[tribune242.com – 7/4/19] JUSTICE Bernard Turner yesterday expressed concern that the establishment of a sexual offences court could have a “disruptive impact” as legal counsel may already have matters scheduled for other courts. Speaking during yesterday’s session of the National Crime Council, Justice Turner also said judges undergo sensitivity training to deal with these kinds of matters. Justice Turner was also asked his views on the establishment of the sexual offender’s registry. While he declined to comment specifically, he noted communities have an “obligation to protect themselves” without “unnecessarily stigmatising…
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Kat’s Blog: Tennessee Temporary Restraining Order Extended Indefinitely
We were all waiting for July 11, 2019 the court date for the preliminary injunction regarding whether or not TN registrants would be allowed to continue to reside in their homes with minor children. July 10th 2019 an Agreed Order Extending the Temporary Restraining Order, was filed in The United States District Court for The Middle District of TN At Nashville. What should have been a slam-dunk win for registrants, even according to the judge who stated “plaintiffs have demonstrated a strong or substantial likelihood of success on the merits…
Read MoreNC: Animal abusers could appear on registry — like sex offenders in North Carolina
[abc30.com – 7/10/19] RALEIGH, N..C — A new bill introduced in the North Carolina legislature would require the names and photos of convicted animal abusers to appear in an online registry for at least two years. The legislation is called the North Carolina Animal Abuser Registry Act and it was introduced by North Carolina state Sens. Floyd McKissick, a Democrat, and Danny Britt, a Republican. First-time offenders would be put on the registry “for two years following the date of conviction.” After two years, the individual would be removed from…
Read MoreDepartment of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender Registry
[justice.gov – 7/11/19] The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems. TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring,…
Read MoreACSOL ACTION ALERT! Call Assy Approp. Committee to support CA Senate Bill 145
The calls you have made so far about CA Senate Bill 145 have made a dramatic difference in blocking Residency Restrictions! Great teamwork! You also helped LGBTQ registrants from being treated unjustly. They appreciate that! Your calls also have given ACSOL a huge increase in political credibility, especially in gratitude from Senator Scott Wiener for supporting SB 145, which affects a key constituent of his. Let’s keep the momentum going! We want to finish the last two steps in getting SB 145 passed to cement our political credibility. The next…
Read More[Updated 7/9/19] Facebook updates standards to allow death threats against alleged sexual offenders
[Updated by ACSOL 7/9/19] Earlier today it was reported by the Washington Examiner newspaper that Facebook had revised its posting policies to allow individuals to post threats of harm to anyone who the media had identified as committing a sex offense. In record time, Facebook has reversed those policies and now states that it will not allow such threats to be posted. Below is link to the newest revised policies. Facebook did not explain why it made this remarkably quick change, but regardless we can be grateful that the change…
Read MoreCA: Program lets victims confront offenders
[avpress.com – 7/9/19] SACRAMENTO— California officials are experimenting with a new diversion program for criminals that includes allowing victims to directly confront their offenders. The budget that took effect July 1 includes $5 million to fund the program for five years in a county with a history of high crime, although it has been tried elsewhere and is more frequently used with juvenile offenders. The California program is for offenders of any age. It will pair victims and offenders before they are convicted, and offenders who complete the program can…
Read MoreNY: NY Sex Offenders Don’t Have To Disclose Facebook Accounts To Law Enforcement, Court Says
[dailyvoice.com – 7/8/19] People convicted of sexual offenses in New York will not have to disclose their status and will be permitted to use their Facebook accounts provided they don’t use a false name. The New York State Supreme Court unanimously made the ruling on Thursday, June 27, after a man from Ticonderoga was charged for failing to disclose to state officials that he used the social media website. His case has since been dismissed. Read more Related links: Where sex offenders don’t socially register [observertoday.com – 7/7/19]
Read MoreSUCCESS! Your calls worked! ACSOL supports SB 145 again because residency restrictions are removed! But still come July 9!
Newly Revised SB 145 Deletes References to Residency Restrictions! Senate Bill 145 was revised today by deleting all references in that bill to both residency restrictions and Jessica’s Law. Specifically, Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the earlier version of the bill have been removed. The newly revised version of SB 145 will be considered on July 9 by the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee. “This is a significant victory for registrants and their families,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “This victory came about due to the efforts of individuals…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: The Media Loves To Hate “Sex Offenders”
The manner in which news about sexual offenses is reported by the media affects public opinion and perception of “sex offenders”. Registrants seldom receive good press and it seems too often that “as the media goes, so goes the law.” While re-offense rates for registrants are on the decline compared to other types of offenses, news media ignores and fails to report these facts. Positive facts about registrants just don’t make for eye-catching headlines, they don’t create the hype and moral panic that media relies on to sustain its self.…
Read MoreWI: City must set aside emotion on sex offenders
[lakegenevanews.net – 7/3/19] I know how people feel about sex offenders. I agree that sex crimes are reprehensible, especially those in which children are the victims. Such offenders often face long prison sentences or long commitments inside mental health treatment centers. And rightfully so. But after they are released from custody — after they have paid their dues to society — these offenders have rights just like any other American citizen. Among other things, they have a right to live wherever they choose. I know that is difficult to hear.…
Read MoreAR: Arkansas woman must register as sex offender after trying to frame husband for child porn, rape
[wreg.com – 7/2/19] BENTONVILLE, Ark. — An Arkansas woman was given six years probation for trying to frame her husband by downloading child pornography on his cellphone and telling authorities he raped a 13-year-old girl. Cherie Renee Bolton, 34, of Siloam Springs, pleaded guilty last week in Benton County Circuit Court to distributing, possessing or viewing child pornography and filing a false police report. Bolton must register as a sex offender and pay more than $2,000 in fines and court fees. Judge Brad Karren also ordered that Bolton must serve…
Read MoreNo Havens for Registered Persons: Why “Most ‘Sex Offenders’ Per Capita” is a Meaningless Statistic
[sosen.org – 7/1/19] A Patch.com article entitled “Sex Offenders: How Illinois Ranks On Registry,” published June 27, 2019, proclaims that Illinois ranks 25th, smack dab in the middle of the list for most registered persons per capita. The article cited ASecureLife, a private website that reviews (and promotes) various security products. In turn, ASecureLife cited the stats from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The statistic has no real meaning, quite frankly. In 2011, Indiana, the state next to Illinois, endured the tragic murder of Aliahna Lemmon. The…
Read MoreCA: City of San Diego Asserts that SB 145 Will Allow Cities to Adopt Residency Restrictions for All Registrants
[ACSOL – 7/2/19] In a motion filed today in federal district court, the City of San Diego asserted that the current language of SB 145 would allow cities to adopt new residency restrictions that apply to all registrants, not just registrants currently on parole. The City’s motion was filed in response to a motion filed last week by the plaintiffs for partial summary judgement. The plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment was based upon a state appellate court ruling that limits the application of residency restrictions to registrants while they…
Read More[UPDATED 7/5/19] EMERGENCY Action Alert: ACSOL reverses position on SB 145! Please make calls now!
SUCCESS! Your calls worked! We support SB 145 again because residency restrictions are removed! Read about our new strategy
Read MoreTN: Tennessee Judge Grants Temporary Restraining Order
[floridaactioncommittee.org – 6/30/19] A federal Judge in Tennessee has issued a temporary restraining order blocking a law scheduled to go into effect tomorrow from being enforced. The law would have prevented a parent from living with or having unsupervised access to their own children if they have ever committed a sex offense. Read more The original story: TN: New Law Forces Dozens on Sex Offender Registry from their Homes
Read MoreEmotional Support Group is now available in Sacramento most Thursdays!
You don’t have to be stranded on an island! Help is on the way! Do you feel like you are alone and no one else knows what you are going through, and too afraid to ask? Well, that day has passed… This Emotional Support Group is for those dealing with the stigma of a sex offense and their loved ones. This is based on a 12 step meeting format that allows people to discuss the emotional toil and challenges of life on the registry. When: Most Thursdays from 6:30 to…
Read MoreGA: Tag reading cams going up at these schools to catch speeders, sex offenders
[wsbtv.com – 6/22/19] GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. – School’s out, but new safety measures are already planned for the upcoming school year. New tag reading cameras are going up at four schools in Gwinnett County to catch speeders and sex offenders in school zones. “I believe it’ll be a great idea because the safety of our children is what’s important,” said parent Lauren Walker-Robertson. Content Continues Below … Officials are also working to allow the cameras access to the statewide offender database. That way, the cameras can read tags and alert…
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