The struggle to pass the most recent Tiered Registry Bill (Senate Bill 421) is over. The Assembly Appropriations Committee stopped the bill yesterday when it refused to release the bill from the committee’s Suspense File.
Because the bill was stopped, some registrants are breathing a sigh of relief. For if the bill had passed, they would have been identified as a registrant on the state Megan’s Law website for the first time.
Because the bill was stopped, some registrants are in shock, perhaps in tears or worse. For if the bill had passed, they would have been eligible to petition for removal from the registry and the Megan’s Law website.
The day after the Appropriations Committee’s decision, there is a lot we do not know. For example, we do not know why the author of the bill agreed to extensive amendments of that bill only a week ago.
From the perspective of registrants, the amendments weakened the bill considerably. For example, the automatic removal of those convicted more than 30 years ago was eliminated and the number of years for those convicted of possessing child pornography must register was doubled.
The fact is even the original version of the recent Tiered Registry Bill was built on a flawed foundation. Instead of empirical evidence, the bill was based upon myths such as the myth that registrants re-offend at a high rate.
The fact is that the original version of the Tiered Registry Bill was created by a group of law enforcement organizations and district attorneys. The group subsequently created a coalition when it obtained support for the bill from organizations representing a broad spectrum of views including victims’ rights organizations, Equality California and the ACLU.
Once formed, the coalition believed they had the political power to get the bill passed. The coalition warned off others that sought meaningful changes to the bill including changes that reflected the results of decades of research conducted by subject matter experts such as Karl Hanson, Jill Levenson and others.
In the end, the coalition did not achieve its goal of getting the Tiered Registry bill passed. As painful as that failure is, it provides registrants with an opportunity. An opportunity to create a new bill based upon a solid foundation — empirical evidence.
We have 16 months in which to do that. To draft a bill that can be introduced in the next legislative session set to begin in January 2019. To find a legislator brave enough to speak the truth about the registry and to fight for justice. To build a coalition of like-minded organizations.
We need YOUR help to do that! Please join us in that effort by Showing Up – Standing Up – Speaking Up at monthly meetings, conferences and protests. We are indeed all in this together.
— by Janice Bellucci
Read all Janice’s Journals
@Janice Bellucci
Hi Janice, I can only speak for myself here but first I’d like to say that even tho I lost hope in the second draft of the Tiered bill for us to get something that was fair to everyone. But one thing I’ve never lost is my confidence in your abilty to kick ass and take names.
I also believe in our ability to come together as RC’s and move as one.
I’m willing to donate to attacking the Registry.
I’d like to see a cash goal that we can all work towards to establish such a movement.
Thank you for everything you do.
And thank you to everyone at ACSOL
On SSI also. Wish I could afford to be involved. You have all my support because I know for a fact that Janice et all will be kicking some liars butt. Like I have said before, grabbing my 🍿 and 🍹, and am going to enjoy this show.😎
There’s a big button reading, “Donate,” which appears at the top right of every(?) page on this site. That’s all one needs to do. You can donate via credit or bank card, or via PayPal. Since PayPal is an option, I’m guessing one can even donate via a bank account, so those without plastic can still kick in. There appears to be no minimum requirement, either, as you type in the exact amount to donate.
If you can even give a dollar, I’m sure it would be helpful and appreciated.
(@Mike: Donating is one way I contribute towards positives for us all…and I’m not even a CA resident.)
@ Janice , ,, , Why not pin what your saying/and asking up on the message board ?
Great idea! When I plead 20-21 years ago, you simply registered annually and none of these new laws existed? In summary, I don’t think it’s very fair for the new laws to affect those who paid their debt so many years ago (expunged battery/expunged). It’s ridiculous!
Wow! Florida is now facing a huge and dangerous hurricane! Yet, sex offenders are banned from visiting or taking shelter in shelters? Surreal. The sheriff is a very angry man. They seem to want these people to either die or suffer. Search it online. Florida sounds terrible!
Well my crime may not bring any sympathy from the court nor should it, but my family’s effort to rebuild ought to be a positive thing going forward in a case against this registry, which hampered healing at all juctures. One of the spouses of a registrant ought to be a plaintiff, I think. Maybe my wife could. Sometimes they even get the worst end of the deal. My wife possibly failed to get a teaching job because of my status. She also has been confronted by neighbors accusing her of enabling a sex offender and worse. I keep a recording (in a couple of places) of a neighbor’s voicemail message, threatening to shame my wife with exposing me to the community by posting fliers all over the neighborhood. The language was very crude and visceral and hateful. She sounds certifiably insane, but I think the registry is made to enable the insanely paranoid and unstable elements of society, and those are probably the few who actually access it. Sane people don’t bother with it. I am not on the government official website, so I don’t know how she obtained the offense information on me. Several other avenues are available, there is no real protection in the laws even when there is officially supposed to be.
Timothy, very sorry to hear that! Is your offense expunged? The confrontation sounds like harassment! What state do you live in? I recommend everyone buy RING (doorbell). Simple to install and download app. If someone comes to your door or rings it, it records them! Furthermore, you can be gone and speak to them (compliance checks). I had a neighbor mad at friends parking in front of his house (he came over) slurring his speech/cussing etc. I walked outside and it recorded the entire situation (I then sent the video to my email where it’s saved). Threats etc are considered harassment and illegal!
In down for the cause. I will donate. I would love to join a legal action. I also have to say that USA is absolutely right about the Ring doorbell. EVERYONE should have one. Leo’s came knocking in March for compliance checks this year and I only spoke to them through Ring. They hated it! But guess what – I’m not on probation. And there’s no law that says I even have to answer. One of them even pointed to it on their way to the door. They know they’re being watched.
@ Moore,
If they’re tracking you down like so, then they are admitting monitoring beyond what the law states, which is a trait of probation/parole as well as documented that it’s a restriction of travel.
Sounds like we need a fresh start in 2019 aimed at creating less, not more, registrants…whether a Prop, a law suit or a new bill. Again, just reading everyone’s comments – a flawed law will be just that, flawed. I await ACSOL’s decision.