Letter to the Editor – The conclusion of Florida’s 2014 Legislature will see children at greater risk, not safer. Principal among the proposals “strengthening” laws to protect children are measures to lengthen prison terms for sex crimes, and widening the range of sentences that lead to eligibility for civil commitment. The Colorado Department of Public Safety issued a report in February 2008, “What Works —Effective Recidivism Reduction and Risk-Focused Prevention Programs.” Numerous evidence-based studies were cited that uniformly and conclusively linked longer prison sentences with increased recidivism. Full Article
Read MoreYear: 2014
Council expanding sex offender prohibition zones
Sex offenders who committed crimes against children will have a hard time finding a place to live in Grover Beach if the City Council gives final approval to an ordinance amendment increasing the size of protected areas. The council unanimously approved the revisions on a first reading Monday. The amendment must come back for a final vote, likely at the next meeting March 17, before it can be enforced. Currently, child sex offenders are prohibited from living within 1,000 feet of the city’s 13 designated parks, schools and day care center.…
Read MoreAssembly Bill Would Increase Sex Offender Rights
The State Assembly is actively considering a bill, AB 1640, that would eliminate the registration requirement for sexual offenses that the California Supreme Court and several Courts of Appeal have ruled violate the equal protection rights of registered citizens. The bill was introduced by Assembly member Jones-Sawyer (Democrat, Los Angeles) and is sponsored by Los Angeles District Attorney Lacey. “Assembly Bill 1640, if passed, would be an important step toward restoring the civil rights of registered citizens,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “The bill would ensure that courts throughout the state of California consistently…
Read MoreUK: Jamie is 13 and hasn’t even kissed a girl. But he’s now on the Sex Offender Register after online porn warped his mind…
(April 2012) Jamie was ten years old when he saw his first pornographic sex scene. During a sleepover, a classmate offered to show him ‘some funny pictures’ on his laptop. ‘At first I found it a bit scary and a bit yucky,’ Jamie told me as he shifted uncomfortably on his chair during our therapy session. ‘I didn’t know it was possible for people to do those sort of things — and there were lots of nasty close-ups. But it gave me funny feelings and the pictures started to stick in…
Read MoreSan Diego’s public defender system: Does it need work?
A San Diego man wrongly accused of raping a 14-year-old girl is free, thanks to Team 10, in a case that is now shedding light on what could be some problems with the local court system you help pay for. Much of the case against ____ ____ was not as it seemed and it soon became clear that the victim, who was actually a woman in her 20s with three children (who she does not have custody of), had not been forthcoming with the truth. Full Article
Read MoreCT: Council drops proposal to ban sex offenders in Wallingford parks
WALLINGFORD — Regulations preventing sex offenders from entering parks won’t be pursued by the Town Council, the ordinance committee determined Thursday night. Town Councilor Craig Fishbein, chairman of the committee, said the opinion of the Law Department was sought after the committee spoke on the issue in past meetings. Fishbein said Corporation Counsel Janis Small issued memos to the committee — made up by the Town Council — on Feb. 26 and Feb. 28 with information on how other municipalities and states handled similar bans. Other municipalities in Connecticut have…
Read MoreSouth Pasadena agrees not to enforce city’s presence restrictions
The City of South Pasadena has agreed not to enforce its presence restrictions which prohibited all registered citizens from “loitering” in the city’s parks, library, school bus stops, restaurants with children’s playground, etc. The City formalized its agreement in a letter from City Manager Sergio Gonzalez dated February 24 (below). The City’s agreement was reached after California RSOL notified the City that its presence restrictions were in violation of two recent decisions by the California Court of Appeal which stated that similar restrictions in Orange County and the City…
Read MoreWriting to Legislators – Make it a Good Letter
The following was a comment on “International Travel – Mexico” but it applies universally. So, you’re going to write a letter to Congress? Good idea. Make it a good letter. People who think members of Congress pay little or no attention to constituent mail, are plain wrong. Concise, well thought out personal letters are one of the most effective ways Americans have of influencing law-makers. But, members of Congress get hundreds of letters and emails every day. Whether you choose to use the Postal Service or email, here are some…
Read MoreOK: Sexting Teens Wouldn’t Be Sex Offenders Under New Bill
Minors convicted of sexting wouldn’t be labeled as sex offenders under a bill passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The House unanimously approved HB 2541 by Rep. Terry O’Donnell (R-Catoosa) on Tuesday. Under current law, teens who exchange sexually explicated messages and photographs can be charged with child pornography and labeled sex offenders. Full Article
Read MoreWhen Government Fears the People, There is Liberty
When the craftsman sets out to learn his trade, for example, woodworking, he spends a great deal of time learning about his craft. He must learn not only the tools to use, but also the proper types of wood to work with. He must be totally versed in all aspects of woodworking if he want to be considered a master of his trade. This is true of any field of endeavor, except for one, our Public officials. For some reason many of our politicians feel that they will gain more…
Read MoreNew Zealand: Another attempt to establish a sex offenders register
The Police Minister says research has been done on how to establish a sex offenders register in New Zealand. Police and the Corrections Department are working on the proposal and legislation enabling a register could go to Parliament before the election. Police Minister Anne Tolley says they’ve had a look at problems that were identified when former ACT MP Deborah Coddington tried – and failed – to establish such a register a decade ago. Full Article
Read MoreLiving with 290: Compliance Checks
It’s 10:30 am on March 6th 2014 and the yearly round of sheriffs coming to my residence has begun for this year. I’ve been told this is to make sure I live where I live and anything beyond that is a mystery to me (Christ! I just renewed my registration a week ago!). Every time this happens it is just another round of “them” trying to get me to say things to get me to give up my rights so they can walk all over me. This is troubling to…
Read MoreMission Viejo agrees not to enforce Presence Restrictions for 290s
The City of Mission Viejo has agreed not to enforce the presence restrictions in an ordinance it adopted in January 2012. The agreement is now in effect and will continue to remain in effect unless the State Supreme Court makes an adverse ruling in a related case. According to a letter from Mayor Trish Kelley dated February 21, 2014 (below), the Chief of Police Services and the City Attorney recommended to the City Council a stay of enforcement for the city’s ordinance. The presence restrictions in that ordinance that will not be enforced include all…
Read MoreLiving with 290: Stinkin sick
Not a lot of time right now, but this is worth mentioning, not for encouragement. I’m sorry to say, rather for the raw gut reality. My old man had a case of food poisoning and boy did he get sick. We basically live in a van, I got a motel room for the night, as i some times do. I am not on parole or probation, anyways my honey got lumpuckaroo, or Diarrhea / vomiting. for three days and 4 nights. He asked his agent if he could go to…
Read MoreUK: Senior Tory adviser arrested on child abuse images allegations
A senior adviser to David Cameron was arrested on child abuse images allegations, Downing Street said tonight. … The Prime Minister brought him into Downing Street in 2011 to work in the Number 10 policy unit. He took responsibility for home affairs issues and was among officials who were involved in drawing up controls against internet images of child abuse. Full Article
Read MoreCanada: Conservatives propose public sex offender registry, despite its failure in the U.S.
The federal Conservatives have announced they are continuing their pursuit of the lowest of low-hanging fruit: registered sex offenders. The Tougher Penalties for Sexual Predators Act, which was formally tabled in the House of Commons Feb. 26, includes nine proposals for dealing with those convicted of sexual offences, including increasing prison sentences for certain child sexual offences and harsher penalties for violations of release conditions. Some of the proposals, quite appropriately, assign greater severity to a system of punishment that is often derided as far too lenient. But nestled among…
Read MoreThe Sex Offender Shuffle
Washington Post Opinion Section: I know the term Kafkesque is overused, but I mean come on.The Chicago Police Department forces sex offenders to violate their parole. I know that sounds crazy. I thought it was crazy when I first heard about it, but I’ve spent a lot of time in the last two weeks with sex offenders waiting — for hours and hours — outside police headquarters and watching a Kafkaesque process play out. Full Op-Ed Piece
Read MoreMN: Against Publicly Registering Children
Letter to the Editor – What if the worst thing you ever did was posted on the internet for the whole world to see? What if you did that thing as a child but have to wear it like a scarlet letter forever? Full Letter
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