrant resides. If you have received written notice of amended in-person requirements, our staff would like to view that as well.

On behalf of the staff at NCRSOL, please stay safe! The registry community will always remain in our thoughts and prayers.

NARSOL Board of Directors member Richard Earl sent a message to conference planning teams, “the conference is going ahead as planned.” While some members of the planning groups appeared concerned with the growing uncertainty of how the pandemic could potentially alter the conference, NARSOL leadership is optimistic that the conference will be held.

A positive mention is that airfare could not be more of a bargain at this particular time. The cost of a roundtrip airfare ticket has significantly dropped because of struggling airlines and the plummeting price of jet fuel. As of the time of this reporting roundtrip airfare during the conference time frame from Houston, Texas, to Raleigh-Durham starts at $79. Additionally, other services such as rental cars and hotel rooms are attempting to pull out all the stops to capture any customer it can acquire.

For more information about the NARSOL 2020 Conference, please click here.

Those with registry requirements who have recently been released from incarceration will still be processed and registered, according to media reporting.

Current registrants in Texas that have been previously processed and actively on the sex offender registry are instructed to call and make an appointment to come back at a later date.

Other police agencies throughout the country are suspending sex offender registrations and in-person requirements as a precaution due to the COVID virus pandemic. Police agencies in South Carolina, Nevada, Arkansas, and Florida have taken steps to not only protect officers but the registry community. Some of these states are using Skype, Zoom, and other mobile based video conferencing to check on the registry population as an alternative.

All of the police departments have taken the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce low priority contact with the general public.

NCRSOL has reached out on multiple occasions to the various state and local leaders as well as medial outlets to suspend mandatory sex offender in-person registration temporarily. We have not had replies.

Today, a sex offender advocacy group in California has filed a civil lawsuit to stop police from requiring sex offender in-person or home checks because of the pandemic. Perhaps North Carolinians affected by the sex offender registry should consider filing a lawsuit to temporarily suspend in-person sex offender requirements?