Sex Offenders File Lawsuit Over Registration Fee

By Chuck Sudo in News on Nov 8, 2012 6:40PM

A group of Illinois sex offenders have filed a lawsuit in federal court looking to have the annual $100 registration fee waived due to indigence.

The Sun-Times has the details.

The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction until their lawsuit is resolved. They’re asking the court to bar the city from denying registration to sex offenders who ask for a fee waiver because of financial hardship.

Sex offenders face jail time if they fail to pay the fee. Yet police can waive the fee required under state law if they determine a sex offender can't afford to pay. One of the plaintiffs, Tommy Johnson, said he's currently in jail because he can't afford to pay the fee. Another plaintiff, David A. Johnson, said he had to borrow money to pay the fee last year and may be unable to afford it this year.

Another registered sex offender, Melissa Coughlin, claimed police waived her fee, but a police officer later called her to ask her on a date. The law allowing for the fee has withstood numerous legal challenges and Chicago Police said they've improved the vetting process to determine who can pay.