[thedickinsonpress.com – 3/23/21] Fargo-area politicians and activists will no doubt have a lot of success milking this issue for notoriety, and donations, but even if they’re successful in implementing a policy, and even if that local policy withstands legal scrutiny under state law, it isn’t likely to change much of anything. MINOT, N.D. — Bias crime laws, the new lingo for hate crime laws, are, from the perspective of public policy, not all that unlike policies the death penalty or sex offender laws. They’re all great for politicians who want…
Read MoreMonth: March 2021
ACSOL Phone Meeting April 17
Please join ACSOL Executive Director and civil rights attorney Janice Bellucci as well as ACSOL President and criminal defense attorney Chance Oberstein for our next phone meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday, April 17, beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific time and will last at least two hours. This meeting will be recorded and then posted as an audio recording within 24 hours. A link to the recording will be at the top of our pages. Dial-in number: 1-712-770-8055 Conference Code: 983459 Discussion topics will include: the California Tiered…
Read MoreCA: Detainee who pleaded for release from California ICE immigration center dies from COVID-19
[eastbaytimes.com – 3/23/21] Less than a year ago, Martin Vargas Arellano pleaded with a U.S. Immigration Court judge for humanitarian parole from the ICE Processing Center in Adelanto, saying his only wish was to “lead a quiet life and be at peace.” Suffering from myriad ailments — diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis C, cellulitis and gout — the 55-year-old San Bernardino man was among the most medically vulnerable of detainees at the private immigration detention facility, which in April 2020 was concerned about a potential outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Vargas was…
Read MoreCA: California May End Archaic ‘Spousal Rape’ Distinction in Punishment
[nbclosangeles.com – 3/22/21] California is one of 11 states that still distinguish between spousal rape and rape, after Minnesota most recently eliminated the exception in 2019, according to proponents. The law currently requires anyone convicted of rape to register, but those convicted of spousal rape must register only under certain circumstances such as if the spouse was sentenced to state prison. It wasn’t until 1979 that a husband was first prosecuted in the United States for raping his wife, Stanford University law professor and sociologist Michele Dauber said. Though all…
Read MoreAL: Sex offenders at a popular Huntsville homeless camp find it difficult to relocate
[waff.com – 3/22/21] HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) – One week ago, Huntsville City and non-profit leaders announced that people living in a large homeless camp known as “tent city” would have to move. It was located on Mill Street, and was inside of the Church Street construction zone. We went to the location today and there are still a lot of tents, clothes, and personal items scattered all around the camp, where dozens of people used to live. We’re told everyone has moved, but when it comes to sex offenders, several…
Read MoreTSA Precheck Available to Most Registrants
[ACSOL] TSA precheck is available to most people who have been convicted of a sex offense. In fact, the only registrants who are categorically excluded from the TSA precheck are those convicted of rape or aggravated assault. The list of those who are not eligible for TSA precheck includes, but is not limited to, individuals on a terrorist watchlist as well as those who have been convicted of espionage, sedition, treason, murder and transporting explosives. In addition, the TSA has a list of interim disqualifying criminal offenses including, but not…
Read MoreLiving with 290: How to make friends and meet people
I will be thirty five in about a month and a half. From time to time I reflect on my life so far. The good, bad, indifferent, mundane, thrilling, and horrifying moments alongside what I chose to do, what was chosen for me, and what I’ve not done. While I was looking forward to making some significant life changes in 2020 the pandemic has put many of those on hold. Last night at work during a zoom meeting one of my co-workers said he planned to go on an in…
Read MoreWI: Wisconsin judge charged with seven child pornography counts
[citynews1130.com – 3/17/21] MADISON, Wis. — Prosecutors charged a Wisconsin judge with multiple counts of possession of child pornography Wednesday. State Department of Justice attorneys filed seven felony counts against Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Brett _____. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. Brett _____, 38, was scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday in Dane County. His attorney, listed in online court records as Chris Van Wagner, didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Read the full article
Read MoreACSOL Announces 2021 Conference Dates, Keynote Speaker Jill Levenson
ACSOL will conduct its annual conference on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18, 2021. Similar to its conference last year, this year’s conference will be held virtually using Zoom technology that will allow individuals to choose between audio only or audio and video participation. “We are pleased to announce that Jill Levenson, PhD, has agreed to make a keynote presentation at this year’s conference,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “Dr. Levenson is a nationally acclaimed expert whose research has concluded that sex offender registries are ineffective and that…
Read MoreIL: Illinois House bill would change sex offender residence requirements
[wandtv.com – 3/18/21] SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) – A bill moving through the Illinois House of Representatives would change how close a registered sex offender could live to a school, playground, or childcare facility. HB3913 would amend the Unified Code of Correction and allow a registered sex offender to reside within 250 feet of any the restricted facilities. State law currently requires they live 500 feet. The bill sponsored by Rep. Camille Lilly and Rep. Kelly Cassidy would also remove a weekly requirement that a registered sex offender must register their address…
Read MoreNC: Pasquotank Co Sheriff’s Office partnered with U.S. Marshals to conduct sex offender operation
[wavy.com – 3/18/21] ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – On Monday the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the United States Marshals Service to conduct a Sex Offender Enforcement and Compliance Operation. According to authorities, the purpose of the operation was to ensure that the eighty registered sex offenders in Pasquotank County were in compliance with state laws, and the Adam Walsh Act. The Adam Walsh Act is intended to help to protect children from sexual exploitation and violent crime. The compliance investigations included confirming the residency of each registered sex offender,…
Read MoreIA: Iowa Capitol Digest: Lawmakers discuss the sex offender registry, traffic speed and housing
[nonpareilonline.com – 3/18/21] The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced legislation that would require any individual on a sex offender registry in another state who moves to Iowa to be placed on Iowa’s sex offender registry for as long as they are required in the other state, or by Iowa law, whichever is longer. Sen. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake, said state law enforcement officials expressed concern that some individuals may have moved to Iowa in order to avoid other states’ registry requirements. House File 201 already passed the House, 88-0, and is…
Read MoreFL: Florida Senate votes to close sex offender loophole
[sfchronicle.com – 3/18/21] TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A loophole in Florida’s sexual offender registration law would be closed under a Senate bill unanimously passed Thursday in response to a child molester who didn’t have to register because he didn’t pay a court-ordered fine. A judge ruled last year that Ray La Vel James of Tampa, who spent 12 years in prison after being convicted of molesting two girls at a public pool, didn’t have to register as a sex offender because the law states registration isn’t required until a sentence…
Read MoreAction Alert for CA: Oppose Senate Bill 615 by Writing
UPDATED NEWS: CA Senate Bill 615 Temporarily Suspended Please write to oppose California Senate Bill 615, which would harm the LGBTQ community! Senator Melissa Melendez (Republican, Riverside) has introduced a bill, that if enacted into law, would significantly reduce the benefits of former Senate Bill 145, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (Democrat, San Francisco). Specifically, the Senate Bill 615 would require anyone convicted of committing certain sexual acts with a minor more than three years younger to register as a sex offender. The existing law, established in former Senate Bill…
Read MoreNumber of Total CA Registrants Increases; Homeless and Registrants in Violation Decrease
The California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB) reported today that the number of registrants in California has increased slightly, from a total of 108,106 to a total of 108,189, during the past month. In addition, the number of registrants living in the community has increased from 82,526 to 82,585. There were slight decreases, however, in the number of registrants who are in violation (from 18,565 to 18,519) and the number who are homeless (from 6,994 to 6,938). CASOMB also reported that there are 7,244 registrants currently on parole who are…
Read MoreAcademy Expels Registered Sex Offender Adam _____ After Variety Investigation
[variety.com – 3/17/21] After a story in Variety in November exposed the fact that registered sex offender — and noted cinematographer — Adam ____ has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since 2007, the organization has taken action and removed him. An Academy source confirmed to Variety that Adam ____ is no longer a member. When asked for a comment, a representative for the Academy did not immediately respond. Adam ____ also appears no longer to be in the American Society of Cinematographers, an…
Read MoreMN: Upcoming sex offense bills
[leg.mn.gov] Minnesota State Legislature bill search by “Crimes and Criminals-Sexual Offenses” The following is a partial list of proposed bills / laws regarding sex offenses that could possibly be up for a vote this legislative session. Use the link above to do a current search. 1. SF1730 / No HR introduced – Sex trafficking of a child added to the definition of “Substantial Child Endangerment” 2. SF1466 / HF409 – Terminating parental rights of the perpetrator for any child conceived due to the commission of a sexual conduct crime. This…
Read MoreNew Zealand: Ex-NZ First MP Darroch Ball, advocating for victims, blasts ‘out of touch’ Greens for opposing child sex offender list
[newshub.co.nz – 3/17/21] Former NZ First MP Darroch Ball, who advocates on behalf of victims, has described the Greens as “out of touch” for opposing the registration of child sex offenders. Nearly 600 child sex offenders will be put back on the national register after MPs rushed through urgent, retrospective changes on Wednesday to the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) Act 2016. The Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that the law was not clear enough when it came to people who committed an offence before it came…
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