Any person convicted of a violent sex crime involving force, multiple victims, or a child should be included in a public registry, but that’s not always the case.

My mother was only 11 years old when she became the victim of a  sex crime. The man responsible confessed not only to what he did her, but to the attacks against two other women and plans for another. 

Despite this pattern of predatory behavior, he was given early release more than 20 years ago and was never required to appear on Michigan’s public sex offender registry. He was convicted in 1981 and is 67 years old today.

This is not just a personal tragedy, it’s a public safety gap in Michigan’s law. 

A large portion of individuals convicted of  sexual offenses on or before October 1, 1995, were never required to appear on Michigan’s public sex offender registry because of timing of conviction.

As a result, thousands of people with documented convictions for violent sexual offenses remain outside of public awareness.

Families, neighbors, employers, landlords, and community members have no way of knowing wether someone with a documented history of these crimes lives or works nearby.

Deena’s Law is a citizen led proposal calling on Michigan lawmakers to introduce legislation that closes this gap by expanding public access to information about individuals with documented convictions for violent sexual offenses that are currently excluded from the public registry.

This proposal is not about creating new reporting requirements or changing past convictions. It is about closing a gap in public access to information that already exists within the justice system so families can make informed decisions and communities can be better protected.

By signing this petition, you are supporting a simple principle, no family should be left unaware of predators around children.

It’s time to close this gap.

Pass Deena’s Law.

 The article below is reference from the Flint Journal archives.