Month: May 2021

Malta: Prisoners are encouraged to complete rehab programmes based on their individual needs

R H

[independent.com.mt – 5/23/21] Speculation over the quality and quantity of rehabilitation programmes available for prisoners in Malta has been the at the centre of many debates. The Malta Independent on Sunday contacted the Ministry for Home Affairs to get to the bottom of things. According to the Correctional Services Agency (CSA), since February 2020, “every new admission is assessed by Care, Reintegration and Education Unit (CRU) personnel […] who create a tailored plan according to the person’s individual needs.” The CSA consists of medical officers, social workers, psychologists and care…

Read More

CA: Judge continues hearing on relocating sexually violent predator to Twentynine Palms

R H

[z1077fm.com – 5/22/21] A hearing was held in Orange County Friday afternoon about whether Lawtis _____, a sexually violent predator, should be located to Twentynine Palms, a city where he has no ties at all. Managing editor Tami Roleff has the details from the hearing… The hearing in an Orange County courtroom began with the judge stating that she had not yet analyzed multiple documents that had been submitted to her—some that had been submitted as late as Friday (May 21)—and that she anticipated having a ruling next week Read…

Read More

WY: Cheney primary challenger says he impregnated 14-year-old when he was 18

R H

[news.yahoo.com/ – 5/21/21] A state senator in Wyoming who’s running against U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney and four others in a Republican primary acknowledged he impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18, vowing not to end his campaign for Congress. It was a disclosure he said he was forced to make because of “the establishment swamp,” but he did not explicitly blame Cheney or any of the other candidates in the race. “Everybody has something in their life that they did … We’ve all had these problems. Why is this…

Read More

IN: En Banc Seventh Circuit Hears Challenge to Indiana Sex Offender Registry Law

R H

[courthousenews.com – 5/20/21] Indiana argued before the full Seventh Circuit on Thursday that state law does not place unfair registration requirements on sex offenders moving to the Hoosier State. At issue is a provision of the Indiana Sex Offender Registry Act requiring people convicted of sex offenses who relocate to Indiana to register as sex offenders, even if the crime was committed before the law was passed. The plaintiffs are challenging its retroactive application. The requirement creates a situation where an Indiana resident who was not required register as a…

Read More

IA: Hall convicted for prison murder

R H

[messengernews.net – 5/21/21] It took a Webster County jury a little over two hours to decide that vigilante justice has no place in the American criminal justice system. The jury convicted Eric Todd Hall, 45, of first-degree murder for the death of his fellow Fort Dodge Correctional Facility inmate Thomas Daleske on Thursday afternoon. Hall was accused of killing Daleske, 59, in the victim’s cell at the FDCF on June 14, 2020. Daleske was found unresponsive in his cell in the Grove Unit of the prison around 5:15 p.m. on…

Read More

CA: 2nd sex predator denied placement in East County home

R H

[fox5sandiego.com – 5/20/21] EL CAJON, Calif. — After weeks of protest from community members and local leaders, a judge has ruled that a second man deemed a “sexually violent predator” by the state will not be placed in an East County home. Douglas Badger, 78, will not be allowed to live under supervision in the Mount Helix neighborhood near El Cajon, the San Diego Superior Court announced Thursday. Sexually violent predators — sometimes referred to as “SVPs” — are people convicted of sexually violent offenses and diagnosed with a mental…

Read More

Restorative Action Alliance Files Amicus Brief in U.S. Supreme Court Case

R H

The Restorative Action Alliance filed today an amicus brief in a case, Ortiz v. Breslin, for which a petition has been filed requesting review by the U. S. Supreme Court.  The focus of the petition is decisions made by the New York State Department of Corrections not to release registrants on their court mandated release dates but instead to continue to imprison registrants for up to two additional years because they cannot find housing due to the state’s residency restrictions. “The brief filed today by the Restorative Action Alliance should…

Read More

Does Banning People With Felonies From Dating Apps Actually Make Anyone Safer?

R H

[themarshallproject.org – 5/20/21] Jason Hernandez got out of prison in 2015 and started making up for lost time. He’d done nearly 18 years on federal drug conspiracy charges, and only escaped life behind bars because then-President Barack Obama granted him clemency. He settled down near Dallas, began volunteering in schools, visited the White House and wrote a book. Then he decided to start dating, so he downloaded Tinder. He was open about his past, and at first, it was fine. But a couple months ago, he got a notification: “Your…

Read More

WA: Kelso council pauses halfway house construction for six months to develop limits on sex offender housing

R H

[tdn.com – 5/19/21] Developers of halfway houses cannot build in Kelso for the next six months while the city council reviews how it can limit the number of registered sex offenders living in one home. … Councilman Keenan Harvey first raised the issue in March because he said multiple sex offenders living in one area encourages additional crime and discourages people from living nearby. Read the full article  

Read More

Action Alert for CA: Sign the petition “California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Prison reform: Voice for the voiceless”

R H

Crystal B. started this petition to CALIFORNIA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: The prison system affects thousands of inmates and their loved ones including myself. There are inmates who are excluded from participating in family visits and some groups, groups that are essential to one’s rehabilitation. Before I tell you what group of men I’m talking about let me say this, never judge before you know someone’s story. Everyone deserves a second chance. The group of men I’m speaking of is those with sexual offences. Not only do they fear…

Read More

ACSOL Phone Meeting Jun 12, 2021

R H

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, June 12, 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 If you have problems calling this phone…

Read More

CA: Coalition of district attorneys files legal challenge to new state prison good conduct credits

R H

[lakeconews.com – 5/14/21] A group of district attorneys from across California are joining forces to challenge new emergency state regulations that could expand good conduct credits to the majority of state prison inmates. Forty-one elected district attorneys — including Lake County District Attorney Susan Krones — filed a petition with California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Kathleen Alliso to request the repeal of temporary emergency regulations awarding additional good conduct credits to more than 76,000 state prison inmates, or nearly 80 percent of the state’s prison population. The district…

Read More

DE: Convicted Murderer Killed His Child Rapist Cellmate: Police

R H

[lawandcrime.com – 5/12/21] A prison inmate murdered his convicted child rapist cellmate on Monday, the Delaware State Police announced Wednesday. At face value, a conviction would not change very much for defendant John Cameron, 55. He’s already serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, authorities said. Troopers responded to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in the town of Smyrna at about 8:13 a.m. on Monday, police said. Authorities determined that Cameron killed Philip Langell, 69, who was serving a 20-year sentence for rape in the first degree against a…

Read More

Janice’s Journal: Two Men Required to Register Murdered This Week

R H

Two men, who were required to register as sex offenders, were murdered this week.  Each murder is a tragedy.  Together the murders should serve as a wake-up call that vigilante violence against registrants has returned. The first murder took place on Monday in a Delaware prison when Phillip Langell, who was 69 years old, was stabbed, punched and strangled by his cellmate.  The cellmate is a 55-year-old skinhead convicted of multiple violent offenses and sentenced to life without parole. Perhaps I have watched too many prison movies during the pandemic…

Read More

NJ: Senate Bill Would Reform Chiropractor Board, Ban Sex Offenders from All Health Care Positions

R H

[einnews.com – 5/13/21] Acting in response to the “irresponsible” action by the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners in renewing the professional license of a convicted child sex offender, a Senate committee today approved legislation authored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Joe Vitale that would reform the board and prohibit the licensing of any health care worker convicted of a sex offense. The bill, S-3494, would add two public members to the 11-person chiropractic board and expand its responsibilities in reviewing the qualifications of…

Read More

CA: Sex offender targeted in deadly Wheatland shooting, police say

R H

[abc10.com – 5/12/21] New details are emerging surrounding a bomb scare that caused an evacuation in Wheatland. The otherwise quiet community of Wheatland was shaken Wednesday evening after a bomb scare was tied to a homicide. “All of a sudden [I] hear those initial four shots and I go on the couch in the living room with the house wide open,” said Robert Kesterson. “I said, ‘those were gunshots.’” The disturbing events unfolded on G Street next to Kesterson’s home. Wheatland Police say they found 55-year-old Ralph Mendez shot inside…

Read More

CA: California laws go easier on rapists who attack their spouses

R H

[UPDATE: California Legislature Stalls Efforts to End Spousal Rape Distinction – newuniversity.org – 5/15/21] [sfchronicle.com – 5/12/21] Stanford law professor Michele Dauber thought pushing for changes to the state’s spousal rape laws would be a no-brainer. After all, this is 2021. In so-called progressive California. Why would anybody support old-fashioned laws distinguishing spousal rape from rape, making the latter subject to far more serious consequences? The legislature would surely rubber-stamp it and quickly move on. Nope. It can’t even get a hearing. “I’m shocked. Absolutely shocked,” said Dauber, best known…

Read More

OK: Law enforcement pushing to close loophole allowing sex offenders at Oklahoma school bus stops

R H

[krmg.com – 5/12/21] TULSA, Okla. — Law enforcement says there is a loophole in the law that allows convicted sexual predators to legally be at your child’s school bus stop. After learning of the oversight, following an incident in April, FOX23 went to police and lawmakers to find out what they are doing about it. … Adams wants to give other sex offenders a reason to stay away, so he went to Oklahoma State Rep. Ross Ford. “It really upsets me that we have let that fall through the cracks,”…

Read More