As the month of September comes to a close, we find ourselves waiting. Waiting for answers in several important cases.
First, we are waiting for a federal district court in Missouri to either issue a decision on the merits of a challenge to the state’s Halloween sign requirement or to clarify whether a temporary restraining order issued last year will remain in effect this year. Although the trial in this case took place in June and final briefs in the case were filed in July, the court has not yet provided guidance regarding whether thousands of registrants must place themselves and/or their families at risk by posting a sign on their home on Halloween. And the court has no deadline.
Second, we are waiting for regulations to be published regarding treatment requirements for registrants on parole in California. A settlement agreement between a state agency and several registrants was reached about six months ago and in that agreement the agency stated they would issue regulations this month. However, today the agency notified the parties that the regulations would not be published until next month. But will they?
Third, we are waiting for the California Department of Justice to create a process by which it will reassign tiers for hundreds of registrants convicted of an attempted offense. The agency was required to do this in a court order issued in March 2024. And the lack of such a process means that there are hundreds of individuals who are not able to petition for removal from the registry. This is so despite a series of requests for information about the future process, including the timeline when such a process could be created. Instead, the agency has failed to provide any meaningful answers.
We have all been taught that patience is a virtue. But how can it be virtuous to harm people who are required to register and/or their families for no good reason? Why is that registrants and their families must bear the burden of waiting while government officials continue to live their lives unencumbered?
There are no answers to these rhetorical questions. Therefore, I look to a different wise saying, “Patience is not simply the ability to wait, it’s how we behave while we’re waiting.”
As we wait, let’s continue to be peaceful as we prepare our journey toward The Tipping Point where we will achieve our ultimate goal – ending the registry. There are three paths on which we can reach this goal – litigation, legislation and education. Please choose one or more of those paths and meet us at The Tipping Point.
We are also waiting… still waiting.. for the legislature to approve the changes to the tier for 288c which has been sitting there for a long time.
There’s a principle that people like myself
are encouraged to live by as Christians living by the teachings of the New Testament. This principle is known as longanimity. Or longsuffering. It is my biggest challenge.
Longanimity is basically not reacting, rather remaining cool, collected and holding oneself to a high standard of character. Allowing faith and trust in God to sustain me through these challenging times when I want to be like Jesus in the temple square; I want to go and f#@k s#@t up. I want to retaliate against this government that has done me wrong. They lied and they cheated. I want to go to the news media with everything I know.
When is okay to say enough is enough and retaliate, or when should I standby and trust in Him to deliver us all from all of this moral panic bulls#@t.
My faith is stronger than my disdain, so for now, I continue to wait.
A lot of PFR’s are also waiting for a final SORNA injunction to be applied nationwide. It’s been 1 year 8 months. The last report was a US District Court in CA was waiting for “the administrative record” and a “definitive accounting of every legal consequence”. Does anyone have an update on this?
It seems that future agreements with the CDCR need to have some sort of compelling verbiage included in the agreement — a “stick” that would hopefully light a fire under them to actually fulfill the agreement within the allotted time agreed upon…
Patience is, indeed, one of the virtues. And, indeed, it is important for all of us to stay peaceful and lawful.
But someone said that Justice delayed is justice denied. We have been denied justice in so many ways!
There are two sets of justice in this country; one for us and one for everyone else. (All returning citizens in Florida automatically get their vote restored EXCEPT us – two sets of justice!)
I believe that we must peacefully assemble tens of thousands (or more) of us and march in protest on a national level. This should be a priority because these injustices are hidden. They must be brought into the light for all to see.
This government blacklist is a putrid boil on the backside of America! It must be lanced and cleaned out!
Its ramifications to the foundations of our nation’s liberty must be brought out into the light of day!
With a court order to reassign tiers, the CA DOJ is negligently delaying the process. This is akin to being held in prison beyond your set time.
I would try to find those convicted of attempted crimes who would qualify for de-registration and put a clock from the date the Court ruled to change the tiers. Could sue them for emotional distress for being held onto the registry longer than they should be with how slow the CA DOJ has been dragging their feet. Essentially, the CA DOJ is preventing a subgroup of registrants from regaining liberties and freedom.