[thecrimereport.org – 1/7/20] The justice system traditionally uses a simple metric to determine whether an individual continues to be a threat to public safety after leaving prison: has the person been arrested for another crime? Recidivism rates are also used as criteria for judging the success of intervention programs and policy reforms. But a University of Wisconsin Law School professor argues that in both cases, the system too often gets it wrong. Prof. Cecilia M. Klingele. Photo courtesy University of Wisconsin In a recent essay for the Journal of Criminal…
Read MoreAuthor: R H
Participate in our study on veterans who have been convicted of a sex crime
[Note from Janice: I recommend this. Emily is a part of ACSOL] Dear Veterans, There is still time to participate in our study on veterans who have been convicted of a sex crime. Thank you to those who have already participated in this research project. As of January 8, 2020, we have received 164 completed surveys; however, we still need more veterans on the registry to complete the survey. Our goal is to have a minimum of 250-300 completed surveys by the end of the month. If you have yet…
Read MoreNY: Cuomo plans to ban sex offenders from MTA transit system
[pix11.com – 1/7/20] Repeat and high-risk sex offenders would be banned from the MTA tranist system under a new law proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The NYPD announced support for the ban when Cuomo suggested it in March of 2019. The ban would apply to offenders for three years and blocks them from the subway, bus and rail systems. “MTA riders deserve to feel safe, and we have an obligation to ensure they will not be targeted by sex offenders,” Gov. Cuomo said Tuesday. “Enough is enough. If we want…
Read MoreTX: Family says they’re being targeted due to criminal past
[kens5.com – 1/6/20] Obscene symbols and hateful words fill the walls outside a San Antonio home. The messages are directed at the registered sex offender who lives in the house. Watch the video
Read MorePA: Five Cases Could Significantly Reform Pennsylvania’s Sex Offense Registry. The State’s Attorney General Is Pushing Back
[theappeal.org – 1/7/20] Josh Shapiro has warned that changing the state’s sex offense registry requirements threatens public safety. But experts say his fears are unfounded and the registry provides little to no public safety benefit. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected to rule on five cases this year that could change how the state treats people convicted of sex offenses, and could ease the state’s sex offense registry restrictions, commonly referred to as Megan’s Law. But in a December opinion piece, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro warned that if the…
Read MoreACSOL Meeting in San Diego on Saturday, Jan 11
ACSOL’s upcoming meeting in San Diego is as follows Saturday, January 11 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!…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: Polygraphs and Integrity
Watching one of those forensic tv shows, a police officer was accused of murdering his wife. All the evidence pointed to him as the killer. He took a polygraph and passed. He still went to jail. Later, re-creation of the murder scene and testimony by expert witnesses on the angles of gunshots found the officer not guilty, the murder was instead, a suicide. Passing a polygraph in this case, as in many cases, didn’t really seem to matter. Failing a polygraph is what gets the fingers pointing and tongues wagging,…
Read MoreBreaking the Cycle of Mass Incarceration
[brennancenter.org – 1/3/20] NYU law professor and author Rachel Barkow offers solutions for tackling America’s criminal justice crisis. The forces that created and perpetuate mass incarceration have been entrenched for decades. In her book, Prisoners of Politics: Breaking the Cycle of Mass Incarceration, New York University law professor Rachel Barkow details solutions for fixing the system’s myriad problems. She talked to the Brennan Center’s Ruth Sangree about some of them. What is the best-case scenario for criminal justice reform in the coming years? It involves reform at the state and federal level. It gives…
Read MoreTN: Tennessee Lawmaker Bruce Griffey Files Bill To Chemically Castrate Convicted Sex Offenders
[inquisitr.com – 1/3/20] A Tennessee lawmaker has introduced a bill that would require anyone convicted of a sexual offense against a child under the age of 13 to be chemically castrated, The Tennesseean reports. Bruce Griffey, a Republican from the rural community of Paris, introduced the bill which, should it be passed, would become effective in July. Under the language of the bill, which is nearly identical to that of a similar law approved last year in Alabama, those sentenced for the crime would undergo a chemical injection that “reduces,…
Read MoreIreland: Laws to protect sex offenders’ identities must be considered, says outgoing probation chief
[irishtimes.com – 1/1/20] Ireland should consider introducing privacy laws to protect the identities of sex offenders being released back into the community, the outgoing director of the Probation Service believes. Such laws, which are in place in several other countries, would prevent the public naming of offenders in the media and would aid in their rehabilitation and therefore reduce the risk of re-offending, Vivian Geiran said. “I certainly think there is a case to be made for that,” Mr Geiran said in an interview ahead of his retirement after seven…
Read MoreA look at 15 states making it easier to sue over sex abuse
[billingsgazette.com – 12/3/19] Eight states and the District of Columbia have established “lookback windows” allowing people to sue no matter how long ago the alleged abuse took place. They can file civil suits against both their alleged abusers such as priests and the church or other institutions where they worked. NEW YORK — One-year window allowing previously barred suits opened August 14. After that, suits allowed until age 55, up from 23 before the law was passed. NEW JERSEY — Two-year window opened Dec. 1. After that ends, suits allowed…
Read MoreCA: New AB 218 law allowing childhood sexual assault victims more time to report draws widespread praise
CALIFORNIA: [ocregister.com – 10/15/19] AB 218 extends statute of limitations allowing victims to file lawsuits up until age 40. Advocates, lawyers and victims across the state on Monday lauded a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom allowing victims of childhood sexual assault more time to file lawsuits. Assembly Bill 218 affects those abused in many walks of life, from Olympics swimmers and schoolchildren to Boy Scouts and young Catholic churchgoers. The bill, signed by the governor on Sunday and taking effect Jan. 1, gives victims of childhood sexual…
Read MoreDominica island: BPW calls for a sex offenders registry in Dominica
[loopslu.com – 12/31/19] The Dominica chapter of Business and Professional Women (BPW) is working with other women’s rights groups across the region, to ensure that dreams of a sex offenders registry on the nature isle, is realized. President of BPW Dominica, Rhoda St. John, said “We are working with a number of Caribbean islands where we’re going to be looking at getting the sex offenders registries implemented not only in Dominica, but in as many of the Caribbean islands as we can in 2020.” The aim, she said is to…
Read MoreUK: Children In The UK As Young As 4 Are Being Investigated and Given Criminal Records For Sexting
[inquisitr.com – 12/30/19] Thousands of children across the United Kingdom — some as young as four years old — have been investigated by the police for “sexting” — that is, consensually sharing sexually explicit images of themselves with each other, The Guardian reports. In some cases, the children have even been given criminal records. Laws against child pornography have been around for decades, intended to protect children from being sexually exploited and to punish those who would possess such images and/or share them with each other. However, teenagers — and…
Read MoreNY: Make Plea Bargains In Felony Sex Abuse Cases More Difficult
[post-journal.com – 12/20/19] New York state doesn’t want to be too harsh on those convicted of crimes. That thought applies to the intransigence of state Democrats to broach the idea of tweaking their much-criticized criminal justice reforms just as it does to a piece of common-sense legislation that has been introduced for the past six years in the state Legislature without ever becoming law. Past history didn’t stop Assemblyman Fred Thiele Jr., R-Sag Harbor, from reintroducing legislation that would make it harder for prosecutors and defense attorneys from making plea…
Read MoreCA: State court revives psychotherapist challenge to law on patients who reveal child porn activity
[sfchronicle.com – 12/26/19] The California Supreme Court revived a challenge by psychotherapists Thursday to a state law requiring them to notify the government about any patient who has viewed child pornography. The law, passed in 2014, expanded statutes from the 1980s that required therapists to report to police or child welfare offices — or face loss of their licenses and criminal prosecution — when a patient has produced, distributed or duplicated images of juveniles engaged in sexual activity. The new law extended the requirement to patients who downloaded or viewed…
Read MoreIL: Illinois law will remove the statute of limitations for adult sex crimes
[mdjonline.com – 12/26/19] A new law will remove the statute of limitations for sexual assault crimes in Illinois. Lawmakers passed House Bill 2135 this spring. Oswego state Rep. Keith Wheeler introduced the measure in the House. Aurora state Sen. Linda Holmes introduced the Senate version. The law will remove the statute of limitations for the prosecution of sexual assault crimes against adults. General Counsel for the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault Sarah Beuning said the new law was “a very big deal in the message it sends to survivors about how serious…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: Pardons and Commutations
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin spent some of his last days in office/2019 issuing pardons and commutations. A fine gift of “peace on earth and good will towards men” if you ask me. But there are grinches among us. Many people were not quite so happy with the Governor’s actions when word got out that some of those pardons and commutations went to those who had been convicted of violent crimes including murder and rape. One of the most contested pardons, the one picked up by the major news stations, was…
Read More