[thecrimereport.org – 2/19/19] Since he was released from prison almost five years ago, John has never had a place he can call home. Suffering from Parkinson’s disease, he spends nights outside in remote areas of Miami-Dade County—sleeping outside on a mat or in the front seat of his son’s truck. John (not his real name) was convicted in 1994 of a sex offense involving a minor. His homelessness is a direct result of the Lauren Book Child Safety Ordinance, enacted in Miami-Dade County in 2010, which bans individuals convicted of…
Read MoreAuthor: R H
AZ: MariCo attorney behind push to slightly loosen sex offender registry law
More sex offenders would become eligible to have their names removed from the Arizona’s sex offender registry but would face new hurdles in doing so, under legislation being pushed by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. But some criminal justice reform advocates oppose the bill, saying it may actually make it harder for people to get off of the registry. Full Article
Read MoreOur cruel, counterproductive sex offender laws: Anthony Weiner is a window into what’s wrong with our system of punishment
[nydailynews.com – 2/20/19] Emily Horowitz is a member of the ACSOL Board of Directors and was a Speaker at the 2018 ACSOL Conference. Last week, Anthony Weiner was released from federal prison to a Bronx halfway house after serving 21 months for sending sexually-explicit messages to a 15-year-old girl. Next, like approximately 4.5 million others on probation/parole, he’ll spend 3 years on supervised release. Supervised release is no cakewalk; while on it, one is subject to unannounced visits and random searches, needs approval for travel and housing, and must regularly…
Read MoreMT: The Latest: Fox asks Montana lawmakers to act on [child sex crime] time limits
[kansas.com – 2/19/19] HELENA, Mont. The Latest on Montana cases before the Supreme Court (all times local): 4:20 p.m. Montana Attorney General Tim Fox is asking state lawmakers to act after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his petition that would have allowed prosecutors to charge a man for the decades-old rape of an 8-year-old girl. The Republican attorney general called the high court’s decision Tuesday “beyond disappointing.” He is urging the Legislature to repeal statutes of limitations for child sex crimes, saying no offender “should find comfort in running out…
Read MoreNC: Cleveland Co. Sheriff’s Office to start posting names of registered sex offenders on Facebook
[wsoctv.com – 2/18/19] CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. – Cleveland County’s Sheriff’s Office is taking unprecedented steps to make sure you know if a sex offender moves in near you. It is posting on its Facebook page information about sex offenders who have changed their address or who have just become sex offenders. Officials said there is a higher percentage of registered sex offenders in the county than in other counties of similar size, so people need extra help to stay safe. Read more
Read MoreACSOL’s first Emotional Support Group PHONE meeting will be in March
You asked for it and we now have it: an Emotional Support Group meeting on a phone conference call! It will meet at a different date and time from the face-to-face group that meets the fourth Saturday of each month in L.A. Like the face-to-face meeting, this phone conference is based upon 12 Step principles, and provides registrants and their loved ones with an opportunity to discuss personal challenges. However, unlike the face-to-face meeting, no one is allowed to just drop in to the meeting. The exact meeting date and…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: Is Remorse a Requirement for Registrants?
Remorse: A gnawing distress arising from a sense of guilt for past wrongs, according to Merriam-Webster. In a recent interview TV star Bill Cosby stated he was “not remorseful and did nothing wrong”, maintaining his innocence in the sexual assault crimes that were leveled against him in a well- known TV news media circus court case. So what happens to those accused of sex offenses who maintain their innocence throughout their trials, prison sentences and even after they are set free? Where is the line in the sand drawn between…
Read MoreACSOL Emotional Support Group Meeting Alert in L.A. on Sat, Feb 23
ACSOL will conduct an Emotional Support Group for registrants and their loved ones on Saturday, February 23, beginning at 10 a.m. at: ACLU Building 1313 W. 8th Street Los Angeles Free parking is available under the building and there is no charge to attend the meeting. This meeting, which is based upon the format of 12 Step meetings, provides registrants and their loved ones with an opportunity to discuss personal challenges and share their experiences, strengths and hopes, with each other. Attendance is limited to individuals required to register, family…
Read MoreACSOL Meeting in Berkeley on Saturday, Feb 23
Please mark your calendars for ACSOL’s upcoming meeting in Berkeley: Saturday, Feb 23 10 a.m. Finnish Hall (upstairs meeting room) 1970 Chestnut Street Berkeley Attendance is limited to individuals required to register, family members, and friends. Media, law enforcement, parole, etc. are not allowed to attend meetings. 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 MoreWhat do these people have in common? [Florida Action Committee]
[floridaactioncommittee.org – 2/14/19] What do the following people have in common? An Air Force Colonel A prison guard A Christian school teacher They are all in positions where they are responsible for protecting people? Yes, but not what I was looking for. They all require specialized training and background clearances? True, but again, not what I had in mind. They are all people we should trust and respect? Ok, not the answer I had in mind. Guess again… They are all sex offenders? Bingo! You guessed it! I scan the…
Read MoreCA: Root and Rebound’s Free Oakland legal clinic for people with records on March 6
Come to R&R’s next FREE legal clinic for people with arrest and conviction records. Examples of legal issues we can support on include: • Parole and Probation conditions; • Child Visitation and Custody, and Child Support rights; • Record-cleaning; • Fines & Fees and other Court-ordered debt; • Employment rights and “Ban the Box”; • Occupational license issues; • Housing rights; • Getting a Driver’s License or other form of ID; • Immigration rights with a record; • Voting rights. • And any other issue related to having a record.…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: To Compete In Today’s World, Registrants Need Computer Access
Making it out of prison alive is a success in itself. Making a success of your life once you are out of prison is often a whole different story. Registrants who are prohibited from using smartphones and computers, often those on probation, may find it a struggle trying to reintegrate into today’s fast paced techno- world without the proper tools. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to succeed in society without having access to computer technology that’s the norm for most men, women and children. For registrants, every day there’s some new…
Read MoreTN: Charges dropped against youth football coach who was accused of violating Sex Offender Registry Act
[fox13memphis.com – 2/8/19] Charges were dismissed against a Memphis Youth football coach. He was wrongfully accused of violating the state’s sexual offender registration laws. Police had arrested and charged Mykal Madision with Sexual Offender Registration and tracking on Wednesday. It happened after a parent of one of Madison’s players said he was a registered sex offender. Madison is currently listed on the Texas sex offender registry Read more
Read MoreThe Number of Men in Federal Prison for Viewing or Sharing Child Pornography Has Nearly Septupled Since 2004
The number of child pornography offenders in federal prison has nearly septupled since 2004, and most are serving mandatory sentences of five years or more, generally for crimes that did not involve assault or sexual abuse. In fiscal year 2016, for example, 1,565 people were sentenced for possessing, receiving, or distributing child pornography, but only 80 (5 percent) were also convicted of production or another form of sexual abuse. The average sentence was more than eight years. Download the report: JacobSullum_Number-imprisoned-septupled
Read MoreWA: Sheriff’s Seeking Input on Proposed Domestic Offender Registry [House Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 5244]
[newstalk870.am Washington State] The Franklin County Sheriff’s office posted some comments on their Facebook page, seeking public input on two companion bills (one in House, one in Senate) being debated in Olympia. :House Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 5244 would create a database for domestic violence offenders, similar to that which has been out for years for sex offenders. The Sheriff’s Department clarifies what the bills would do. Here’s part of that commentary: “House Bill 1080 and companion Bill SB 5244 would mandate the registry of persons convicted of a…
Read MoreEngland: Headteacher banned after ‘she didn’t disclose relationship with sex offender’
[birminghammail.co.uk – 2/6/19] A headteacher has been banned from the country’s classrooms after she failed to disclose her relationship with a sex offender. Caroline Riley, 54, dishonestly failed to reveal the courtship while she was head teacher at George Betts Primary School in Smethwick. She took over as head in 2009 and a Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) disciplinary panel found that the following year, despite advice to the contrary, she failed to disclose the relationship. The disciplinary panel also heard she misled an investigation into the situation by saying she…
Read MoreTrinidad AG: Child sex offenders will have passports marked
[stlucianewsonline.com – 2/6/19] The marking of convicted child sex offenders’ passports is one of the amendments in new sexual offences legislation, reported Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. He was piloting the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill in the Senate today. He said borrowing from the Australian and US laws, the passports will say “child sex offender.” He added the individual will have the ability to possibly have the record expunged. Al-Rawi explained with the Sexual Offenders Registry, there will be a public database with limited information such as photo, name and address,…
Read MoreTrinidad and Tobago: Senator objects to public naming of sex convicts
[guardian.co.tt – 2/5/19] At least one Independent Senator is not in support of the names of sexual offenders going public. Sophia Chote, SC, said that this has the potential of opening the floodgates for vigilante justice in T&T. Chote made the comment in the Senate on Tuesday during her contribution on the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill to create a sexual offenders registry. She said making the names of sexual offenders public will also stigmatise the name of the convicted person. “So if the T&T Police Service has a list of…
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