If anyone knows that labels hurt it would be Mark Wicklund, who is suing the state of Idaho.
The 56-year-old Boise man was labeled a violent sexual predator in 2001.
Now, Wicklund has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the state, while the Idaho Department of Correction Sex Offender Classification Board remains barred from issuing this label to others going forward, the Associated Press reports.
Wicklund is a registered as a sex offender in Idaho and designated violent sexual predator for 2001 convictions for sexual battery of a minor.
He filed his lawsuit in the wake of an Idaho Supreme Court ruling that such designations were made with a lack of due process for offenders.
In his lawsuit against the state, Wicklund claims he was damaged by the violent sexual predator designation that the high court ruled has constitutional flaws.
In general, sexual predator is often used to describe severe or repeat sex offenders.
Idaho has online registries that have 52 listings for violent sexual predators. The web site provides public access to information about convicted sexual offenders to help parents and police and the community protect children.
As previously discussed, the California Supreme Court has been examining Jessica's law, which deals specifically with sexually violent predators.
The court is questioning the legality of Jessica's Law and whether sex predators should be treated differently from other violent offenders.
Currently, Idaho is not designating any new Violent Sexual Predator labels, though offenders already holding the label currently still have it.
State officials said a proposal is expected to be ready for consideration by the 2011 Legislature.
- Idaho 'Violent Sexual Predator' classification under fire (Times-News)
- Boise man sues over predator sex offender label (The Oregonian)
- Only 1 state has complied with sex-offender tracking law (Scripps Howard News Service)
- Sex Offender Registry (provided by Karen Scarborough)
- Sex Offenses Overview (provided by Muller & Sommerville, P.A.)
