Ex post facto refers to laws enacted after a crime or action has already been taken. It can make people guilty of breaking laws enforced retrospectively, and can toughen punishments for crimes. In the US, ex post application of tougher laws to previously convicted felons is generally not permitted, but laws requiring sex offender registration […]
Ex post facto laws retroactively make an activity illegal. Democratic societies assume citizens know the law, but retroactive application undermines basic principles. The US Constitution prohibits retroactive criminal laws, but not civil laws. Retroactive decreases in sentence are permissible, but retroactive increases are not. An ex post facto law is any law passed that retroactively […]
