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Read MoreCategory: ACSOL News
Legal Scholars to Consider Elimination of Public Registry Next Week
[ACSOL] Members of the American Law Institute (ALI), the most important and prestigious organization of legal scholars and prominent attorneys in the nation, will consider a proposal next week that could significantly change the nation’s sex offender laws. The most significant of those changes would be the elimination of public registries in all 50 state. The proposal also includes, but is not limited to, recommendations to abolish all public notification laws as well as most residency restrictions, internet restrictions and GPS location monitoring. “The ALI drafts model laws that often…
Read MoreUnanimous Opposition Repeated During Today’s CDCR Hearing
[ACSOL] For a second time, speakers unanimously stated their opposition today to regulations issued by the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) that categorically exclude registrants and those sentenced to life without parole from re-sentencing opportunities. Today’s hearing followed an initial hearing on May 7 during which technical difficulties that lasted for more than 20 minutes resulted in the inability of many people to speak about the regulations. “ACSOL thanks the dozens of people who spoke in opposition to CDCR’s regulations,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “CDCR is…
Read MoreRestorative Action Alliance Files Amicus Brief in U.S. Supreme Court Case
The Restorative Action Alliance filed today an amicus brief in a case, Ortiz v. Breslin, for which a petition has been filed requesting review by the U. S. Supreme Court. The focus of the petition is decisions made by the New York State Department of Corrections not to release registrants on their court mandated release dates but instead to continue to imprison registrants for up to two additional years because they cannot find housing due to the state’s residency restrictions. “The brief filed today by the Restorative Action Alliance should…
Read MoreCHALLENGE MET to Provide Funds to Fight SORNA Regulations. Thanks!
[Thanks to all of you who helped meet our goal to fund our fight SORNA regulations! Of course we encourage all to continue donations to ACSOL so we can expand our fight] The sum of $1,200 has been provided to ACSOL in the form of a challenge grant in order to fight the federal government’s proposed SORNA regulations. However, the sum comes with strings attached. That is, ACSOL must collect at least $1,200 from others during the next seven days in order to receive the original $1,200. “We thank the…
Read MoreACSOL Announces 2021 Conference Dates, Keynote Speaker Jill Levenson
ACSOL will conduct its annual conference on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18, 2021. Similar to its conference last year, this year’s conference will be held virtually using Zoom technology that will allow individuals to choose between audio only or audio and video participation. “We are pleased to announce that Jill Levenson, PhD, has agreed to make a keynote presentation at this year’s conference,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “Dr. Levenson is a nationally acclaimed expert whose research has concluded that sex offender registries are ineffective and that…
Read MoreCA: Lawsuit Challenges Halloween Restrictions in Rialto
[ACSOL] A lawsuit has been filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court challenging the Halloween restrictions of the City of Rialto. Specifically, there is an ordinance adopted and enforced by the City of Rialto that prohibits all registrants on Halloween from decorating their front yards and exteriors with “typical Halloween decorations”, from opening the doors of their residence to trick-or-treaters and from leaving on any exterior residential, decorative and ornamental lights. If this ordinance is violated, registrants may be fined up to $1,000 and sentenced to up to six months…
Read MoreCA: Lawsuit Challenges Tiered Registry Law Provision
[ACSOL] A lawsuit has been filed challenging a provision of the California Tiered Registry Law that assigns individuals convicted of similar offenses to two different tiers. Specifically, the law assigns individuals convicted of Penal Code 288(a) to Tier 2, which requires a minimum of 20 years registration, and yet assigns individuals convicted of Penal Code 288(c) to Tier 3, which requires lifetime registration. “The only difference between these two offenses is the age of the victim,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “And the current language of the law punishes…
Read MoreWest Covina Repeals Residency Restrictions
[ACSOL] The City of West Covina, located in Los Angeles County, has repealed its residency restrictions which prohibited registrants from living within most of the city. The repeal took place on February 2 during a regularly scheduled meeting of the West Covina City Council. “We commend the City of West Covina for repealing its residency restrictions,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “Registrants and their families can now lawfully reside anywhere in that city.” The city’s repeal followed the filing of a lawsuit in March 2020 in Los Angeles Superior…
Read MoreCA: ACSOL Lawsuit alleges Irvine sex offender rule conflicts with state law
[ocregister.com – 11/6/20] An Irvine resident who is on the state’s sex offender registry is challenging a city rule that prevents him from taking his own child to a public park, according to a lawsuit he filed and an attorney representing him. Irvine’s municipal code requires people on the registry who were convicted of an offense involving a minor to get written permission from the police chief to enter any city park or recreation facility; violation of the rule is a misdemeanor that could carry a fine or jail time.…
Read MoreCA Supreme Court Considers Prop. 57 Case
[ACSOL] The California Supreme Court today listened to oral arguments in the first in a series of cases regarding the implementation of Proposition 57 by the California Department of Corrections (CDC). At issue in all of those cases is whether CDC’s regulations could lawfully exclude anyone convicted of a sex offense from its major benefit, that is, early parole consideration. The registrant in today’s case is Gregory Gadlin who is currently in state prison after being convicted of an offense that does not require registration. However, Gadlin is required to…
Read MoreDeadline is this Wednesday for ACSOL Oct. 10-11 Online Conference Signup!
For years you may have wanted to attend ACSOL’s conference to get all that great information and infusion of hope, but couldn’t afford the travel or hotel costs. This is your chance! The entire conference is being transmitted live through the Internet! But your chance to attend live ends this Wednesday night! For technical reasons, anyone who signs up after Wednesday will not be able to attend live, although you and all other conference attendees will be emailed links to recordings of the conference. Sign up today for just $25!…
Read MoreACSOL President Chance Oberstein and Law Firm Lauded for Excellence
ACSOL President Chance Oberstein and the Law Office of Chance Oberstein have been recognized for their excellence by multiple legal organizations. Recognition for Oberstein includes “Top Ranking Attorney” for the year 2020 by the American Association of Attorney Advocates, “10 Best Attorneys” for the years 2018 through 2020 by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys, “Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney” for the year 2020 by Attorney & Practice Magazine and “Top Tier Lawyer” by the American Trial Academy for 2020. The Law Office of Chance Oberstein has been recognized…
Read MoreProposed SORNA Regulations Would Add Uncertainty to Registrants’ Lives
[ACSOL] The federal government issued proposed regulations to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) last month that, if adopted, would create uncertainty in the lives of registrants throughout the country. That is due, in part, to requirements upon individuals that require state action which states may or may not be willing to take. For example, individuals in many states are currently required to register only once a year, however, the proposed regulations would require some of the same individuals to register four times a year. If a state…
Read MoreSacramento In-Person Emotional Support Meeting Resumes Sept 24
The in-person support group meeting in Sacramento resumes 9/24. The group is from 6:30 to 8 pm every Thursday. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Read MoreNew ACSOL Challenge for Donations
There is a new ACSOL challenge for donations. A registrant who asked to be called “Anonymous” is offering a 2-for-1 challenge up to $2,500. That is, he is willing to donate $2 for each $1 donated by someone else. Donations are to be used to oppose the recently proposed SORNA regulations. “We greatly appreciate Anonymous and his offer to donate up to $2,500,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “We will not receive that donation, however, until and unless others donate a total of $1,250.” The recently proposed SORNA regulations…
Read MoreTexas Registrant Issues Financial Challenge to ACSOL
A registrant in Texas, who asked to be identified as “HB”, has issued a financial challenge to ACSOL. If ACSOL receives $1,000 or more during the next 30 days to oppose the proposed federal SORNA regulations, HB will donate an additional $1,000 to the organization. “Thank you, HB, for the challenge you are offering to ACSOL,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “It is now up to registrants, their families and supporters to meet this challenge. With increased resources, ACSOL can expand its efforts in opposition to the proposed SORNA…
Read MoreACSOL Challenges Irvine’s Presence Restrictions in CA
The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) today filed a lawsuit challenging presence restrictions in the City of Irvine which were declared to be preempted by state law six years ago. Today’s lawsuit was filed after repeated requests by ACSOL to repeal the unlawful restrictions including a letter sent to the city dated February 13, 2020. “The City of Irvine has acted unlawfully for the past six years by continuing to require some registrants to obtain prior written approval before entering a public park,” stated ACSOL President Chance Oberstein. …
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