High court backs sex-offender registration

Tuesday, March 18, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court ruled Monday that the requirement that sex offenders register for life with law enforcement officials is not cruel and inhumane punishment.

The court said the sex offender registration is aimed at preventing sex-related crimes, particularly those involving children, and is not an additional punishment.

The case involved Timothy Cunningham, who was arrested in a Clark County park after being found sitting naked in his vehicle. He was judged guilty of indecent exposure, a misdemeanor.

Cunningham was sentenced to 31 days in jail and ordered to register as a sex offender.

Cunningham argued that a lifetime registration requirement far exceeds any reasonable penalty for a misdemeanor offense.

The court said there is a provision in the law that allows offenders to apply for release from registration after 15 years.

"While still harsh, this statute provides limited relief from the lifetime registration requirement," the court said in its ruling.

"Persons classified as sex offenders are not deprived of any fundamental right by the imposition of a registration requirement."

Cunningham maintained the law is too broad and could result in sex offender status being applied to people convicted of streaking, mooning, skinny dipping or going to the bathroom on the side of the road.

In other decisions Monday: