Washington State courts are now authorized to grant certain individuals a Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (CROP), which prohibits many state licensing entities from disqualifying the holder solely based on his or her criminal history. A CROP also protects employers and housing providers from liability for negligent hiring and renting. The new certificate authority was created by HB 1533, which was signed by Governor Jay Inslee on March 31 and took effect last month. In light of the trend toward giving courts responsibility for restoring legal rights and certifying rehabilitation, we took…
Read MoreAuthor: Admin
Schools turn to high-tech security to block sex offenders from campuses
Parents now go through an extra step on some Orange County campuses that are on the lookout for sex offenders. Full Article
Read MoreWhy the sex offender registry isn’t the right way to punish rapists
There are two parts to any criminal sentence for any crime involving sex. There’s the standard sentence: prison time or probation. As soon as the first sentence ends, the second one begins. After getting released from prison, an ex-offender has to sign up for his state’s sex offender registry. If he moves to another state, he’ll have to sign up there too. Depending on the state and the seriousness of the crime, his name, picture, and information will be publicly listed for all to see — permanently. Full Article
Read MoreIN: COA reverses lifetime sex offender registration, upholds ban from school property
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with a man challenging his lifetime registration as a sex offender that the law as applied to him violates the Indiana Constitution’s prohibition against ex post facto laws. But he lost a similar challenge to the unlawful-entry statute that prohibits him from entering school property. Full Article
Read MoreSD: Letter – Celebrating freedom in the ‘Land of the Free’
As we prepare to stand watching and enjoying “the freedom parade,” with our children and grandchildren, we must think about the many families who are not allowed that privilege as a family. This single group of American citizens have been “labeled” sex offenders and are banished from public events where children are present, even if it means their own children will have to attend “without them.” How do we explain to those children that “our freedom” excludes their loved ones from attending “family” functions because of a poor choice they…
Read MoreAUS: Derryn Hinch’s mission to change Australia’s sex registry
Senator Derryn Hinch wants to use his newly appointed powers to publically expose sex offenders and pinpoint precisely where they live. Full Article Related Don’t Elect Dangerous Derryn Hinch: The Case For Treating Criminals Humanely
Read MoreIL: Little-known registry lists murderers in your town, but is it a good thing?
… But a few strategic keystrokes will lead anyone with internet access to information about _____’s murder conviction, his current address and a recent photo. His is among more than 3,600 names on the Illinois State Police Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry, a tool established in 2012 by state lawmakers at the urging of families of victims. … “I’ve had comments on that already, where people think you’re a sex offender,” _____ said. “I’m not a registered sex offender.” But because of the similarity between the two registries,…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: David Slays Goliath Again
Like the young shepherd who battled the giant Goliath, Major David Ellis slayed Charles Rodrick in federal district court this week. It was Ellis’ second court victory against Rodrick, who is the owner and operator of a series of websites including three websites which identify more than 750,000 American citizens as registered sex offenders regardless of whether they are currently required to register or even dead. Rodrick’s websites at one time required individuals to pay up to $500 to have their name, photo, home address and other personal information removed.…
Read MoreGeneral Comments July 2016
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of July 2016. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it courteous and civil.
Read MoreJury delivers $325,000 verdict against sex-offender websites owner
Federal laws protecting the internet did not give the owner of several sex-offender websites license to post false and harassing information, a jury in U.S. District Court in Phoenix decided Friday. Full Article
Read MoreNV: Ruling Allows Nevada Sex Offender Registration Requirements to take Effect [UPDATED with NV Supreme Court action]
An emergency writ was filed with the Nevada Supreme Court late Thursday in a last-gasp effort to block a new sex offender registry law from taking effect Friday. Full Article Update July 1, 11 am NEVADA SUPREME COURT STOPS SEX OFFENDER LAW FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court Friday put the brakes on a law that would impose new registration requirements on sex offenders and subject thousands of them to community notification. Full Article
Read MorePhoenix website owner’s attorney denies harassment claims in federal court trial
An attorney for a businessman accused of using multiple websites for internet harassment is arguing in court that his client did nothing wrong and that his online activity was protected by federal law. Full Article
Read MoreShould a juvenile sex offender be locked up indefinitely?
Even when they serve their time, sex crime offenders in some states are being held years beyond their release date. The civil commitment laws that let jailers deem convicts too dangerous to walk free are facing increased scrutiny, especially in Minnesota, where even juvenile sex offenders grow old behind bars. William Brangham reports. Full Article
Read MoreACSOL Monthly Meetings: San Diego (Sep 10), Los Angeles (Oct 15)
Please mark your calendars for ACSOL’s upcoming monthly meetings. 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 join us on one or all of these dates to Show up, Stand up, Speak up! September 10, San Diego (new date) California…
Read MoreThe U.S. needs to reexamine how it uses sex-offender registries
Many people end up on sex offender registries who aren’t a danger, like minors who have consensual sex, public urinators or streakers, the author argues. Full Article
Read MoreFBI didn’t need a search warrant before hacking child porn suspect, judge rules
The FBI didn’t need to obtain a warrant before investigators hacked the computer of a man suspected of viewing child pornography, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Full Article Related Federal Court: The Fourth Amendment Does Not Protect Your Home Computer Decision
Read MoreSex, Lies and “Severe Impact”: In Defense of Judge Aaron Persky
_____ ____ ____ was convicted of three felony counts related to his digital penetration of an unconscious victim behind a dumpster at a frat party and sentenced to a short six month period of imprisonment. ____’s sentencing generated public outrage, especially after the long, visceral and rambling 7,400 letter by the anonymous victim read to ____ in court went viral. Deeming ____’s sentence “too lenient” and faulting the judge for considering the “severe impact” of imprisonment on ____, self-proclaimed social justice activists launched petitions on Change.org, seeking the sentencing judge’s recall.…
Read MoreIndonesia Approves Castration for Sex Offenders Who Prey on Children
JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, signed a decree on Wednesday authorizing chemical castration for convicted child sex offenders and requiring those released on parole to wear electronic monitoring devices. The new punishment comes in response to the brutal gang rape and murder in April of a 14-year-old girl on her way home on the island of Sumatra. Seven teenage boys were each sentenced to 10 years in prison for the crime, which prompted national outrage and revived previous calls for chemical castration as a punishment against child…
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