Contact: Jeffery Dennis at 277-5265 Media Contact: Laurie Mellas-Ramirez, 277-5915

March 10, 2003 UNM STUDENTS ORGANIZE FORUM ON SEX OFFENDER LAW Mayor, Bernalillo County Sheriff among panelists A community forum exploring "Sex Offender Law and Evolving Public Policy" organized by students in the Community Lawyering Clinic at the University of New Mexico School of Law, will feature a panel discussion with Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, former State Supreme Court Justice Gene Franchini, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and Tova Indritz, secretary of the American Civil Liberties Union and local criminal defense attorney, The event, free and open to the public, is set for Tuesday, April 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the UNM School of Law, 1117 Stanford NE. "The growing turmoil surrounding sex offenders within the community is of great concern to many New Mexicans," said UNM law student Denise Trujillo. "This community forum and panel discussion will provide an opportunity to inform the public on the many legal, psychological and political issues surrounding the post-conviction regulation of sex offenders." Prior to the panel discussion, Samuel Roll, Ph.D., UNM professor emeritus of psychology, will give a presentation on the psychological dimensions of sex offenders. UNM students from the Community Lawyering Clinic will then discuss laws applicable to sex offenders in New Mexico and the legal concerns raised by sex offender registration and other initiatives undertaken by states and localities. Panel participants will offer different dimensions and viewpoints concerning sex offenders and how elected leaders should handle their presence in communities. For event information, contact Jeffery Dennis at 277-5265 or via email at dennisje@law.unm.edu. ###

The University of New Mexico
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