Source: ACSOL
The number of individuals required to register in California continues to decline, according to a report made by the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) during the January 18 meeting of the California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB). Specifically, the number of individuals required to register decreased by 896 from 105,738 to 104,842 between November 2023 and January 2024. Of that total, there are 76,575 registrants in the community of whom 19,789 are in violation due to registration issues. There are also 6,503 individuals required to register who are transient and must register every 30 days.
The California Department of Justice also reported that the number of petitions for removal from the registry continues to increase. The total number of petitions filed thus far is 7,898 which is an increase of 497 between November 2023 and January 2024. Of that total, courts have granted 5,930 petitions and denied only 111 petitions. The remaining number of petitions are either pending (1,432) or have been dismissed (425) because the individuals were not eligible to petition.
Also during the CASOMB meeting, the California Department of Corrections reported that there are 20,165 individuals in custody who are required to register. The Department of Parole Operations reported that there are 6,789 individuals required to register on parole and all are required to wear GPS monitors.
Further, members of the CASOMB board discussed their draft annual report, copies of which were not provided to the public during the meeting. CASOMB members disclosed, however, that the annual report includes the board’s recommendations regarding proposed changes to the Tiered Registry Law. Those changes include reductions in tier assignments for those convicted of possession of unlawful images (PC 311.11), lewd or lascivious acts with a 14 or 15 year old (PC 288(c)(1)) and unlawful communication with minors (PC 288.2, PC 288.3 and PC 288.4). The CASOMB annual report is expected to be finalized, printed and distributed to legislative offices in March.
The next CASOMB meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. on March 21 in Sacramento. The meeting address is 2590 Venture Oaks Way. In order to attend that meeting, the public as well as members of the board must appear in person as it will not be possible to attend the meeting virtually.
So, 896 of 105,738 registrants (less than 1%) were removed in California. Nationally that number is negligible. For the remaining 49 States and the nearly 1 million PFR’s out there, this is… Well.. I don’t know what to say. I almost feel as though it’s a distraction in the grand scheme of ending anything regarding the registry.