ACSOL CA Good News Alert: Senate Bill 1128 Stopped in Committee Hearing

CA Senate Bill 1128 was stopped today during a hearing conducted by the Assembly’s Appropriations Committee.  The committee did not provide a reason for stopping the bill, but it has been reported that strong opposition to the bill by ACSOL and its leaders was an important part of that decision.   “ACSOL thanks every person who showed up at the committee hearing on July 2, who sent a letter to the committee and who called committee members,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci.  “You made a difference by showing up,…

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Florida City to Consider Significant Increase Residency Restrictions

The City of Westlake, Florida, is scheduled to consider tomorrow a significant increase in its residency restrictions from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet.  If the city ordinance is adopted, most individuals convicted of a sex offense involving a minor who is 15 years or younger would be prohibited from living near schools, libraries, day care centers, parks, playgrounds, community centers, day camps or any other place where children regularly congregate.  “The city ordinance under consideration would violate state law if it is adopted,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci.  “That…

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CA Democrats ‘Water Down’ Sex Trafficking Bill. Good. The original version was overly punitive.

By: ELIZABETH NOLAN BROWN California Democrats are taking heat for “water[ing] down” a “child sex trafficking bill.” But—as anyone whose brain isn’t completely broken by politics might imagine—this isn’t a case of lawmakers trying to make life easy for people who abuse and exploit children. They’re just trying to insert a smidge of sanity into the bill’s punishment schemes. The scorn with which this has been met underscores how hard it is for legislators to push back against policies that are purportedly about protecting children. The Bill  The measure in question—Senate Bill…

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It’s Time to Sign Up for ACSOL Zoom Conference to be held on September 20 and September 21

It’s time to sign up for ACSOL’s annual conference that will be held on Friday, September 20, and Saturday, September 21.  The conference will be virtual and therefore accessible both by Zoom and by phone.  The early bird discount price to attend the conference is $25. “This year’s conference will offer a wide range of dynamic speakers that have important information to share,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci.  “For example, ACLU attorney Kimberly Buddin will provide an overview of the registry nationwide and licensed social worker Alex Gittinger will…

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Janice’s Journal: It’s Time to Show You Care

We are a community. A community that includes people required to register, their families and those who support them. Some members of the community never committed a sex offense but pled guilty anyway. Some members of the community have been convicted of a non-violent, non-contact offense. And some members of the community have been convicted of heinous acts and designated as sexually violent predators. Although members of the community appear to be different, we are fundamentally the same because we all know that the registration system is broken and does…

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Please Call to Oppose CA Senate Bill 1128 that Could Add up to 32,000 People to Registry

It’s not too late to call members of the CA Assembly Public Safety Committee and let them know that you oppose Senate Bill 1128. The committee will hear that bill on July 2. Committee members need to know that if this bill is enacted into law, up to 32,000 people could be added to the registry according to the California Department of Justice. People who may have been convicted more than 30 years ago and who have never been required to register. They also need to know that judges already…

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Join ACSOL on July 2 to Oppose SB 1128

Senate Bill 1128, that could add up to 32,000 people to the registry, will be considered by the Assembly Public Safety Committee on July 2. The hearing is: CA State Capitol Room 126 Tuesday, July 2 Will begin at 9 a.m. Other bills will also be considered that day. “It is extremely important that as many people as possible attend the July 2 hearing,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “We must stop Senate Bill 1128 and attendance at this hearing may be the last opportunity to do so. Although…

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Read the responses from convicted police officers and their agencies

A Washington Post investigation found hundreds of police officers have sexually exploited kids. The Washington Post obtained thousands of court filings, police records and other documents to report on law enforcement officers accused of crimes involving child sexual abuse. Read the findings of our investigation, Abused by the Badge. Information about some of the officers, including whom they worked for, what they were convicted of and any comments they provided, appear in this key. The Post tried to contact them and the lawyers who represented them in their criminal cases.…

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Janice’s Journal: It’s a Game of Jenga

Let us be clear. The ultimate goal of ACSOL is to eliminate the registry.  The only question is how do we do it? For many years, ACSOL has identified three paths toward elimination of the registry – education, litigation, and legislation. ACSOL has traveled and continues to travel down all three paths. Many people want a definite answer. They want to know which path will ultimately lead to the end of the registry.  My honest answer is I don’t know. And the fact is I don’t care. That is, I…

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D.C. Vigil Educates U. S. Supreme Court, Public – Smith v. Doe Must Go!

2 Replays now available.  A vigil was held on Friday, March 15, near the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to educate both the Court and the public regarding significant harms that have resulted from Smith V. Doe, a decision issued by that court in 2003.  Speakers at the vigil included civil rights attorney Janice Bellucci of California, David Garlock of Pennsylvania, Danell Puglisi-Knutson of Florida, Shawna Baldwin of Arizona and Christopher Sparks of Florida.   The vigil was live streamed using Zoom technology and a recording of the vigil will…

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