A newly formed Pennsylvania State Police unit working to keep tabs on sex offenders is expected to soon come to Western Pennsylvania. The Megan’s Law Compliance Unit consists of two troopers who work with local agencies to arrest sex offenders who have failed to register their addresses or online accounts or otherwise have violated the terms of their release. Full Article
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PA: Donegal sex offender fights lifetime registration
A Donegal man convicted of assaulting a 14-year-old girl on a walking trail is challenging the constitutionality of lifetime registration with police ordered for certain sex offenders. _____ _____’s contention that he should not be required to register for life because it exceeds the maximum prison sentence for his offense is one of several such appeals filed through the Fayette County Public Defender’s Office. Full Article
Read MoreAre Sex Offender Registries Effective?
MARYLAND – It gives a sense of security for many parents – having access to the state’s sex offender registry. “It’s a way for us to be safe as parents for our children. I use an app to find out if there’s any in the neighborhood. That’s what my sister and I did before, and we actually found some. So we would know to keep an eye out, especially for my daughter that I’m worried about,” Christie Sarminto said. Full Article
Read MoreVa: Teen Could be Jailed for “Sexting” Girlfriend
A Virginia teen is facing two felony charges after he was caught sexting with his girlfriend. If he’s convicted, he could be forced to register as a sex offender and spend time in jail. Full Article Related: Manassas Virginia 17 Year Old (a minor) Who “Sexted” His 15 year old Girlfriend is Forced by a Warrant to Allow the Virginia Authorities to Take Photos of His Genitalia
Read MoreAL: ACLU – Law banning sex offender camp might violate Alabama’s constitution
CLANTON, Alabama — A new law used to shut down a church-affiliated camp for convicted sex offenders in rural Alabama violates a state constitutional amendment designed to protect religious liberty, the American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday. Randall Marshall, legal director of the ACLU’s Alabama office, said the law that went into effect this week is in apparent conflict with the Alabama Religious Freedom Amendment, passed in 1998 to make it tougher for government to infringe on religious rights. Full Article
Read MoreSex Offenders Cannot Even Be Garbage Men?
Anyone that is a registered citizen or has a loved one or friend who is, knows first-hand how difficult it is for a registrant to find employment. First, there are restrictions on where a registrant can work; not only geographically but also in which positions. Second, there is the stigma of hiring a registrant and the potential social and economic backlash that might come when clients or customers of that business learn of the employee’s history. Now, some recent articles have exposed a third challenge… employers can be liable for…
Read MoreSex offenders sue over ordinances that ban them from places
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) – Wasco and Taft are among a group of California cities being sued by a civil rights group that advocates on behalf of sex offenders. In 2006, state voters approved Jessica’s Law, which bars sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Shortly after, numerous cities adopted much more restrictive local laws that prohibit sex offenders from being present in any “children’s facility,” such as a public library, school bus stop, or “any location that facilitates on their property classes or group activities…
Read MoreUpdated: Registration Laws for all 50 States
In time for Summer we have updated our Summary of Registration Laws for all 50 States. Hopefully this will be of use to those planning on traveling during the summer months. Please note that this is a ‘best effort’, it is not intended to take the place of qualified legal advice, and please check the laws at your destination thoroughly (with the links we have provided to the best of our ability). RegistrationRequirementsVisiting-May2014
Read MoreOH: Ohioans can search sex offender phone, email info
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohioans can see whether phone numbers, email addresses or screen names belong to registered sex offenders under a new feature added to the state’s online database. Attorney General Mike DeWine announced the change Thursday in a news conference with the Buckeye State Sheriffs’ Association. Full Article
Read MoreMD: Court Rules Sex Offenders Who Committed Crimes Before 1995 Removed From Registry
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — A major and controversial court ruling could strike a quarter of all names off Maryland’s sex offender registry. It’s now just a question of when. Full Article
Read MoreAlabama Crushes Sex Offender Reform Camp for No Good Reason
In rural Clanton, Alabama, a pastor named Ricky Martin has operated a camp on his property to help convicted sex offenders reform themselves. Martin’s program has since 2010 provided a refuge for over 50 men as they try to assimilate back into society. Not anymore, though. C.J. Robinson, the chief deputy district attorney of Chilton County, thought the group was icky or dangerous or something, so he went out of his way to put an end it. Full Article
Read MoreRoad Map to Restoration (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)
Since 2012, NACDL’s Task Force on Restoration of Rights and Status After Conviction has embarked on a study of relief mechanisms available to those with a conviction on their record on the local, state and federal level. At an event on May 29 at the Open Society Foundations in Washington, DC, NACDL released a major new report – Collateral Damage: America’s Failure to Forgive or Forget in the War on Crime – A Roadmap to Restore Rights and Status After Arrest or Conviction. The report is a comprehensive exploration of the…
Read MoreLA: Sex offender’s 3-year prison sentence for failing to register not excessive
A state appeals court has upheld the three-year prison sentence a Jefferson Parish judge gave a Plaquemines Parish man for failing to complete his sex offender registration. ____ ____, 39, says the punishment is excessive, because he tried to register as a sex offender when he moved to Jefferson Parish but could not afford the $630 notification fee the Sheriff’s Office charged him. Full Article
Read MoreIndependence Day
It’s July and in two days millions of Americans will be celebrating their freedom; but not us, because they have taken away our freedom. These people will be rejoicing over their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; but not us, and this includes our families and millions of little children that have had their innocence stolen and their lives turned into a living hell because a family member is forced to wear the scarlet label. In two days millions of Americans will be celebrating with friends and…
Read MoreStudy: Middle Schoolers Engaged in Sexting Six Times More Likely to Be Sexually Active
Middle school students who have engaged in “sexting” — sending or receiving sexually suggestive text messages or photos — are dramatically more likely to be sexually active, according to a USC study released today. Full Article
Read MoreRiverside County repealing sex offender rules
RIVERSIDE – Riverside County is considering repealing a law that for four years has restricted the activities of convicted sex offenders such as going within 300 feet of day care facilities, schools, school bus stops, parks, public libraries and other places where children gather. Full Article Riverside County Staff Report
Read MoreGeneral Comments July 2014
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of July 2014. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it courteous and civil.
Read MoreAL: Alabama shuts down church’s sex offender housing
CLANTON, Ala. (AP) — Believing it was his calling to reach out to people Jesus called “the least of these,” Pastor Ricky Martin built a little church and opened a camp out back for some of society’s most unwanted people: Sex offenders. With the help of some former inmates convicted of rape, sodomy, child sexual abuse and other crimes, Martin raised a gray-block chapel in a rural patch of central Alabama in 2010, and parked old campers and recreational vehicles behind it to house the men. More than 50 convicted…
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