The County of Riverside unanimously passed an ordinance on October 18 that prohibits anyone listed on the registry from celebrating Halloween in their own home! This is a violation of registrants’ constitutional rights, including but not limited to, the First Amendment. Riverside County specifically prohibits registrants from (1) decorating the dwelling in which he/she lives, (2) leaving on any exterior decorative and ornamental lighting and (3) answering the door to children who are trick-or-treating. Riverside County passed this ordinance under an emergency provision which allows the ordinance to take effect…
Read MoreMonth: October 2011
CA RSOL OPPOSES HALLOWEEN ORDINANCE
Editor’s Note: This is a copy of a press release issued to the media by CA RSOL on October 25: Riverside County’s Halloween Ordinance Violates U.S. Constitution The ordinance recently adopted by Riverside County which prohibits “sex offenders” from celebrating Halloween in their own homes violates the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, the ordinance abridges the First Amendment right to free speech of anyone convicted of a sex-related crime (“sex offenders”) by prohibiting them from decorating their homes inside or outside in celebration of Halloween as well as displaying decorative lighting and…
Read MoreTESTIMONIAL: Registrant speaks out
Editor’s Note: At the request of the registrant, his name is being withheld, however, he granted CA RSOL permission to share the following letter which he wrote after the October 1 meeting in Los Angeles. Last week I attended a meeting of a group of lawyers, educators and other advocates committed to reforming the sex offender laws in California and other states. These laws deprive registrants of Megan’s Law and similar laws of their constitutional rights for the remainder of their lives. Attending this meeting were also a number of…
Read MoreNY Says “No” to Adam Walsh Act
Editor’s Note: The Adam Walsh Act would place additional restrictions on anyone convicted of a sex-related crime. Although passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law in 2006, only seven states (Ohio, Delaware, Florida, South Dakota, Michigan, Nevada and Wyoming) agreed to fully comply with that Act. The state of Ohio subsequently declared the Act to be unconstitutional. California does not comply with this Act. October 7, 2011 New York Opts Out of Compliance With Adam Walsh Act John Caher New York Law Journal The Cuomo administration has opted…
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