Nearly 15 months after launching what he called the “boldest move in criminal justice in decades,” Gov. Jerry Brown declared victory over a prison crisis that had appalled federal judges and stumped governors for two decades. … Brown’s realignment solution when he took office in 2011 required creating a new category of criminal — the non-serious, non-violent, non-sex-offender felon. Full Article
Read MoreYear: 2014
City repeals ordinance in response to lawsuit by sex offender
The City of Taft has, for all intents and purposes, settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of a registered sex offender Tuesday night when it repealed a seven-year-old ordinance regulating where convicted sex offenders could live and visit. Full Article
Read MorePomona takes steps to repeal part of its sex offender ordinance
POMONA >> Members of the Pomona City Council have taken steps leading to the repeal of part of a 2008 ordinance regulating the presence of sex offenders in the city. Council members gave preliminary approval at their June 16 meeting to an ordinance repealing a portion of the 2008 local regulation and they are expected to have a final vote July 7. Full Article
Read MoreMA: Quincy councilors upset sex offender was employed by city’s trash hauler
A registered sex offender worked for almost a year for the company that collects residential trash in Quincy, violating terms of the city’s $3.5 million contract with the Boston-based hauler, Sunrise Scavenger, said Ward 4 City Councilor Brian Palmucci. Palmucci called the breach a public safety issue, a concern echoed by Ward 6 City Councilor Brian McNamee, who wants city leaders to prevent it from happening again. Full Article
Read MoreOK: Local Officers’ Suggestion Leads To New Law
OKLAHOMA CITY – A new law set to take effect Nov. 1 will close a loophole in the current sex offender registration statutes.House Bill 3016, by Rep. Sean Roberts and Sen. AJ Griffin, will require sex offenders to register in Oklahoma if they spend 14 days in the state in a 60-day period. Current law only requires them to register if they spend seven consecutive days in the state. Full Article
Read MoreTumblr Blog: Child of a Sex Offender
I am the daughter of a sex offender, an innocent child who grew up in the system. This is my story and the story of others like me. Tumblr Blog
Read MoreRegistered Sex Offender Denied Class Enrollment
Those lifetime sex offender and sexual predator labels are hard to overcome. Just ask a Washington County man who’s been denied enrollment at a local vocational school. School administrations refused his admission application because minors also attend the school. Full Article
Read MoreAnaheim repeals sex offender ban at city parks
Anaheim has joined the growing list of cities across Orange County and California that suspended a ban that prevents sex offenders from entering city parks. At the urging of Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, the Anaheim City Council adopted an ordinance nearly two years ago that required registered sex offenders to stay away from parks. Full Article (Paywall)
Read MoreLiving with 290: A Wife’s Story Continues
This morning my loved one went to see his probation officer. He actually had some good news for him. After taking two polygraph tests and being evaluated by his sex offense counselor, the probation officer has decided to reinstate his computer and cell phone privileges. So he comes home, and fires them up after not using them for two years. I immediately go into a mass panic and ask him if he got the approved changes to his probation in writing. He said when he asked for written confirmation, the…
Read MoreInternal report praises monitoring of sex offenders accused of murder
An internal investigation of the effort to track two high-risk sex offenders now accused of raping and murdering four women praises federal probation officers and puts the ultimate blame for their being unaware of the crimes on “the complex nature of human behavior.” Full Article
Read MoreOH: Cleveland Mayor seeks gun offender registry, firearms rationing as part of new city ordinances
Mayor Frank Jackson announced Tuesday a plan to combat gun violence in Cleveland that would include a gun offender registry, rationing purchases and other controversial measures. He stated in a press conference that the multi-tiered approach was designed with consultation from the city’s attorneys in an effort to overhaul existing gun regulations in the Forest City. “We’re not going to just sit around and be helpless. We’re not going to take on the victim mentality that there’s nothing we can do. There is something we can do,” said Mayor Frank…
Read MoreSanta Ana Repeals Sex Offender Ordinance
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 MoreThe 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
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