SORA Archives - Pappalardo & Pappalardo LLP

SARA Residency Restriction Mis-Applied to Prisoners in DOCCS Custody

Imagine you’ve been told you have a date on which you'll be released from prison. However, that day comes and goes, and you’re still in prison. Why? Because the prison won’t approve your release addre...

The Trial of Harvey Weinstein – What Really Happened?

Harvey Weinstein was at the top of his game as a Hollywood producer when women began making accusations. Specifically, they allege he committed sexual harassment and sexual offenses. Then, on May 25,...

Passport Identifier Required for Registered Child Sex Offenders

Beginning in 2017, the U.S. Department of State began labeling the passports of some people convicted of sex crimes. Any registrant convicted of a sex offense involving a minor must have an identifier...

New York City Art and Education Event on Registry Laws

This month, the Drawing Center in NYC will host events which explore the intersection between art and criminal justice. "Our Fellow Americans: A Symposium on Public Conviction Registries" will featuri...

New York’s Laws on Kidnapping and Unlawful Imprisonment

Kidnapping cases often appear front and center in the news. Yet the legal definition is often much different from public perception. It is not just the unknown abductor taking a child away in the nigh...

Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders

In New York, some persons who have committed sex offenses are considered too dangerous to live the community. This is even after they’ve served the prison sentence for their offense. These individuals...

Pappalardo Firm Successful in SORA Modification Petition in Westchester

On October 23, Pappalardo & Pappalardo was successful in having the SORA sex offender risk level modified for client J.M. J.M. has been dutifully registering for more than two decades as a Level 2...

How to Lower Your SORA Sex Offender Registration Level

When a person convicted of a sex offense is sentenced, or when that person is released from prison, there will be a hearing to determine his or her level of registration pursuant to the Sex Offender R...

Sex Offender Registration Laws Are Outdated and Need Changing for Child Pornography Offenses

In New York, persons convicted of certain sexual offenses are required to register under the Sex Offender Registration Act, also referred to as "SORA" or "Megan's Law." The primary way a court determi...

A Unique Re-entry Guide for Registrants on the Sex Offender Registry

“Sex offender” can be a very jarring term. Consequently, attention given to this term centers around the offense and the people who caused harm. However, people required to register on sex offender re...

In the Supreme Court: How Sex Offender Regulations Have Been Based On Flawed Science

It’s commonly assumed that individuals who commit sex offenses are highly likely to re-offend and cannot be cured of their sexually deviant thoughts and actions. These ideas are the driving force behi...