On August 31, 2017, the U.S. District Court in Colorado ruled that Colorado's sex offender registry law is cruel and unusual punishment. Per U.S. District Court Judge Richard Matsch's ruling, the Colorado's sex-offender registry violated the Constitutional rights of three sex offenders who sued regarding the way the public has access to the list.
Per the ruling, Judge Matsch found that Colorado's registration act poses a "serious threat of retaliation, violence, ostracism, shaming, and other unfair and irrational treatment from the public" for sex offenders and their families.
While there are similar cases in other states challenging sex-offender registries, this case only involves the three plaintiffs. But this ruling could have far reaching implications should the Colorado Attorney General's Office appeal the ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeal and lose, and/or if an appeal eventually reaches the U, S. Supreme Court.
The ruling may be viewed at PACER - Case 1:13-cv-02406-RPM Document 106 Filed 08/31/17 USDC Colorado.