Opinion ID: 827973
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the quarterly reporting requirement

Text: Defendant argues that he is categorically excused from the statutory obligation because it is “impossible for homeless offenders to comply” with SORA, as homeless sex offenders conclusively lack either a “residence” or a “domicile.” Defendant also argues that prosecuting him for failing to comply with an impossible obligation violates his constitutional right to due process of law. We conclude that both arguments are unpersuasive. Defendant has made no compelling claim that his homelessness rendered it impossible for him to comply with MCL 28.725a(4)(b). This provision requires sex offenders, such as defendant, to perform the physical act of reporting in person to law enforcement four times per year. This provision in SORA is unconditional and contains no exceptions or exclusions for homelessness. Moreover, it applies regardless of the stability of where an offender resides or is domiciled. This absolute reporting obligation arises from the offender’s status as a sex offender and the potential danger the offender poses to the people of Michigan.48 Therefore, defendant was required to report in person to a law enforcement agency four times per year and to provide the authorities with truthful information. atypical circumstances and verifying the offender’s information falls on the governmental body charged with ensuring that an offender who seeks to comply with his registration and notification requirements can, in fact, do so. 48 MCL 28.721a. 15 Despite this clear mandate, there is no evidence suggesting that defendant ever complied with his obligation to report in person each January, April, July, and October, even during the time defendant’s registered residence was at the VOA.49 In fact, the record shows that 16 quarters passed without defendant ever having complied with the quarterly reporting requirement. Defendant has never claimed that it was impossible for him to appear in person at a police station. Defendant’s perceived difficulty, it seems, concerns the quality of information he contends he would have given to the police had he made an in-person appearance. However, any difficulty verifying the truthful information provided by defendant is the responsibility of law enforcement and does not negate defendant’s responsibility to appear to report in the first instance. The lower courts erred by ignoring the mandatory nature of SORA’s quarterly reporting requirement.