The Cambridge English dictionary defines the word “brink” as the point where a new or different situation is about to begin. The word “brink” therefore accurately describes the current situation facing almost 1 million people in the United States who are required to register as sex offenders. There are three reasons this is true. First, the United States is about to either re-elect the...
The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) is dedicated to protecting the Constitution by restoring the civil rights of registrants and their families. In order to achieve that objective, ACSOL will educate and litigate as well as support or oppose legislation.
Important News / Announcements
Janice's Journal
General News Feed
29
Oct
2020
The California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) recently changed the state's registration form (CJIS 8102S). In doing so, it added the following sentence: "Federal law requires me to notify my registering agency no less than 21 days before I intend to travel internationally." "The main problem with the new statement is that it does not accurately reflect current federal law," stated ACSOL Executive Director...
27
Oct
2020
Recently, I was watching the movie, “Braveheart” when I was catapulted into a state of utter determination. The scene that moved me is when William Wallace explains that he plans on invading and defeating the English on their own ground; and in doing so, he will wrest Scotland’s freedom from the grip of King Edward Longshanks. When the lords and other members of the...
27
Oct
2020
[bettergov.org - 10/22/20] A Chicago teenager pleaded with Cook County Judge James Linn to impose the maximum prison sentence on the man who sexually assaulted her and her two sisters for several years and threatened to kill them if they told anyone. “Help us ensure that there will be one less rapist out on the streets,” the woman, then 19, wrote in a victim...
[floridaactioncommittee.org - 10/23/20] Before you get too excited, this is an as-applied case, meaning the decision only benefits the person challenging and not everyone on the Pennsylvania registry, but it’s a win nonetheless, and a win on a novel argument, so it’s good news. A Pennsylvania intermediate court found that SORNA violates an individual’s right to reputation under Article I, Section 1 of the...
23
Oct
2020
[yahoo.com - 10/23/20] OAKLAND, Calif. — A state appellate court has ordered San Quentin State Prison to halve its inmate population, which would require transferring or releasing some 1,700 inmates. The ruling from the state's First Court of Appeals sends a clear message that officials overseeing San Quentin have not done enough to protect inmates from the coronavirus after a summer outbreak. "We agree...
[williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu - 10/2020] Black men and men with male victims are more likely to be committed Twenty states, the federal government, and D.C. have laws that allow for the indefinite detention of sex offenders designated as a “Sexually Violent Person” or “Sexually Violent Predator” (SVP) beyond the term of their incarceration. This report explores the implications civil commitment laws have for Black and sexual...
[radionwtn.com - 10/20/20] The Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) is responsible for the supervision of more than 3,800 registered sex offenders. TDOC’s mission is to enhance public safety for all Tennesseans including our most vulnerable citizens – our children. That’s why the department launches a special operation this time of year called, Operation Blackout. According to Assistant Commissioner of Community Supervision Lisa Helton, “Operation Blackout...
[startribune.com - 10/20/20] NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana's requirement that people convicted of certain sex crimes carry a state-issued ID card with the words "SEX OFFENDER" printed on it in orange capital letters is unconstitutional, the state's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The 6-1 ruling upholds a decision by a state judge in Lafayette who last year threw out a charge filed against a man who...
[latimes.com - 10/18/20] To many people, the face of Polly Klaas is a reminder of a horrific moment in our nation’s history. For us — her sisters — Polly’s face represents a constellation of childhood memories that remain precious to us today. Those memories ended abruptly on Oct. 1, 1993, when a man followed Polly home from the park and took her from our...
[Recommended by ACSOL] The online NARSOL LIVE Litigation Summit is November 19 & 21, 2020. It will feature dynamic attorney presenters like Paul Dubbeling, Erica Dubno, Aaron Marcus, Adele Nicholas, Paul Reingold, and Mark Yurachek speaking on the hottest topics in registry and sexual offense litigation. Reserve your spot today! NARSOL members who sign-up prior to midnight October 31st will qualify for a Members-only...
16
Oct
2020
[ govtech.com 10/15/20] While the devices are touted as investigative tools — helping to locate stolen cars, missing persons and the like — privacy and civil rights advocates say the technology also raises concerns around misuse and surveillance. (TNS) — Davenport City Council members on Wednesday unanimously approved a contract that will give Davenport police an enhanced tool for tracking stolen vehicles, wanted criminals...
14
Oct
2020
My 33-year-old son, Adam, is a registered sex offender in the state of Illinois. Because of this, our entire family exists in the netherworld of the registry. The federal laws mandating a publicly available sex-offender registry were passed in the mid-1990s with the purpose of notifying communities about “sexually violent predators” living in their neighborhoods. But my son is not violent nor is he...
13
Oct
2020
The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) urges registrants, their families and supporters to vote "NO" on Proposition 20 and to vote "YES" on Proposition 17. Both propositions are included on the November 2020 ballots. If passed, Proposition 20 would significantly increase the number of violent felonies from 27 to 51, resulting in harsher sentences and longer prison terms. Of that total, the...
[ACSOL] Today 10 legal professionals from six different states submitted a formal response to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding proposed SORNA regulations that could adversely affect the daily lives of almost one million people required to register as a sex offender. The response is 36 pages long and includes a request that the federal agency issue revised regulations and allow for additional comments...
[nycourts.gov] These appeals were filed by level three sex offenders to challenge their indefinite detention in prison or prison-based residential treatment facilities (RTFs) after their prison terms expired or they were granted parole. All three offenders were subject to post-release supervision (PRS) and were held past their release dates by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) when they were unable to find...
[from the last page] We affirm the findings of the OPPAGA that “many studies have established that sex offenders who maintain stable employment, housing and family relationships have significantly lower recidivism rates” as well as the numerous studies which conclude that SORRs undermine successful reentry of returning citizens, while doing nothing to promote public safety. For that reason, we make the following recommendations: 1)...
12
Oct
2020
The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) conducted a successful two-day virtual conference on October 10 and 11. The conference featured plenary speakers such as criminal justice professor Dr. Alissa Ackerman, civil rights attorney Marcus Allen and Justin Brooks of the Innocence Project. The conference also featured panel discussions regarding the federal government's proposed SORNA regulations, challenges faced by family members, the LGBT...
10
Oct
2020
[reason.com - 10/10/20] Every year in the run-up to Halloween, Patch publishes maps showing the homes of "registered sex offenders" in various cities. Ostensibly, this information is aimed at helping parents who worry that their children might be molested while trick-or-treating. But research shows that such fears have no basis in reality, and these stories—like the warning signs and restrictions imposed by local police...
07
Oct
2020
[ACSOL] The California Supreme Court today listened to oral arguments in the first in a series of cases regarding the implementation of Proposition 57 by the California Department of Corrections (CDC). At issue in all of those cases is whether CDC's regulations could lawfully exclude anyone convicted of a sex offense from its major benefit, that is, early parole consideration. The registrant in today's...