What is NARSOL Really About?
The purpose of the National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (NARSOL) is to advocate for sexual offense laws and legislation that are based on research and scientific evidence. These laws should create an environment where former offenders can be rehabilitated and one that will welcome law-abiding, former offenders (registrants) into the community.
NARSOL is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization for the purpose of influencing public opinion and legislation. 100% of its income and financial holdings are derived from donations. This is also true of its sister foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) charity funding its educational and litigious efforts.
What has NARSOL accomplished?
NARSOL’s annual conference presents information through presentations by researchers and experts in specialized fields that focus on NARSOL’s goals and advocacy. From 2009 through 2024, NARSOL has held 16 peaceful and issue-free conferences in various cities across the nation. State advocates and volunteers; academics and researchers; treatment providers; attorneys; persons required to register; family members and friends; and the occasional legislator, law enforcement officer, and journalist attend NARSOL’s conferences.
Since 2013, NARSOL has been assisting in and, more recently, filing our own legal challenges where there has been overreach in registry-related restriction laws. To date, NARSOL has assisted in or filed over 24 challenges, in everything from retroactive punishment to compelled speech; from residency restrictions to due process.
What is NARSOL’s advocacy approach?
NARSOL’s advocacy approach has three facets: education, primarily designed to present proven facts in opposition to common beliefs, myth, and lies; litigation, brought in situations where a law or practice is at odds with constitutional rights, creates situations placing registrants at increased risk for vigilantes, and/or creates situations that decrease public safety; and legislation, which is carried out by active state affiliates speaking and lobbying for or against proposed bills.
What is NARSOL’s ultimate plan?
It is NARSOL’s firm belief, supported by a vast body of research, that public shaming registries have no public safety value and are a waste of tax dollars. In whatever ways they can, NARSOL will continue to educate, litigate, and legislate with the goal of reducing and eliminating these registries and replacing them with much better policies that focus on sexual harm prevention.