Riverside County is poised to do away with an ordinance that sets rules on where sex offenders can live or visit in an effort to avoid a lawsuit. The county established sex-offender residency and loitering prohibitions for unincorporated areas in 2010, but the Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval last week to repeal the law because an appeal court has invalidated similar ordinances in other municipalities. Full Article
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Sex 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 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 MoreCA RSOL Meeting in San Diego – September 20
On September 20th the monthly California RSOL meeting will be from 10 am to 1 pm in San Diego. The meeting will take place at California Western School of Law at 225 Cedar Street San Diego, CA 92101, Room LH2. Registrants, family and friends, supporters and professionals are welcome to attend. As always 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 September 20 in San Diego – Show up, Stand…
Read MoreDiscounts for National RSOL Conference in Dallas ending soon
DATES: July 16-19, 2014 – LOCATION: Dallas, Texas. The RSOL National Conference provides an opportunity to interact and network with researchers, mental health professionals, criminal justice practitioners and advocates interested in informing public opinion and reforming current law, policy, and treatment of former sexual offenders. Conference Website
Read MoreCity of Porterville repeals sex offenders ordinance
The city council Tuesday reluctantly repealed a section in the Municipal Code referring to sex offenders and regulating their proximity to children’s facilities. The matter was brought before the council by City Attorney Julia Lew because of recent lawsuits in other cities with the same type of ordinance and because the city has been receiving letters and suggestions of legal action. Full Article
Read MoreCity repeals ordinance in response to lawsuit by sex offender
The City of Taft has, for all intents and purposes, settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of a registered sex offender Tuesday night when it repealed a seven-year-old ordinance regulating where convicted sex offenders could live and visit. Full Article
Read MorePomona takes steps to repeal part of its sex offender ordinance
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
Read MoreSanta 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!
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