Oct 23 – Anaheim City Council / Parks Ban

On October 23rd, City of Anaheim City Council Meeting, 5 pm – the Anaheim City Council will re-visit the proposed Parks and Recreational Area Ban. California ROSL members spoke at the item’s introduction. View video. Join us on October 23rd! 29.               ORDINANCE NO.      6256    (ADOPTION) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ANAHEIM adding Sections 7.60.010 through 7.60.040, inclusive, of Chapter 7.60 of Title 7 of the Anaheim Municipal Code relating to child safety zones (Introduced at the Council Meeting of October 9, 2012, Item No. 16).

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Judge asked to temporarily block Simi’s Halloween sex offender law

A federal judge was asked Friday to temporarily block enforcement of Simi Valley’s new Halloween sex offender law. The judge could rule as early as next week. The motion for a temporary restraining order was filed with U.S. District Court Judge Percy Anderson in Los Angeles by attorney Janice Bellucci, who last month filed a federal lawsuit that argued the law is unconstitutional. Bellucci contends the law violates the First and 14th Amendments of the Constitution because it “suppresses and unduly chills protected speech and expression. Full Article

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Simi Valley police check up on sex offenders

Simi Valley detectives conducted a sex registrant compliance check Saturday morning in the city, officials said. The checks were made between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. throughout the city, police said. Authorities said of 120 registered sex offenders in Simi Valley, 105 were found to be in compliance with their registration requirements. Detectives will continue to investigate the other 15 people who were not at their residence during the checks to determine whether they have violated any requirements, officials said. Full Article

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Halloween Sex Offender Law Barring Spooky Displays Outside Angers Registered Offenders In California

A group of sex offenders in Southern California’s Simi Valley are upset about a law that prevents them from fully taking part in all the usual Halloween festivities. The Los Angeles Times reports that, under the month-old law, registered sex offenders are barred from putting up Halloween displays and outside lighting. Offenders listed on the Megan’s Law website are also required to post a sign that says, “No candy or treats at this residence.”  Attorney Janice Bellucci, who is representing the five sex offenders in the suit, said the law reeks…

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Sex offenders and Halloween is frightful

One state lawmaker says a lawsuit filed in California allowing sex offenders to participate in Halloween is chilling. The lawsuit argues that local ordinances in the Golden State are denying the right of the sex offenders’ free speech and right to celebrate the holiday. Abbotsford Republican Scott Suder has a preemptive warning for sex offenders in Wisconsin. “Any petition is dead on arrival; it’s not gonna happen in the state of Wisconsin. Sex offenders are not going to be able to participate in Halloween trick-or-treating any time, any where in…

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CA RSOL Reaches Goal – Gets 500 Petition Signatures

California RSOL met its goal of obtaining 500 signatures on a petition challenging the ordinance passed by Orange County which prohibits all registrants from entering parks, beaches, harbors and other recreational area. The petition was sent to District Attorney (DA) Tony Rackauckas because of his role in promoting the county ordinance as well as lobbying cities within the county to pass similar ordinances. A letter accompanying the petition asks the DA to work with California RSOL to revise and/or repeal all ordinances within Orange County. The letter also warns the…

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Aljazeera – Pariahs among us: Sex offender laws in the 21st century

Maybe it is not so surprising that all we can think to do with a subject we are simultaneously obsessed with and repulsed by is to shout our alarm about it at every opportunity. Sex crimes: The only kind of offence in the United States that compels all convicted perpetrators to register their name, address, date of birth, fingerprints and a photograph on a public website. And what constitutes a sex crime? The breadth of this damning classification is alarming and includes public urination, consensual teen sex, sale of sex and exposure…

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Television Judge Claims CA RSOL Halloween Lawsuit “Hogwash”

Judge Pirro: California Sex Offenders’ Arguments in Halloween Trick-or-Treat Lawsuit Are ‘Hogwash’ Television judge, Jeanine Pirro, voiced her opinion about the CA RSOL lawsuit in Simi Valley on Fox News’ Fox & Friends show, stating that the claim that Simi Valley’s Halloween ban is unconstitutional is “hogwash.” http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/10/05/pirro-sex-offenders-lawsuit-halloween-trick-or-treaters/

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Anaheim Parks Ban City Council Meeting [updated with Audio]

CA RSOL spoke in opposition to the City of Anaheim’s proposed Parks ban October 9. Despite testimony from the Orange County DA and his deputy as well as the mother of Samantha Runnion, the City Council did not pass the proposed ordinance. California RSOL will return to the City of Anaheim the next time it considers this or a similar ordinance. Please come join us! There appeared to be some problems with playing the video from this site. Please try listening to the audio instead. [wpcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]Public Comments…

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CA RSOL Sends Letter to Mayor and City Council of Anaheim

According to the City Attorney for Anaheim, California, the City Council is set to consider an ordinance banning registrants from entering into all community, neighborhood and “special use” parks located within the city of Anaheim. CA RSOL has written and sent this letter to the Mayor and City Council of Anaheim in opposition to the proposed ordinance. To view comments made during the previous City Council meeting by Orange County District Attorney, Mr. Tony Rackauckas, in support of the City’s proposed ordinance, please see this post.

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No Halloween for sex offenders? They challenge California city’s restrictions

With Video – An attorney representing five Simi Valley sex offenders who sued the city over limits to their Halloween activities said the lawsuit will be the first of several she expects to file over such restrictions. Lawyer Janice Bellucci heads the 18-month-old advocacy group California Reform Sex Offender Laws. On Friday, she filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming that Simi Valley’s ordinance violates her clients’ First Amendment rights. The suit seeks a judge’s order prohibiting enforcement of the ordinance in Simi Valley, which has 119 registered sex offenders, according to a…

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Lawsuit challenges Simi Valley’s Halloween sex offender ordinance

A federal lawsuit filed today seeks to block enforcement of Simi Valley’s new Halloween sex offender ordinance, contending it’s unconstitutional. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles by 10 plaintiffs, including five registered sex offenders who live in Simi Valley. The Simi Valley City Council on Sept. 10 adopted the ordinance that aims to prevent sex offenders from having contact with trick-or-treating children on Halloween. It applies to the several dozen convicted child sex offenders who live in Simi Valley and are listed on the Megan’s…

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SIMI VALLEY ORDINANCE CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT

An ordinance recently adopted by the city of Simi Valley that requires registrants to post signs on their front doors and prohibits them from decorating their homes on Halloween is being challenged in federal court. The lawsuit was filed on September 28 in U.S, District Court, Central District, Western Division. It asserts that the Simi Valley ordinance is unconstitutional and requests that the court block enforcement of that ordinance. There are a total of 10 plaintiffs in the case, including five registrants, three spouses and two children. All are residents…

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Media from RSOL Conference in NM

A collection of media reports about the National RSOL Conference. Quote from one attendee: “The media coverage, which began with great concerns and some misunderstandings about our purpose, changed to fair, balanced, and very favorable reporting and stories, primarily because they did what all good journalists and reporters do; they came; they listened; they interviewed; they asked questions; they recorded and filmed. We thank them for their kindnesses.” http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/local/central/sex-offender-conference-begins-dr http://www.koat.com/news/new-mexico/albuquerque/Conference-on-sex-offender-laws-passes-without-incident/-/9153728/16546406/-/9bwnmoz/-/index.html?absolute=true http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/sex-offender-law-reformers-draw-warning http://abcnewsradioonline.com/albuquerque/conference-to-reform-the-sex-offender-registry-ends-without.html http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2753195.shtml?cat=500 http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/apd-to-hold-sex-offender–town-hall http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/09/04/abqnewsseeker/city-to-host-town-hall-meeting-over-sex-offender-conference-safety-concerns.html http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/e88c4f828e07493182f620adc7c1ab20/NM–Sex-Offender-Conference http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S2751352.shtml?cat=500 http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2012/09/05/news/meeting-draws-negative-attention.html APD to hold sex offender town hall9.4.12.flv <http://db.tt/ehxRyY8z> Sex offender conference opens…

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September 15 Meeting Recap

California RSOL met in Los Angeles with about 45 registrants, family members and supporters at the ACLU building in Los Angeles on September 15. The focus of the meeting was issues involving registrants such as residency restrictions, city and county ordinances, and future litigation. Information was shared during the meeting regarding the recent decision of a California appellate court that a blanket restriction prohibiting sex offenders from living hear places where children congregate is unconstitutional. “This court decision has a broad and positive effect upon registrants on parole,” stated state…

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