A professor of jurisprudence at Chapman University’s school of law says, “I think it’s unlikely to be unconstitutional for the state or the city to prohibit sex offenders from handing out candy to little kids.”
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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…
Read MoreCA 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.
Read MoreNo 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…
Read MoreLawsuit 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…
Read MoreSIMI 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…
Read MoreMedia 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…
Read MoreSeptember 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…
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting in Los Angeles – Nov 10
California RSOL will return to Los Angeles on November 10 at 10 am and will meet at the same location, the ACLU building at 1313 W. 8th Street. Meetings are open to registrants, family members, and supporters but closed to media and government officials. There is free parking and privacy. As always, we will share information about recent laws, court decisions, etc. Admin Note: the comments from previous meetings are below, as they might answer some questions re. the meetings.
Read MoreLancaster furthers restrictions on registered sex offenders [with Video]
LANCASTER – The Lancaster City Council Tuesday approved an ordinance that imposes restrictions and regulations upon registered sex offenders in addition to those imposed under state law. Specifically, the new ordinance prohibits registered sex offenders: From living within 2,000 feet of any school, park or day care center. From living at a residence or hotel/motel/inn where another registered sex offender already lives (with a few exceptions). From being within 300 feet of a school, day care, park or bus stop near a park, playground, public library, public museum, crisis center…
Read MoreSimi Valley becomes first city in county to pass Halloween sex offender law
Simi Valley on Monday night became the first city in Ventura County to pass a law that aims to prevent sex offenders from having contact with trick-or-treating children on Halloween. The ordinance, adopted by the City Council on a 4-1 vote, applies to the several dozen convicted child sex offenders who live in Simi Valley and are on the Megan’s Law website. Championed by Mayor Bob Huber, who is seeking re-election in November, the new law requires such offenders to post signs on their front doors saying, “No candy or…
Read MoreCouncil Focuses On Child-Related Issues
LANCASTER – On Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 5, a teenage girl was walking home from school in Palmdale when she was confronted by a man grabbed her and tore her blouse as she struggled to get away. The man was later found and arrested for attempted rape and assault to commit rape. The city council will decide Tuesday whether to approve an addition to Lancaster’s municipal code relating to registered sex offenders that would help prevent another young woman from being assaulted like the teenager in Palmdale. The addition to the…
Read MoreSimi Valley City Council Meeting – 9/10 [Halloween Ordinance]
City Council meetings are held on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, California 93063 (map). September 10, 2012 6D. Second reading of Ordinance No. 1201 adding Title 5, Chapter 43, to the Simi Valley Municipal Code establishing restrictions on registered sex offenders on October 31 of each year (Baxter) (CC) Staff Report
Read MoreLancaster City Council Meeting – 9/11 [Presence, Residency, Halloween Ban]
It’s time to Show Up, Stand Up and Speak Up! The first two cities in L.A. County have proposed ordinances that would prohibit all registrants, regardless of type or date of offense, from visiting parks, libraries, museums and other public areas. These ordinances must be stopped before L.A. County duplicates Orange County where most cities have such ordinances!! We effectively stopped the City of Cerritos, the first city in L.A. County, from passing its ordinance on August 23 when that city honored the request CA RSOL’s to stop further consideration…
Read MoreMeeting Draws Negative Attention
An organization aimed at reforming sex offender laws chose an Albuquerque hotel to host its fourth annual conference, but safety worries prompted the city to beef up security at nearby parks and schools. The city held a meeting Tuesday evening to address residents’ concerns, but it was sparsely attended. Albuquerque Police Cmdr. Kevin Rowe, who organized the meeting, assured the public that police were prepared for the conference. He even sang a song he said he had written for the occasion. One of the seven people in the audience stormed out…
Read MoreLocals remain concerned over reform sex offender conference
People have expressed concerns about Albuquerque hosting a national conference on sex offender laws this week. After the announcement Monday, Albuquerque police said they would hold a special meeting Tuesday to answer questions about safety and security surrounding the conference. The handful of people who showed up to the meeting said they left feeling even more disappointed and confused than before. Full Article
Read MoreNational Conference on Sex Offender Issues, Sept. 6-9, Albuquerque, NM
“Children’s safety is at stake,” asserted Robert Combs, this year’s Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL) conference committee chairperson. “And it will remain at stake until the sex-crime panic can be countered with factual information to ensure public safety.” “Inclusion on the sex offender registry does not signify the person is any sort of a threat whatsoever,” agreed Brenda Jones, RSOL’s executive director. “And therein lies the problem. We as a society need to educate ourselves, and the 4th annual RSOL national conference taking place in Albuquerque, NM, September 6 –…
Read MoreNew law orders libraries to oust sex offenders
LANCASTER – In a unanimous vote, the five-member City Council this week gave its initial approval to an ordinance that, among other restrictions, bans registered sex offenders from going near public libraries and museums. A Santa Barbara County attorney, who traveled about 100 miles to the Antelope Valley to protest the proposed ordinance, said it will be contested in court. “The one thing I forgot to say in there is, ‘You will be sued,’” attorney Janice Bellucci said outside of City Council chambers Tuesday night moments after she publicly addressed…
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