IRVINE – A registered sex offender was in custody after visiting a park to play tennis, the first such arrest in the city since it adopted a law that banned sex offenders from city parks. The 51-year-old Garden Grove man was taken into custody Thursday, after police officials said he drove to Citrus Glen Park to play tennis. Full Article
Read MoreMonth: September 2012
Drum pleads guilty to double murder
At a last-minute hearing in Clallam County Superior Court Thursday, Patrick Boyd Drum, 34, of Sequim, pleaded guilty to all charges stemming from a June double murder. Drum shot and killed Gary Lee Blanton Jr., 28, and Jerry Wayne Ray, 55, before fleeing four miles up Blue Mountain Road and eluding law enforcement for several hours June 3. Blanton and Ray were both registered sex offenders and Drum told Sheriff’s deputies that is why he killed them, according to court documents. Full Article
Read MoreLancaster City Council Meeting – 9/11 [Presence, Residency, Halloween Ban]
It’s time to Show Up, Stand Up and Speak Up! The first two cities in L.A. County have proposed ordinances that would prohibit all registrants, regardless of type or date of offense, from visiting parks, libraries, museums and other public areas. These ordinances must be stopped before L.A. County duplicates Orange County where most cities have such ordinances!! We effectively stopped the City of Cerritos, the first city in L.A. County, from passing its ordinance on August 23 when that city honored the request CA RSOL’s to stop further consideration…
Read MoreMeeting Draws Negative Attention
An organization aimed at reforming sex offender laws chose an Albuquerque hotel to host its fourth annual conference, but safety worries prompted the city to beef up security at nearby parks and schools. The city held a meeting Tuesday evening to address residents’ concerns, but it was sparsely attended. Albuquerque Police Cmdr. Kevin Rowe, who organized the meeting, assured the public that police were prepared for the conference. He even sang a song he said he had written for the occasion. One of the seven people in the audience stormed out…
Read MoreLocals remain concerned over reform sex offender conference
People have expressed concerns about Albuquerque hosting a national conference on sex offender laws this week. After the announcement Monday, Albuquerque police said they would hold a special meeting Tuesday to answer questions about safety and security surrounding the conference. The handful of people who showed up to the meeting said they left feeling even more disappointed and confused than before. Full Article
Read MoreFederal Sex Offender Civil Commitment Process Under Fire
Among other provisions, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 allows the federal government to indefinitely detain “sexually dangerous” offenders through a civil commitment process, which requires mandatory court hearings after such offenders have been certified by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as eligible for commitment. The Adam Walsh Act was named for the kidnapped and murdered son of America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh. [See: PLN,June 1996, p.12]. Full Article (pdf) (at www.prisonlegalnews.org)
Read MoreUK: Ruling allows sex register appeals
Sex offenders can appeal against having to register with police for life from Saturday, despite concerns raised by a children’s charity that they must “always be considered a risk”. Thousands of sex offenders will be able to apply to have their names removed after the Supreme Court ruled it was a breach of offenders’ human rights to be put on the register for life with no review. The Government has already expressed concern about the plans, with Home Secretary Theresa May saying “the minimum possible changes to the law” would…
Read MoreTX: “A Child Protection Act That Doesn’t”
On June 29, 2012, Texas Congressman Lamar Smith introduced H.R. 6063, a bill which, on its surface, is as noble and well-intentioned as a piece of legislation can possibly be. Titled “The Child Protection Act of 2012,” it would be difficult for anyone to find fault with its lofty purported goal – to protect children. While I cannot find fault with the goal, the bill itself is a misguided, misinformed, and useless piece of pompous political puffery and does little if anything at all to protect any child from anything.…
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