There have been some long, thoughtful comments regarding Compliance Checks in the General Comments section recently. To make sure they do not get buried they are moved to this post.
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3/19/2014 – 8:40pm
The compliance cop just came over and I spoke with him.
The compliance cop came by and I spoke with him for the first time in several years. I did this because everyone is tired of them coming over unexpectedly throughout the year.
Everyone needs to be aware that some of these people are wolves in sheep’s clothing, and this one was/is definitely a wolf. He was acting polite and respectful as he tried to dupe me out of my rights. He didn’t expect me to know my rights. “I know my rights.”
The first thing he did after a bit of small talk was to try to get me to let him in the house.
He said – “all I need to do is see your room and we’ll be done”.
I said in a matter of fact way – “I’m not going to give you permission to do that or to come into the house.”
I could tell he was taken aback because his cool, calm and collected facade faltered for an instant, but he recovered quickly and continued to try to dupe me out of my rights.
Next; he asked me about my vehicle. I told him I sold my truck and the only vehicle I have is my motorcycle.
He says – “What’s the license number?”
I told him I didn’t know.
Next he say’s – “OK, I just need to see it so I can verify the license plate number.”
He was thinking he could at least snoop around the property since he knew he couldn’t get into the house. The sliminess of these guys knows no bounds!!
I said – “I’m not giving you permission to go on to the property; I’ll get the information for you.”
I got the information for him and he pretended to compare it to his information. I could tell he was putting on an act.
Next; he says – “you just need to sign this and we’ll be done.”
I asked what it is he wanted me to sign and
He said – “it’s a compliance verification form”.
I have never heard of, nor have I ever seen a “compliance verification form.” I suspect it’s just another attempt to dupe me out of my rights, so –
I said – “I cant sign this.”
He says – “why not?”
I said – “because I don’t know what this is and I don’t agree with this whole sex offender thing.”
He say’s – “what don’t you agree with about it?”
I said – “this whole sex offender thing is a violation of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, ex post facto, basic human rights and it harms children.”
Next he says – “how do these laws harm children?”
I proceeded to say – “every child whose parent wears the scarlet label is subject to harassment, banishment at school and in their neighborhoods, and are picked on and treated badly by their peers, as well as being subject to many other things ; none of them good, because of their parent’s status.”
After my last statement his entire facade crumbled and the real man showed his face; and it wasn’t pretty!!! He said “we’re done” , and abruptly turned around, and as he started walking away he said in a menacing tone “for now.” I said nothing and walked into the house and immediately called my – yours – our – Guardian Angel – Janice.
I called her because I have to admit I was a little scared. This is the first time I WAS IN CONTROL OF THE SITUATION and I wanted to know if I did everything right. Plus I needed some reassurance. Janice let me know I had nothing to worry about. I kind of think she got a kick out of the whole thing.
After I spoke with Janice the cop came back! I thought WTF?!?!? and I answered the door.
He said in a sheepish kind of way – “My boss wanted me to verify the color of the bike.”
I said – “It’s black.”
And he left.
The reason I am sharing this is because way too many people get walked on by the system and usually end up in jail because they didn’t know their rights. Can you imagine what could have happened if I let him in and I had a National Geographic laying around?!?!?
My point is “KNOWELEDGE IS POWER!!!” I strongly encourage everyone that suffers under these unjust laws to stand up for your self and to take a little time to LEARN YOUR RIGHTS. If you don’t know your rights you can be sure the police will take full advantage of you, and it will probably be your fault for not knowing your rights.
I hope I have been a good example. Never forget “ignorance is a choice!”
https://www.aclu.org/national-security/know-your-rights-when-encountering-law-enforcement
http://www.flexyourrights.org/faqs/police-at-my-door-what-should-i-do/
http://www.kirkpiccione.com/10-reasons-not-talk-police/
This is a must watch.
http://www.resist.com/donttalktothecops.htm
They always seem to know when I leave the gate open and the dogs are inside. I am fastidious about keeping the gate closed, both because I have lost a couple of dogs to the highway, and I don’t like unwelcome visitors. Yet, the very few times I left the gate open, they come down the driveway to do the compliance check. It is more than a coincidence.
Last week, when I was in my office (more like a walk in closet) my daughter opened the door, and there they were, one wearing a bullet proof vest and the other looking a little nervous. It lasted about 30 seconds and they were gone after they verified the vehicles in my driveway.
There was another car in the driveway. We left the gate open so that an insurance agent could come sign up my daughter for health care. Both my daughter and the insurance lady were concerned when thy saw the unmarked patrol car in the driveway, and the policemen walk up. They always come when someone else is in the house, I guess assuming I wouldn’t answer the door for them, which they have right.
After fifteen years of no illegal activity on my part, the surveillance continues. They must spend a lot of resources to monitor whether my gate is open and if there is someone to answer the door. At near $50 and hour pay and benefits, they must have a huge budget. I assume they do this for all the registrants in the area. I was given probation, so I assume I was considered a low risk. What do they do for those the judge considered more dangerous?
One note: about half the compliance officers look like this compliance stuff is beneath them, the other half are enthusiastic. A couple have even been apologetic. They never send the same two to do the checks. Sounds like the plan is to have us remain strangers, so we remain on edge during these checks. I am sure if we got to know each other, we might begin to see each other as real people, not actors in a bad play.
So after fifteen years after I made the idiotic mistake that compromised the lives of many, they treat me as a threat. I live a legal life, probably more so than others, because I have seen the inside of a jail, and I know nothing we do is done in isolation. Memory burns like being surrounded by flames. I have done the time, reintegrated and atoned with family and victim.
So why didn’t they just give me the maximum sentence and be done with it? Why try to look lenient and then treat me like I am a wanted felon after the time is served? The answer is my own speculation, but seems plausible in light of my own situation and what I have heard of others. Putting people under suspicion when they have not done anything suspicious is a form of harassment. Being harassed despite doing the right thing is a form of societal violence. Being a victim of violence, especially when it is sanctioned by a large number of people, leads to lack of self esteem. Having a lack of self esteem, leads to having a lack of empathy for others, the two are in synergy. Having a lack of empathy and having a lack of self esteem, puts you in danger of committing another crime. Committing another crime raises the re-offense rate, which justifies the whole surveillance scheme; which feeds on itself, brings in money to cash strapped departments and gains points on the higher moral political platform. It is sanctioned by a population wanting to hate and blame someone.
So I am resisting this scheme. It is clearly there to harass me, and possibly there to get me to re-offend and/or get me out of my present neighborhood. I have seen what my offense has done to those connected to me and don’t wish to shove that on anyone else again, whatever “they” do. I thought I was free after the tether was cut that held me to probation and my mind did fly for a time. It flew back to a time and realm of freedom before my offense, a time of self determination. Then, when I actually tried to use my wings, I discovered they had broken them. I look around and see pieces of my life littered here and there. Registration is picking your way through the shards of shattered dreams.
Several months ago, I purchased a home with my girlfriend. I was quite careful to be certain no K-12 schools were nearby (There is a private university about 4000 feet away). I made certain to register within the allotted time, taking time off work to do so.
Yesterday, for only the second time in nearly 20 years my home was visited by officers come to assure that I in fact live at the address I gave when I registered.
My girlfriend was home and assured them I did live here. They made vague comments about “that school over there”… I suspect looking for an bad response. They got none.
I’ve advised my girlfriend, that should they return, under no circumstances allow them in without a warrant. Answer only and exactly what they ask and offer no additional information. They do NOT have the right to enter even if they ask nicely and allowing them in, opens the door to press for more.
I am law abiding, have nothing to hide and am not willing to give more than I already have for the heinous crime that I committed.
Of course, thank god you aren’t in THIS jurisdiction. It’s out of state, but this sheriff is definitely up on the harassment food chain.
http://www.daily-times.com/four_corners-news/ci_25400971/san-juan-county-sheriffs-office-deputies-ramp-up
They send TWO vehicles for compliance checks: One with “SEX OFFENDER COMPLIANCE” written in big letters on the first vehicle, and followed by a cop car WITH ITS LIGHTS FLASHING. This goes completely against the intent of Smith v. Doe, as well as any vestiges of “reintegration” into the community following “punishment.”
Not punitive? Right-o, dufus.
After reading the previous responses, I am wondering if Janice could weigh in on this briefly. My thought concerns the recent victories in forcing various cities to stop passing and enforcing restrictions on visiting parks, beaches, etc. Could a similar campaign be initiated where each county is sued to prevent the sheriffs from conducting illegal compliance checks. If they are not in the penal code, they are clearly a civil rights violation. Rather than sue individual departments, I should think that suing individual counties would force them to make certain that all departments within a county refrain from this type of harassment. Janice, is there any merit to this idea?
The only reason I talk to them is because I am still on probation. If I was not I would not talk except to tell them that if they continue to harass me I will see them in court using PC290 aganist them.
Moving over from General Comments:
There has been a lot said at this site about compliance checks. No, there is no mandate for police to do compliance checks. In fact, as I read the ordinance, it seems to ban them! The ordinance specifically says that you must provide PROOF of you residence at registration, and it specifically says that will be done by showing your driver’s license or the other things it lists, such as utility bill with your name on it. It specifically says that police cannot require anything else to prove your residence — and I take that to include that it bans a compliance check. That is, with that line, it is not even optional for the police to do, as I read it — perhaps as a specific thing in the law to bar harassment of registrants, to keep police in check.
I think Calif RSOL, or somebody, could bring a lawsuit over compliance checks arguing that they are specifically banned by 290.
Regardless of my reading, you do not have to comply with the check. Up to you. You do not have to answer the door, you do not have to speak with them (and if you do, simply say “no thanks” and close the door). You do not have to identify yourself at the door, you do not have to talk with them in any way. You also can block them from coming to your door as trespassing by doing something like posting a sign at the gate (or other entry) barring anyone from going to the door as trespassing (I’m not sure about legality, but perhaps such a sign could specifically bar police from approaching, thus still allowing mail carriers or whomever).
But its up to you. You might decide to just say yes, it is you, this is your home — so they won’t come back at least for a while. But certainly if you do speak with them, do not say any word at all other than your name and that this is your home — say NOTHING more, and close the door. Answer no questions. Do not let them see or confirm anything else, whether license plate or anything.
They may not enter the home without your permission — say nothing and do nothing that could be interpreted as permission.
I am up for my driver’s license renewal in less than a month and have an appointment with the DMV on Thursday. It has my wife’s address that I spend two nights a week at (which is a secondary registered residence in another city but same county). My driver’s license from years ago still has this address. I currently live at a hotel for 3 weeks and then check out and check back in the same room number after a weekend as they don’t allow people to stay there for more than 28 days straight. Should I put this address as my primary or do I use my wife’s address (where I hope to move back into after some motions are filed) as the primary and put in a change of address with DMV of my hotel? I don’t want to violate because my wife’s address is on my driver’s license even though it is not my primary address for registration. I want to make sure I get an accurate response as the few lawyers I talked to were a bit bewildered.
Ever wonder why things are the way they are? The registry, public loathing, etc? This is an interview with Chris Hedges, he explains things rather well. VIDEO
go to time
3.37-obamacare
7.06-manufacturing consent, manipulated by emotion; We are victims of this by
way of the registry, compliance checks, etc.
I didn’t watch the entire video and some may not agree with his views; but this is a thought provoking interview none the less.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N0fzISZ7io#t=601
I don’t know if this is the right place to mention this, but it’s the closest I come to getting a compliance check. I was forced to be homeless during my time on parole, as many now are. I completed parole with no violations or added time. Since then, I have chosen to remain homeless rather than get a place because living out of my van does have a few advantages, such as not putting me or my family on the map to be targeted by vigilantes. Another advantage is that, in 5 years of registering as homeless, I have never once had police come to me to do a compliance check.
Something I’m finding disturbing is that the police are constantly trying to pigeonhole where I am at night with a street address. Being homeless means I have no home and am “transient.” Instead of allowing me to be truly “transient,” they are telling me I should be where they can find me at night by telling me I have to be in the exact same place every night. Parole did that as a way to inflict their curfew on me, but now the police are basically trying to do the same thing when I’m not on parole!
The point of this is to warn everyone to be cautious when registering, they will try to get more information than necessary according to the law. And anything on the registration that is inaccurate can be used as a “failure to register” charge against us.
Could we file a RTO on ALL law enforcement from doing a compliance check?
Next time I register, He is going to tell me ” I m coming over tomorrow to make sure you live where you are”
I m going to tell him.” Im not going to be home tomorrow.”
I was reading this article and found it pretty disturbing… http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=1024358#.UzXUpmRdUhO
In it the police found many sex offenders not home but gained entry anyhow to conduct a compliance check..
It seems that many law enforcement treat the “Compliance Check” as some form of “extended” parole or probation… I hope and wish that there was some sort of lawsuit or act of God that destroys that idea in California before it becomes rampant.. It should be simple, send a form by mail to the address and have the resident fill it out and mail it back to confirm or something similar without SWAT teams and neighborhood attention..
“During the check, they found several offenders not home.
But went inside anyways to determine if they were in compliance.”
What do you do when you have no abilities as a journalist? Go find a sex offender story.
Most of your readers won’t realize that you’re uneducated and too dumb to care.
It should have read, something like: However, they were allowed inside by relatives to make sure the registrants do reside there, by seeing their bedroom, looking for mail addressed to them, prescription bottles with their name and address on them and etc.
I was just visited (for the 2nd time this year) by an officer doing a compliance check. He asked me to step outside, read if my information was correct and sign it. Standing inside of the door, I questioned why I needed to sign the piece of paper. He said I was required to do it or a warrant could be issued. I signed the paper but asked for his business card. I’m in San Bernardino County (high desert area). I had knowledge, but verified later, that signing is voluntary. The few calls I made after, not one person could verify by any means that I needed to sign it or a warrant would be issued. I spoke with the sergeant on duty at the station I visit annually. He said he would follow up with the officer that visited me. I will be there in about two weeks for my annual visit. I will follow up on this situation.
Cops lie to make it easier for them to do their jobs.
I’m sure many Gestapos had no personal pleasure in deceiving Jews to peaceably get onto the trains either.
This is clearly a serious issue that affects the quality of life for RCs and their families. My husband has just a few months left on his probation, and after the last search of our home, I am so traumatized that I can’t imagine having officers knock on our door whenever they feel like it for the rest of our lives.
Janice, is there any way you would be willing to take this on?
Jd, in your situation where he is on probation doing what I am about to say may be a bit dicey, but once he is off ALWAYS film every interaction you have with law enforcement. Carry a camera of some kind with you at all times. Also, once he is off paper you are in no way obligated to speak to the police. You don’t have to answer the door and never let them in your home unless they have a warrant. There are tons of videos on youtube about this.
I know this doesn’t help you much in the present, but you said that your husband only has a few months left on probation. Make sure he does what he is supposed to be doing and hang in there. Study your rights and know them, and once heis off probation don’t be afraid to exercise them. I would recommend looking up Adam Kokesh on Youtube. I don’t agree with everything he says, but he is passionate about what he believes in and shows the courage to stand up for himself.
There has been some great comments of late on compliance visits of late that I cannot seem to find, but nonetheless, I did find this one thread and wanted to add this article for review and comment.
One of the recent commenters on this topic laid out a two-prong way to not answer questions by LE when they are stopped in public on a compliance check. Maybe that can be used when they arrive at your house and your are not on paper, maybe not. Point being, looking at what the gentleman in the article below went through, I post it here for folks to know what the courts are saying if you choose to not answer questions and the possibility of using it during compliance checks. The two-prong way seems to be the most professional way to handle it, but may not be appreciated by LE.
Can the police retaliate against a citizen for refusing to answer police questions?
I was always anxious about Compliance Checks because the LEOs typically come banging on my front door first thing in the morning as I am just getting into or out of the shower, in the midst of shaving, etc. Then I had one of those lightbulb-overhead moments and it occurred to me to simply place locks on my fence gates each night! (Duh, right?)
Result: A detective doing a routine Compliance Check (because apparently my City’s police detectives have nothing better to do) recently called me to verify registration information, stating “I stopped by a couple of times this week, but could not gain access to your property.”
Oh, how wonderful that was to hear!! No more anxiously waiting and wondering when they will next bang on my door! 🤗😁
David ~ We are in Southern CA, too, and we never had a mail in compliance check. We have gotten 2 in person visits over a time span of maybe 9 years. What is strange is that you are not obligated to answer any questions once off paper, and that should apply to mail in inquiries as well.
Recently, some folks have posted about U.S. Marshals joining your local LEOs to conduct Compliance Checks. Well, I heard this segment on NPR radio today and it might help to explain the presence of the U.S. Marshals:
https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/how-federal-us-marshals-escape-accountability-and-reform
Was hoping to get some information. My husband has to register but is no longer on any type of parole or probation. Today we had a compliance check but neither of us were home. His sister and the carpet cleaners were at our house (she was there to let the cleaners in). Two officers in uniform showed up and said they needed to verify that he lived there. His sister confirmed he did but they stated they had to confirm this and needed to come look around. She let them in and they went to our bedroom and went through the drawers and my laundry on the kitchen table. Making the comment…”this doesn’t look like a place he would live”. Now what the hell does that mean?? Once they saw his t-shirts they decided he really did live here. Now how does that confirm something more than anything else…not like he has his name sewn on them. Can they do this? I have called to file a complaint but want to be informed just in case this happens again. It’s bad enough dealing with the harassment from some of our neighbors much less now this.
Thank you everyone for the advice and encouragement. Sometimes a person feels so alone with all of this and not a lot of people to talk about it with without backlash in some form. You are all very appreciated. I will try to attend the next meeting June 25.
RE: Compliance Checks
The Saturday before Easter, a female officer came to my door and said she was doing compliance checks. I was confused, as I have been off parole since August 2012 and register like a good, little lamb every year. I have never once had someone come to my door in 12 years. Mind you I had family over and it was a weekend morning when my neighbors are out and about, so quite humiliating! She asked me what my phone number was and I said well what do you have there? And she says I just need you to tell me. Then she said we will be coming by more often. I was like, um ok. Weird! So I call my local PD and ask my contact officer and she laughs, literally wtf is funny? And she says “Oh you would be amazed by how many people thought the Pandemic meant they didnt have to register anymore”. What does that have to do with me? Overall, humiliating and demeaning. For what? Crime free since 2007. Waste of tax payer money!
I’m from Riverside County and this afternoon I received a visit from Riverside DA Investigators for a compliance check. I was home alone and there were 5 of them with full gear, now my last compliance checks were conducted by local Riverside sheriffs and there was only 2 so my questions is is it normal for another agency to conduct compliance checks? Just want to make sure because after the checks (which lasted about 5-10 min) I was very (and still am) anxious and want to break down cause I’m tired of this whole process and have no one to talk to about this. They went into my daughters, brother’s and parents room when I don’t think they can because the doors were closed. But any feed back will help me.