Case Title: Starkey v. Oklahoma Dept. of Corrections

Citation: 

Docket Number: 109556

State: oklahoma

Court: Oklahoma Supreme Court

Date: 2013-06-25T00:00:00Z

Document:
STARKEY v. OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS2013 OK 43Case Number: 109556Decided: 06/25/2013THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
NOTICE: THIS OPINION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FOR PUBLICATION IN 
THE PERMANENT LAW REPORTS. UNTIL RELEASED, IT IS SUBJECT TO REVISION OR 
WITHDRAWAL. 

JAMES M. STARKEY, SR., Plaintiff/Appellee,v.THE OKLAHOMA 
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND JUSTIN JONES AS DIRECTOR, 
Defendants/Appellants.
ON APPEAL FROM THE DISTRICT COURT OFOKLAHOMA 
COUNTYHONORABLE BILL GRAVESDISTRICT JUDGE
¶0 James M. Starkey, Sr., is a registered sex offender whose registration 
period was retroactively increased by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. He 
petitioned the trial court for a reduction of his level assignment. Starkey 
later filed a motion for summary judgment alleging he should never have been 
required to register under the Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act. The 
trial court found the Act was not meant to be applied retroactively and granted 
summary judgment in favor of Starkey. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections and 
Justin Jones, as director, appealed.
AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED
John M. Dunn, Tulsa, Oklahoma, for Plaintiff/AppelleeCornelius Leader, 
and John David Hadden, Asst. Attys. Gen., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for 
Defendants/Appellants
COMBS, J.
¶1 This matter was assigned to this office on February 6, 2013. According to 
the Record, Plaintiff/Appellee James M. Starkey, Sr., (hereinafter, "Starkey") 
pled nolo contendere and received a deferred adjudication on October 12, 1998, 
to a charge of sexual assault upon a minor child in the District Court of 
Calhoun County, Texas. The act occurred on January 15, 1997, and the age of the 
victim(s) was 15 years old.1 Under Texas law the act amounted to a second degree 
felony.2 The Oklahoma Department of Corrections and Justin Jones 
as Director (hereinafter, "Department") point out in Defendants Oklahoma 
Department of Corrections And Justin Jones Combined Response To Plaintiff's 
Motion For Summary Judgment And Motion For Summary Judgment (hereinafter, 
"response and motion for summary judgment") the equivalent crime of sexual 
assault under Oklahoma law is found in § 1123 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes; Lewd or Indecent Proposals or Acts to child Under 16. The deferred 
adjudication provided as follows:
ADJUDICATION DEFERRED PLACED ON COMMUNITYSUPERVISION FOR TEN (10) YEARS, 
$4,000.00 FINE, COURTCOSTS, 320 CSR HOURS, 60 DAYS IN THE CALHOUN 
COJAIL, RESTITUTION, DEFENDANT WAIVES HIS RIGHT TO APPEAL, SEX OFFENDER 
RULES.
In paragraph (27) of the document entitled "Additional Conditions of 
Community Supervision" he was required to register under Article 6252-13c.1 of 
the Texas Sex Offender Registration Program.3 
¶2 The May 10, 2011, trial court Order found Starkey has resided in Oklahoma 
since 1998. The record, however, is vague on exactly when Starkey entered 
Oklahoma after his Texas deferred adjudication and therefore does not show the 
exact date upon which he was first subject to the Sex Offender Registration Act 
(hereafter, "SORA"), 57 O.S. § 581 et seq. Two versions of § 582 of 
SORA were in effect during 1998. The 1997 version was in effect prior to 
November 1, 1998, and the 1998 version was in effect on November 1, 1998.4 Both, however, provided 
as follows:
The provisions of the Sex Offenders Registration Act, Sections 581 et seq. of 
this title, shall apply to any person who . . . enters this state on or after 
September 1, 1993, and who has received a deferred judgment for a crime or 
attempted crime which, if committed or attempted in this state, would be a crime 
or an attempt to commit a crime provided for in Section . . . [list of crimes 
omitted] 1123 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1997 and 
1998, § 582.
¶3 SORA also required a person convicted in another jurisdiction to register 
with the Department of Corrections and local law enforcement. Section 583 
provided as follows:
B. Any person who has been convicted of an offense on or after November 1, 
1989, in another jurisdiction, which offense if committed or attempted in this 
state, would have been punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in 
Section 582 of this title and who enters and remains in this state shall 
register as follows:
Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 
583 (in effect throughout 1998).
The trial court found at the time Starkey received his "deferred sentence" he 
was only required to register in Oklahoma for 10 years. The Department's 
response to the motion for summary judgment, however, asserted Starkey was 
initially required to register for 10 years following completion of his ten-year 
probation, thus requiring a total of 20 years registration. 
¶4 Effective November 1, 2007, SORA was amended to require the Department of 
Corrections or a court to assign a numeric risk level to a person "who will be 
subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Registration Act." Title 
57 O.S. Supp. 2007, §§ 
582.1 - 582.2. The Department created a "risk assessment review committee" to 
develop or select a sex offender screening tool and to monitor its use.5 The required screening 
tool was to use an objective point system under which an offender would be 
assigned a designated number of points for various factors with the offense 
being the basis for the minimum numeric risk level. The risk levels were as 
follows: 
1. Level one (low): a designated range of points on the sex offender 
screening tool indicating that the person poses a low danger to the community 
and will not likely engage in criminal sexual conduct;
2. Level two (moderate): a designated range of points on the sex offender 
screening tool indicating that the person poses a moderate danger to the 
community and may continue to engage in criminal sexual conduct; and
3. Level three (high): a designated range of points on the sex offender 
screening tool indicating that the person poses a serious danger to the 
community and will continue to engage in criminal sexual 
conduct.
Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, § 
582.5.
¶5 The Legislature passed an emergency measure 6 months later to require a 
risk assessment be made for offenders who enter the state.6 Section 583 was also 
amended to set the registration period for the 3 levels. It provided "a person 
[who] has been convicted or received probation within the State of Oklahoma . . 
. shall be required to register" for 15 years if the person is a level 1 
offender, 25 years for a level 2 offender, and for life if a person is a level 3 
offender or classified as a habitual or aggravated sex offender.7
¶6 Section 582.5 (D) of SORA further allowed the Department of Corrections, 
the risk assessment review committee or a court to override a risk level if the 
risk level assessed was not an accurate prediction of the risk the offender 
poses on the community.8 
¶7 Many of these provisions were again amended effective November 1, 2009.9 The committee at this 
time was renamed the "sex offender level assignment committee" and given the 
duty to determine, based on federal law, the level assignment of offenders 
subject to registration. The screening tool was replaced with guidelines which 
are based on the 3 levels listed above without any designated range of points. 
The offense was amended to serve as the sole basis for the level assigned to the 
offender. The amendments further provide, the committee, the Department of 
Corrections or a court may only increase the level assignment and not decrease 
it.10 This last amendment, with few exceptions, effectively 
extinguished any chance to have a level assignment reduced from that, as in 
Starkey's case, determined exclusively by the sex offender level assignment 
committee.
¶8 Starkey's ten-year registration period was set to expire in 2008. Just 
prior to this period ending, the Department assigned Starkey a level 3 life-time 
registration classification with no opportunity for a hearing. Starkey filed his 
Petition in August 2009 pursuant to 57 O.S. Supp. 2008, § 582.5 (D) of SORA to have a 
court override his level assignment. Starkey's filing occurred just months 
before the effective date of the 2009 amendment extinguishing his right to have 
his level assignment reduced. Starkey requested the court reduce his level 
assignment to level 1, find he had been registered for the required period of 
time and order him discharged from any further obligations. 
¶9 Starkey filed his Plaintiff's Motion For Summary Judgment on December 10, 
2010, and Plaintiff's Supplemental Brief on February 25, 2011. He asserted he 
should be granted summary judgment because at the time he was sentenced he was 
not even required to register under Oklahoma law. Starkey asserts § 583 only 
required a person "convicted" of an offense in another jurisdiction to register. 
He argues because he received a deferred adjudication he did not have a 
conviction.11 In his motion he alleged his procedural due process 
rights were violated because the level assignment was made without a means to 
challenge the classification. He requested the court find he was not required to 
register under SORA and order the Department to remove him from the State Sex 
Offender List. 
¶10 Starkey's argument extensively relies upon an unpublished Oklahoma Court 
of Criminal Appeals opinion, State of Oklahoma v. Timothy Lynn Smith, 
S-2009-944, filed October 28, 2010. His supplemental brief also cites 
Reimers v. State ex rel. Dept. of Corrections, 2011 OK CIV APP 83, 257 P.3d 416, a published Oklahoma Court of Civil 
Appeals opinion, which found State v. Timothy Lynn Smith 
persuasive. 
¶11 In State v. Timothy Lynn Smith the trial court held Smith was not 
required to register under SORA. Smith entered a plea in August 1999 and 
received a deferred sentence. At that time, SORA only required persons who were 
convicted or received a suspended sentence to register.12 Subsequent amendments to SORA required certain 
individuals receiving a deferred sentence to register.13 The trial court found the ex post facto clause would be 
violated if these amendments were applied retroactively to require Smith to 
register. On appeal, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals determined before a 
law could violate the ex post facto clause it would have to be applied 
retroactively.14 The court further found the subsequent amendments were 
substantive and substantive laws are to be applied prospectively unless the 
legislature clearly expresses its intent to apply them retroactively.15 It determined there was no clear expression to give 
these amendments a retroactive effect. The Court of Criminal Appeals held the 
subsequent amendments did not apply to Smith and therefore he need not register. 
It also found it did not need to determine whether the "Ex Post Facto 
Clause" was violated because the law was not intended to be applied 
retroactively. 
¶12 Reimers v. State was decided nine months after State v. Timothy 
Lynn Smith and found that opinion to be "erudite and persuasive."16 The primary issue in Reimers v. State was 
whether a sex offender's registration period could be retroactively 
increased after he was sentenced and would such a retroactive increase violate 
the ex post facto clause. The plaintiff challenged the retroactive increase of 
his registration period based upon subsequent amendments to SORA. These 
amendments were made after his plea and after he completed his sentence. Reimers 
was originally only required to register for two years following discharge from 
the Department of Corrections sex offender treatment program. After the 
amendments, he was given a sex offender level assignment and required to 
register for 15 years following the completion of his sentence.17 The Court of Civil Appeals found the amendments were 
substantive because they would increase the length of Reimers' registration 
period beyond that required of him when he was sentenced.18 The appellate court determined substantive changes to 
the law could not be applied retroactively without express legislative intent.19 The court did not find a clear legislative intent to 
apply the laws retroactively and therefore held the amendments did not apply to 
Reimers. The violation of the ex post facto clause was not addressed because the 
law would have to have been applied retroactively first before there could be an 
ex post facto violation. 
¶13 Starkey argues based upon State v. Timothy Lynn Smith and 
Reimers v. State the law requires a person to register based upon the law 
at the time of sentencing. He contends when he was sentenced the law did not 
require a person with a deferred adjudication to register and therefore he 
should be relieved of any further obligation to register. The Department 
contends Starkey's level assignment is based on "only one criteria - the crime 
for which one was convicted" and he is not entitled to a reduction of his level. 
Their argument is essentially no other criteria are necessary in the level 
assignment and therefore there is no basis for a court to make a level 
assignment modification. 
¶14 The Department additionally asserts the assignment of a level to Starkey 
without a hearing did not violate procedural due process. They cite the United 
States Supreme Court decision in Connecticut Dep't of Public Safety v. 
Doe, 538 U.S. 1, 123 S. Ct. 1160, 155 L. Ed. 2d 98 (2003). In 
Connecticut the United States Supreme Court held the Federal Due Process 
Clause did not entitle sex offenders to a hearing to determine whether they were 
currently dangerous before their inclusion in a publicly disseminated sex 
offender registry. Connecticut 538 U.S.  at 7-8. Inclusion in the 
registry was based on the conviction alone and not on a determination as to the 
offender's dangerousness. Id. at 7. The Court found a person who asserts 
a right to a hearing under the Federal Due Process Clause must show the facts 
they seek to establish in that hearing are relevant under the statutory scheme. 
Id. at 8. Because the fact the sex offender seeks to prove-he is not 
currently dangerous-is of no consequence under the law, no hearing was 
necessary. Id. at 7. Further, the court determined procedural protections 
had already been received at the time of his trial. Id. 
¶15 The Department next asserts a retroactive application of SORA does not 
violate the prohibition on ex post facto laws found in the Oklahoma and Federal 
Constitutions. They rely on Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003), the United States Supreme Court 
seminal case concerning ex post facto challenges to retroactive sex offender 
registration laws. In Smith, the United States Supreme Court utilized 
various factors to determine whether the Alaska Sex Offender Registration Act 
(ASORA) violated the Ex Post Facto Clause of Article 1, § 10 of the United 
States Constitution. First, the Supreme Court determined whether or not the 
legislature intended ASORA to be punishment. It found the intent was to create a 
"civil, nonpunitive regime."20 Second, the court reviewed the effects of ASORA's 
provisions to determine, regardless of intent, whether the effects were so 
punitive to negate that intent. The Court determined the effects did not negate 
its civil regulatory scheme and therefore did not violate the Ex Post Facto 
Clause.21 
¶16 On May 10, 2011, the trial court entered its Order granting summary 
judgment in favor of Starkey. The trial court found at the time Starkey received 
his deferred sentence SORA's registration requirement was for 10 years. The 
trial court determined Starkey should have been removed from the sex offender 
registry sometime in 2008. The trial court noted the Oklahoma Court of Civil 
Appeals in Freeman v. Henry, 2010 OK CIV APP 132, 245 P.3d 1258, found the retroactive application of SORA 
to an offender convicted prior to its enactment was acceptable. The trial court, 
however, did not adopt the logic in Freeman v. Henry. The trial court 
ruled SORA was not to be retroactively applied to Starkey, specifically finding 
the applicable law was the version in existence at the time Starkey pled nolo 
contendere to the charge of sexual assault of a minor child on October 12, 1998, 
in Calhoun County, Texas.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
¶17 An appeal on summary judgment comes to this Court as a de novo review. 
Carmichael v. Beller, 1996 OK 48, ¶2, 914 P.2d 1051, 1053. On appeal, this Court assumes 
"plenary independent and non-deferential authority to reexamine a trial court's 
legal rulings." Kluver v. Weatherford Hospital Auth., 1993 OK 85, ¶14, 859 P.2d 1081, 1084. The issues involve a question 
of law which we review de novo. In re Estate of Bell-Levine, 
2012 OK 112, ¶5, 293 P.3d 964, 966.
ANAYLSIS
¶18 The Department asserts on appeal it is obvious the legislature meant the 
applicable amendments to SORA be applied retroactively. It requests this Court 
issue a published opinion establishing binding precedent that SORA is to be 
given retroactive effect and such an application does not violate due process or 
the prohibition on ex post facto laws. Starkey requests this Court find SORA 
should be interpreted and applied prospectively only. He also asks, while he 
believes it is not required, this Court additionally find the retroactive 
application of SORA's provisions violates the ex post facto clause.
I. Retroactivity of SORA Provisions
¶19 First, we must determine whether or not the level assignment system 
created in 2007, as amended, was intended to be applied retroactively. If we 
find it was intended to be applied retroactively, then we must determine whether 
its retroactive application violates the ex post facto clause. Second, if we 
find the level assignment system was not intended to be applied retroactively, 
we must then determine Starkey's correct period of registration. The trial court 
found the law at the time Starkey was sentenced only required him to register 
for 10 years. The Department asserts Starkey was initially required to register 
for 10 years "following completion of his probation." This would be 10 years 
following the 10 years of community supervision which was a condition of 
Starkey's deferred adjudication. 
¶20 SORA was created in 1989 and has been amended in almost every year since. 
Amendments enacted which increased the duties and obligations of a sex offender, 
including increasing the registration period, are substantive amendments and not 
merely procedural remedial amendments.22 The Department disagrees with the logic in Reimers 
v. State ex rel. Dept. of Corrections, 2011 OK CIV APP 83, 257 P.3d 416 and State of Oklahoma v. Timothy Lynn 
Smith, S-2009-944, filed October 28, 2010, which determined a "clear 
expression" from the legislature is necessary before a substantive change may be 
made retroactive. They assert the legislative intent need only be "necessarily 
implied" and no "clear expression" is required, relying on Wickham v. Gulf 
Oil Corp. 1981 OK 
8, 
623 P.2d 613 and Good v. Keel, 
1911 OK 264, 116 P. 777.
¶21 The Wickham Court found as a rule of statutory construction, 
statutes are generally presumed to operate prospectively. Wickham 
1981 OK 8 at ¶13. However, "this 
presumption does not defy rebuttal if the purposes and intention of the 
Legislature to give a statute a retrospective effect are expressly declared or 
are necessarily implied from the language used." Id. In its analysis the 
Court reviewed other jurisdictions which found as follows:
[w]ords alone, however, are not the only decisive factor in resolving the 
issue since "(i)t is not necessary that a statute expressly state that it is 
intended to operate retrospectively if such an intention can be obtained by 
viewing its purpose and the method of its enactment." 
The presumption against retroactive application has been subordinated "to the 
transcendent canon of statutory construction that the design of the Legislature 
be given effect."
Id. (internal citations omitted).
¶22 Wickham was summarized four years later in the case of In re 
Bomgardner, 1985 OK 
59, 711 P.2d 92. In Bomgardner, this Court stated:
In short, where the legislature has not explicitly set forth what it 
intended, the presumption against retroactivity should not be followed in 
complete disregard of factors that may give a clue to the legislative intent. 
Only if we were to fail in detecting legislative intent after looking at all the 
available indicia, would the presumption of prospectivity operate. 
In re Bomgardner, 1985 OK 59 at ¶10. 
¶23 Wickham ultimately found "the legislative intent was 
neither expressly declared nor necessarily ascertainable, and in the absence of 
a clear expression by the Legislature that the . . . amendment was to operate 
retrospectively," the presumption against retrospective application takes great 
weight. Wickham, 1981 OK 8 at ¶14. 
¶24 The seminal Oklahoma case on the "necessarily implied" language cited by 
the Department, is the 1911 case of Good v. Keel, 1911 OK 264, 116 P. 777. In Good, this Court held "[i]t 
is a rule of statutory construction that all statutes are to be construed as 
having a prospective operation unless the purposes and intention of the 
Legislature to give them a retrospective effect is expressly declared, or is 
necessarily implied from the language used." Good 1911 OK 264 at ¶4. In a majority of opinions since 
Good where this Court has looked at the "necessarily implied" language we 
have found no retroactive application was intended.23 
¶25 This same Court found two months prior to Good the following: 
[l]aws are generally construed as applicable to future conditions, and are 
not to be allowed a retroactive effect unless such intention upon the part of 
the Legislature is so clearly expressed that no other construction can be fairly 
given. In Lawrence v. City of Louisville, 96 Ky. 595, 29 S.W. 450, 27 L. R. A. 
560, 49 Am. St. Rep. 309, the syllabus says: 'While retrospective legislation 
may, in some cases, be upheld, the words of a statute ought not to have a 
retrospective operation unless they are so clear and imperative that no other 
meaning can be annexed to them, or unless the intention of the Legislature 
cannot be otherwise satisfied.'
Adair v. McFarlin, 1911 OK 129, ¶5, 115 P. 787, 788.
¶26 Two years later, this Court quoted Clapp v. Otoe County, Neb., 104 F. 473, 475 (8th Cir. 1900) as persuasive language in determining a statute was 
not meant to be applied retroactively:
The function of the Legislature is to prescribe rules to operate upon the 
actions and rights of citizens in the future. While, in the absence of a 
constitutional inhibition, the Legislature may give to some of its acts a 
retrospective operation, the intention to do so must be clearly expressed, or 
necessarily implied from what is expressed;
Casey v. Bingham, 1913 OK 321, ¶4, 132 P. 663, 665. 
¶27 Casey also found "[i]t is a rule of construction that statutes 
will not be given a retroactive effect if any other reasonable construction is 
possible. (citing) Good v. Keel, 29 Okla. 325, 116 P. 777." Casey at ¶4. Additionally, "[i]n 
every case of doubt the doubt must be resolved against the retrospective 
effect." Good 1911 OK 264 at ¶4 (Emphasis added.) (See 
also Barnhill v. Multiple Injury Trust Fund, 2001 OK 114, 37 P.3d 890; Crawford v. Guardian Life Ins. 
Co., 1997 OK 
10, ¶8, 954 P.2d 1235, 1238; and Phillips v. H. A. Marr Grocery Company, 
1956 OK 104, 295 P.2d 765). 
II. Applicability of the Level Assignment Amendments to 
Starkey
¶28 In 2007, HB 1760 created a system to assign sex offenders a level of 1 to 
3 based upon their risk.24 The law became effective on November 1, 2007. Starkey 
was informed in 2008 by the Department of Corrections, without any hearing or 
opportunity to be heard, that he was assigned a level of 3 and his registration 
period would be increased to life. The issue to be determined is whether the 
Legislature intended the new level system to be applied retroactively to persons 
who were already subject to the provisions of SORA. We find it was not 
intended to apply retroactively but is to be applied prospectively. We also find 
the Department, regardless of the legislative intent, has applied the level 
assignments retroactively and, pursuant to our analysis infra, such 
application violates the ex post facto clause of the Oklahoma Constitution.25
¶29 The 2007 amendments used specific language in sections 582.1 and 582.2 of 
title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes which indicate a prospective intent. This 
language is essentially the same today. These sections apply the level 
assignments to a person "who will be subject to the provisions of the Sex 
Offenders Registration Act." The language is as follows:
Before a person, who will be subject to the provisions of the Sex 
Offenders Registration Act, is due to be released from a correctional 
institution, the Department of Corrections shall determine the level of risk of 
the person to the community using the sex offender screening tool developed or 
selected pursuant to Section 26 of this act, and assign to the person a numeric 
risk level of one, two, or three. (Emphasis added.)
Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, § 
582.1
A. No less than seven (7) days prior to the date on which a person, who 
will be subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders Registration Act, 
is to be released from a correctional institution, the person in charge 
of the correctional institution shall forward the registration information, as 
provided in subsection A of Section 585 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes, 
and numeric risk level to the Department of Corrections and to:1. The local 
law enforcement authority in the municipality or county in which the person 
expects to reside, if the person expects to reside within this state; or2. 
The local law enforcement authority that is identified by the correctional 
institution as the agency designated by another state to receive registration 
information, if the person expects to reside in that other state and that other 
state has a registration requirement for sex offenders.
B. If a person, who will be subject to the provisions of the Sex Offenders 
Registration Act, received a suspended sentence or any probationary term, 
including a deferred sentence imposed in violation of subsection G of Section 
991a of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the court shall, on the day of 
pronouncing the judgment and sentence:1. Make a determination of the 
numeric risk level of the person using the sex offender screening tool developed 
or selected pursuant to Section 26 of this act; 2. Assign to the person a 
numeric risk level of one, two, or three; and3. Notify the person of the 
obligation to register as a sex offender as provided for in Section 585 of Title 
57 of the Oklahoma Statutes. (Emphasis added.)
Title 57 O.S Supp. 2007, § 582.2
¶30 HB 1760 made no provision to include persons who "enter the state" within 
the level assignment system. Six months after the effective date, the 
Legislature passed an emergency measure to include such persons.26 This amendment provides as follows:
F. Upon receiving registration information from a local law enforcement 
agency of a person who has entered this state and who has registered as a sex 
offender, as required in Section 583 of this title, the risk assessment review 
committee shall review the registration information and make a determination of 
the numeric risk level of the person using the sex offender screening tool. The 
risk assessment review committee shall provide written notification to the 
person and the local law enforcement agency of the numeric risk level that has 
been assigned to the person.
Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2008, § 
582.5 (F); 2008 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 94, § 1.
¶31 In determining legislative intent, "the court may look to each part of 
the statute, to other statutes upon the same or relative subjects, to the old 
law upon the subject, to the evils and mischiefs to be remedied, and to the 
natural or absurd consequences of any particular interpretation." Blevins v. 
W.A. Graham Co., 1919 OK 147, 182 P. 247. We see no intent to treat this amendment 
any differently than the provisions in § 582.1 and § 582.2 which show a 
prospective intent. 
¶32 The 2008 amendments also amended subsection B of § 583.27 This amendment provides "local law enforcement 
authority shall forward the registration information to the risk assessment 
review committee of the Department of Corrections." Even though this language 
was added to subsection B of § 583 which applies to persons who enter the state 
"on or after November 1, 1989," the very language of the 2007 amendments 
creating the level assignment system clearly show a prospective intent. The 2007 
scheme in 582.1 and 582.2 which indicate it is prospective would logically carry 
to the 2008 amendments making the level system applicable to persons entering 
Oklahoma. Further, any doubt must be resolved against a retroactive application. 
Good v. Keel, 1911 OK 264, ¶4, 116 P. 777.
III. Applicability of SORA Amendments to Starkey Prior to the 
Enactment of the Level Assignment System
¶33 The law in effect throughout 1998 stated "[t]he registration with the 
Department of Corrections required by this section shall be maintained by the 
Department of Corrections for a period of ten (10) years from the date of 
registration." Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 583 (C). Section 583 was once 
again amended in 2004 to require registration to be 10 years "from the date of 
completion of the sentence." 2004 Okla. Sess. Laws. c. 162, § 1. This version 
defines, in a new subsection F (currently subsection G), the "date of the 
completion of the sentence" as "the day an offender completes all incarceration, 
probation and parole pertaining to the sentence." Since Starkey's deferred 
adjudication required him to successfully complete 10 years of community 
supervision, this amendment, if applied retroactively, essentially doubled his 
registration period. This amendment therefore extends Starkey's registration 
period, which should have ended in 2008, to 2018. The 2004, non-amended language 
in § 583 (B) stated as follows:
B. Any person who has been convicted of an offense or received a deferred 
judgment for an offense on or after November 1, 1989, in another jurisdiction, 
which offense if committed or attempted in this state, would have been 
punishable as one or more of the offenses listed in Section 582 of this title 
and who enters this state shall be registered as follows:
Subsections C and D then provided the new (underlined) amended language as 
follows:
C. Except for habitual or aggravated sex offenders, the person shall be 
required to register for a period of ten (10) years from the date of the 
completion of the sentence and the information received pursuant to the 
registration with the Department of Corrections required by this section shall 
be maintained by the Department of Corrections for at least ten (10) years from 
the date of the last registration.
D. Except for habitual or aggravated sex offenders, the person shall be 
required to register for a period of ten (10) years from the date of 
completion of the sentence and the information received pursuant to the 
registration with the local law enforcement authority required by this section 
shall be maintained by such authority for at least ten (10) years from the 
date of the last registration
2004 Okla. Sess. Laws. c. 162, § 1.
¶34 The primary goal of statutory construction is to ascertain and follow the 
intention of the Legislature.28 Here we think the legislative intent was necessarily 
implied. The Legislature must have known or it can be inferred that amending the 
registration periods in subsections C and D would affect those persons required 
to register in subsection B; namely, persons who have been convicted of an 
offense or received a deferred judgment for an offense on or after November 1, 
1989. This is a different situation than in the previous discussion where there 
was specific language indicating a prospective application.29 We find the 2004 amendment to § 583 was intended to 
apply retroactively.
IV. The Constitutional Prohibition on Ex Post Facto Laws
¶35 The Department raised for the first time in its response and motion for 
summary judgment the retroactive application of SORA does not violate the 
prohibition on ex post facto laws. In Starkey's Response to Defendants' Motion 
for Summary Judgment he asserted he never raised the issue of an ex post facto 
violation. The trial court's order did not address whether the ex post facto 
clause had been violated in this case. Starkey asserts on appeal if this Court 
should find SORA applies retroactively then we should also find that it violates 
the ex post facto clause. The Department encourages this Court to issue a "clear 
decision of binding precedent" essentially upon whether the retroactive 
application of SORA's provisions is prohibited by the ex post facto clause. 
¶36 We find there is a strong public interest in protecting the public from 
ex post facto laws. We have previously found that a public law issue may be 
considered on appeal upon a theory not presented to the trial court.30 The retroactive extension of SORA's obligations is the 
primary issue. Because the Department applies the level assignments 
retroactively and because we have found the legislative intent was to apply the 
2004 amendments to § 583 retroactively, it is incumbent to address 
whether or not these extensions violate the prohibition on ex post facto 
laws.
¶37 Article 2, section 15, of the Oklahoma Constitution, like Article I, 
Section 9, Clause 3 and Section 10, Clause 1 of the United States Constitution, 
provides "[n]o . . . ex post facto law . . . shall ever be passed." An ex post 
facto law is "[a] law passed after the occurrence of a fact or commission of an 
act, which retrospectively changes the legal consequences or relations of such 
fact or deed."31 The United States Supreme Court in interpreting the 
United States Constitution's Ex Post Facto Clause has said:
laws, whatever their form, which purport to make innocent acts criminal after 
the event, or to aggravate an offense, are harsh and oppressive, and that the 
criminal quality attributable to an act, either by the legal definition of the 
offense or by the nature or amount of the punishment imposed for its commission, 
should not be altered by legislative enactment, after the fact, to the 
disadvantage of the accused.
Beazell v. Ohio, 269 U.S. 167, 170, 46 S. Ct. 68, 70 L. Ed. 216 
(1925).
The Beazell formulation is faithful to our best knowledge of the 
original understanding of the Ex Post Facto Clause: Legislatures may not 
retroactively alter the definition of crimes or increase the punishment for 
criminal acts.
Collins v. Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37, 43, 110 S. Ct. 2715, 111 L. Ed. 2d 30 
(1990).
The prohibition on ex post facto laws bars a legislature from enacting "any 
statute which punishes as a crime an act previously committed, which was 
innocent when done, which makes more burdensome the punishment for a crime, 
after its commission, or which deprives one charged with crime of any defense 
available according to law at the time when the act was committed . . . ." 
Beazell at 169; See also Dobbert v. Florida, 
432 U.S. 282, 292, 97 S. Ct. 2290, 53 L. Ed. 2d 344 (1977). The Oklahoma Court of 
Criminal Appeals has a similar interpretation. In Spitnaz v. State, 
1982 OK CR 115, ¶16, 648 P.2d 1271, 1275 - 1276, it found as follows:
There is no concrete definition as to "what alterations of procedure will be 
held to be of sufficient moment to transgress the constitutional prohibition . . 
." rather, "(t)he distinction is one of degree." Beazell, supra, at 
269 U.S.  at 171, 46 S. Ct.  at 69, 70 L. Ed.  at 218. It has been the rule in Oklahoma that 
a law is within the protection of the provision "when it inflicts a greater 
punishment than the law annexed to the crime at (the) time it was committed or 
alters (the) situation of accused to his disadvantage." Maghe v. State, 
429 P.2d 535, 540 (Okl. Cr. 1967) 
(citing People v. Ward, 50 Cal. 2d 702, 328 P.2d 777, 76 A.L.R.2d 911 
(1958)).
Spitnaz v. State, 1982 OK CR 115, ¶16, 648 P.2d 1271, 1275 - 1276.
¶38 The framers of the Federal Constitution included the Ex Post Facto Clause 
in the body of the Constitution adopted in 1787 rather than deferring it to the 
amendment process.32 In doing so it is evident the framers viewed the ban on 
ex post facto laws as fundamental to the protection of individual liberty.33 Chief Justice John Marshal rationalized the framer's 
intent behind the constitutional protections against bills of attainder, ex post 
facto laws and laws impairing the obligations of contracts in Fletcher v. 
Peck, 10 U.S (6 Cranch) 87, 137-38, 3 L. Ed. 162 (1810). He wrote:
Whatever respect might have been felt for the state sovereignties, it is not 
to be disguised that the framers of the constitution viewed, with some 
apprehension, the violent acts which might grow out of the feelings of the 
moment; and that the people of the United States, in adopting that instrument, 
have manifested a determination to shield themselves and their property from the 
effects of those sudden and strong passions to which men are exposed. The 
restrictions on the legislative power of the states are obviously founded in 
this sentiment; 
Fletcher v. Peck, 10 U.S (6 Cranch) 87, 137-38, 3 L. Ed. 162 
(1810).
In Landgraf v. USI Film Products, 511 U.S. 244, 266, 114 S. Ct. 1483, 
128 L. Ed. 2d 229 (1994), Justice Stevens wrote that these constitutional 
protections:
demonstrate that retroactive statutes raise particular concerns. The 
Legislature's unmatched powers allow it to sweep away settled expectations 
suddenly and without individualized consideration. Its responsivity to political 
pressures poses a risk that it may be tempted to use retroactive legislation as 
a means of retribution against unpopular groups or individuals. 
He also mentioned Justice Marshall's observation that "the Ex Post 
Facto Clause not only ensures that individuals have 'fair warning' about the 
effect of criminal statutes, but also 'restricts governmental power by 
restraining arbitrary and potentially vindictive legislation.'" Id. at 
266-67 (quoting Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24, 28-29, 101 S. Ct. 960, 
67 L. Ed. 2d 17 (1981)).
¶39 The ex post facto prohibition only applies to penal laws and therefore, 
the question is whether the provisions of SORA are punitive or are they merely 
regulatory. 34 
¶40 The Department asserts SORA has already been found to be a civil 
regulatory scheme by the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals and thus held it did 
not violate either the Oklahoma or United States Constitutions. Freeman v. 
Henry, 2010 OK CIV APP 
134, ¶11, 245 P.3d 1258, 1260. Freeman relied upon a 10th Circuit Court of Appeals 
decision, U.S. v. Hinckley, 550 F.3d 926, 937 (10th Cir. 
2008), which in turn relied partly on Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003). Although Freeman addresses SORA, 
neither of the cases it relied upon made a determination about Oklahoma's 
law or Constitution. Hinckley dealt with the federal Sex Offender 
Registration and Notification Act, 42 U.S.C. § 16901 et seq. (SORNA) and 
Smith concerned the Alaska Sex Offender Registration Act and found it did 
not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the United States Constitution. 
Freeman, however, provides little analysis to support its conclusion. Nor 
does it mention the Alaska Supreme Court's ruling subsequent to Smith 
which held ASORA did violate the Alaska Constitution's ex post facto clause. 
Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999 (Alaska 2008).
¶41 We find the analytical framework used in Smith v. Doe and later in 
Doe v. State to determine if a sex offender registry scheme was penal 
rather than civil to be appropriate. This framework is derived from Kennedy 
v. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144, 83 S. Ct. 554, 9 L. Ed. 2d 644 (1963). It 
has also been labeled the "intent-effects" test.35 In order to apply this framework, we first must ask 
whether there was legislative intent to make SORA and/or its amendments 
punitive. Did the legislature indicate a preference either expressly or 
impliedly for a civil label or a criminal label?36 Further, simply labeling a law as procedural, however, 
does not immunize it from scrutiny under the Ex Post Facto Clause. Collins v. 
Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37, 46, 110 S. Ct. 2715, 2721, 111 L. Ed. 2d 30 (1990). A subtle ex post facto violation is no more permissible than an overt 
one. Id. If the legislature intended to impose a punishment then our 
inquiry is over.37 However, if we conclude the legislature intended a 
non-punitive regulatory scheme then we must determine whether the scheme is so 
punitive either in purpose or effect as to negate that intent.38 
¶42 In 1997, the legislature amended § 581 of SORA by adding a findings 
subsection. In subsection B it states:
The Legislature finds that sex offenders who commit other predatory acts 
against children and persons who prey on others as a result of mental illness 
pose a high risk of re-offending after release from custody. The Legislature 
further finds that the privacy interest of persons adjudicated guilty of these 
crimes is less important than the state's interest in public safety. The 
Legislature additionally finds that a system of registration will permit law 
enforcement officials to identify and alert the public when necessary for 
protecting the public safety.
1997 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 260, § 2 (eff. Nov. 1, 1997).
¶43 The legislative purpose appears to be the creation of a system to help 
prevent sex offenders from re-offending by permitting law enforcement to 
identify sex offenders and alert the public of such sex offenders when 
necessary. The stated intent seems to apply to sex offenders who commit "other 
predatory acts against children" and persons who prey on others because of 
"mental illness." The provisions of SORA, however, are not just geared towards 
repeat sex offenders or offenders with mental illness. SORA also applies to 
first time offenders and persons who have not been determined to suffer from a 
mental illness. This subsection is the only overt attempt to establish a purpose 
for SORA and has not been amended since its creation in 1997. This subsection 
does not expressly designate SORA's requirements as "civil". Justice Souter 
noted in his concurring opinion in Smith that other United States Supreme 
Court cases relied heavily on the legislature's stated label in finding a civil 
intent.39 Although there is evidence pointing to a civil intent, 
there is considerable evidence of a punitive effect. Even if we assume the act 
as amended was intended to be a civil regulatory scheme that fact does not 
dispose of the issue. The second part of the test, whether SORA's effects are 
punitive, is dispositive. 
¶44 In Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 92, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 
(2003), the Supreme Court found "that 'only the clearest proof' that a 
law is punitive based on substantial factors will be able to overcome the 
legislative categorization." In his concurring opinion Justice Souter stated the 
standard of "clearest proof" made sense "only when the evidence of legislative 
intent clearly points in the civil direction."40 He believed there was considerable evidence that the 
act in Smith had criminal characterizations as well as civil.41 Justice Ginsburg also stated in her dissent that she 
would not demand "the clearest proof" be used to determine if a statute is in 
effect criminal rather than civil.42 In her opinion, Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez, 
372 U.S. 144, 83 S. Ct. 554, 9 L. Ed. 2d 644 (1963) guides one to use a neutral 
evaluation of the act's purpose and effects.43 As stated, there is no clear legislative categorization 
that SORA is a civil law. In Oklahoma legislative enactments are presumed 
constitutional.44 Where feasible this Court will construe statutes in a 
manner to uphold their constitutionality.45 The constitutionality of a statute will be upheld 
unless it is clearly inconsistent with the constitution. 46 The factors in the second part of the inquiry will help 
determine SORA's nature and provide a neutral framework for determining SORA's 
purpose and effects. 
¶45 Smith dealt with an interpretation of the Federal Constitution's 
prohibition on ex post facto laws. Although Oklahoma's ex post facto clause is 
nearly identical to the Federal Constitution's provisions we are not limited in 
our interpretation of Oklahoma's constitution.47 How we apply the "intent-effects" test is not governed 
by how the federal courts have independently applied the same test under the 
United States Constitution as long as our interpretation is at least as 
protective as the federal interpretation.48 This Court has previously held:
The people of this state are governed by the Oklahoma Constitution, and when 
it grants a right or provides a principle of law or procedure beyond the 
protections supplied by the federal constitution, it is the final authority. 
This is so even if the state constitutional provision is similar to the federal 
constitution. The United States Constitution provides a floor of constitutional 
rights - state constitutions provide the ceiling.
Daffin v. State, 2011 OK 22, n. 20, 251 P.3d 741, n. 20 (citing Alva State Bank & 
Trust Co. v. Dayton, 1988 OK 44, 755 P.2d 635) (Kauger, J., specially 
concurring).
¶46 The second part of the inquiry utilizes the seven Mendoza-Martinez 
factors in order to determine whether the effects of the law are punitive. These 
factors, although not exhaustive, are useful in determining whether the overall 
effects of a statute are so punitive as to negate any civil regulatory intent. 
This involves the weighing of relatively subjective factors. Courts have 
emphasized certain factors over others at various times and there is no precise 
formula to their application.49 These factors are as follows:
(1) "[w]hether the sanction involves an affirmative disability or 
restraint";(2) "whether it has historically been regarded as a 
punishment";(3) "whether it comes into play only on a finding of 
scienter";(4) "whether its operation will promote the traditional aims of 
punishment--retribution and deterrence";(5) "whether the behavior to which 
it applies is already a crime";(6) "whether an alternative purpose to which 
it may rationally be connected is assignable for it"; and(7) "whether it 
appears excessive in relation to the alternative purpose assigned."
Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999, 1008 (Alaska 2008) (quoting, Kennedy v. 
Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144, 168-69, 83 S. Ct. 554, 9 L. Ed. 2d 644 
(1963)).
1. Affirmative disability or restraint
¶47 We apply the first Mendoza-Martinez factor to determine whether 
SORA involves an affirmative disability or restraint. The United States Supreme 
Court said in Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 99-100, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 
155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003) "[h]ere, we inquire how the effects of the Act are felt 
by those subject to it. If the disability or restraint is minor and indirect, 
its effects are unlikely to be punitive." The Court found ASORA did not impose a 
disability.50 It determined the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals was in 
error when it found a disability arose from the "in-person" registry 
requirement.51 It emphasized the fact that there was actually no 
"in-person" appearance requirements imposed upon any sex offender subject to 
ASORA.52 The Supreme Court also said "[b]y contrast offenders 
subject to the Alaska statute are free to move where they wish and to live and 
work as other citizens, with no supervision."53 
¶48 As Starkey points out, Oklahoma's SORA is very different from the ASORA 
reviewed by the United States Supreme Court. Under § 583 of SORA a person is 
required to register "in person" with the Department of Corrections within 3 
business days of conviction if not incarcerated and 3 days prior to release from 
an institution.54 It requires "in person" registration with any local law 
enforcement authority of an area where such person intends to reside for 7 
consecutive days or longer.55 It further requires "in person" registration with the 
Department of Corrections and local law enforcement no less than 3 business days 
prior to abandoning or moving from their registered address.56 For persons who enter the state, they are required to 
register "in person" with the Department of Corrections and local law 
enforcement if they intend to be in the state for any purpose for 5 consecutive 
days or longer, has any type of employment with or without compensation for more 
than 5 cumulative days in any 60-day period or is enrolled as a student within 
this state.57 It also requires "in person" registration with the 
Department of Corrections and local law enforcement within 3 business days of 
changing or terminating employment or changing enrollment status as a student.58 Further, a person subject to the act shall verify their 
address "in person" annually for a level one designation, semi-annually for a 
level two designation and every 90 days for a habitual or aggravated sex 
offender and those receiving a level three designation.59 
¶49 Although SORA poses no physical restraints on registrants the affirmative 
"in person" registration and verification requirements alone cannot be said to 
be "minor and indirect" especially when failure to comply is a felony subject to 
5 years imprisonment and a fine not to exceed $5,000.60 Other courts have found the "in person" requirements 
"place substantial restrictions on the movements of lifetime registrants" which 
can amount to an affirmative disability.61 As the Department argues, Starkey who received a 
deferred adjudication and 60 days in jail in Calhoun County, Texas, would now be 
required to make an "in person" appearance every 90 days for life and every time 
he moves, changes employment, changes student status, or resides somewhere for 7 
consecutive days or longer. All of this would be required under threat of 
prosecution. These duties are significant and intrusive. We agree with Justice 
Stevens' finding in his dissent in Smith v. Doe, that these duties 
imposed on offenders are similar to the treatment received by probationers 
subject to continued supervision.62 
¶50 In addition to the "in person" registration and verification 
requirements, offenders in Oklahoma, among other things, have restrictions 
placed on where they can live and with whom they can live. An offender may not 
reside, either temporarily or permanently, within a two-thousand-foot radius of 
any public or private school, educational institution, property or campsite 
whose primary purpose is working with children, a playground or park operated or 
supported in whole or part by public funds, or a licensed child care center.63 This restriction is made regardless of whether the 
original victim was a child or an adult. It is also unlawful for an offender to 
reside with minor children if their original victim was a minor child.64 A violation is a felony punishable by one to three 
years in prison.65 Further, with few exceptions, a registered sex offender 
shall not reside with other registered sex offenders.66 
¶51 Some additional legal obligations are predicated on SORA registration. 
One in particular pertains to a sex offender's driver's license or 
identification card. A person registered under SORA must renew their driver's 
license or issued identification card every year as opposed to non-registrants 
who renew every four years.67 Therefore registrants are required to pay four times 
the amount of a non-registrant. 
¶52 SORA also requires a local law enforcement entity to make its sex 
offender registry available upon request.68 The information in the registry includes the name, 
photograph, address, and description of the offender and the offender's crime 
and level designation.69 Such information is further made available on the 
Department of Corrections' website.70 If the offender is classified as habitual or 
aggravated, local law enforcement may proactively notify anyone it determines 
appropriate.71 
¶53 Originally, a registrant's personal information was maintained by the 
Department of Corrections.72 The statue provided that a file concerning registrant 
information "shall be made available to state, county and municipal law 
enforcement agencies."73 The file was also not made available for public 
inspection and no person other than a law enforcement officer employed by a 
state, county or municipal law enforcement agency had access to the file.74 In 1995, Section 584 of SORA was amended to allow local 
law enforcement agencies to make the registry available to schools, child care 
facilities, and other agencies and entities that provide services to children.75 However, the offender's address was not provided to 
such entities. Section 584 was again amended in 1997 and each year thereafter 
through 2000 with the cumulative effect of removing any restrictions on making 
registry information available.76 
¶54 Although some of the information, such as conviction information, may 
otherwise be available, the internet has increased the unrestricted 
dissemination of personal information of sex offenders. The Department's website 
provides the sex offender registry in a searchable format. Anyone at any time 
and for any reason can find the address and picture of a registered sex offender 
along with the statute under which the offender was convicted and the level 
assigned. Other relevant information concerning the facts surrounding the 
conviction is not provided. 
¶55 Some courts have found such aggressive public notification of sex 
offender crimes "exposes sex offenders to profound humiliation and 
community-wide ostracism."77 The Supreme Court of Indiana has found the effect of 
the public dissemination "subjects offenders to 'vigilante justice' which may 
include lost employment opportunities, housing discrimination, threats, and 
violence."78 Justice Stevens said in his dissent in Smith v. Doe 
that Alaska's sex offender registry statutes "impose significant affirmative 
obligations and a severe stigma on every person to whom they apply."79 In his concurring opinion in Smith, Justice 
Souter quoted the following from E.B. v. Verniero, 119 F.3d 1077, 1102 
(3d Cir. 1997):
families have experienced profound humiliation and isolation as a result of 
the reaction of those notified. Employment and employment opportunities have 
been jeopardized or lost. Housing and housing opportunities have suffered a 
similar fate. Family and other personal relationships have been destroyed or 
severely strained. Retribution has been visited by private, unlawful violence 
and threats and, while such incidents of 'vigilante justice' are not common, 
they happen with sufficient frequency and publicity that registrants justifiably 
live in fear of them.
Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 109, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 
(2003) (Souter, J., concurring in the judgment).
Justice Souter further stated "there is significant evidence of onerous 
practical effects of being listed on a sex offender registry."80 
¶56 The Alaska Supreme Court noted many articles concerning the harmful 
effects a registry places on an offender which are noted herein.81 
¶57 Currently, SORA provides dissemination of substantial personal 
information about a sex offender not otherwise readily available from a single 
governmental source. We do not make any determination of the constitutionality 
of any of the individual registration requirements but have reviewed the 
requirements in their totality to address the cumulative effect on the issue of 
the first Mendoza-Martinez factor and the punitive effect of the act in 
its totality. We find SORA's registration and notification provisions impose 
substantial disabilities on registrants. Therefore, we find the first 
Mendoza-Martinez factor clearly favors a punitive effect.
2. Sanctions that have been historically considered punishment
¶58 The second Mendoza-Martinez factor requires us to determine 
whether the scheme established by SORA and its effects have historically been 
regarded in our history and traditions as punishment. Sex offender registry 
statutes are a relatively new creation therefore we look to historical 
equivalents in determining any punitive effects. In Smith v. Doe, the 
United States Supreme Court considered whether the registration requirement was 
analogous to the colonial punishment of public shaming, humiliation, and 
banishment.82 The Court found that historically those punishments 
involved more than just the dissemination of information and included 
face-to-face shaming or expulsion from the community.83 It disagreed with the comparison and concluded "[o]ur 
system does not treat dissemination of truthful information in furtherance of a 
legitimate government objective as punishment."84 
¶59 In Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999 (Alaska 2008), the Alaska Supreme 
Court disagreed with the United States Supreme Court's analysis. It found the 
dissemination provisions of ASORA at least resemble the punishment of shaming. 
Id. at 1012. As mentioned, SORA's information is available on the 
internet to anyone at any time and for any reason. SORA is different from the 
ASORA reviewed by the Supreme Court in Smith v. Doe. As an example of 
potential "shaming," Oklahoma law requires certain offenders to have the words 
"Sex Offender" placed on his or her driver's license.85 This requirement is predicated upon SORA registration. 
Showing one's driver's license is frequently necessary in face-to-face 
encounters when cashing a check, using a credit card, applying for credit, 
obtaining a job, entering some public buildings, and in air travel as a few 
examples. This subjects an offender to unnecessary public humiliation and shame 
and is essentially a label not unlike a "scarlet letter."86
¶60 In addition, SORA's residency restrictions are similar to the traditional 
punishment of banishment. Section 590 of SORA provides as follows:
A. It is unlawful for any person registered pursuant to the Sex Offenders 
Registration Act to reside, either temporarily or permanently, within a 
two-thousand-foot radius of any public or private school site, educational 
institution, property or campsite used by an organization whose primary purpose 
is working with children, a playground or park that is established, operated or 
supported in whole or in part by city, county, state, federal or tribal 
government, or licensed child care center as defined by the Department of Human 
Services. Establishment of a day care center or park in the vicinity of the 
residence of a registered sex offender will not require the relocation of the 
sex offender or the sale of the property… Nothing in this provision shall 
require any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any real estate or home 
acquired or owned prior to the conviction of the person as a sex offender.
Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2012, § 
590. 
If a person owns a home within a prohibited area and becomes subject to SORA 
registration, they must vacate the property.87 The offender does not have to dispose of the property, 
however, the offender is prohibited from residing on the property (ostensibly 
allowing a registered offender the ability to be at the residence, but not 
"reside" on the property). In analyzing this Mendoza-Martinez factor, the 
Supreme Court of Kentucky determined a similar residency restriction was 
"regarded in our history and traditions as punishment."88 The court found the restriction expels registrants from 
their homes even if they resided there prior to the statute's enactment.89 The Oklahoma version of SORA is even more restrictive 
than the Kentucky law because the restrictive distance is twice as large as 
Kentucky's one-thousand-foot distance.
¶61 The wide dissemination of the sex offender's information and the 
displaying of the word "Sex Offender" on a driver's license is at least 
analogous to the traditional punishment of shaming. The expulsion from one's 
residence is likewise analogous to the traditional punishment of banishment. 
Again, we are not making a determination of the constitutionality of any of 
these individual registration requirements but for purposes of analyzing the 
second Mendoza-Martinez factor we find the totality of these requirements 
weigh in favor of punishment. 
3. Finding of scienter
¶62 The third Mendoza-Martinez factor we consider is whether SORA's 
obligations are incumbent on a finding of scienter.90 Section 582 of SORA identifies those sections of the 
criminal code if violated mandate registration. These are as follows:
A. . . . Section 843.5 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes if the offense 
involved sexual abuse or sexual exploitation as those terms are defined in 
Section 1-1-105 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, Section 681, if the 
offense involved sexual assault, 741, if the offense involved sexual abuse or 
sexual exploitation, Section 843.1, if the offense involved sexual abuse or 
sexual exploitation, Section 852.1, if the offense involved sexual abuse of a 
child, 865 et seq., 885, 886, 888, 891, if the offense involved sexual abuse or 
sexual exploitation, 1021, 1021.2, 1021.3, 1024.2, 1040.12a, 1040.13, 1040.13a, 
1087, 1088, 1111.1, 1114 or 1123 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 
582.
These statutes include sections 1111.1 and 1114 of title 21 of the Oklahoma 
Statutes which, among other things, cover statutory rape. Statutory rape does 
not require scienter because it is not a defense that a defendant did not know 
the victim was under the age of consent.91 However, a majority of the crimes listed in § 582 
require scienter. When acknowledging that some triggering crimes do not require 
scienter, courts have found this factor either does not support a punitive 
effect or weakly implies a punitive effect.92 We find that because not all SORA registration 
triggering crimes require scienter this factor should be given little weight in 
our analysis.
4. Traditional aims of punishment - retribution and deterrence
¶63 The fourth Mendoza-Martinez factor addresses whether SORA promotes 
the traditional aims of punishment, e.g., retribution and deterrence. Merely 
because a statute may deter future crimes does not in and of itself impose a 
punishment.93 SORA promotes deterrence through the threat of negative 
consequences, for example, eviction, living restrictions, and humiliation. Even 
more compelling than deterrence is the retributive portion of this factor.
¶64 As previously determined, the level assignments are prospective and not 
retroactive. Regardless, it is apparent the level assignments are being 
applied retroactively by the Department. The level assignments as applied 
herein effectively extended Starkey's SORA registration period. Starkey was 
initially required to register for 10 years, which was extended to 20 years by 
the 2004 amendments.94 Thereafter in 2008, by virtue of the level assignments 
as applied by the Department, Starkey's registration period was extended for the 
remainder of his life.95 Both of these extensions by legislative action were 
made without any triggering act or alleged violation of law by Starkey. 
¶65 SORA determines who must register based solely on the criminal statute a 
person is convicted of violating and not any individual determination of the 
risk the person poses to the community. In a similar Mendoza-Martinez 
analysis the Supreme Court of Kentucky found "[w]hen a restriction is imposed 
equally upon all offenders, with no consideration given to how dangerous any 
particular registrant may be to public safety, that restriction begins to look 
far more like retribution for past offenses than a regulation intended to 
prevent future ones."96 That court also quoted the following from Justice 
Souter's concurring opinion in Smith v. Doe:
Ensuring public safety is, of course, a fundamental regulatory goal, see, 
e.g., United States v. Salerno, 481 U.S. 739, 747, 107 S. Ct. 2095, 95 L. Ed. 2d 697 (1987), and this objective should be given serious weight in the 
analyses. But, at the same time, it would be naive to look no further, given 
pervasive attitudes toward sex offenders, see infra, at 1156, n. See 
Weaver v. Graham, 450 U.S. 24, 29, 101 S. Ct. 960, 67 L. Ed. 2d 17 (1981) 
(Ex Post Facto Clause was meant to prevent "arbitrary and potentially 
vindictive legislation"). The fact that the Act uses past crime as the 
touchstone, probably sweeping in a significant number of people who pose no real 
threat to the community, serves to feed suspicion that something more than 
regulation of safety is going on; when a legislature uses prior convictions to 
impose burdens that outpace the law's stated civil aims, there is room for 
serious argument that the ulterior purpose is to revisit past crimes, not 
prevent future ones. See Kennedy, supra, at 169, 83 S. Ct. 554.
Commonwealth v. Baker, 295 S.W.3d 437, 444 (Ky. 2009) (quoting Smith 
v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 108-09, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 1155-56, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 
(2003)) (Souter, J., concurring in the judgment).
¶66 In our view, the retroactive extensions of SORA registration clearly 
appear in the nature of retribution imposed against sex offenders for their past 
crimes. For all intents and purposes, the extensions are solely based on the 
statute the offender was convicted without regard to any mitigating factors. No 
hearing is allowed when making a level designation. Further, there is 
essentially no mechanism to reduce or end registration based upon a showing the 
offender is no longer a threat to the community. The few exceptions are for a 
level 1 offender to petition to have his or her registration period reduced from 
15 years to 10 years after being registered for 10 years97 and for persons convicted of certain statutory rape 
crimes to petition to be removed from the registry.98 
¶67 In evaluating the fourth Mendoza-Martinez factor of retribution 
and deterrence we find the retroactive extension of SORA's registration based 
solely upon the individual's prior conviction leads us to weigh this factor in 
favor of a punitive effect.
5. The behavior is already a crime
¶68 The fifth Mendoza-Martinez factor requires us to determine whether 
the behavior to which SORA applies is already a crime. As mentioned, SORA 
registration only applies to offenders convicted of certain crimes and does not 
arise based on an individualized determination of an offender's risk of 
recidivism. It cannot be waived based upon proof the offender poses little or no 
risk. It is the determination of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt of a sex 
offense, as listed, and not a person's potential for recidivism that triggers 
the registration requirement. Therefore, the fact that SORA applies only to 
behavior that is already a crime supports the conclusion this 
Mendoza-Martinez factor has a punitive effect. 
6. Rational connection to a non-punitive purpose
¶69 The sixth Mendoza-Martinez factor we address is whether SORA has a 
rational connection to a legitimate non-punitive purpose. The 1997 amendments to 
SORA added legislative findings.99 Those findings provide SORA is a system created to 
permit law enforcement to identify and alert the public when necessary for 
protecting the public safety. The context of these findings is to protect the 
public from sex offender recidivism. These 1997 findings indicate a legitimate 
non-punitive purpose of public safety. The protection of its citizens is a basic 
obligation of state government. Our evaluation of the sixth 
Mendoza-Martinez factor concludes SORA does advance a non-punitive 
purpose of public safety. 
7. Excessiveness
¶70 The final Mendoza-Martinez factor to be addressed concerns whether 
the obligations imposed by SORA registration are excessive with respect to the 
non-punitive objective of public safety. The Supreme Court in Smith v. Doe 
described excessiveness as follows:
The excessiveness inquiry of our ex post facto jurisprudence is not an 
exercise in determining whether the legislature has made the best choice 
possible to address the problem it seeks to remedy. The question is whether the 
regulatory means chosen are reasonable in light of the nonpunitive objective. 

Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 105, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 1154, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003)
The non-punitive objective revealed in § 581 is to protect the public from 
sex offenders re-offending after release from custody. This non-punitive 
objective, while undeniably important, will not serve to render a statute so 
broad and sweeping as to be non-punitive.100 
¶71 Our inquiry examines the means chosen to carry out this legitimate 
purpose and determine whether such means are excessive. This determination is 
based upon the overall scope in its entirety of the obligations imposed as a 
result of SORA registration.
¶72 SORA registration is imposed on a wide variety of crimes of which the 
severity of the crime and circumstances surrounding each crime can vary greatly. 
The Department's actions which extended the period of SORA registration have the 
effect of also extending all requisite obligations. The trial court found 
Starkey was originally required to register for 10 years. We herein interpret 
the intent behind the 2004 SORA amendments101 to extend Starkey's registration period to 10 years 
following his probation. Thereafter with the 2008 amendments,102 the Department, without a hearing, extended Starkey's 
registration period to life. These extensions were made without any individual 
determination of Starkey's risk of recidivism or threat to the citizens of 
Oklahoma. The lifetime extension was based solely upon the crime for which he 
originally entered his plea, or here, the alleged Oklahoma equivalent crime. 
Starkey timely filed his Petition in August 2009 to reduce his level assignment 
according to the law in effect at that time. Effective November 1, 2009, the 
ability to petition for a level assignment reduction was removed by the 
Legislature.103 This eliminated any mechanism, other than the few 
already discussed, for an offender to petition for relief or discharge from the 
obligation of registration and the many contingent obligations resulting from 
SORA registration. This is so regardless if one could provide the clearest proof 
of rehabilitation.
¶73 The Department's retroactive application of the level assignment 
provisions will require Starkey to verify his address "in person" every 90 days 
for the rest of his life regardless if there is any change to his address. His 
personal information will be publicly disseminated for the rest of his life. His 
current address and photograph will be linked to the Department's website 
showing he is a level 3 offender; this is the most severe level and yet it can 
cover a wide range of circumstances. A level 3 designation is also the level 
given to habitual and aggravated sex offenders. Starkey was not found to be 
either a habitual or aggravated sex offender; in fact he received a deferred 
adjudication with 60 days in the Calhoun County, Texas Jail. Therefore, Starkey 
is viewed in the same manner as offenders who have a known risk of recidivism 
and/or are habitual or aggravated sex offenders. The retroactive application of 
the level assignments based solely upon the crime committed absent any evidence 
of reoffending or violation of the requirements of SORA registration are 
excessive and punitive in nature. 
¶74 In her analysis of this seventh Mendoza-Martinez factor, Justice 
Ginsburg stated the following in her dissent in Smith:
What ultimately tips the balance for me is the Act's excessiveness in 
relation to its nonpunitive purpose. See Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S., at 
169, 83 S. Ct. 554. As respondents concede, . . . the Act has a legitimate civil 
purpose: to promote public safety by alerting the public to potentially 
recidivist sex offenders in the community. But its scope notably exceeds this 
purpose. The Act applies to all convicted sex offenders, without regard to their 
future dangerousness. And the duration of the reporting requirement is keyed not 
to any determination of a particular offender's risk of reoffending, but to 
whether the offense of conviction qualified as aggravated. The reporting 
requirements themselves are exorbitant: The Act requires aggravated offenders to 
engage in perpetual quarterly reporting, even if their personal information has 
not changed. And meriting heaviest weight in my judgment, the Act makes no 
provision whatever for the possibility of rehabilitation: Offenders cannot 
shorten their registration or notification period, even on the clearest 
demonstration of rehabilitation or conclusive proof of physical incapacitation. 
However plain it may be that a former sex offender currently poses no threat of 
recidivism, he will remain subject to long-term monitoring and inescapable 
humiliation.
Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 116-17, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 1160, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003) (Ginsburg, J., dissenting) (citations omitted).
¶75 We find Justice Ginsburg's dissent persuasive. SORA is more stringent 
than the ASORA reviewed by the Supreme Court in Smith. The Act's many 
obligations impose a severe restraint on liberty without a determination of the 
threat a particular registrant poses to public safety. We find SORA's 
obligations are excessive in relation to its non-punitive public safety purpose 
and therefore find this factor also favors a punitive effect. 
V. Conclusion Concerning the Constitutional Prohibition 
Against Ex Post Facto Laws
¶76 Here we are not balancing the rights of sex offenders against the rights 
of their victims. We are making a determination as to whether the means chosen 
to protect the public have exceeded the state's valid interest in public safety 
and infringed on the Oklahoma constitutional prohibition against ex post facto 
laws. 
¶77 Out of the seven Mendoza-Martinez factors we have reviewed herein, 
five favor a punitive effect. It is not the number that is important but the 
weight of these factors that leads us to our conclusion. SORA's obligations have 
become increasingly broad and onerous. We find there is clear proof that the 
effect of the retroactive application of SORA's registration is punitive and 
outweighs its non-punitive purpose. The retroactive extension of SORA's 
registration is inconsistent with the ex post facto clause in the Oklahoma 
Constitution.
¶78 This is not to say that Oklahoma's Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA) 
is unconstitutional on its face. A sex offender registry is a valid tool for the 
state to use for public safety. The State may impose registration duties and may 
publish registration information as part of its punishment of this category of 
defendants. The Oklahoma Constitution prohibits the addition of sanctions 
imposed on those who were already convicted before the legislation increasing 
sanctions and requirements of registration were enacted.
¶79 Our scope is focused on the constitutionality of retroactively 
extending SORA registration. The legislature has continued to move the 
finish line without a hearing and with no change in circumstances. Only 
by reason of legislative action, Starkey has had his finish line moved 
several times with no demonstrated change of conditions over those that existed 
when he submitted himself to the jurisdiction and enforcement of the Oklahoma 
SORA. Having found SORA's effects to be punitive, we find the retroactive 
extension of its registration period violates the prohibition on ex post facto 
laws provided in Article 2, § 15 of the Oklahoma Constitution. 
CONCLUSION
¶80 The trial court's Order found the provisions of SORA were not to be 
retroactively applied. The trial court held the Oklahoma Department of 
Corrections was to apply the version of SORA in existence at the time Starkey 
pled nolo contendere to the charge of sexual assault on October 12, 1998, in 
Texas. Under the trial court's Order, Starkey would only be required to register 
for the original ten-year period which he had already completed. 
¶81 We agree with the result of the trial court's Order which found the level 
assignments were not to be retroactively applied and Starkey is only required to 
register for 10 years. We find the legislature necessarily implied the 
provisions of 57 O.S., § 
583 as amended in 2004 were to be applied retroactively. Further, we find 
this retroactive extension of Starkey's registration period from 10 years to 10 
years from the date of completion of the sentence violates the ex post facto 
clause of the Oklahoma Constitution.104 We also find the Department's retroactive 
application of the level assignment provisions of 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, §§ 582.1 - 582.5, as amended, 
violates the ex post facto clause. These level assignments are only to be 
applied prospectively. We need not address Starkey's due process violation 
claims because our holding that the level assignments do not apply retroactively 
is dispositive. 
¶82 We disagree, however, with the trial court's finding that the date when 
Starkey pled nolo contendere in Calhoun County Texas, October 12, 1998, is the 
correct date to determine what Oklahoma law is applicable to him. The Order only 
indicates he has resided in Oklahoma since 1998. The correct date to apply is 
when Starkey became subject to SORA registration by entering and intending to be 
in Oklahoma after his conviction.105 Starkey voluntarily came to Oklahoma and therefore 
voluntarily subjected himself to SORA after his conviction. Following his 
conviction, the exact date he entered Oklahoma with the intent to "be in the 
state" for the requisite period is relevant in determining what version of SORA 
is applicable. The requirements of the registry to which he must comply would be 
established upon his entry and intent "to be in" Oklahoma. However in Starkey's 
case, the applicable provisions of both versions of 57 O.S., § 582 effective during 1998 were the same and 
the applicable provisions of 57 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 583 were not amended in 1998. 
Therefore, the exact date when Starkey entered Oklahoma in 1998 does not 
matter for our analysis. We find the trial court's order is affirmed as modified 
to apply the date of Starkey's entry with the intent to be in this State 
following his conviction rather than the actual date of conviction in Texas as 
the critical point to determine which provisions of SORA would apply to him. 

¶83 We point out that this decision does not address the requirements of the 
federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, 42 U.S.C. § 16901 et 
seq. (SORNA). 
AFFIRMED AS MODIFIED
¶84 REIF, V.C.J., KAUGER, J., WATT, J., EDMONDSON, J., COMBS, J., and 
GURICH, J., concur. 
¶85 GURICH, J., concurs: 
I concur. In 1998, the Oklahoma Legislature determined that 10 years was an 
adequate time for sex offenders like Starkey to remain on the registry in order 
to protect the public. Starkey was sentenced in 1998 and has remained on the 
Oklahoma Sex Offender Registration list since that time. Starkey's registration 
period was set to expire in 2008. However, because of substantive changes in the 
law, he has remained on the registry for more than 10 years. The record reflects 
Starkey has not re-offended. The retroactive application of the numerous changes 
to OSORA transformed the registry into a system of punishment. The dissenters' 
reliance on Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84 
is misplaced because the Alaska registration system reviewed in that case did 
not have the constitutional infirmities present in this case. The legitimate 
public safety interest in monitoring sex offender presence in the community is 
upheld by this decision, while the integrity of the Constitution is 
maintained.
¶86 COLBERT, C.J., concurs in part and dissents in part.
¶87 WINCHESTER, J., dissenting (by separate writing) and TAYLOR, J., 
dissenting. 
¶88 TAYLOR, J., dissenting: 
The Oklahoma Sex Offender Registry Act is a civil registration provision that 
reflects the public record and serves to inform citizens of important public 
information. The legislature clearly intended this to have retroactive 
application. The Act is a civil, nonpunitive, noncriminal regulatory program 
that does not violate any ex post facto concerns when applied retroactively. 
Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, Connecticut DPS v. Doe, 538 U.S. 1. 
This registration list is not punishment. It is a convenient uniform reflection 
of the public record. It is one of the many, many unpleasant lifetime civil 
consequences of being convicted of a felony. The public's right to have this 
information trumps the discomfort and inconvenience caused to the convicted sex 
offender.
FOOTNOTES
1 The document entitled 
"Additional Conditions of Community Supervision" is on a standard form which 
repeatedly uses the singular "victim" yet it names two persons, who we assume 
according to this document were both 15 years of age. 
2 The record doesn't reflect the specific Texas statute 
Starkey was charged under, however, the statute concerning sexual assault at the 
time of the commission of the crime is found in Tex. Penal Code Ann. § 22.011 
(Vernon 1996). It provides:
Sexual Assault
(a) A person commits an offense if the person:(1) intentionally or 
knowingly:(A) causes the penetration of the anus or female sexual organ of 
another person by any means, without that person's consent;(B) causes the 
penetration of the mouth of another person by the sexual organ of the actor, 
without that person's consent; or(C) causes the sexual organ of another 
person, without that person's consent, to contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, 
or sexual organ of another person, including the actor; or(2) intentionally 
or knowingly:(A) causes the penetration of the anus or female sexual organ 
of a child by any means;(B) causes the penetration of the mouth of a child 
by the sexual organ of the actor;(C) causes the sexual organ of a child to 
contact or penetrate the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of another person, 
including the actor; or(D) causes the anus of a child to contact the mouth, 
anus, or sexual organ of another person, including the actor.(b) A sexual 
assault under Subsection (a)(1) is without the consent of the other person 
if:(1) the actor compels the other person to submit or participate by the 
use of physical force or violence;(2) the actor compels the other person to 
submit or participate by threatening to use force or violence against the other 
person, and the other person believes that the actor has the present ability to 
execute the threat;(3) the other person has not consented and the actor 
knows the other person is unconscious or physically unable to resist;(4) the 
actor knows that as a result of mental disease or defect the other person is at 
the time of the sexual assault incapable either of appraising the nature of the 
act or of resisting it;(5) the other person has not consented and the actor 
knows the other person is unaware that the sexual assault is occurring;(6) 
the actor has intentionally impaired the other person's power to appraise or 
control the other person's conduct by administering any substance without the 
other person's knowledge;(7) the actor compels the other person to submit or 
participate by threatening to use force or violence against any person, and the 
other person believes that the actor has the ability to execute the 
threat;(8) the actor is a public servant who coerces the other person to 
submit or participate;(9) the actor is a mental health services provider who 
causes the other person, who is a patient or former patient of the actor, to 
submit or participate by exploiting the other person's emotional dependency on 
the actor; or(10) the actor is a clergyman who causes the other person to 
submit or participate by exploiting the other person's emotional dependency on 
the clergyman in the clergyman's professional character as spiritual 
adviser.(c) In this section:(1) "Child" means a person younger than 17 
years of age who is not the spouse of the actor.(2) "Spouse" means a person 
who is legally married to another.(d) It is a defense to prosecution under 
Subsection (a)(2) that the conduct consisted of medical care for the child and 
did not include any contact between the anus or sexual organ of the child and 
the mouth, anus, or sexual organ of the actor or a third party.(e) It is an 
affirmative defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(2) that the actor was 
not more than three years older than the victim, and the victim was a child of 
14 years of age or older.(f) An offense under this section is a felony of 
the second degree.
3 Article 6252-13c.1 was redesignated as 62.01 in 1997 
and again redesignated as 62.001 in 2005. The current Sex Offender Registration 
Program can be found at Tex. Code. Crim. Proc. Ann. art. 62.001 et seq. 
(Vernon 2011).
4 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 582 (1997 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 
260, § 3 (eff. November 1, 1997)) and 57 O.S. Supp. 1998, § 582 (1998 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 
347, § 1 (eff. November 1, 1998)). 
5 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, § 582.5.
6 2008 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 94, § 1 (emerg. April 29, 
2008).
7 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, § 583 (C) and (D). 
8 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, § 582.5 (D).
9 2009 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 404, §§ 3-4.
10 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2009, § 582.5 (D). 
11 The "deferred adjudication" he received is the 
equivalent of a "deferred judgment" a/k/a "deferred sentence" in Oklahoma found 
in 22 O.S. § 
991c. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has found that "[i]n a deferred 
sentence the district court retains jurisdiction and only a conditional order, 
not a judgment and sentence, is entered." Nguyen v. State, 
1989 OK CR 
6, 
¶5, 772 P.2d 401, 403, overruled on other grounds by Gonseth v. State, 
1994 OK CR 
9, 
¶9, 871 P.2d 51, 54. A deferred sentence "is not a conviction until such time as the 
trial court pronounces judgment and sentence." Belle v. State, 
1973 OK CR 438, ¶11, 516 P.2d 551, 552. Title 22 O.S. §991c(C), at all relevant times to this case, 
provides if the defendant completes all the conditions of the deferred judgment 
the defendant shall be discharged without a court judgment of guilt. Therefore, 
if a defendant completes the conditions of the deferred judgment and the court 
so finds, there will be no conviction. Some statutes define a deferred judgment 
as a conviction for a particular purpose; however, the Sex Offenders 
Registration Act (SORA), 57 O.S. § 581 et seq., does not have such a 
definition. 
12 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1998, §§ 582 and 583.
13 In1999, amendments to § 582 and 583 required persons 
receiving a probationary term to register (1999 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 336, §§ 1 
and 2 (eff. Nov. 1, 1999)). In 2000, § 583 was amended to specifically require 
certain persons receiving a deferred sentence to register (2000 Okla. Sess. Laws 
c. 349, § 3 (eff. Nov. 1, 2000)).
14 Citing Castillo v. State, 1998 OK CR 9, ¶¶ 7-8, 954 P.2d 145, 147.
15 Citing Welch v. Armer, 1989 OK 117, ¶27, 776 P.2d 847, 850, Nestell v. State, 
1998 OK CR 6, ¶5, 954 P.2d 143, 144, and State v. Watkins, 
1992 OK CR 50, ¶5, 837 P.2d 477, 478. 
16 Reimers v. State ex rel. Dept. of Corrections, 
2011 OK CIV APP 83, ¶ 31, 257 P.3d 416, 421. 
17 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, § 583.
18 Reimers at ¶32. 
19 Reimers at ¶30. 
20 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S.  at 
96.
21 Id. at 105. 
22 Substantive law is the part of the law that creates 
rights, duties and obligations. See Mid-America Corp v. Miller, 
1962 OK 
123, 372 P.2d 14 
and Williams v. State, 677 S.E.2d 773 (Ga.Ct.App. 2009). 
23 Multiple Injury Trust Fund v. Pullum, 
2001 OK 
115, 37 P.3d 899; Barnhill v. Multiple Injury Trust Fund, 2001 OK 114, 37 P.3d 890; Autry v. Multiple Injury Trust 
Fund, 2001 OK 
79, 38 P.3d 213; Walls v. American Tobacco Co., 2000 OK 66, 11 P.3d 626; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 
165 v. City of Choctaw, 1996 OK 78, 933 P.2d 261; Department of Human Services ex rel. 
Pavlovich v. Pavlovich, 1996 OK 71, 932 P.2d 1080; Houck v. Hold Oil Corp., 
1993 OK 166, 867 P.2d 451; Kluver v. Weatherford Hosp. 
Authority, 1993 OK 
85, 859 P.2d 1081; Seal v. Corporation Com'n, 1986 OK 34, 725 P.2d 278; Holdsworth v. Holdsworth, 
1986 OK 29, 720 P.2d 326, overruled by Nantz v. 
Nantz, 1988 OK 
9, 
749 P.2d 1137, which found retroactive 
application of amendments could be made because the right they dealt with was 
not vested; Timmons v. Royal Globe Ins. Co., 1985 OK 76, 713 P.2d 589; Smith v. Smith, 1982 OK 115, 652 P.2d 297 also overruled by Nantz v. 
Nantz, 1988 OK 
9, 
749 P.2d 1137, which found retroactive 
application of amendments could be made because the right they dealt with was 
not vested; Wickham v. Gulf Oil Corp., 1981 OK 8, 623 P.2d 613; MFA Ins. Co. v. Hankins, 
1980 OK 66, 610 P.2d 785; State ex rel. State Bd. Of 
Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors v. Engineered 
Coatings, Inc., 1975 OK 149, 542 P.2d 508; Mid-Continent Cas. Co. v. P & H 
Supply, Inc., 1971 OK 
135, 490 P.2d 1358; Sunray DX Oil Co. v. Great Lakes Carbon Corp., 1970 OK 149, 476 P.2d 329; Wilbanks v. Wilbanks, 
1968 OK 56, 441 P.2d 967; State v. Bailey, 1956 OK 338, 305 P.2d 548; Phillips v. H. A. Marr Grocery 
Co., 1956 OK 
104, 295 P.2d 765; State ex rel. Allen v. Board of Ed. of Independent School Dist. No. 
74 of Muskogee County, 1952 OK 241, 246 P.2d 368; Board of Trustees of Firemen's relief 
and Pension Fund of City of Tulsa v. Naughton, 1946 OK 273, 173 P.2d 425; Lincoln Nat. Life Ins. Co. v. 
Read, 1944 OK 
317, 156 P.2d 368; State v. Ward, 1941 OK 343, 118 P.2d 216; Baker v. Tulsa Bldg. & Loan 
Ass'n, 1936 OK 
568, 66 P.2d 45; Washabaugh v. Bartlett Collins Glass Co., 1936 OK 294, 57 P.2d 1162; Swatek Const. Co. v. Williams, 
1935 OK 1139, 58 P.2d 585; Franklin v. Sovereign Camp, 
W.O.W., 1930 OK 
195, 291 P. 513; Board of Equalization of Muskogee County v. Exchange Nat. Bank of 
Muskogee, 1924 OK 
1001, 230 P. 728; Roe v. Burt, 1917 OK 390, 168 P. 405; Crump v. Guyer, 1916 OK 254, 157 P. 321; Casey v. Bingham, 1913 OK 321, 132 P. 663; and St. Louis & S.F.R. Co. v. 
Thompson, 1912 OK 
818, 128 P. 685.
24 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2007, §§ 582.1 -582.5; 2007 Okla. Sess. 
Laws c. 261, §§ 23-26.
25 Okla. Const. art. 2, § 15. 
26 2008 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 94, § 1 (emergency clause 
only; approved by the Governor on April 29, 2008).
27 2008 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 94, § 2. 
28 Autry v. Multiple Injury Trust Fund, 
2001 OK 79, ¶12, 38 P.3d 213, 217.
29 See discussion supra ¶¶ 28 - 32. 
30 Davis v. GHS Health Maint. Org., Inc., 
2001 OK 3, ¶ 25, 22 P.3d 1204, 1212. See also Simons v. 
Brashears Transfer & Storage, 1959 OK 156, ¶ 24, 344 P.2d 1107, 1113, where this Court held "[w]e have 
held numerous times that we would not consider constitutional questions not 
raised in the trial court unless the public interest and welfare so 
requires."
31 Black's Law Dictionary 662 (4th ed. 1968).
32 See State v. Letalien, 2009 ME 130, ¶23, 
985 A.2d 4, 13.
33 Id. 
34 Collins v. Youngblood, 497 U.S. 37, 
41, 110 S. Ct. 2715, 2718-19, 111 L. Ed. 2d 30 (1990).
35 Russell v. Gregoire, 124 F.3d 1079, 1084 (9th 
Cir. 1997).
36 U.S. v. Ward, 448 U.S. 242, 
248, 100 S. Ct. 2636, 65 L. Ed. 2d 742 (1980).
37 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
92-93, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003).
38 Id. at 92. 
39 Id. at 107-108 (Souter, J., concurring in the 
judgment).
40 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
107, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003) (Souter, J., concurring in the 
judgment).
41 Id.
42 Id. at 115 (Ginsburg, J., dissenting).
43 Id. 
44 In re Estate of Bell-Levine, 2012 OK 112, ¶9, 293 P.3d 964, 967.
45 Id.
46 Jacobs Ranch, L.L.C. v. Smith, 2006 OK 34, ¶18, 148 P.3d 842, 848.
47 See Messenger v. Messenger, 1992 OK 27, ¶ 17, 827 P.2d 865, 872. This Court used a similar analysis 
when discussing the due process clause in the Oklahoma Constitution.
48 Id.; the Supreme Court of Alaska held similarly 
in Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999, 1005 (Alaska 2008) (finding it has never 
indicated "that federal interpretation of the federal ex post facto prohibition 
prevents us from reaching a different, and more protective, result under the 
Alaska Constitution.").
49 State v. Letalien, 2009 ME 130, ¶32, 985 A.2d 4, 
17. 
50 Smith at 101.
51 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
101, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003) (See Doe v. Otte, 259 F.3d 979 (9th Cir. 2001), rev'd sub nom. Smith v. Doe, 
538 U.S. 84, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003)).
52 Smith at 101.
53 Id.; the Court also notes that "[t]he Act 
[ASORA] does not restrain activities sex offenders may pursue but leaves them 
free to change jobs or residences." Id. at 100. It "imposes no physical 
restraint, and so does not resemble the punishment of imprisonment, which is the 
paradigmatic affirmative disability or restraint." Id.
54 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 583; the "in person" 
requirement was added by 2007 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 261, § 27 (eff. Nov. 1, 
2007).
55 Id.
56 Id.
57 Id.
58 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 583; added by 2009 Okla. 
Sess. Laws c. 404, §5 (eff. Nov. 1, 2009).
59 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 584.
60 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2011, § 587.
61 State v. Letalien, 2009 ME 130, ¶37, 985 A.2d 4, 
18.
62 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
111, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003) (Stevens, J., dissenting) (stating 
the obligations are "comparable to the duties imposed on other convicted 
criminals during periods of supervised release or parole").
63 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2012, § 590.
64 Id. (An exception is provided for 
children, stepchildren and grandchildren if they were not the victim).
65 Id.
66 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2012, § 590.1.
67 Title 47 O.S. 2011, §§ 6-105.3 and 6-115.
68 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 584 (L).
69 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 584 (D).
70 Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 
http://www.doc.state.ok.us/offenders/offenders.htm (last visited April 14, 
2013).
71 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 584 (N).
72 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1989, § 584 (C).
73 Id.
74 Id.
75 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1995, § 584 (E).
76 1997 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 360, § 5 (eff. Nov. 1, 1997); 
1998 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 347, § 2 (eff. Nov. 1, 1998); 1999 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 
336, § 3 (eff. Nov. 1, 1999); and 2000 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 349, § 4 (eff. Nov. 
1, 2000).
77 Wallace v. State, 905 N.E.2d 371, 380 (Ind. 
2009) (essentially quoting, without citation, Justice Ginsburg's dissent in 
Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 115, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 
(2003) (Ginsburg, J., dissenting).
78 Wallace at 380; See also Doe v. 
Pataki, 120 F.3d 1263, 1279 (2d Cir. 1997) (the court found "sex offenders 
have suffered harm in the aftermath of public dissemination-ranging from public 
shunning, picketing, press vigils, ostracism, loss of employment, and eviction, 
to threats of violence, physical attacks, and arson.").
79 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
111, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003) (Stevens, J., dissenting).
80 Smith, 538 U.S.  at 109 (Souter, J., concurring 
in the judgment).
81 Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999, 1010-1011, nn. 81 
and 85 (Alaska 2008); Neighbor Convicted of Stalking Sex Offender, Akron Beacon 
Journal, Dec. 13, 2007, available at EBSCO, 2W62W62425089428 (vigilantism); John 
R. Ellement & Suzanne Smalley, Sex Crime Disclosure Questioned: Maine 
Killings Refuel Debate Over Registries, Boston Globe, Apr. 18, 2006, at A1, 
available at 2006 WLNR 6463014 (vigilantism); Kira Millage, Killer of 2 Sex 
Offenders Pleads Guilty, Bellingham Herald (Wash.), Mar. 10, 2006, at 1A, 
available at 2006 WLNR 5238375 (vigilantism); Carolyn Starks & Jeff Long, 
Abuser Killed Self, Family Says, Chicago Trib., May 27, 2005, at 1, available at 
2005 WLNR 23429797 (suicide); Cara Buckley, Town Torn Over Molester's Suicide, 
Miami Herald, Apr. 23, 2005, at 1A, available at 2005 WLNR 23022255 (suicide); 
Brian MacQuarrie, Man Defends Attacks on Sex Offenders, Crusader Gets Jail Term, 
Boston Globe, Dec. 5, 2004, at A1, available at 2004 WLNR 13142566 
(vigilantism); see also Richard Tewksbury, Collateral Consequences of Sex 
Offender Registration, 21 J. Contemp. Crim. Just. 67, 75 (2005) (noting that in 
a study of 121 registered sex offenders in Kentucky, 47 percent reported being 
harassed in person, 16.2 percent reported being assaulted, 28.2 percent reported 
receiving harassing or threatening telephone calls, and 24.8 percent reported 
receiving harassing or threatening mail as a result of being listed on publicly 
accessible registries); Alvin Malesky & Jeanmarie Keim, Mental Health 
Professionals' Perspectives on Sex Offender Registry Web Sites, 13 Sexual Abuse: 
J. Res. & Treatment 53, 59 (2001) (reporting that in a study of 133 mental 
health professionals who work with sex offenders, 62.9 percent of respondents 
believed that sex offenders listed in public sex offender registry websites will 
become targets of vigilantism in the community); See, e.g., Jan Hollingsworth, 
Protesters Hound Owner of Pet Shop, Tampa Trib., Jan. 27, 2008, available at 
EBSCO, 2W62W62852777149 (describing community protests that forced registered 
sex offender to close his business); Corey Kilgannon, Threats of Violence as 
Homes for Sex Offenders Cluster in Suffolk, N.Y. Times, Oct. 9, 2006, at B1, 
available at 2006 WLNR 17438262 (recounting neighborhood's efforts to drive out 
registrants); Emily Ramshaw, 'Sex Offender' Label Makes No Distinction: For Many 
Men, Registry Has Lasting and Devastating Effects, Dallas Morning News, Oct. 2, 
2006, available at EBSCO, 2W62W61689001016 (stating that registrant has lost 
multiple jobs after employers learned he was on sex offender registry); Carolyn 
Marshall, Taking the Law into their Own Hands, N.Y. Times, Apr. 20, 2004, at 
A12, available at 2004 WLNR 4787938 (describing how residents put pressure on 
landlords to refuse housing to registered offenders); see also Tewksbury, supra 
note 81, at 75 (noting that 42.7 percent of respondents reported loss of job and 
45.3 percent of respondents reported loss or denial of place to live after being 
listed on publicly accessible registries); Richard G. Zevitz & Mary Ann 
Farkas, Sex Offender Community Notification: Managing High Risk Criminals or 
Exacting Further Vengeance?, 18 Behav. Sci. & LawW 375, 381 (2000) 
(describing a study consisting of face-to-face interviews with thirty sex 
offenders throughout Wisconsin subject to various forms of community 
notification, and noting that 83 percent of respondents reported exclusion of 
residence and 57 percent reported loss of employment as a direct result of 
notification).
82 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
97-98, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003).
83 Smith 538 U.S.  at 98.
84 Id.
85 Title 47 O.S. 2011, § 6-111 (D).
86 The scarlet letter was a means of punishment which 
required a person to permanently display the letter "A" for the crime of 
adultery described by author Nathaniel Hawthorne in his book The Scarlet 
Letter. 
87 OK AG Opinion 2005-11.
88 Commonwealth v. Baker, 295 S.W.3d 437, 444 (Ky. 
2009).
89 Id.
90 Scienter is defined as "[a] degree of knowledge that 
makes a person legally responsible for the consequences of his or her act or 
omission; . . . ." SCIENTER, Black's Law Dictionary (9th ed. 2009). 
91 Reid v. State, 1955 OK CR 106, ¶43, 290 P.2d 775, 784.
92 State v. Letalien, 2009 ME 130, ¶44, 985 A.2d 4, 
21 (finding that because the obligation to register under Maine's version of 
SORA was not always triggered by a finding of scienter, this factor supported 
their registry scheme as being non-punitive); Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999, 
1012-1013 (Alaska 2008) (finding the obligations of Alaska's SORA were not 
imposed solely upon a finding of scienter but a majority of triggering crimes 
required scienter and therefore this factor weakly implies a punitive effect but 
would only receive little weight in their analysis).
93 Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
102, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003).
94 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2004, § 583; 2004 Okla. Sess. Laws. 
c. 162, § 1.
95 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2008, § 582.5; 2008 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 
94, § 1.
96 Commonwealth v. Baker, 295 S.W.3d 437, 444 (Ky. 
2009). 
97 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 583 (E), added by 2007 Okla. 
Sess. Laws c. 261, § 27 (eff. Nov. 1, 2007).
98 Title 57 O.S. 2011, § 590.2, added by 2009 Okla. 
Sess. Laws c. 404, § 8 (eff. Nov. 1, 2009). 
99 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 581 (B). 
100 See Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999, 1016 (Alaska 
2008).
101 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2004, § 583; 2004 Okla. Sess. Laws. 
c. 162, § 1.
102 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2008, § 582.5; 2008 Okla. Sess. Laws c. 
94, § 1.
103 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 2009, § 582.5 (D), amended by 2009 
Okla. Sess. Laws c. 404 § 4 (eff. Nov. 1, 2009). This amendment removed the 
ability of a court to reduce a risk level assigned to an offender. Starkey filed 
his Petition in August 2009 to override his level assignment prior to this 
amendment.
104 Okla. Const. art. 2, § 15. 
105 Title 57 O.S. Supp. 1997, § 583 (B) was in effect 
throughout 1998. It states as follows:
"B. Any person who has been convicted of an offense on or after 
November 1, 1989, in another jurisdiction . . . shall register as follows: 1. 
With the Department of Corrections when the person enters and intends to be 
in the state for thirty (30) days or longer." 

WINCHESTER, J., dissenting:
¶1 The majority states their opinion does not balance "the rights of sex 
offenders against the rights of the offenders' victims." Yet, according to the 
Department of Corrections, Appellants, today's decision will affect a number of 
offenders in the State and will defeat the Act's very purpose which is the 
protection of victims, and the public at large, from the very real danger of 
recidivism.1 The majority opinion also conflicts with the opinion of 
the United States Supreme Court in Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 
92, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003), wherein the Court addressed the 
retroactive application of Alaska's sex offender registry and found the registry 
did not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause.2 
¶2 The Oklahoma Sex Offenders Registration Act (OSORA), 57 O.S.2011, §§ 581, et seq., was 
originally enacted in 1989 and approved unanimously by both the House and the 
Senate. Oklahoma is not alone in passing legislation that responds to the public 
safety threat of sex offender recidivism. In 1994, Congress passed the Jacob 
Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually Violent Offender Registration 
Act, which conditions federal funding to assist law enforcement on the States' 
adoption of established guidelines for state sex offender registration programs. 
By 1996, legislators in every state had enacted laws to regulate sex offenders 
after their release, more commonly known as Megan's Laws.3 See Smith v. Doe, 
538 U.S.  at 89, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003); Conn. Dep't of Pub. Safety 
v. Doe, 538 U.S. 1, 4, 123 S. Ct. 1160, 155 L. Ed. 2d 98 (2003). OSORA forms 
one small piece of a nationwide comprehensive regulatory program.4
¶3 The United States Supreme Court first addressed the validity of the 
retroactivity of a state's sex offender registry requirements, the very issue on 
appeal herein, in Smith v. Doe, 538 U.S. 84, 92, 123 S. Ct. 1140, 155 L. Ed. 2d 164 (2003). The Smith Court provided the analytical framework for 
determining whether a sex offender registration law imposes retroactive 
punishment in violation of ex post facto laws. The Court held that because the 
Alaska law at issue was nonpunitive, its retroactive application did not violate 
the Ex Post Facto Clause. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 105-106.
¶4 To evaluate a statute's constitutionality under the Ex Post Facto Clause, 
the first determination a court must make is whether the statutory scheme in 
question was intended to be civil or criminal in nature. Smith, 
538 U.S.  at 92. If the intent was to make the statute a criminal punishment, that ends 
the inquiry and the statute will be deemed to violate the ex post facto laws. 
Id. As stated previously, the Legislature has provided that the civil 
objective of the Act is to protect the public from harm.5 57 O.S.2011, § 581(B). This stated purpose 
plainly indicates the intent of the Legislature to establish a civil regulatory 
scheme rather than a punishment. 
¶5 Because the Legislature intended OSORA to operate as a civil regulatory 
system, the next step according to the Smith Court is to examine whether 
the statutory scheme is so punitive, either in purpose or effect, as to negate 
the State's intention to deem it civil. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 
105-106. "[O]nly the clearest proof will suffice to override 
legislative intent and transform what has been denominated a civil remedy into a 
criminal penalty." Id. (Emphasis added). 
¶6 In determining whether the effects of the Alaska sex offender registry 
were punitive, the Smith Court utilized a multi-factor test first set 
forth in Kennedy v. Mendoza-Martinez, 372 U.S. 144, 
168-169, 83 S. Ct. 554, 9 L. Ed. 2d 644 (1963). Smith, 538 U.S.  at 
97. 
Recognizing that the factors were not an exhaustive list, the Court found that 
the five "guideposts" most relevant to its analysis were whether the scheme: (1) 
"has been regarded in our history and traditions as punishment;" (2) "imposes an 
affirmative disability or restraint;" (3) "promotes the aims of punishment;" (4) 
"has a rational connection to a nonpunitive purpose;" or (5) "is excessive with 
respect to this purpose." Smith, 538 U.S.  at 97.
¶7 Using this analysis, Division III of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals, 
the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals, 
and the 10th Circuit have all6 found that OSORA's 
retroactive application does not violate any ex post facto laws.7 I agree and address each 
factor in turn.
A. Historical Punishment
¶8 In Smith, the Supreme Court considered Alaska's statute in light of 
the colonial punishments of public shaming, humiliation, and banishment, and 
concluded that the dissemination of truthful information in furtherance of a 
legitimate governmental objective could not be considered punishment. 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 97-98. The use of the Internet to disseminate sex offender 
registrant information did not alter the Supreme Court's conclusion. 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 99. Moreover, any consequences to the offender from such 
dissemination flow not from the registration but from the fact of conviction, a 
matter already of public record. The Court found that the rationale behind 
notification is "to inform the public for its own safety, not to humiliate the 
offender. Widespread public access is necessary for the efficacy of the scheme, 
and the attendant humiliation is but a collateral consequence of a valid 
regulation." Id. 
¶9 Regulatory schemes such as OSORA are of recent origin and, like the 
Supreme Court found in Smith, are not among traditional punishments. 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 97. OSORA does not hold sex offenders up to the public for 
ridicule. Rather, it provides for the dissemination of truthful information in 
furtherance of a legitimate governmental objective. 
¶10 Authority to make policy decisions for reasons of public safety and 
public welfare has long rested with the Legislature and the courts are without 
authority to strike down a statute merely because it might not comport with its 
own notions of prudent public policy. Yocum v. Greenbriar Nursing Home, 
2005 OK 27, 130 P.3d 213. Here, the Oklahoma Legislature adopted 
amendments to OSORA in accordance with federal legislation, which has been 
repeatedly upheld as nonpunitive, in an effort to create a national uniform sex 
offender registration. OSORA's provisions do not resemble traditional punishment 
and, as such, do not affect the Act's civil status.
B. Affirmative Disability or Restraint
¶11 To determine whether the restriction imposes an affirmative disability or 
restraint, a reviewing court must consider how the effects of the statute in 
question are felt by those subject to it. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 
99-100. If the disability or restraint is minor and indirect, its effects 
are unlikely to be punitive. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 100. While the act of 
registering may cause some inconvenience for offenders, it in no way restrains 
or disables them. Mere inconvenience does not suffice to make this factor 
punitive. In reaching its decision, the Smith Court expressly rejected 
the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' conclusion that the restraint of the 
registration system is parallel to that associated with a term of probation or 
supervised release that implicate Ex Post Facto clause concerns. 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 101.
¶12 Further, although OSORA's amendments restrict persons subject to OSORA 
from living in certain areas or working certain jobs, it does not otherwise 
restrict the movement and activities of such persons.8 Offenders remain free to 
change jobs or move residences within town, out of town or even out of state. 
Again, any negative consequences to registrants' employment or housing prospects 
arise from the fact of conviction, not the existence of the registry. 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 101. It is unclear if such negative consequences would be 
the result of the registration or if the same result would have been reached 
through other means, such as routine background checks. Smith, 
538 U.S.  at 100. It is also important to note that many of the "restraints" identified 
by Starkey, such as having the words "sex offender" placed on the driver's 
license of certain sex offenders, as required by 47 O.S.2011, §6-111(D)(1), do not originate 
in OSORA. That statute, like several others generally mentioned by offenders, is 
not a part of OSORA which is the specific Act challenged by Starkey.
¶13 Significantly, the registration and notification provisions of OSORA are 
far less restrictive and burdensome than the commitment statute approved by the 
United States Supreme Court in Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346, 
117 S. Ct. 2072, 138 L. Ed. 2d 501 (1997). In Hendricks, the Supreme Court 
determined that a statute that allowed the state to involuntarily commit certain 
sex offenders was not a violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause. The Court found 
that restricting the freedom of those deemed dangerous to society has 
historically been regarded as "a legitimate nonpunitive governmental objective." 
Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346, 363, 117 S. Ct. 2072, 2083, 138 L. Ed. 2d 501, 516 (1997). 
¶14 The Ex Post Facto Clause does not prohibit increased burdens, only 
increased punishments. The alleged "burdens" placed on sex offenders under the 
Act are the unfortunate consequence of the crime for which they were convicted 
and not an increased punishment. Although the restraints imposed by OSORA are 
not insignificant, their weight alone is insufficient to create a punitive 
effect from the Act's nonpunitive purpose.
C. Promotes the Traditional Aims of Punishment
¶15 The third factor addresses whether OSORA promotes the traditional aims of 
punishment, those of deterrence and retribution. Smith, 
538 U.S.  at 102. Finding that deterrence alone does not make a statute punitive, the 
Smith Court reasoned that "[a]ny number of governmental programs might 
deter crime without imposing punishment," and "'to hold that the mere presence 
of a deterrent purpose renders such sanctions "criminal" … would severely 
undermine the Government's ability to engage in effective regulation." 
Id. 
¶16 Starkey's argument that differentiating reporting requirements among 
levels of offenses demonstrates retributive intent was rejected by the Supreme 
Court in Smith. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 102. The levels of risk 
assigned by OSORA are reasonably related to the danger of recidivism and 
consistent with the Act's regulatory objective. Id. To enforce the § 583 
risk level amendment as suggested by Starkey, the DOC would be required to 
examine each sex offender's case on an individual basis to determine when they 
were convicted and what particular version of the statute existed at that time. 
Such an application would result in different registry terms for offenders 
convicted of the same crime depending on the date an offender was convicted, if 
in Oklahoma, or when the offender moved to Oklahoma, if convicted out-of-state. 

¶17 While the Legislature could have instituted an individualized risk 
assessment of the danger posed by a sex offender, no constitutional mandate 
exists requiring the use of such measures. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 
104 
(the decision "to legislate with respect to convicted sex offenders as a class, 
rather than require individual determination of their dangerousness, does not 
make the statute a punishment.") 
¶18 A federal district court in Oklahoma has addressed, and rejected, a 
similar argument from a sex offender. In Gautier v. Jones, Case No. 
CIV-08-445-C, 2009 WL 1444533 (W.D. Okla., May 20, 2009), the plaintiff 
contested the very same OSORA amendment, 57 O.S.2011, § 583 (C), which changed his 
registration period from ten years to life due to his new designation as a Tier 
III offender. The district court held that the plaintiff was not promised that 
his "registration terms would remain static." Gautier v. Jones, at *3. 
The court further recognized that "the Legislature has broad power to amend 
existing legislation and was free to alter the statute's registration 
requirements at any time. Id., citing Movants to Quash Multicounty 
Grand Jury Subpoena v. Dixon, 2008 OK 36, ¶ 22, 184 P.3d 546, 553. The Gautier court went on to 
find that the retroactive application of the OSORA amendment did not violate the 
Ex Post Facto Clause. Gautier v. Jones, at *9.
¶19 To deny the amendment's retroactivity will, according to the DOC, require 
the removal of offenders from the registry, a result that would substantially 
thwart the very purpose of the Act which is public safety. Because OSORA's 
purpose is the protection of the public, it reasonably follows that the Act does 
not significantly promote either retribution or deterrence.
D. Rational Connection to a Nonpunitive Purpose
¶20 The Smith Court found that whether the challenged regulation is 
rationally connected to a nonpunitive purpose is a "most significant factor" in 
the effects prong of the test. Smith, 538 U.S.  at 
102. 
The Court, finding that the statute need not be "narrowly drawn" to pass muster, 
specifically held that the interest in "alerting the public to the risk of sex 
offenders in their community" constitutes a "legitimate non-punitive purpose." 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 102-103. A "statute is not deemed punitive simply because 
it lacks a close or perfect fit with the nonpunitive aims it seeks to advance." 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 103.
¶21 The Legislature's goal in enacting OSORA was to protect the public from 
the danger of recidivism, a known high risk among sex offenders. The 
restrictions set forth in OSORA could reasonably be said to advance this goal. 
Starkey has proffered no evidence to refute the legitimate public safety 
interest in monitoring sex offender presence in the community. Accordingly, this 
factor does not render the Act punitive.
E. Excessiveness in Relation to Nonpunitive Purpose
¶22 The final factor concerns whether the provisions of OSORA are excessive 
in relation to its previously determined, nonpunitive purpose. As the United 
States Supreme Court has noted, the excessiveness inquiry of ex post facto 
jurisprudence is not an exercise in determining whether the legislature has made 
the best choice possible to address the problem it seeks to remedy. 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 105. The question is whether the regulatory means chosen 
are reasonable in light of the nonpunitive objective. Smith, 
538 U.S.  at 105.
¶23 In Smith, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that individual risk 
assessment was unnecessary for sex offender registration requirements, and that 
"[t]he State's determination to legislate with respect to convicted sex 
offenders as a class, rather than require individual determination of their 
dangerousness, does not make the statute a punishment under the Ex Post Facto 
Clause." Smith, 538 U.S.  at 104. "The Ex Post Facto Clause does not 
preclude a State from making reasonable categorical judgments that convictions 
of specified crimes should entail particular regulatory consequences." 
Smith, 538 U.S.  at 103.
¶24 There are, no doubt, some cases where a sex offender has led a 
law-abiding life since his conviction. However, in assessing the 
constitutionality of a statute, the role of this Court is not to review the 
merits or wisdom of the Legislature's decisions on matters of public policy. The 
fact that restrictions on the registrants may be difficult and cumbersome is 
insufficient to make them unconstitutional.
¶25 Nothing in the record before us indicates that OSORA's regulatory scheme 
is anything other than reasonable in light of the nonpunitive objective of 
keeping the public safe from convicted sex offenders. Starkey has not 
established the "clearest proof" that the limitations in Oklahoma's sex offender 
registry act are excessive in relation to the Act's legitimate, regulatory 
purpose.
F. Conclusion
¶26 Having considered the relevant ex post facto factors, I find that OSORA 
is a nonpunitive, civil regulatory scheme that can be applied retroactively.9 The registration and 
notification provisions of OSORA do not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause because 
the provisions serve the legitimate, remedial purpose of protecting the public. 

¶27 An overwhelming majority of courts across the country agree.10 Reliance on a small minority of courts and/or 
dissenting opinions provides little justification to overturn the Legislature's 
will. Therefore, I respectfully dissent. 
FOOTNOTES
1 Section 581 of OSORA, as 
amended, provides in pertinent part:
B. The Legislature finds that sex offenders who commit other predatory acts 
against children and persons who prey on others as a result of mental illness 
pose a high risk of re-offending after release from custody. The Legislature 
further finds that the privacy interest of persons adjudicated guilty of these 
crimes is less important than the state's interest in public safety. The 
Legislature additionally finds that a system of registration will permit law 
enforcement officials to identify and alert the public when necessary for 
protecting public safety.
This stated purpose indicates the intent of the Legislature to establish a 
civil regulatory system rather than a criminal, punitive system. 
2 The Ex Post Facto Clause applies only to statutes that 
are criminal or penal in nature and prohibits the passing of any law that (1) 
retroactively imposes punishment for an act that was not punishable when 
committed, (2) retroactively increases the punishment for a crime after its 
commission, or (3) deprives one charged with a crime of a defense that was 
available at the time the crime was committed. Collins v. Youngblood, 
497 U.S. 37, 42, 110 S. Ct. 2715, 111 L. Ed. 2d 30 (1990).
3 Megan's Law was inspired by the case of seven-year-old 
Megan Kanka, a New Jersey girl who was raped and killed by a known child 
molester who moved across the street from the family.
4 In 2006, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act 
of 2006 ("Adam Walsh Act") was passed by the U. S. Congress to "protect children 
from sexual exploitation and violent crime, to prevent child abuse and child 
pornography, to promote Internet safety, and to honor the memory of Adam Walsh 
and other child crime victims." Pub. L. 109-248 (codified as amended in 
scattered sections of 42 U.S.C.). Title I of the Walsh Act, entitled the Sex 
Offender Registration and Notification Act ("SORNA"), created a national sex 
offender registry law. According to the U.S. Attorney General, the purpose of 
SORNA was to "strengthen and increase the effectiveness of sex offender 
registration and notification for the protection of the public, and to eliminate 
potential gaps and loopholes under the pre-existing standards by means of which 
sex offenders could attempt to evade registration requirements or the 
consequences of registration violations." "Applicability of the Sex Offender 
Registration and Notification Act," 72 Fed. Reg. 8894, 8895 (interim rule Feb. 
28, 2007). See also United States v. Yelloweagle, 643 F.3d 1275, 1277 
(10th Cir.2011) (noting that SORNA was enacted based on Congress's "conclusion 
that existing sex offender registration and reporting requirements were too 
readily circumvented"); U.S. v. Carel, 668 F.3d 1211, 1213 (10th Cir. 
2011) ("SORNA was enacted to succeed and enhance the registration requirements 
of the Wetterling Act, 'and to eliminate' a dangerous gap in the then-existing 
sex-offender-registration laws.") 
SORNA addresses the various tiers of sex offender status and also requires 
every jurisdiction to maintain a sex offender registry conforming to the 
requirements of SORNA. See 42 U.S.C. §§ 16911 and 16912. The federal 
standards established under the Walsh Act serve as the minimum standards for a 
jurisdiction's sex offender registration program to be in compliance with 
federal law. For those jurisdictions in compliance, federal funding is provided. 
States failing to establish a registration and notification system in accordance 
with SORNA risk losing the federal funding. United States v. Yelloweagle, 
643 F.3d 1275, 1277 (10th Cir.2011); 42 U.S.C. § 16925. 
OSORA was amended on November 1, 2007 to substantially comply with the Adam 
Walsh Act. The amendments required Oklahoma to develop a new risk assessment 
screening tool to determine the level of risk each offender poses by assigning 
points for various crimes. 57 O.S.2011, § 582.5(C). Each offender is now 
assigned a number of points based solely on the offense of conviction, which 
then constitutes the individual's risk level. Id. The duration 
requirement for registration is then determined by the level of classification 
assigned so that level one offenders must register for fifteen years, level two 
offenders must register for twenty-five years, and level three offenders, and 
those offenders classified as a habitual or aggravated sex offender, must 
register for life. Id. Section 582.5 was amended again on April 29, 2008, 
and expanded the applicability to sex offenders who were convicted outside the 
state, such as Plaintiff Starkey. 
5 See supra, fn 1. 
6 See, e.g., Freeman v. Henry, 2010 OK CIV APP 134, ¶ 11, 245 P.3d 1258 ("We therefore hold OSORA represents a 
civil regulatory scheme which does not violate the ex post facto 
proscriptions of either" the federal or state constitutions.); Oklahoma Attorney 
General Opinion No. 03-24 (OSORA is a civil, nonpunitive regulatory scheme); 
Oklahoma Attorney General Opinion No. 05-11 (OSORA's residency restriction may 
be applied retrospectively); Mendenhall v. State, Case No. F-2010-1100 
(Sept. 30, 2011) (Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals) (unpublished summary 
opinion) (using ex post facto analysis, court determined that OSORA was civil 
and remedial in nature); Graham v. Henry, 2006 WL 2645130 (N.D. Okla. 
Sept. 14, 2006) (refusing to grant sex offender a preliminary injunction where 
he was unlikely to show that the residency restriction was punitive); Gautier 
v. Jones, 2009 WL 2591666 (W.D.Okla. May 20, 2009) (Because OSORA is 
nonpunitive, its retroactive application does not violate the Ex Post Facto 
Clause.), reversed, in part, on other grounds by Gautier v. Jones, 364 
Fed.Appx. 422, 2010 WL 358098 (C.A.10 (Okla.), cert. denied Gautier v. Jones, 
131 S. Ct. 159, 178 L. Ed. 2d 39 (2010). 
7 The Oklahoma Constitution provides that "[n]o ... ex 
post facto law ... shall ever be passed." Oklahoma Constitution, Art. 2, § 15. 
The United States Constitution provides that "[n]o State shall ... pass any ... 
ex post facto Law ...." U.S. Const. art. I, § 10, cl. 1. Because the language in 
these clauses mirrors each other, we interpret the Ex Post Facto Clause in the 
Oklahoma Constitution consistent with federal Ex Post Facto Clause 
jurisprudence. Starkey has provided no authority to reflect that the 
constitution of Oklahoma provides any greater ex post facto law protection than 
that contained in the federal constitution. Further, the federal Sex Offender 
Registration and Notification Act, like Oklahoma's law, requires any sex 
offender who is residing in the State to register and applies to sex offenders 
convicted before the law's effective date. See United States v. Hinckley, 
550 F.3d 926, 929 (10th Cir.2008) abrogated on other grounds by Reynolds v. 
United States, 565 U.S. at ----, 132 S. Ct.  at 980; 57 O.S.2011, § 582.
8 Registered sex offenders may not live near schools, 
parks, playgrounds, or child care centers, nor may they work in schools, certain 
law enforcement capacities, or reside with other, non-family registered sex 
offenders. See, e.g., 57 O.S.2011, §§ 589, 590, and 590.1. 
9 This opinion is limited to the facts of this case 
wherein Starkey is specifically challenging OSORA's application to him and the 
amendment lengthening the terms of his registration. Not before us today is the 
validity of a conviction for a violation to OSORA. 
10 The majority of state courts addressing the issue have 
found that retroactive application of their respective sex offender registries 
to offenders with convictions that pre-date the statute's enactment is not 
punitive and/or does not violate the prohibition against ex post facto laws. 
See, e.g., Lee v. State, 895 So. 2d 1038 (Ala. Cr. App. 
2004)(retroactive application of registry's residency requirement did not 
violate Ex Post Facto Clause); State v. Henry, 228 P.3d 900 (Ariz. App. 
2010), review denied (Sept. 21, 2010)(court assumed legislature intended 
amendments to apply retroactively and did not violate ex post facto laws); 
Parkman v. Sex Offender Screening Comm., 307 S.W.3d 6 (Ark. 
2009)(subsequent, stricter amendments to previously determined non-punitive 
registry did not violate Ex Post Facto Clause); People v. Castellanos, 
982 P.2d 211 (Cal. 1999)(court rejected ex post facto challenge to sex offender 
registry finding registry does not constitute punishment); Jamison v. 
People, 988 P.2d 177 (Colo. App. 1999)(registration is remedial, not 
punitive, and does not unconstitutionally enhance punishment in violation of Ex 
Post Facto Clause); State v. Kelly, 770 A.2d 908 (Conn. 2001)(registry is 
a nonpunitive, statutory scheme that does not violate ex post facto laws); 
Smith v. State, 919 A.2d 539 (Del. 2006)(retroactive application of 
registry statute did not violate Ex Post Facto Clause); In re W.M., 851 A.2d 431 (D.C. 2004)(registry established civil, regulatory scheme that was 
neither punitive nor a violation of the Ex Post Facto Clause); Simmons v. 
State, 753 So. 2d 762 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000)(registry requirements do not 
constitute punishment in violation of Ex Post Facto Clause); Frazier v. 
State, 668 S.E.2d 646 (Ga. 2008)(statute criminalizing failure to register 
as sex offender did not violate prohibition against ex post facto laws as 
failure to register was felony entirely distinct from prior conviction for 
qualifying sex offense and did not increase punishment for the original 
offense); State v. Guidry, 96 P.3d 242 (Haw. 2004)(statutory scheme not 
so punitive as to negate regulatory purpose); Smith v. State, 203 P.3d 1221 (Idaho 2009)(effects of state registry are not punitive and do not violate 
ex post facto prohibition); People v. Malchow, 739 N.E.2d 433 (Ill. 
2000)(upholding registry despite fact that it applied retroactively to offenders 
who committed crimes prior to enactment of registry); State v. Pickens, 
558 N.W.2d 396 (Iowa 1997)(state supreme court found Iowa's registry nonpunitive 
and not in violate of Ex Post Facto Clause); State v. Cook, 187 P.3d 1283 
(Kan. 2008)(statutory amendment to registry that increased punishment for 
failure to register as sex offender not an ex post facto violation); State v. 
Trosclair, 89 So. 3d 340 (La. 2012)(amendment to registry after sex 
offender's conviction, which increased supervision term from five years to life 
and contained stricter electronic monitoring and residency restrictions, was not 
impermissibly retroactive); People v. Pennington, 610 N.W.2d 608 (Mich. 
App. 2000)(registry is neither punitive nor violative of constitutional 
prohibitions against ex post facto laws); Garrison v. State, 950 So. 2d 990 (Miss. 2006)(retroactive application of nonpunitive, sex offender registry 
did not violate Ex Post Facto Clause); Doe. v. Phillips, 194 S.W.3d 833 
(Mo. 2006)(state supreme court recognized that Missouri registry, although found 
to violate unique state constitutional ban on retrospective laws as applied to 
offenders convicted before statute's enactment, does not violate the Ex Post 
Facto Clause); State v. Mount, 78 P.3d 829 (Mont. 2003)(state sex 
offender registry was nonpunitive, civil statutory scheme that did not 
constitute prohibited ex post facto legislation); State v. Harris, 817 N.W.2d 258 (Neb. 2012)(state high court held that retroactive application of 
registry, and its amendments, did not violate prohibition against ex post facto 
laws); Nollette v. State, 46 P.3d 87 (Nev. 2002)(state sex offender 
registration scheme is civil, not penal, in nature and does not offend ex post 
facto proscriptions); State v. Costello, 643 A.2d 531 (N.H. 1994)(state 
registry was a nonpunitive, civil scheme and its retroactive application did not 
violate state or federal Ex Post Facto Clauses); ACLU of N.M. v. City of 
Albuquerque, 137 P.3d 1215 (N.M. App. 2006)(state registry is a civil, 
regulatory scheme that does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause); People v. 
Szwalla, 61 A.D.3d 1289, 877 N.Y.S.2d 757 (N.Y.A.D.3 2009)(applying civil, 
sex offender registry to individuals who committed crimes prior to its enactment 
does not violate Ex Post Facto Clause); State v. Bowditch, 700 S.E.2d 1 
(N.C. 2010)(state sex offender registry and monitoring program found to be a 
civil, regulatory scheme whose retroactive application does not violate state or 
federal Ex Post Facto Clauses); State v. Meador, 785 N.W.2d 886 (N.D. 
2010)(amendment to nonpunitive, state sex offender registration statute does not 
violate constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws); State v. 
MacNab, 51 P.3d 1249 (Or. 2002)(state sex offender registration was not a 
form of increased punishment prohibited by Ex Post Facto Clause); Com. v. 
Lee, 935 A.2d 865 (Pa. 2007)(lifetime registration, notification and 
counseling obligations imposed by state sex offender registry was nonpunitive 
and did not violate ex post facto laws); State v. Germane, 971 A.2d 555 
(R.I. 2009)(registration requirement in state statute does not constitute 
criminal punishment for purposes of ex post facto analysis); State v. Walls, 
558 S.E.2d 524 (S.C. 2002)(nonpunitive, state registry statutes did not 
violate Ex Post Facto Clause despite requiring offender to register for first 
time, twenty-five years after conviction); Meinders v. Weber, 604 N.W.2d 248 (S.D. 2000)(state sex offender registration laws were remedial, not 
punitive, for purposes of ex post facto analysis); Ward v. State, 315 S.W.3d 461 (Tenn. 2010)(state registration requirements are nonpunitive and do 
not violate Ex Post Facto Clause); Rodriguez v. State, 93 S.W.3d 60 (Tex. 
Cr. App. 2002)(state sex offender registry scheme is civil and remedial in 
nature and does not violate Ex Post Facto Clause); Kitze v. Com., 475 S.E.2d 830 (Va. App. 1996)(protecting the public and preventing crime are 
regulatory, nonpunitive goals of retroactive statute and, therefore, state 
registry does not violate ex post facto prohibitions); Fraser v. Sleeper, 
933 A.2d 246 (Vt. 2007)(state sex offender registry statutes are remedial, 
rather than penal); State v. Ward, 869 P.2d 1062 (Wash. 1994)(Ex Post 
Facto Clause not violated because applying registry to convictions occurring 
before its enactment did not constitute punishment); Haislop v. Edgell, 
593 S.E.2d 839 (W.Va. 2003)(state registry is regulatory and does not 
violate prohibition against ex post facto laws even though applied to persons 
convicted before its enactment); State v. Bolliq, 605 N.W.2d 199 (Wis. 
2000)(remedial goal of protecting public outweighs any punitive effect of 
registration, including any infringement on rights of sex offenders); Snyder 
v. State, 912 P.2d 1127 (Wyo. 1996)(state registration of sex offenders for 
crimes prior to registry's enactment does not offend prohibition against ex post 
facto laws). But see Doe v. State, 189 P.3d 999 (AK 2008) (Alaska court 
found state sex offender registry too punitive to be applied retroactively).
Other state courts in Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, 
and Ohio, while generally finding their respective registries do not violate the 
Ex Post Facto Clause, have delivered differing opinions with respect to 
amendments to the registries. See, e.g., State v. Pollard, 908 N.E.2d 1145 (Ind. 2009)(court found retroactive residency restriction too punitive); 
Lemmon v. Harris, 949 N.E.2d 803 (Ind. 2011)(amendment to registry 
imposing lifetime requirements for "sexually violent predators" does not violate 
the Ex Post Facto Clause); Com. v. Baker, 295 S.W.3d 437 (Ky. 
2009)(residency restriction too punitive when applied retroactively); Buck v. 
Com., 308 S.W.3d 661 (Ky. 2010)(retroactive amendments to registry do not 
violate ex post facto laws); State v. Haskell, 784 A.2d 4 (Me. 2001)(a 
law serving nonpunitive goals is not punishment for purposes of determining 
whether the law violates ex post facto prohibitions, even though it may bear 
harshly on those affected); State v. Letalien, 985 A.2d 4 (Me. 
2009)(retroactive application of lifetime registration requirements and 
quarterly in-person verifications violated Ex Post Facto Clause); Opinion of 
the Justices to the Senate, 668 N.E.2d 738 (Mass. 1996)(state supreme court 
found that retroactive application of registry notification laws would not 
violate ex post facto laws); Com. v. Cory, 911 N.E.2d 187 (Mass. 
2009)(retroactive amendment imposing strict GPS monitoring is in violation of ex 
post facto laws); Doe v. Poritz, 662 A.2d 367 (N.J. 1995)(court found 
that retroactive application of registry does not constitute punishment in 
violation of ex post facto prohibitions); Riley v. N.J. State Parole Bd., 
32 A.3d 190 (N.J. Super. A.D. 2011) (lower appellate state court found amendment 
to previously-declared nonpunitive registry which requires retroactive GPS ankle 
monitoring to constitute excess punishment); State v. Cook, 700 N.E.2d 570 (Ohio 1998) (retroactive application of registry requirements are not 
punishment in violation of ex post facto laws); State v. Williams, 952 N.E.2d 1108 (Ohio 2011) (court found amendments to state registry had become too 
punitive). 
There is also unanimous consensus among the federal circuit courts that SORNA 
does not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause. See, e.g., U.S. v. Elkins, 683 F.3d 1039 (9th Cir. 2012); U.S. v. Felts, 674 F.3d 599, 606 (6th Cir.2012); U.S. v. DiTomasso, 621 F.3d 17, 25 (1st 
Cir.2010); U.S. v. Guzman, 591 F.3d 83, 94 (2d Cir.2010); U.S. v. 
Shenandoah, 595 F.3d 151, 158-159 (3d Cir.2010); U.S. v. Gould, 568 F.3d 459, 466 (4th Cir.2009); U.S. v. Young, 585 F.3d 199, 203-06 (5th 
Cir.2009); U.S. v. Ambert, 561 F.3d 1202, 1207 (11th Cir.2009); U.S. 
v. May, 535 F.3d 912, 919-20 (8th Cir.2008), abrogated on other grounds 
by Reynolds v. U.S., ---U.S. ----, 132 S. Ct. 975, 181 L. Ed. 2d 935 
(2012); U.S. v. Hinckley, 550 F.3d 926 (10th Cir.2008), abrogated on 
other grounds by Reynolds v. United States, ---U.S. ----, 132 S. Ct. 975, 
181 L. Ed. 2d 935 (2012).