Utah approves registry for white-collar criminals

The Utah State Legislature has approved a new state-run website that would act as the nation’s first registry for white-collar felons.

Approval of the bill to create the website came Wednesday following votes by the state Senate and House of Representatives. It is now due to be voted on by Gov. Gary Herbert, who has previously expressed support for the legislation, according to the New York Times.

The online directory is the brainchild of Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, whose office would be charged with creating the website.

Under the bill, names and photos of white-collar felons convicted of offenses such as mortgage fraud and money laundering as far back as late 2005 will be featured in a manner similar to sex offender registries. First-time offenders will appear there for 10 years, but those earning a third offense will be permanent additions.

Supporters see the registry as a method of protection for cautious investors in a state where investment and marketing scams have become more prevalent, but another goal of the registry is to reclaim lost dollars from those convicted. Offenders appearing on the website can pay to be removed from it, but only if they make full reparations to their victims.

Read more from the New York Times.