On September 20th the monthly California RSOL meeting will be from 10 am to 1 pm in San Diego. The meeting will take place at California Western School of Law at 225 Cedar Street San Diego, CA 92101, Room LH2. Registrants, family and friends, supporters and professionals are welcome to attend. As always media and government officials are not invited in order to ensure everyone’s privacy. Topics of discussion will include changes in the laws as well as pending litigation and advocacy strategies. Please join us on September 20 in San Diego – Show up, Stand…
Read MoreMonth: June 2014
FL: Did the police entrap student during sex sting?
There are few things worse than a 24-year-old man seeking sex from a 13-year-old girl, or so it would seem. They should lock him up and throw away the key, or so it would seem. But sometimes, things aren’t what they seem. Full Op-Ed Piece
Read MoreMN: Sex offender’s case gets review board hearing
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal hearings in July will focus on whether one man in the Minnesota Sex Offender Program should be released. U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank and U.S. Magistrate Jeffrey Keyes put the man’s case on a fast track after attorney Dan Gustafson argued that every day his client is still confined is a violation of his rights. Full Article
Read MoreProposed ‘Audrie’s Law’ ignites new debate over juvenile justice sentences
The California Legislature is working on a proposed sexual assault and cyberbullying law inspired by the case of Saratoga High School student Audrie Pott, who committed suicide in 2012 after she was sexually assaulted at a party and photographs of the assault were distributed to classmates. Full Article
Read MoreWA: Benton County judge bars county from providing sex offender data
KENNEWICK — A Benton County judge’s signature Friday on four separate orders cleared the way for Donna Zink to appeal in her pursuit to get information on low-level sex offenders. Superior Court Judge Bruce Spanner has barred the county from fulfilling the Mesa woman’s request for the names of more than 400 Level 1 sex offenders, their registration forms and letters sent to them after Zink first filed for the public records last year. Spanner ruled in January that the personal information is confidential and could cause irreparable harm to…
Read MoreAL: New law forces Chilton. Co. sex offenders to leave pastor’s backyard
Since 2010, 53 sex offenders released from prison have moved in to trailers in Ricky Martin’s backyard. The property is located at 40 County Road 374 in Chilton County. Of those 53 convicted offenders, 32 are convicted rapists and 21 have been convicted of molestation. 43 committed crimes against children. Martin pastors Triumph Church, also on his property. Neighbors tell WIAT 42 they do not feel safe in their homes. Full Article
Read MoreAZ: Kindergartner, 5, is accused of sexual misconduct
An Arizona mother is outraged after her 5-year-old son was accused of sexual misconduct for pulling his pants down on the playground. Erica Martinez says her little boy, ____, was playing at Ashton Ranch Elementary School in April when another student told him to pull his pants down or else he would do it for him. Her son complied, pulling down his pants and underwear in front of several other students, but then he was hauled into the principal’s office by his teacher, she says. Full Article
Read MoreOp-Ed: They’re killing sex offenders, by Chris Dornin
I was pleased to see a recent Sentinel editorial declaring the Internet sex offender roster punitive. My nonprofit group Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform filed an amicus brief in December supporting John Doe, a former sex offender challenging the New Hampshire sex offender shaming list as an unconstitutional ex-post-facto punishment. Opinion Piece
Read MoreDiscounts for National RSOL Conference in Dallas ending soon
DATES: July 16-19, 2014 – LOCATION: Dallas, Texas. The RSOL National Conference provides an opportunity to interact and network with researchers, mental health professionals, criminal justice practitioners and advocates interested in informing public opinion and reforming current law, policy, and treatment of former sexual offenders. Conference Website
Read MoreTX: Duty to Register – The Requirements and Limitations of a Sex Offender
Every year, some 360 individuals in Tom Green County are required to report to local offices and fill out forms listing their addresses, places of employment and vehicles. Some are required to submit DNA samples and contact information for their nearest relatives. Others complete the process every 30 or 90 days. Three hundred thirty-two of them live in five San Angelo zip codes, ranging from 76901-76905. They’re registered sex offenders, and the majority will remain so for the rest of their lives.Full Article
Read MoreSan Jose lawmaker’s teen sex offender measure changes in compromise
A San Jose lawmaker under pressure from juvenile justice advocates has agreed to ease a measure meant to toughen penalties for youths who sexually assault unconscious victims. Sen. Jim Beall on Tuesday will move to eliminate from the legislation termed Audrie’s Law the requirement that some juvenile sex offenders serve at least two years in a juvenile detention facility. Instead, the bill will require that youths who commit any sex crime complete a sexual offender treatment program that juvenile court judges will have broad discretion to tailor to each offender…
Read MoreAction Alert: US Senate amends the Skills act HR-803 and passes it
The Senate has passed HR-803 “Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act” or the “SKILLS Act” with further amendments. The essence of this bill, which amends many different laws, is to retrain displaced workers for newer type jobs of today. While this is a GREAT bill it also excludes folks convicted of several crime types, one of which is sex offenses, folks we advocate for. Full Article
Read MoreMO: Springfield sued over order to close group home
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri nonprofit has filed a lawsuit contending that the city of Springfield violated federal and city laws when it ordered the closure of a group home for recovering alcoholics, drug addicts and sex offenders. Recovery Chapel and its executive director, Farris Robertson, said in the federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against the city and its Board of Adjustment that the city’s refusal to allow the group home violates the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as local zoning codes. Full Article
Read MoreNY: Security upgrades at Carthage Central School District screen sex offenders
Visitors to Carthage Central School District buildings will go through a new security system for admission that will cross-reference a national sex offender registry and provide visitors with a personalized pass with their photo printed on it. “Essentially most schools have a sign-in sheet to monitor who comes into the school,” said Ramona Dent, district director of computer technology. “Sign-in sheets aren’t nearly as secure. The biggest positive is we will now truly know who is in our school district at all times.” Full Article
Read MoreThe Field Validity of Static-99/R Sex Offender Risk Assessment Tool in California
Policies that differentially apply to sexual offenders at different risk levels require defensible procedures for classifying offenders into risk categories. The current study examines the reliability and validity of Static-99 and Static-99R sexual offender risk assessment tools as implemented in the State of California. California is a valuable case study because it is a large jurisdiction that has devoted considerable resources to the implementation of risk tools. Download (pdf)
Read MoreFederal Judge Rules No-Fly List Process Is Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Oregon says the process surrounding the federal government’s “no-fly list” is unconstitutional. Specifically, U.S. District Judge Anna Brown said the process doesn’t give Americans on the list an effective way to challenge their inclusion. Full Article
Read MoreInternational Megan’s Law / RSO Travel Issues
I have written two pieces on the RSO travel issue, just published: The first is about International Megan’s Law (download pdf) The second describes current treatment (and regardless of Megan’s enactment) of RSO’s into the U.S. (download pdf) It was an ambitious undertaking but I hope that you will find them to be worthwhile. I believe that it is the most comprehensive treatment of this subject (thus far) but it is entirely possible that there may be omissions in these pieces and so would welcome your comments or criticisms for…
Read MoreSex offender ordinance repealed
A city ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from frequenting parks, playgrounds, daycare centers, schools, libraries and other places where children are normally present was repealed at the June 11 Placerville City Council meeting. Full Article
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