Court sides with Navajo man in sex offender registry dispute

Tuesday, September 24, 2013  

The state of Arizona can't enforce its sex offender registration law against a Navajo Nation man who lives on the reservation, the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled Monday.

Raymond John was arrested off the reservation for failing to register under the state's law. But since he was living on the reservation at the time and had not worked, resided or attended school off the reservation, the court determined that the state lacked jurisdiction over him.

Additionally, the court noted that the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act authorizes tribes to develop their own registration systems. As a result, federal interests outweigh the state, the decision said.

The Navajo Nation plans to implement its own system.

Get the Story:
Sex offender registration rules don't apply on tribal lands. (Capitol Media Services 9/24)

Arizona Court of Appeals Decision:
Arizona v. John (September 23, 2013)