Advocates challenging juvenile sex offender registration law

CLEVELAND (AP) — Advocates for juveniles who have committed sex crimes are challenging a new state law that increases the length of time convicted sex offenders must register their names and addresses with law enforcement agencies.

The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, changes the number of classifications for sex offenders from eight to three, increasing the number of felons considered sexual predators and requiring those considered the worst to register for life.

But advocates say juveniles have low recidivism rates and should not be required to register, at times meaning their photos will be posted on the Internet.

For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Vindicator or vindy.com.