ADVOCACY NETWORK
Links to other Advocacy Groups
NATIONAL ADVOCACY GROUPS
NARSOL
National Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws
NARSOL envisions a society free from public shaming, dehumanizing registries, discrimination, and unconstitutional laws.
Additionally, NARSOL has compiled a State based information Wiki that has a wealth of information.
WAR
Women Against Registry
The vision of this organization is to abolish the multiple Registries across this nation. Women Against Registry also seeks to restore Life, Health and Freedom to all individuals who have been injured by the requirements of registration, especially innocent family members. We foresee a day when the suffocating stigma surrounding registration will be removed in favor of proper sentencing coupled with appropriate treatment; a day when the indefinite detention of civil commitment is replaced with compassionate programs designed to heal and restore. We hope for a day when virtually all who have offended against the laws of the land will be given the opportunity to rebuild a decent, honest life with the prospect of rehabilitation, reintegration, and redemption.
CAUTION CLICK
Caution Click
Dedicated to restoring safety to our communities and rights to registrants by abolishing the registry. We are part of a national movement to end the registry based on 20 years of empirical research, government statistics and peer reviewed studies. Lawmakers continue to spend millions of dollars on a failed system that does not increase safety and can in fact cause more harm. It is time to rethink a policy that continues to put roadblocks in the way of those who have paid their debt to society and causes harm to families and their children. It is time for public discussion to ask “why we need a registry that is costly and ineffective?” The registry is a failed policy and needs to be abolished.
CURE - Sort
Sex Offenders Restored through Treatment
An issue chapter of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (National CURE) and is referred to as CURE-SORT.
CURE-SORT works to provide information, resources, contacts, and support to individuals, families, defense attorneys, treatment providers, public media, legislators, law enforcement personnel, and other professionals who work with or are interested in issues of sexual abuse and its prevention.
One Standard of Justice
One Standard of Justice
Committed to ensuring that persons accused or convicted of sex offenses in Connecticut are treated constitutionally and fairly by the state before, during, and after their sentences. We believe that these persons ought to be accorded dignity and respect as human beings, no person belongs on a registry. They are entitled, like all other people with a criminal history, to be subjected only to penalties proportionate to the severity of their crimes, to be given second chances where warranted, and to have adequate opportunities for education, rehabilitation, housing, and employment. Communities are safer with rational laws and a focus on prevention of sexual harm and the healing of all those affected by it.
While we advocate fairness for all people convicted of sexual crimes, we believe that the plight of those with nonviolent, non-predatory convictions demands especially urgent redress.
NACDL
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
NACDL’s mission is to serve as a leader, alongside diverse coalitions, in identifying and reforming flaws and inequities in the criminal legal system, and redressing systemic racism, and ensuring that its members and others in the criminal defense bar are fully equipped to serve all accused persons at the highest level.
C.A.G.E
Citizens Against Government Entrapment
Mission is to expose the truth behind sex sting operations that exploit and harm vulnerable individuals, shedding light on the unjust tactics used in these practices. We are dedicated to supporting the victims of these operations and all others affected by the systemic abuse, offering resources, advocacy, and a platform for their voices. By shifting the narrative, we aim to refocus public attention on the real and pressing dangers of child sexual exploitation, and work tirelessly to protect children from genuine online threats, advocating for responsible, evidence-based approaches to combating abuse. Together, we seek justice, transparency, and a safer future for all.
Once Fallen
Once Fallen
An informational and resource site specifically for those placed on the sex offense registry (i.e., “Registered Sex Offenders”). We are also committed to the demise of the sex offense registry and the draconian laws it has inspired.
Prison Families Alliance
Prison Families Alliance
Prison Families Alliance (PFA) is committed to improving the lives of families and children who have loved ones in the criminal justice system.
Vision: To transform our community by empowering the prison family through support, education, and guidance.
ACSOL
Alliance for Constitutional Laws
Dedicated to protecting the Constitution by restoring the civil rights of people listed on the public registries and their families. In order to achieve that objective, ACSOL will educate and litigate as well as support or oppose legislation.
Restorative Action Alliance
Restorative Action Alliance
Passionate about addressing two categories of harm while honoring the humanity of every person and seeking real solutions to help people and communities thrive. Together, we work to address:
1) Intimate and gender-based violence:
- sexual harassment
- sexual abuse
- sexual exploitation
- rape and assault
- other types of intimate harm
2) Ineffective approaches that our criminal legal system utilizes to address sexual harm:
- conviction registries (public or private), community notification, and shaming
- lengthy & mandatory minimum sentences
- overreaching and punitive probation and parole practices
- civil commitment and solitary confinement
- coercive mental health treatment
- proximity and housing restrictions (banishment laws)
- retroactively applied punishment and restriction to liberty interests
- lack of survivor input in the context of accountability
Safer Society Foundation
Safer Society Foundation
At Safer Society Foundation, we dedicate our efforts to creating a world free from the harmful effects of sexual and social violence.
D Three
Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities
Advocates for reforming the criminal justice system to better address the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities like Autism. The current system often fails to understand and accommodate their unique challenges, leading to harmful prosecutions without public benefit.
Hinda Institute
Hinda Institute
Our mission is to empower families affected by institutionalization, trauma, and crisis. Through support and rehabilitation, we foster resilience, restore relationships, and aid reintegration. We envision a future where everyone can heal, thrive, and build a more just, connected society.
Fight the new drug
Fight the New Drug
Provides individuals the opportunity to make an informed decision regarding pornography by raising awareness on its harmful effects.
STATE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS
Illinois Voices
Illinois Voices
Made up of volunteers who are concerned about the proliferation of public registries in the United States, and Illinois in particular. They focus their efforts in two main areas: Legislation and Litigation.
Their legislative efforts include working closely with lawmakers to help them understand the collateral consequences of public registries, and providing them with empirical research regarding the ineffectiveness of registries. They actively oppose legislative efforts that are based on knee-jerk reaction to high profile, yet extremely rare, occurrences.
Illinois Voices works with civil rights attorneys to challenge laws that they believe are unconstitutional and ineffective. Several lawsuits have already been filed the challenge various registry laws in Illinois.
Nebraskans Unafraid
Nebraskans Unafraid
Founded in response to the growing need for support and advocacy for individuals convicted of sexual offenses.
NCRSOL
North Carolinans for Rational Sex Offense Laws
NCRSOL was organized in early 2016 when several registrants and their supporters decided the time had come to create a more visible presence throughout the state. Urged on by reports of resurgent legislative efforts to make life even more unbearable for North Carolina’s registrant population, NCRSOL was certified as a non-profit corporation by the Secretary of State on March 4, 2016. As an affiliate of the National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (NARSOL), NCRSOL fully subscribes to the national organization’s statement of Vision, Mission, and Goals. Representing the civil and constitutional rights of North Carolina’s more than 21,000 registered citizens, along with their families and friends, NCRSOL is dedicated to advocating for legal reforms that will protect and restore their fundamental rights to life and liberty. NCRSOL seeks to partner with all persons, groups, and policy makers who are concerned about the increasing hostility through which state and local government leaders have further marginalize and ostracized this constituency of citizens in North Carolina.
Florida Action Committee
Florida Action Committee
Intends to inform the media, public, and elected officials with facts versus myths about the sex offender registry and citizens forced to register. Registry schemes are proven to be harmful to society and unconstitutional. FAC seeks proven, effective measures in preventing sexual harm without compromising public safety. Therefore, our goal is for every citizen of Florida to enjoy a safer environment, particularly our children.
MICHIGAN CITIZENS FOR JUSTICE
Michigan Citizens for Justice
Provides mutual support for those who have been convicted of a sex offense, their families and friends, and it advocates for just and equitable sex offense laws.
Viewpoints St. Louis
Viewpoints St. Louis
Their mission had two goals: to end homelessness for men listed on the sex offense registry, and to ease the transition from incarceration to the community. This population suffers from the severe stigma associated with the sexual crime category. The shame, indignity, and dishonor placed on these people by society at-large is, in many ways, far worse than any such stigma associated with other crimes. People on the registry face employment and housing barriers, a lack of mental health resources, and the challenge of residency restrictions that require them to live 1,000+ feet away from schools, parks, daycare centers, etc. These combined factors leave few affordable housing options. In at least one case study it has shows that stable housing and community integration reduces the chance of reoffending for offenders.
UV4SOR Bi-weekly meetings
Meetings are held bi-weekly on tuesdays at 7:30pm ESt via zoom
PAST GUEST SPEAKERs
Emily Horowitz
Emily Horowitz, Ph.D., is an associate professor of sociology at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY. She serves as a director at the National Center for Reason and Justice, an organization that supports the falsely accused and/or wrongfully convicted and works for child protective laws based on science and research. She is on the advisory committee for the regional advocacy group Restorative Action Alliance and she has been featured speaker at NARSOL conferences. She authored the book “Protecting Our Kids? How Sex Offender Laws are Failing Us”. You can watch this debate from 2018 where she makes a compelling case for abolishing the registry. In Emily’s new book, “From Rage to Reason: Why We Need Sex Crime Laws Based on Facts, Not Fear”, she shares detailed narratives from the experiences of those on registries and their loved ones, and reveals the social impact and cycle of violence that results from dehumanizing and banishing those who have already been held accountable.
Emily can be reached at ehorowitz@sfc.edu.
Bonnie Burkhardt
Bonnie Burkhardt is the author of the book “Manufacturing Criminals”. She is a software engineer and president of her company, Blue Ridge Software Consulting. She has a top-secret security clearance and over 35 years of experience intercepting and analyzing signals for the Department of Defense. In addition to writing software, she has worked as a network protocol engineer, system administrator, and intelligence analyst. Bonnie’s presentation to us gave an overview of her book, and she provided examples of court cases and current methods used by law enforcement to skirt existing laws and how this violates our privacy. Her book exposes Fourth Amendment violations by ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force). Bonnie has served as and is available as an expert witness. She is a Distinguished Board Member of UV4SOR.
Bonnie welcomes anyone to contact her via email at bonnie.burkhardt@blueridge-sw.com or to call her at 703-505-2793.
Dr. Stephanie Jerstad
Dr. Stephanie Jerstad, is a professor of Criminology at Millersville University in PA. Dr. Jerstad’s research focuses on corrections, barriers to re-entry, collateral consequences, and housing instability (i.e., homelessness, access to long-term care facilities). Specifically, her research concentrates on macro- and micro-level policies with an emphasis on sexual offense policies. Stephanie’s Ph.D. dissertation research at Southern Illinois University focused on the willingness of long-term care facilities to accept persons convicted of sexual offending into their care as residents. Stephanie is a Distinguished Board Member of UV4SOR.
Stephanie can be reached via email at scjerstad@gmail.com.
Amber Vlangas
Amber Vlangas is a founding member and Executive Director of Restorative Action Alliance and works with the American Civil Liberties Union. Amber is an organizer, human rights activist, survivor of sexual harm, and advocate of re-imagining how we address crime and seek justice in our society. Ms. Vlangas started her professional career in the United States Marine Corps and has over 24 years of experience in fundraising, public relations, and coalition building with a variety of nonprofit and public organizations.
Amber holds a BA in Visual & Public Communications, certifications in Volunteer Management and Mindful Meditative Art, and is trained as a facilitator in the Ampersands Model of Restorative Justice for Sexual Harm. She is a frequent speaker and panelist for presentations that explore the collateral consequences of criminal justice involvement and conviction registries, the co-host of the podcast, Amplified Voices, and a restorative peer support circle keeper and trainer. Amber is an active participant in the movements to end cycles of sexual harm, abolish the sex offense registry, and end civil commitment. She is a strong believer in the power of human connections and effective storytelling to create positive change.
Dwayne Daughtry
Dwayne Daughtry is the Program Director – Homeless and At-Risk Operations for Wake County, NC. He is on the board of NCRSOL. Dwayne is leveraging his academic background and advocacy skills to make significant contributions in the field of criminal justice system reforms, with a specialization in post-conviction sexual offense policies. Dwayne has actively served as a legislative liaison, advocating for various causes, including LGBT rights, veterans’ exposure to burn pits during Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and the ethical treatment of animals. Alongside his role as a government affairs consultant and advisor to the senatorial judicial committee in the United States Congress, Dwayne also serves as a dedicated Veterans Service Officer (VSO) within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dwayne is a Distinguished Board Member of UV4SOR.
Dwayne can be reached via email at dwayne@ncrsol.com.
Joshua B. Hoe
Joshua B. Hoe has a background in public speaking, debate, and public policy research. He holds a master’s degree in international relations, and he is a former National College Debate Champion and long-time college debate coach. Formerly incarcerated, Josh has been a policy analyst and social media and messaging consultant. Additionally, he is the host and creator of the Decarceration Nation podcast. His personal experience with the justice system drives him to make a difference for others who are currently incarcerated, have been released from prison, or who have criminal records. He is a registered lobbyist and has been part of over 28 pieces of legislation passed at the state or federal level since he returned from incarceration. Josh has been involved with various Michigan advocacy groups, and he is currently working for justice reform with Dream.org.
Josh can be reached via email at ypsifactj@gmail.com.
Walt Pavlo
Walt Pavlo is a contributor to FORBES Magazine and New York University School of Law on criminal justice and federal prison issues. He often has articles cited in legal briefs regarding the conditions and shortcomings of the BOP (Federal Bureau of Prisons). Walt is the founder and president of Prisonology, LLC which is an expert firm with a concentration on policy related to federal incarceration. His firm consists of retired BOP and US Probation professionals who provide expert testimony, declarations, consulting, and training on BOP policies.
Walt can be reached through his Prisonology website, by phone at 617-858-5008, or via email at walt@prisonology.com.
Kathie Gourlay
Kathie Gourlay has been involved in justice system reform since 1990. She began volunteering in a local prison’s GED program and has continued as an advocate with Michigan Citizens for Justice and Friends of Restorative Justice.
Kathie can be reached via email at wash@micitizensforjustice.com.
If you have a referral for a potential guest speaker, fill out the form below!
UPCOMING GUEST SPEAKERS
~Stay tuned for future inspiring and educational speakers coming up in 2026
Derek Logue
Derek Logue is a registered citizen, an author and an activist who is fighting to reform America’s sex offense laws.
Derek can be reached through his website at www.oncefallen.com.
Dr. Keith Hersh
Dr. Keith Hersh is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of individuals with sexual behavior problems. Dr. Hersh received his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in 1999. Dr. Hersh is a clinical member of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sex Offenses (ATSA) and a board member of the North Carolina Association for the Management and Treatment of Sex Offenses (NCAMTSO). Prior to opening Behavioral Health Solutions in April 2004, he worked in the North Carolina Department of Corrections at Harnett Correctional Institution and at Dorothea Dix Hospital in Raleigh.
Dr. Hersh can be reached via email at khersh@bhspa.net or through his website.
Allegra Pocinki, M.A
Allegra Pocinki, M.A. is a PhD candidate in the department of sociology at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her research focuses on the impacts of mass incarceration for families and loved ones. She has been teaching undergraduates at Rutgers for the last four years in a variety of subjects, including criminology, statistics, demography, and race relations. She works with support groups across the country to mitigate the stigma of having a loved one incarcerated. Allegra is an advocate for families, having served on the board of DC Project Connect and as a member of the Advocacy in Action Coalition as part of the International Prisoners Family Conference. Prior to graduate school, she worked at the Brookings Institution, a public policy think tank in Washington, DC, in the Center on Children and Families.
Tolliny Rankins, Th.D
Tolliny Rankins, Th.D, is an author and instructor who values being able to teach, train, and activate others as they navigate through life’s challenging times. She has strong personal values in her Christian faith, and in 2015 she received her Doctorate in Christian Theology. Tolliny specializes in assisting others with identity, purpose, and authenticity. As an instructor, she loves teaching, leading Cultural Diversity lectures, along with hosting Diversity and Self-care workshops. She is the Co-Founder of Redemption 100, a Florida nonprofit corporation which assists in providing materials, workshops, and speaker series to statewide and national re-entry programs at correctional institutions. She is an activist for prison reform and social justice.
Joe Nicholson
Joe Nicholson is a Certified Professional Life Coach, Mindset Coordinator, and the founder of The Pathfinder Initiative – a lived-experience-led movement focused on reentry, recovery, and reform. During his 14 years of incarceration, Joe began facilitating change as a Peer Assistant in the Therapeutic Community and discovered the life-altering power of metacognition – the ability to think about your thinking. That discovery sparked the development of The Mirror, Joe’s flagship workshop. The Mirror is a spiritually grounded and psychologically sound session that guides individuals through the process of self-reflection, emotional decoding, and thought reconstruction. Joe’s journey led him to create The Pathfinder Initiative, a dynamic peer-led model that merges Thought Reform with structured support for reentrants, individuals in recovery, and those navigating deep personal transition. Pathfinder is now gaining momentum not just across the United States, but internationally, with growing interest from England and Sweden. Joe’s work doesn’t cater to headlines – it caters to the heart of transformation. Joe believes that everyone has the capacity to rewrite their story, reprogram their mindset, and reclaim their future. He is not just building a curriculum – he’s building a movement. “You are not broken. You are under reconstruction.”
Kim Avery
Kim Avery is an admin and volunteer coordinator for Restorative Action Alliance, a mother of five, and a proud grandmother to a lively 3-year-old grandson. As a registry-impacted individual and survivor of sexual harm, she channels her experiences into advocacy, art, and writing. Kim is actively involved in efforts to create meaningful change through her work with Restorative Action Alliance, Safer VA, the National Coalition Against Conviction Registries, and the SHINE Women on the Registry Group. Kim is passionate about empowering others on their healing journeys and standing up for those who face oppression. In her free time, she expresses her creativity through art and shares her thoughts and experiences on her blog, https://healitwithkimness.substack.com/.
Dr. Jason Newsome
Dr. Jason Newsome is a licensed professional counselor and the President & CEO of DaySpring Counseling in Dunbar, WV. His book, “Finding Peace In An Imperfect World” was written to help understand what a life of peace is and discover the real source of turmoil and chaos in our lives.
Kendra Phillips
Kendra Phillips www.kendrawrights.com. Kendra is an emerging playwright from the Seattle area. She is working on a play concerning the journey of a young man incarcerated for a sex crime, as well as the journey of his best friend as she processes and supports him through this. She is the literary manager for Northwest Playwrights Alliance and a member and frequent dramaturg with Vashon Repertory Theatre. Kendra seeks to tell the stories of people on the margins of society through a redemptive lens. Her play with music, “Deep Calls” (University of Idaho), delves into the psychological and spiritual toll of prostitution. “Her Sister”, a celebration of the life of Anne Frank’s sister, Margot, and all the forgotten victims of genocide and war, premiered at Millersville University’s Conference on the Holocaust and Genocide in 2022. Other productions include an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” (University of Idaho), ”Pancakes and Eggs; Greek Gods in a Diner” (Eclectic Theatre), and “Family Game Night: an a cappella musical” (Western Washington University). Kendra’s style is heavily influenced by absurdist theatre and avant-garde music of the 20th century. Her work has been shaped by her faith, her own journey with mental health, and her previous work with struggling students in the public schools. She currently works her day job at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. She has previously worked as an educator and music director with Youth Theatre Northwest. Kendra holds a MFA (theatre arts, emphasis in dramatic writing) from the University of Idaho, and a BFA (acting/directing). and BMA (composition focused) from Pacific Lutheran University.
Kendra can be reached via email at Kendrawrights@wix.com
Laurie Jo Reynolds
Laurie Jo Reynolds, Chicago 400 Alliance Coordinator, is a policy advocate and community organizer who has spent two decades opposing the demonization, warehousing, and social exclusion of people in the criminal legal system, especially focusing on solitary confinement and public conviction registries.
Reynolds was the organizer of Tamms Year Ten, the grassroots campaign to close the notorious Illinois state supermax prison, shuttered by Governor Pat Quinn in 2013. She now coordinates the Chicago 400 Alliance, a grassroots coalition challenging conviction registries and housing banishment laws, led by the Chicago 400, formerly incarcerated people who have been forced into homelessness due to housing banishment laws. The Alliance has demonstrated how, in addition to causing a housing crisis, these laws have expanded the policing, surveillance, and incarceration of poor Black men in Illinois. Reynolds is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Brian Kelmar and Carol Nesteikis
Brian Kelmar and Carol Nesteikis, co-founders of D3, Decriminalize Developmental Disabilities. D3 is a national advocacy organization focused on criminal justice reform for individuals with autism and supports families whose developmentally disabled children are caught up in the criminal legal system. The organization was created in 2015 by three parents who felt alone and were desperate for help and support in advocating for their children caught in the system. As President, Brian collaborates with families of autistic individuals entangled in the criminal justice system across the U.S. and partners with organizations in the U.S., Canada, and the UK. As the lead advocate for criminal justice reform, he has championed five legislative bills related to this cause, all of which have been signed into law in Virginia. Carol is the Vice-President of D3. Her son has an intellectual disability; her family was caught up in the criminal legal system in 2012 and along the way they found many more families across this country suffering the same nightmare. D3 is an organization by families for families.