POMONA >> Members of the Pomona City Council have taken steps leading to the repeal of part of a 2008 ordinance regulating the presence of sex offenders in the city. Council members gave preliminary approval at their June 16 meeting to an ordinance repealing a portion of the 2008 local regulation and they are expected to have a final vote July 7. Full Article
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Santa Ana Repeals Sex Offender Ordinance
The Santa Ana City Council took the final step necessary to repeal its entire sex offender ordinance on June 17. The first step toward repeal took place on June 3. “This is an important victory for all registered citizens,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “More than 105,000 individuals and their families are no longer prohibited from visiting public places including the public library.” “The City of Santa foolishly followed the path of the Orange County District Attorney in its passage of a law that violated both the state and…
Read MorePomona City Council Repeals Ordinance
The Pomona City Council voted 6 to 0 in favor of repealing all residency restrictions within the city’s sex offender ordinance. The vote was taken on June 16 with one member absent. A second vote on this issue is scheduled to be taken on July 7. “The City of Pomona is the first city to be sued in a series of 12 lawsuits challenging residency restrictions,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “We commend Pomona for taking the first step toward repeal of these restrictions which violate both the state and federal…
Read MoreCity of Orange Sued for Failure to Repeal Ordinance [updated with media]
A sex offender ordinance adopted by the City of Orange is the subject of a lawsuit filed today in federal district court. The lawsuit was filed after the City Council of Orange considered, but failed, to repeal its ordinance on June 10. The City of Orange’s ordinance is broad and includes restrictions regarding where more than 105,000 individuals can be present. Specifically, the ordinance prohibits registered citizens from being present in or within 500 feet of a wide range of locations including the public library, schools, parks, swimming pools, bus stops and playgrounds. The…
Read MoreOrange to keep its sex-offender ordinance
As other cities across the county are repealing their sex-offender ordinances following a court ruling saying they conflicted with state law, Orange will keep its sex-offender law as is. Full Article (Paywall) City Council Hearing Video #9.2
Read MoreSanta Fe Springs City Council to consider repeal of sex offender restrictions [UPDATED]
SANTA FE SPRINGS >> The City Council at its meeting today will be asked to repeal a 2010 law that doesn’t allow registered sex offenders to come within 300 feet of day-care centers, libraries, schools and parks. Full Article UPDATE: Santa Fe Springs City Council repeals sex offender restrictions
Read MoreCity being sued by registered sex offender
The City of Taft is being sued by a registered sex offender. The suit was filed May 29 in federal court and alleges an ordinance passed in 2007 designed to keep sex offenders away from areas where children are likely to congregate is unconstitutional. Full Article
Read MoreTransient sex offenders proving difficult to monitor
Law enforcement in Kern County is finding it increasingly difficult to keep track of registered sex offenders. A growing number of them are joining the ranks of the homeless and are listed as transients. “When you have a sex offender who is a transient, you don’t know where they are,” said Kern County sheriff’s Detective Randall Meyer with the Sexual Abuse and Assault Investigative Unit. Full Article
Read MoreStockton Sex Offender Ordinance Challenged in Federal Court
The City of Stockton’s sex offender ordinance was challenged today in federal district court. The ordinance prohibits all registered citizens from loitering in or within 300 feet of public parks, libraries, and swimming pools as well as privately owned video arcades and recreational areas. “This is the tenth ordinance to be challenged in ten weeks,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “It is our hope that all cities and counties that have similar ordinances will soon choose to repeal their ordinances which violate both the state and federal constitutions.” The first…
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting in Los Angeles – July 26
The next CA RSOL meeting in Los Angeles will take place on July 26 at 10 am, at the usual location – the ACLU building at 1313 W. 8th Street in Los Angeles. Registrants, family and friends, supporters and professionals are welcome to attend. Media and Government officials are not invited in order to ensure everyone’s privacy. Topics of discussion will include changes in the laws as well as pending litigation and advocacy strategies. Please join us on July 26 – Show up, Stand up, Speak up!
Read MoreRancho Santa Margarita repeals ban on sex offenders in parks
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – The City Council voted to repeal an ordinance that bans registered sex offenders from entering city parks without permission from the city’s chief of police. The move comes after a state appeals court in January struck down similar bans in Irvine and at county recreational areas. The state Supreme Court in April declined to review the lower court’s decision. Full Article
Read MoreWasco Ordinance Challenged in Federal District Court [updated with media links]
The City of Wasco was sued today in federal district court challenging its sex offender ordinance. This lawsuit is the eighth in a series of lawsuits filed during an 8-week period. “Despite a series of letter warnings starting on January 20, the City of Wasco has failed to repeal its sex offender ordinance which violates both the state and federal constitutions,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “The Wasco ordinance denies the constitutionally protected right to public information through its prohibition of visiting the city’s public library. In addition, the…
Read MoreShafter suspends enfocement of sex offender
SHAFTER, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) –The city of Shafter may repeal an ordinance that bans sex offenders from parks, schools, libraries and other places. The city has already agreed to stop enforcing it, and five other cities in Kern County which have similar ordinances may follow suit. Full Article
Read MoreLaguna Hills may reverse sex-offender park ban in wake of court rulings
LAGUNA HILLS – The City Council on Tuesday will consider reversing an ordinance that bans registered sex offenders from city parks and private parks run by homeowners associations. … … Also a factor for Laguna Hills is the threat of litigation by the California Reform Sexual Offender Laws organization and the American Civil Liberties Union if the ordinance is not repealed, according to the staff report. Full Article Staff Report
Read MoreSanta Ana Ordinance Challenged in Federal District Court
The City of Santa Ana was sued today in federal district court challenging a city ordinance that prohibits some registered citizens from being on or within 300 feet of city libraries, learning centers, schools, parks and museums. Santa Ana is the 7th city or county to be sued in a period of seven weeks. “The City of Santa Ana ordinance violates both the federal and state constitutions,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “California RSOL warned the city about its ordinance both in writing and through testimony prior to its passage,…
Read MoreState Senate Passes Bill to Prohibit Internet Extortion
The California Senate has voted unanimously to approve a bill (SB 1027) that would prohibit the commercial use of booking photos. The bill would also provide individuals with the ability to sue anyone who publishes or otherwise disseminates booking photos and then requires payment of a fee or other consideration to remove, correct or modify that photo. Those who violate the law are subject to “an amount equal to the greater of $1,000 per violation or the actual damages suffered”, along with costs, attorney’s fees and any other legal or equitable relief.…
Read MoreSacramento County sued over sex offender ordinance
Sacramento County became the latest governmental entity Wednesday to be sued over an ordinance limiting the movements of registered sex offenders near parks and other public places, but the practical effect of the suit may be negligible. Full Article
Read MoreCity of Duarte to Repeal Ordinance
The City of Duarte is expected to repeal its sex offender ordinance, according to a letter from City Attorney Dan Slater dated April 30. According to that letter, the actions are the result of “a threat” from California RSOL to sue the City if it did not repeal its ordinance. The City Attorney noted in his letter the California Supreme Court decision dated April 23, 2014, which denied review of two decisions by the Court of Appeal which determined that offender laws by cities, similar to that adopted by Duarte,…
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