The Santa Ana City Council took the final step necessary to repeal its entire sex offender ordinance on June 17. The first step toward repeal took place on June 3. “This is an important victory for all registered citizens,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “More than 105,000 individuals and their families are no longer prohibited from visiting public places including the public library.” “The City of Santa foolishly followed the path of the Orange County District Attorney in its passage of a law that violated both the state and…
Read MoreMonth: June 2014
The 14 Most F#$%ed Up Things About America’s Obsession With Putting People Behind Bars
If being in prison were an occupation, it would be one of the most common jobs in the country. Yup, the U.S. is the world’s superpower of incarceration: This country puts more of its citizens behind bars than any other nation. In fact, most states spend more money incarcerating prisoners than educating students. But it wasn’t always that way. How did we turn into a nation that addresses its social ills by locking its citizens behind bars… and sometimes throwing away the key? Here’s the breakdown of some of the most f#$%ed up things…
Read MoreOpinion: Does an angry parent killing a child molester ever serve justice?
What do you think of a man who has been charged with killing an unarmed man? Inexcusable, right? Now, would it change your mind if the dead man had molested a child and the accused shooter was the child’s father? All right, here’s more information: The molestation happened a dozen years ago. Finally, would it change your thinking to know the dead man had already served time in prison for the crime and paid restitution? Opinion Piece
Read MorePomona City Council Repeals Ordinance
The Pomona City Council voted 6 to 0 in favor of repealing all residency restrictions within the city’s sex offender ordinance. The vote was taken on June 16 with one member absent. A second vote on this issue is scheduled to be taken on July 7. “The City of Pomona is the first city to be sued in a series of 12 lawsuits challenging residency restrictions,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “We commend Pomona for taking the first step toward repeal of these restrictions which violate both the state and federal…
Read MoreCity of Orange Sued for Failure to Repeal Ordinance [updated with media]
A sex offender ordinance adopted by the City of Orange is the subject of a lawsuit filed today in federal district court. The lawsuit was filed after the City Council of Orange considered, but failed, to repeal its ordinance on June 10. The City of Orange’s ordinance is broad and includes restrictions regarding where more than 105,000 individuals can be present. Specifically, the ordinance prohibits registered citizens from being present in or within 500 feet of a wide range of locations including the public library, schools, parks, swimming pools, bus stops and playgrounds. The…
Read MoreOrange to keep its sex-offender ordinance
As other cities across the county are repealing their sex-offender ordinances following a court ruling saying they conflicted with state law, Orange will keep its sex-offender law as is. Full Article (Paywall) City Council Hearing Video #9.2
Read MorePlea Bargaining, Reliance, and Sex Offender Restrictions
Judges often refer to a plea deal as subject to the rules of contract law. However, when judges make that statement, they usually backtrack and realize how poorly contract law operates in the criminal domain. The role of the judge as a third party to the deal as well as a lack of normal consideration are particularly difficult to square with typical contract rules. The ongoing struggle in plea deals involving sex offenders is particularly illustrative of how plea bargaining sometimes operates in an environment of anarchy. Full Commentary Related Article
Read MoreLiving with 290: Hard Knock Life
I spent three years in prison for a crime I did not commit. The how and why I got there doesn’t really matter now. What does matter now is what I continue to suffer as a result of that incarceration. I am still the subject of repeated interrogation. The local law enforcement shows up to where I live and pull me out of my residence, has me assume the prone position and searches me outside in front of all my neighbors. They pull my mom over, who drives me around,…
Read MoreNY: Second Circuit rejects array of challenges to lengthy extension of sex offender registration requirement
For a number of years, sex offenders consistently lost in state and federal courts when challenging various sex offender registration requirements and other restrictions on various grounds. In recent years, however, it seems at least a few registered sex offenders are having at least a little success with court challenges to new sex offender registration requirements that seem especially punitive or onerous. But a Second Circuit panel ruling today in Doe v. Cuomo, No. 12-4288 (2d Cir. June 16, 2014) (available here), provides a useful reminder of the uphill battle registered…
Read MoreWI: Controversial sex offender proposal tabled by Common Council
MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Common Council’s Steering and Rules Committee on Thursday tabled a proposal to prevent sex offenders from living within a third of a mile from schools, parks and day cares. That may sound very thoughtful with regards to protecting children. But, speakers at the hearing Thursday offered another viewpoint. It’s pretty easy to go online and see if you’re living near a sex offender. But, police fear that could change. Convicted rapists could start to lie, set up a p.o. box someplace else, but truly be living in a home near…
Read MoreMy Voice: Treatment, not prison, answer for sex offenses
On behalf of our 4,000-plus members, the Dakota Reform Sex Offender Laws Family Solutions is asking South Dakota Senate candidates to make this issue a campaign priority. Our mission — promote medical research, legislation and education to provide an empirically based, rational approach to dealing with sexually related offenses and stop the cycle of abuse to protect all children. Full Opinion Piece
Read MoreSanta Fe Springs City Council to consider repeal of sex offender restrictions [UPDATED]
SANTA FE SPRINGS >> The City Council at its meeting today will be asked to repeal a 2010 law that doesn’t allow registered sex offenders to come within 300 feet of day-care centers, libraries, schools and parks. Full Article UPDATE: Santa Fe Springs City Council repeals sex offender restrictions
Read MoreOpinion: Sex offenders can’t be cured, but can be managed
YOUR ARTICLE “Case shows difficulty of tracking sex offenders” (Metro, June 7) illustrates the folly of our current approach to this highly charged subject. High-risk sex offenders have a compulsive illness that can’t be cured, but it can be managed. As your story indicates, at least one sex offender, desperate not to give in to his compulsion, would call the police for help when he feared he might reoffend. We’d be much safer if we provided supervised residences, practical support, and treatment geared to management of this disorder. Full Letter…
Read MoreAL: Man Fatally Shoots Sex Offender Who Molested His Daughter In 2001
An Alabama father took justice into his own hands when he shot and killed a man who molested his seven-year-old daughter in 2001. Full Article
Read MoreMA: SJC Ends Lifetime Parole for Sex Offenders
The Supreme Judicial Court today ruled that lifetime parole for sex offenders violates the state’s constitution, The Boston Globe reports. In a 6-1 decision where Justice Robert Cordy was the dissenter on some issues, the state’s highest court said judges alone have the power to sentence people. The state law that created “community parole supervision for life” for sex offenders unconstitutionally gives the Parole Board that same power. Full Article
Read MoreCity being sued by registered sex offender
The City of Taft is being sued by a registered sex offender. The suit was filed May 29 in federal court and alleges an ordinance passed in 2007 designed to keep sex offenders away from areas where children are likely to congregate is unconstitutional. Full Article
Read MoreWhy single out sex offenders? Drug dealers, drunken drivers live among us
Letter to the Editor – This is in response to the uproar of a registered sex offender living in Allouez: I would rather know if a convicted drug dealer, wife beater or, for that matter, a person convicted of having DUIs lived next to me. They are not monitored such as a registered sex offender and therefore are not under as much scrutiny as the mentioned offender. Full Letter
Read MoreTransient sex offenders proving difficult to monitor
Law enforcement in Kern County is finding it increasingly difficult to keep track of registered sex offenders. A growing number of them are joining the ranks of the homeless and are listed as transients. “When you have a sex offender who is a transient, you don’t know where they are,” said Kern County sheriff’s Detective Randall Meyer with the Sexual Abuse and Assault Investigative Unit. Full Article
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