Members of the Elgin Police Department have asked local state officials to craft legislation that would supersede a court decision they say makes it more difficult to enforce the Sex Offender Registration Act. … “The fact that police have to prove this individual is at a specific address, I think may be a little too burdensome for the police, and not fair to the public, because we have to ensure their safety,” he said. Full Article
Read MoreMonth: July 2014
Tehachapi repeals sex offender ordinance to avoid lawsuit
TEHACHAPI, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) – The city is backing away from an ordinance that restricted sex offenders.The city’s ordinance prohibited sex offenders from visiting libraries, parks and other places where children gather. Full Article
Read MoreDo Residency Bans Drive Sex Offenders Underground?
Early last year, Los Angeles set aside a sliver of land in its Harbor Gateway neighborhood for the city’s newest and smallest park: two jungle gyms on a fifth of an acre. The project was more than just an effort to increase the city’s green space. City Council members made clear that one of the park’s principal reasons for existence was to force 33 people on the California sex offender registry who were living in a nearby apartment building to move out. State law bars those on its registry from living within…
Read MoreSex Offender Registry Reform Effort Aims to Parse for Future Risk
California is one of only four states that require sex offenders to register for life. The state board overseeing the registry is once again pushing to overhaul the system. The board wants to make it easier to spot sex offenders at high risk of re-offending. Reporter: Tara Siler. Radio Program Read the full story (State of Health) Related: Sex Offender Board Calls For Registry Overhaul (May 30, 2014)
Read MoreHow I became a sex offender (Editorial – UK)
The neighbourhood girl, whose name I don’t recall, fought hard, but I was stronger. After a minute or so of desperate struggle I overcame her resistance and planted a kiss on her lips. I might have even felt her up, but I can’t remember that far back. You see, the incident happened over half a century ago, when both the criminal (I) and the victim (she) were 12 years old. Afterwards, she called me a moron and refused to play with me ever again. I forget how long her resolution…
Read MoreUK: Children as young as three are sexually assaulting other children
Children as young as three are sexually assaulting other children because they are being ‘warped’ by depraved internet porn, the NSPCC has warned. New figures obtain by the charity show that more than 8,000 under 18s were accused of sexual offences against other youngsters in the past two years. Full Article
Read MoreRIVERSIDE COUNTY: Sex-offender ordinance to be repealed
Riverside County is poised to do away with an ordinance that sets rules on where sex offenders can live or visit in an effort to avoid a lawsuit. The county established sex-offender residency and loitering prohibitions for unincorporated areas in 2010, but the Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval last week to repeal the law because an appeal court has invalidated similar ordinances in other municipalities. Full Article
Read MorePA: New unit puts sex offenders on notice
A newly formed Pennsylvania State Police unit working to keep tabs on sex offenders is expected to soon come to Western Pennsylvania. The Megan’s Law Compliance Unit consists of two troopers who work with local agencies to arrest sex offenders who have failed to register their addresses or online accounts or otherwise have violated the terms of their release. Full Article
Read MorePA: Donegal sex offender fights lifetime registration
A Donegal man convicted of assaulting a 14-year-old girl on a walking trail is challenging the constitutionality of lifetime registration with police ordered for certain sex offenders. _____ _____’s contention that he should not be required to register for life because it exceeds the maximum prison sentence for his offense is one of several such appeals filed through the Fayette County Public Defender’s Office. Full Article
Read MoreAre Sex Offender Registries Effective?
MARYLAND – It gives a sense of security for many parents – having access to the state’s sex offender registry. “It’s a way for us to be safe as parents for our children. I use an app to find out if there’s any in the neighborhood. That’s what my sister and I did before, and we actually found some. So we would know to keep an eye out, especially for my daughter that I’m worried about,” Christie Sarminto said. Full Article
Read MoreVa: Teen Could be Jailed for “Sexting” Girlfriend
A Virginia teen is facing two felony charges after he was caught sexting with his girlfriend. If he’s convicted, he could be forced to register as a sex offender and spend time in jail. Full Article Related: Manassas Virginia 17 Year Old (a minor) Who “Sexted” His 15 year old Girlfriend is Forced by a Warrant to Allow the Virginia Authorities to Take Photos of His Genitalia
Read MoreAL: ACLU – Law banning sex offender camp might violate Alabama’s constitution
CLANTON, Alabama — A new law used to shut down a church-affiliated camp for convicted sex offenders in rural Alabama violates a state constitutional amendment designed to protect religious liberty, the American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday. Randall Marshall, legal director of the ACLU’s Alabama office, said the law that went into effect this week is in apparent conflict with the Alabama Religious Freedom Amendment, passed in 1998 to make it tougher for government to infringe on religious rights. Full Article
Read MoreSex Offenders Cannot Even Be Garbage Men?
Anyone that is a registered citizen or has a loved one or friend who is, knows first-hand how difficult it is for a registrant to find employment. First, there are restrictions on where a registrant can work; not only geographically but also in which positions. Second, there is the stigma of hiring a registrant and the potential social and economic backlash that might come when clients or customers of that business learn of the employee’s history. Now, some recent articles have exposed a third challenge… employers can be liable for…
Read MoreSex offenders sue over ordinances that ban them from places
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) – Wasco and Taft are among a group of California cities being sued by a civil rights group that advocates on behalf of sex offenders. In 2006, state voters approved Jessica’s Law, which bars sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Shortly after, numerous cities adopted much more restrictive local laws that prohibit sex offenders from being present in any “children’s facility,” such as a public library, school bus stop, or “any location that facilitates on their property classes or group activities…
Read MoreUpdated: Registration Laws for all 50 States
In time for Summer we have updated our Summary of Registration Laws for all 50 States. Hopefully this will be of use to those planning on traveling during the summer months. Please note that this is a ‘best effort’, it is not intended to take the place of qualified legal advice, and please check the laws at your destination thoroughly (with the links we have provided to the best of our ability). RegistrationRequirementsVisiting-May2014
Read MoreOH: Ohioans can search sex offender phone, email info
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohioans can see whether phone numbers, email addresses or screen names belong to registered sex offenders under a new feature added to the state’s online database. Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the change Thursday in a news conference with the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association. Full Article
Read MoreMD: Court Rules Sex Offenders Who Committed Crimes Before 1995 Removed From Registry
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — A major and controversial court ruling could strike a quarter of all names off Maryland’s sex offender registry. It’s now just a question of when. Full Article
Read MoreAlabama Crushes Sex Offender Reform Camp for No Good Reason
In rural Clanton, Alabama, a pastor named Ricky Martin has operated a camp on his property to help convicted sex offenders reform themselves. Martin’s program has since 2010 provided a refuge for over 50 men as they try to assimilate back into society. Not anymore, though. C.J. Robinson, the chief deputy district attorney of Chilton County, thought the group was icky or dangerous or something, so he went out of his way to put an end it. Full Article
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