Should Old Sex Crimes Be Subject To New Offender Registration Rules? N.H. High Court To Decide

The New Hampshire Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the constitutionality of sex offender registry requirements for convicts whose crimes were committed before the legislature imposed more stringent rules.  
Lawyers for "John Doe'' contend the registry requirements amount to new layers of punishment that weren't in place when Doe was convicted in 1987 of sexually assaulting his 14-year-old stepdaughter. The requirements have been overhauled numerous times since 1998.  Lawyers for the state acknowledge the information required from sex offenders and frequency of their reports to police have increased but maintain the requirements enhance public safety and are not punitive.  The justices will hear arguments in the case May 8.