CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci was sworn into the U. S. Supreme Court Bar Association today. As a member of that association, she is eligible to argue cases before the Court.
Read MoreCategory: ACSOL
Senate Committee to Consider AB 2569 [UPDATED with approval]
The Senate Public Safety Committee will consider AB 2569 during its hearing on June 28 which starts at 9:30 a.m. in Room 3191. If enacted into law, the bill would reduce the number of people eligible to apply for exclusion from the Megan’s Law website. The full Assembly passed AB 2569 in May. In order to become law, the bill must be passed by two Senate committees and the full Senate. “If enacted, Assembly Bill 2569 would harm hundreds of registered citizens and their families,” stated CA RSOL president Janice…
Read MoreArcadia City Council Moves Toward Repeal of Residency Restrictions
The Arcadia City Council took the first step toward a total repeal of its residency restrictions during its meeting on June 7. The Council is scheduled to take the next step toward repeal on June 21. If the Council approves the repeal during that meeting, the repeal will take effect after 30 days. The residency restrictions within the City of Arcadia were challenged in a lawsuit filed in federal court in July 2015. The City filed two unsuccessful motions to dismiss the case in September 2015 and January 2016. “This…
Read MoreInternational Megan’s Law (IML) Protest – July 27 in Oakland
Join California RSOL in protesting International Megan’s Law (IML), the law to prevent Registrant international travel, at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, July 27, 2016. The government has filed a motion to dismiss our lawsuit against IML, the recently signed law by President Obama, to keep Registered citizens in permanent internal exile. The court hearing for that motion will be at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom Three of Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton, 3rd Floor, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, California, 94612. We need as many of our supporters to fill…
Read MoreAssembly Further Amends, Passes AB 2569
The Assembly further amended, then passed Assembly Bill 2569 which would reduce the number of individuals eligible for an exclusion from their name, photo and other personal information being posted on the CA Megan’s Law website. The bill was amended by the Appropriations Committee on May 27 and would require a “local assistance center for victims and witnesses” to speak to a victim in order to determine if granting the exclusion would be “in the best interest of the victim”. A prior version of the bill required CA Department of…
Read MoreFinal Presence Restrictions Lawsuit Ends in Settlement
The City of Carson has agreed to settle the final presence restrictions lawsuit pending in the state of California. A total of 31 lawsuits were filed starting with the City of Lancaster in December 2012. As a result of these lawsuits, the only presence restriction that remains is a state law that prohibits registrants on parole from visiting public parks without first obtaining permission from a parole officer. “This is a significant victory,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “The City of Carson has agreed to honor the terms of…
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting in San Diego – June 18
California RSOL’s June meeting will take place in San Diego on June 18. The meeting will start at 10 am at California Western School of Law, Room LH2 at 225 Cedar Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Topics of discussion will include general issues facing registrants and their families as well as pertinent current issues, such as the recent International Megan’s Law lawsuit. The meetings are intended for registrants, friends and family, associated service providers and other supporters. Government and media representatives are not invited to attend. Join us! Show up, Stand up, Speak up!
Read MoreAB 2569 passed by Assembly Public Safety Committee
The Public Safety Committee today passed an amended version of Assembly Bill (AB) 2569. The bill, authored by committee vice chair Melissa Melendez, originally removed an exemption for some registrants convicted of incest from being added to the Megan’s Law website. The amended version of the bill requires the California Department of Justice to interview the victim of the offense and to make a subsequent determination regarding whether information regarding the registrant should be added to that website. California RSOL opposed the original bill as well as the amended bill…
Read MoreSen. Runner Withdraws Bill From Hearing
Senator Sharon Runner has withdrawn Senate Bill 1021 from further consideration. The bill, which would have allowed local governments to prohibit some registered citizens from living in their cities and counties, was scheduled to be heard on April 19 by the Senate Public Safety Committee. Runner’s withdrawal of the bill is reported to be linked to her failing health, however, it may also be linked to the strong opposition to the bill voiced in letters submitted to the Committee by CA RSOL, the ACLU, the CA Sex Offender Management Board…
Read MoreEmotional Support Group to Meet on April 15 [cancelled]
UPDATE: This meeting has been cancelled. Please check this web site for new date. The Emotional Support Group will meet at a different time and at a difference place in April. The meeting, which supports both registrants and their loved ones, will be held on Friday, April 15, beginning at 7 p.m. The new meeting place is 2001 Barrington Avenue, Suite 211, Los Angeles 90025. CA RSOL board member Alex Gittinger will lead the meeting as he has all prior Emotional Support Group meetings. The Emotional Support Group meetings began…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: It’s Over, But It’s Not Over
It’s over, but it’s not over. What do I mean? The hearing for the Preliminary Injunction requested in the International Megan’s Law (IML) case is over. However, our challenge to the IML case is not over. In fact, it has just begun. It is always difficult to argue a motion in federal court. No matter how well you prepare, the judge can and does ask questions for which you are not quite ready. For example, in this week’s hearing the judge asked a question about the use of a passport. …
Read MoreIML Lawsuit – All Media Reports (as of 3/31)
3/31 Judge Asked to Halt Sex Offenders’ Passport Marks (Courthouse News) Attorney: Sex Offender Passport Marker Would Be Dangerous (ABC) 3/30 (post hearing) Attorney: Sex Offender Passport Marker Would Be Dangerous (New York Times / AP) The Latest: Attorney: Sex offender passport marker dangerous (Washington Post / AP) 3/30 (pre hearing) Passport mark for sex offenders law challenged in court (AP) Federal court to hear challenge to “scarlet passport” provision of International Megan’s Law Fear of flying: Sex offenders push back against having unique passports Sex offender passport: Unlawful stigma or valid way to…
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting: May 14, Berkeley [NEW DATE]
Please mark the following dates on your calendars. California RSOL will hold monthly meetings in Berkeley on May 14 (revised date). As always, start time is 10 am and the meetings are expected to last about 2 hours. Join us at the Finnish Hall, 1970 Chestnut Street in Berkeley on May 14 (new date), at 10 am. Topics of discussion will include general issues facing registrants and their families as well as pertinent current issues, such as the recent International Megan’s Law lawsuit. The meetings are intended for registrants, friends and family,…
Read MoreGoing Nowhere
On February 8, President Obama signed an unnecessary, cruel, and dangerous law. Passed by a unanimous Congress, International Megan’s Law requires the State Department to mark with a “unique identifier” the passport of anyone ever convicted in the United States of a sex crime against a minor. The offense could be sexting or consensual teen lovemaking. It could have happened decades ago or even have been expunged from the person’s record. Full Article Related HR 515 Article Collection
Read MoreCA RSOL to Conduct Monthly Meeting on March 12 in San Diego
California RSOL will conduct a monthly meeting of registrants, family members and supporters in San Diego on March 12. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. and be held at California Western Law School, 225 Cedar Street, in downtown San Diego. Janice Bellucci will lead the meeting and discuss the ongoing legal challenge to the International Megan’s Law which requires the addition of a “unique identifier” to the passports of some registrants and notifications to be sent to foreign countries when more registrants plan to travel internationally. Other topics to…
Read MoreEmotional Support Group to Meet on March 5 in L.A.
The Emotional Support Group will meet on Saturday, March 5, starting at 10 a.m. in Los Angeles. The meeting will be held at the ACLU building, 1313 W. 8th Street, and free underground parking is available. Registrants and family members are welcome to participate in this meeting. There is no cost to attend this meeting.
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: Silver Linings to the Dark Cloud of the International Megan’s Law
International Megan’s Law is a terrible law. Its notification provisions trap registrants in a country that continues to punish them and its passport provisions expose them to significant risk of harm due to the addition of a “Scarlet letter”. Having said that, however, there is a silver lining to that dark cloud — our community came together and we acted in concert for the first time. We did this by attempting to prevent the International Megan’s Law from being passed by Congress and signed by the President. Hundreds of people…
Read MorePresident Signed HR 515, International Megan’s Law
President Obama signed HR 515 into law on February 8. The law will require federal agencies to notify destination countries that registered citizens are coming to visit as well as to require the Secretary of State to add a “unique identifier” to the passports of some registered citizens. “The President’s decision, if unchallenged, would require the Secretary of State to add a Scarlet Letter to the passports of hundreds of thousands of American citizens,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “Therefore a lawsuit has been prepared and will be filed on February 9 challenging…
Read More