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Join us in advocating for justice, reform, and human rights
Your voice matters. Together, we can create meaningful change and ensure fair treatment for all individuals.
SOLAR Position Statement
Our advocacy is grounded in evidence, constitutional principles, and a commitment to human dignity. These core beliefs drive every aspect of our reform efforts.
At SOLAR, we exist to Support, Organize, Lead, Advance, and Reform — providing Sex Offense Learning, Advocacy, and Resources — to realize a future of Safety, Opportunity, Liberty, Accountability, and Redemption, and we believe:
The sex offender registry system is ineffective, harmful, and rooted in misinformation.
It does not prevent crime. The vast majority of sex offenses are committed by individuals not on any registry, and empirical evidence consistently shows lower recidivism rates for people convicted of sex offenses than for any other felony class.
Registry systems cause lasting harm to individuals, families, and communities.
Rather than increasing safety, registries foster fear, isolation, discrimination, and vigilante violence. Children of registrants often suffer social and psychological consequences through no fault of their own.
The real risk to children often lies closer to home.
Authority figures—including family members, teachers, coaches, clergy, and community leaders—are far more likely to perpetrate sexual harm than strangers. Yet public registry systems misleadingly focus attention on "the stranger danger" myth.
Other types of crime present a greater and more consistent danger to public safety.
Crimes involving guns, domestic violence, drugs, alcohol, and property damage are far more prevalent and harmful to children and communities than most sex offenses, but do not carry lifelong public punishment or surveillance.
Registries are punitive in practice, not administrative in nature.
They often violate basic constitutional protections and amount to extra-judicial punishment after a sentence has been served. In this way, registries stand in tension with principles of due process, proportionality, and fairness.
One-size-fits-all registry laws are fundamentally flawed.
Applying blanket restrictions across vastly different cases ignores individual risk factors and undermines both public trust and true safety. Policies should be evidence-based, individualized, and focused on prevention—not punishment.
Registries create a permanent underclass.
They block access to housing, employment, education, and financial services, stripping people of the tools necessary to rebuild their lives. This contradicts the ideals of redemption, reintegration, and equal protection.
Why This Matters for Advocacy
These position statements form the foundation of our advocacy work. Every campaign, every policy proposal, and every reform effort is guided by these evidence-based principles. We believe that effective advocacy must be rooted in truth, compassion, and constitutional law—not fear or political expedience.
Current Advocacy Campaigns
Join our active efforts to create meaningful change
RECON Initiative
Register Every Convict or None
Our groundbreaking campaign challenges the current registry system by advocating for true equality: if public safety requires registries, then all convicted individuals should be registered—not just those convicted of sex offenses.
This bold approach exposes the discriminatory nature of current registry laws and pushes for evidence-based policies that truly serve public safety rather than perpetuating stigma.
Contact Your Members of Congress
Use this tool to choose your perspective and issue, then copy a script and send it via Democracy.io. Your message will reach both U.S. Senators and your Representative.
Why we ask for your role
Lawmakers pay closer attention when they see how policies affect different groups. A message from someone on the registry highlights lived experience; from a family member, the collateral impact; from an ally, broader support; and from a concerned citizen, the principle of justice. Choose what best reflects your perspective.
Tip: Personalize your first lines with your name, city/ZIP, and one sentence about your experience or concern—unique messages get read first.
Why these talking points (open for sources)
Evidence-based policy over blanket bans
- DOJ SMART Office—Residency Restrictions: Case Law Update (2018) (summarizes constitutional concerns & mixed outcomes).
- DOJ SMART Office—Recidivism of Adult Sexual Offenders (Przybylski, 2015) (context on reoffense patterns; cautions against assumption-driven policy).
Recidivism facts to counter common myths
- Bureau of Justice Statistics—Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from State Prison: 9-Year Follow-Up (2005–2014) (large cohort; detailed re-arrest outcomes).
- SMART Office—Myth vs. Fact (registration & notification) (useful clarifications on what registries do—and don't—do).
- The Sentencing Project (2024) summary: low reoffense rates and long-term decline.
Tools for state lookups (if you want to add them later)
- Open States / Plural — Find Your Legislator (free address-based state lookup; API available).
Federal messages send via Democracy.io (EFF's open-source tool for emailing your two U.S. Senators + House member in one go).
Ways to Make a Difference
There are many ways to support our mission and help create positive change in the system.
Spread Awareness
Share our content, educate others about the issues, and help combat stigma through informed dialogue.
Read & Share →Policy Advocacy
Contact legislators, support reform bills, and advocate for evidence-based policies that promote rehabilitation.
Take Action →Community Support
Volunteer with local organizations, mentor individuals, or provide support to families in need.
Get Connected →Share Your Story
Help others by sharing your experiences, insights, or expertise to build understanding and hope.
Submit Story →Professional Support
Offer your professional skills in law, counseling, research, or other areas to support our mission.
Volunteer Skills →Ready to Make a Difference?
Every voice matters in the fight for justice and reform.