Stay out of Arizona. They have way too many compliance checks and enjoy flyering your neighborhood with lifetime registration. It is a nightmare with lifetime probation too if your crime originated here.

NH seems to be one of the best considering the state just enacted a ban on any living restrictions for SO's saying they are unconstitutional.
And I know MA just passed something to ease restrictions...can't seem to find it now.

Does anyone know what Maryland is like. I am interviewing for a job which would have me move there near Baltimore.

You could do a whole lot worse than Maryland. In fact, I think Maryland is one of the better states. Maryland has a tier level registration scheme but no residency restrictions.

Most states in the Northwestern or the Northeastern part of the country will be better suited for registrants. These states are politically progressive and do not have the "lock 'em up" and "tough on crime" mentality that you see in the conservative Bible Belt and Midwestern states.

Definitely stay away from Florida. California is not very good, along with Ohio or Illinois. Michigan is also a state you want to stay away from. Some of the other posters in various states can chime in here and help you out.

Don't think Nebraska is too bad. I think Oregon and Utah are fairly good places.

Stay out of Missouri.

Here are some links which will give you some info about Maryland----

http://tinyurl.com/zlcp59r

http://tinyurl.com/7o4gsa5

http://tinyurl.com/lpfuja2

http://tinyurl.com/mu2olfs

http://tinyurl.com/h64zzmx

http://tinyurl.com/j4v3wo4

rewdiazepam

mass is good

My son lives with me and we're in the Baltimore area. No one bothers us. Like Rew says, there are no residency restrictions and it has 3 tiers. It's AWA compliant. You do have to update in person either every 3 months or 6 months depending on what tier level you are. You also have to register any vehicle you drive (even if you don't own it). Since my son doesn't drive, my car's not listed. You also have to give them all internet identifiers.

Do NOT move to Indiana. Bible belt. High Judgement zone. Beware.

As bad as I understand Illinois laws are, that is where my family is and that is where I would like to go. I know the people of the state are much better than the laws, and there are many there who are working for change. I want some day to help bring about those changes, there and elsewhere.

Could someone give specifics as to what is so bad about Missouri? Are the restrictions exceptionally harsh, or is it just that it's a conservative state? I'm an SO and a single parent, and we're considering moving there, so any information would be hugely appreciated.

JC,

What is so bad about Missouri for registrants?? Missouri has become the new Florida.

Yes, it is a very conservative state and that is one problem, but they have some legislators there passing some very restrictive, intrusive, and ridiculous laws regarding registrants---and it is getting worse year after year.

Here are a few examples------

Missouri is trying to pass a bill which would require bus stops be located at least 500 feet from the residence of the sex offender. If passed, the sex offenders who live near bus stops and do not own their own house may be forced to move----even though they were there first.

http://tinyurl.com/hex7pew

They have residency restrictions statewide----

http://tinyurl.com/zudrb46

They are or were trying to place juvenile sex offenders on the adult registry----

http://tinyurl.com/on6zo64

They have community notification where they notify surrounding neighbors when a sex offender moves into the neighborhood; I am not sure this notification is by email or flyers.

http://tinyurl.com/jy9d6k9

They have Halloween restrictions certain registrants cannot pass out candy on Halloween. Most offenders may not be restricted, but they may include all offenders at some point.

http://tinyurl.com/zp86sea

I am not sure about the specifics of all these laws, but they are there. The situation in Missouri seems to be getting worse every year for sex offenders as they pass more and more legislation to make life difficult for the registrants.

One troubling aspect of this is that some of these laws are made retroactive and will affect any registrant regardless of the date of his conviction. Any law passed next year, for example, will affect you even though your conviction was before the law was passed. So every year you have to sweat blood wondering what the lawmakers will come up with next that might negatively impact your life. I dreaded every year here in Oklahoma when I was on the registry, and trust me, it is stressful.

Even if they are unable to get all these laws passed, just the fact that they are introducing such legislation is troubling.

I have been messaging with Legal Guardian lately; he is from Missouri, and trust me, he can give you the straight scoop on Missouri.

Stay away from Florida and Missouri at all costs. They are like Kryptonite is to Superman. Stay away.

rewdiazepam

PS I have some more information I will post as soon as I can find it.

Here are a couple more links that will help.

http://tinyurl.com/n2vvzy4

http://tinyurl.com/lpfuja2

Hope this helps.

rewdiazepam

Stay away from Arkansas. There are residency restrictions-level 3 and 4 must live more than 2000 feet from a school, daycare, public park. The same levels are banned from entering the children's area/swimming areas of all state parks. If they catch you for failure to register, and you are on parole, then they'll double/triple the sentencing in prison. The prosecutors down here are blood thirsty for prosecuting to the fullest extent all sex offenders. Furthermore, in 2011 there were additional laws put on the books here in AR. If you are a RSO working self employed with children, they'll prosecute you, and sex offenders are banned from water parks as of 2011.

finally, in 2015, the parole board now has the authority to apply discretionary rules and deny parole to any and all sex offenders-regardless of the level of the crime. This would apply to non contact offenders as well.

Arkansas is slowly headed in the direction of MO and FL.

Wow. We're in KS, right now, and it's surprisingly been pretty reasonable, aside from the AWA compliance. No residency restrictions or public area bans of any kind, as far as I'm aware, and I've been on the list for 11 years. I just hate to stay here, because Kansas is going down the tubes in every other way.

jc85, what area of Kansas are you in? We are considering the Manhattan area because that's where hubby's family is.

I would love to hear from you how it has been being on the registry in KS first hand.

mass is good ok