WA: Why a sex offender would run for office: Willie Russell’s story

[washingtonstatewire.com – 8/20/19] Willie Russell is running for the Snohomish County Council this year. He squeaked through the August primary, and will face Stephanie Wright in November for Council position 3. He is also a Level III sex offender. You can read the narrative from the sheriff’s office database here. I recently spoke with Russell in an extended conversation. I wanted to ask him about his interest in running, and about his campaign. But, I was particularly interested in understanding why, with his background, he would be willing to put…

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Janice’s Journal: Watch this movie! And recommend it to others!

The newly released movie, “Brian Banks”, deserves attention. A lot of attention. Attention from every person required to register as a sex offender as well as his/her family and friends. Based upon a true story, the movie is about a 16-year-old high school athlete who is falsely accused of raping a 15-year-old girl who attended the same school. The movie accurately portrays the challenges he faces before conviction as well as both inside and outside of prison. For example, a plea deal goes wrong after Brian enters a plea of…

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ACSOL Emotional Support Group Meetings Available: Sat, August 24 in L.A.; Most Thursdays in Sac; Monthly on the phone

Emotional Support Group meetings will be held for those convicted of a sex offense and their loved ones. This meeting, which is based upon the format of 12 Step meetings, provides registrants and their loved ones with an opportunity to discuss personal challenges and share their experiences, strengths and hopes, with each other. Attendance is limited to individuals required to register, family members, and friends. Media, law enforcement, parole, etc. are not allowed to attend meetings. There is no cost to attend. No reservations are required. Click here to see…

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After Epstein death, glaring loopholes in national sex offender registry raise concerns

Amid the fallout from the death of Jeffrey Epstein – compounded by sharp questions as to why he was able to live such a lavish and unencumbered life despite being a registered sex offender – scrutiny has turned to the National Sex Offender Registry, its discrepancies and its lack of uniformity – all of which the disgraced financier may have exploited. Full Article

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IRE: How Ireland deals with sex offenders after they’re released from prison

AT ANY ONE time there are between 400 and 450 people convicted of sexual violence in custody in Irish prisons. … During his time in prison, ____ declined to participate in the Building Better Lives programme, a rehabilitation service for sex offenders, despite meeting many of the conditions. These criteria include a prison sentence of longer than 18 months, full admission of the offence, robustness of personality to withstand the challenge of the group and some literacy capacity. Full Article

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NC: GPS monitoring violates some sex offenders’ rights, NC Supreme Court rules

[thestate.com – 8/16/19] Sex offenders have rights, too, and in some cases the state has been violating those rights, the NC Supreme Court ruled on Friday. The ruling concerns people who have been ordered to submit to satellite-based monitoring for the rest of their lives, which forces them to wear a tracking device so law enforcement can track their location via GPS using an ankle bracelet. Nearly 500 North Carolina sex offenders could now be freed from lifetime surveillance by the GPS monitoring program. However, it’s not yet clear how…

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10th Circuit Rules Special Conditions Allowing Probation Complete Discretion over Internet Use is Excessive

[floridaactioncommittee.org – 8/16/19] The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in US v. Blair, ruled that a special condition on the Defendant’s Internet use that was “limited to those the defendant requests to use, and which the probation officer authorizes” involved a greater deprivation of liberty than is reasonably necessary for deterring criminal activity because it allows the probation office to completely ban the defendant’s use of the Internet by failing to place any restraints on a probation officer’s ability to restrict a defendant’s Internet access. Blair argued that this special…

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Kat’s Blog: We Will Not Be Silenced Anymore

“Until there is 50-50 representation, we should make no decisions.” “If we are going to make these decisions we should have equal representation at the table”. Both of these comments were made by Senator Lauren Book during a recent “Facing South Florida” interview, the topic was women’s rights and abortion rights. It appears that Ms. Book only agrees with “50-50 and equal representation at the table” when it comes to certain issues, certainly not those including the registry and sex offenses. So it truly was a triumph when the 4th…

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CA: Sacramento County Office of Education Annual Adult Re-Entry Resource Fair on Oct 4

The Sacramento County Office of Education Annual Adult Re-Entry Resource Fair, hosted by the Sacramento Community Based Coalition (SCBC), will be held: Friday, October 4th 11:00am – 1:00pm Sacramento Community Based Coalition 10170 Missile Way Mather, CA 95655 The event is geared toward the formerly incarcerated population, giving them access to many of our community resources and providers, all in one location. Participating organizations will be exposed to hundreds of attendees, looking for support services, information, employment, and assistance from community organizations. We look forward to seeing you there! Includes…

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Epstein might not have been killed, but sex offenders’ prison deaths often are ‘choreographed’ | Opinion

[miamiherald.com – 8/12/19] Many people aren’t buying the official “suicide” story from the Manhattan Correctional Complex that housed financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on suicide watch until late July. Theories that Epstein was murdered to protect any number of political cabals are widespread on social media. President Trump has suggested that Bill and Hillary Clinton were involved and the Resistance is convinced that someone offed Epstein to protect the president. That dead men tell no tales is a seductive explanation for Epstein’s expiration, but it ignores correctional reality.…

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CA: City of Lompoc to Repeal Residency Restrictions

[ACSOL] The City of Lompoc, located in Santa Barbara County, is expected to finalize repeal of its residency restrictions during a City Council meeting on August 20. The City Council took the first step toward repeal on August 6. “Residency restrictions in the City of Lompoc prohibit individuals convicted of a sex offense from staying overnight for even one night,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “This prohibition includes staying in the home of a friend or a relative as well as hotels and motels and even camping.” Lompoc’s repeal…

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FL: Congratulations Derek!!! Appellate Court Voids Lauren Book’s Injunction

[floridaactioncommittee.org – 8/14/19] The order was issued by the 4th District Court of Appeals today so it’s being posted prior to our adding commentary in an effort to share this as quickly as possible. The court voided Senator Lauren Book’s restraining order against Once Fallen’s Derek Logue. We all knew it was bogus, now the court’s agree! Logue v. Book UPDATE: All the credit MUST go to attorney Gary Edinger, of Benjamin, Aaronson, Edinger & Patanzo for writing an incredible appellate brief. Lots of appreciation to Gary, Jamie Benjamin and…

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WI: Rhinelander Common Council approves new sex offenders ordinance

[starjournalnow.com – 8/13/19] The Rhinelander Common Council met Monday and held the final public hearing for the new sex offender ordinance. No concerns or questions regarding the ordinance were brought forth at the public hearing, and the council approved the new ordinance unanimously. The sex offender ordinance limits registered sex offender housing and activity areas within proximity to places where children are present such as schools, playgrounds and parks. It also limits holiday events in which sex offenders can participate such as disallowing handing out candy to trick-or-treaters or dressing…

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A Critical (Non-Dershowitz) Look at Statutory Rape Laws

[verdict.justia.com – 8/13/19] Last week, Jeffrey Epstein died in jail, apparently a suicide. The prior month, he was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges related to his and other men’s conduct with girls as young as fourteen. Most spectators to the very public humiliation that might have driven him to suicide, judged him very harshly. Epstein, in his mid-60s, had apparently slept with young girls and procured their services for some of his rich (and old) friends as well, allegedly including Epstein’s former lawyer, Harvard Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz (currently…

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Application of Packingham – Internet Access

[floridaactioncommittee.org – 8/12/19] We often get questions from people who are confused by the application of Packingham (the SCOTUS decision that said Government cannot restrict access to social media) to their situation. To simplify: Packingham benefits people NOT ON PROBATION/SUPERVISED RELEASE. If you are on probation, a restriction on social media/internet access CAN be imposed. Packingham DOES NOT prevent a private business (ie: Social Media platform) from restricting your access to their platform.   Read the full Florida Action Committee article  

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ACSOL Meeting in San Diego on Saturday, August 17, 2019

ACSOL’s upcoming meeting in San Diego is as follows Saturday, August 17 10 am 350 Cedar Street Lecture Hall #2 San Diego, CA 92101 Registrants, friends and family and interested service providers are invited to attend these free meetings. There will be no law enforcement or media present in order to protect everyone’s privacy. The meetings start at 10 am and last about 2-3 hours. Topics of conversation include information about ACSOL’s advocacy as well as current topics and pending legal action. Please Show up, Stand up, and Speak up!…

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How Social Media Shapes Our Identity

[newyorker.com – 8/8/19] The Internet constantly confronts us with evidence of our past. Are we losing the chance to remake ourselves? … Humans have always tried to cope with the difficulty of memory, to turn it “from an intolerable horror to something which is reassuringly innocuous and familiar.” Social media just makes us more adept at it. On the other hand, Eichhorn writes, such media can prevent those who wish to break with their past from doing so cleanly. … This is of particular import for those who yearn to…

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