A California law that will go into effect in 2021 is set to bring about the most sweeping changes ever to sex offender laws in the state. SB384 will allow most sex offenders to petition to be removed from the public registries in 10 to 20 years after they are released from prison, as long as they have not committed another serious or violent felony. Full Article PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS CALIFORNIA’S NEW LAW TO END LIFETIME SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION – Masters Thesis
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CA: Sex offender task force raids valley homes, checks felon compliance
With Halloween Wednesday, children across the valley will take to the streets for a night of trick or treating. How do you know whose doors they’re knocking on…and if your kids are safe? Police gave News Channel 3’s Jake Ingrassia an exclusive look at their secret operation working behind the scenes to keep tabs on the valley’s registered sex offenders. Full Article / Video Also see Halloween is a no-go for sex offenders on probation in Los Angeles County
Read MoreCA: Convicted sexual predator running for Coalinga City Council as write-in candidate
Coalinga, California – A convicted child sex predator who’s currently being housed in a state mental hospital in Coalinga wants to run for city council district 5 seat. An election flyer is being passed around the state hospital telling inmates to vote for Micheal St. Martin as a write-in candidate for the district 5 seat. Full Article Related: abc30.com
Read MoreCA: Sex Offender Management Board Reveals Current Statistics
The California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB) today revealed current statistics regarding registrants during its monthly meeting. According to the board, the total number of individuals required to register in the state of California is 106,915. Of that total number, there are 77,451 registrants living “in community”, that is outside of jail, prison or state hospitals. Within the group of registrants “living in community”, there are 16,353 who are currently in violation for failure to register. Also living “in community” are 6,649 individuals who have registered as transients. Of that…
Read MoreCA: Governor Vetoes Eight Sex Offender Bills
Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a total of eight sex offender bills, passed by the state legislature, that could have negatively impacted registrants and their families. Of that total, three of the bills were authored by Assembly member Lorena Gonzales-Fletcher who attempted to stop the Tiered Registry Bill last year. “We thank Governor Brown for protecting registrants and their families,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “We also thank him for his support of the Tiered Registry bill.” One of eight bills vetoed by the Governor included Assembly Bill 514, which…
Read MoreCA: Root & Rebound’s upcoming Fair Chance Employment Workshops & Free Legal Clinics
Check out Root & Rebound’s upcoming Fair Chance Employment Workshops & Free Legal Clinics! Los Angeles area: Fair Chance Employment Workshop on 10/25 in LA Legal Clinic for People with Court Debt Questions on 10/29 in Inglewood Oakland: “Access to Justice Day” on 11/7 Fresno: Fair Chance Employment Workshop on 11/9 Legal Clinic for People with Records on 11/10 We are also accepting applications from women with records and women in reentry to our Fresno program! Keep reading to learn more! IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO ONE OF OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOPS OR…
Read MoreACSOL Emotional Support Group Meeting Alert in L.A. for Sat, Oct 27
ACSOL will conduct an Emotional Support Group for registrants and their loved ones on Saturday, Oct 27, beginning at 10 a.m. at: ACLU Building 1313 W. 8th Street Los Angeles Free parking is available under the building and there is no charge to attend the meeting. The meeting, which is based upon 12 Step principles, will provide registrants and their loved ones with an opportunity to discuss personal challenges. We look forward to seeing you there!
Read MoreACSOL Meeting October 20 in L.A.
Please mark your calendars for ACSOL’s upcoming meeting: Saturday, October 20 10 a.m. ACLU Building 1313 W. 8th Street, Los Angeles (free parking below building) Registrants, friends and family and interested service providers are invited to attend these free meetings. There will be no law enforcement or media present in order to protect everyone’s privacy. The meetings start at 10 am and last about 2-3 hours. Topics of conversation include information about ACSOL’s advocacy as well as current topics and pending legal action. Please Show up, Stand up, and Speak…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: How Many Dead Registrants is Enough?
Today a registrant in Orange County, California, is dead. He may have died at the hands of another or he may have taken his own life. This brings the total number of known dead registrants, killed by the hands of another or themselves, in California to 18 since 2005. How many dead registrants is enough? How many dead registrants will it take to persuade the public, elected officials and even the U.S. Supreme Court that registration is punishment….and not the same as being a member of Price Club. How dare…
Read MoreCA: Think sex offenders can’t live next to parks and schools? That’s not always the case
When an Atascadero sex offender listed on the state’s Megan Law website was charged last month with committing sex crimes against a child, it wasn’t just the disturbing nature of the allegations that stood out. It was the man’s address. ____ ____, who previously served prison time for lewd acts against a child under 14, was registered as living directly across the street from Colony Park and one block from the Fine Arts Academy. Atascadero police records indicate that the most recent allegations against ____ are not related to his…
Read MoreCA: Governor Brown signs landmark legislation to remove barriers to licensing and decrease recidivism
[rootandrebound.org – press release] [Note: AB 2138 will not benefit those convicted of a sex offense] Sacramento, CA—This past weekend, Governor Edmund “Jerry” Brown signed AB 2138, authored by Assemblymembers David Chiu and Evan Low, to remove barriers for occupational licensing for close to 8 million Californians living with criminal records. AB 2138 was supported by a coalition of 50+ organizations, including East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC), Root & Rebound, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC), All of Us or None, Anti-Recidivism Coalition, Alameda County Public Defender, PolicyLink,…
Read MoreCA: Lawsuit Challenges Kern County Residency Restrictions
A lawsuit has been filed in Kern County Superior Court which challenges the residency and presence restrictions in that county. According to those restrictions, registrants — including those convicted as juveniles — are prohibited from living within 2,000 feet of schools, parks, day care centers and other locations where children regularly gather. In addition, registrants may not visit a day care center for any reason. According to the lawsuit, the impact of the residency restrictions is that it eliminates the possibility of a registrant living in about 97 percent of Kern County. The…
Read MoreCA: When Handing Out Candy To Trick-or-Treaters Means Risking Arrest
[theappeal.org – 10/1/18] Lawyer [Janice M. Bellucci] seeks end to Halloween restrictions that target people convicted of sex offenses. Before the police apprehended Steve, he tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists, he told The Appeal. Then 20 years old, he had attempted to sexually assault a 12-year-old girl in California. “I couldn’t believe I had done that,” said Steve, whose name has been changed to protect his identity. “I felt I couldn’t live with myself.” He spent three years in prison, and after he was released, stayed in…
Read MoreACSOL Meeting October 13 in West Sacramento
Please mark your calendars for ACSOL’s upcoming meeting: Saturday, October 13 10 a.m. 1275 Starboard Drive West Sacramento, CA Registrants, friends and family and interested service providers are invited to attend these free meetings. There will be no law enforcement or media present in order to protect everyone’s privacy. The meetings start at 10 am and last about 2-3 hours. Topics of conversation include information about ACSOL’s advocacy as well as current topics and pending legal action. Please Show up, Stand up, and Speak up!
Read MoreTwo California Cities Repeal Halloween Restrictions
The Cities of Lancaster and Temecula this week repealed restrictions which prohibited all registrants living in those cities from fully participating in Halloween celebrations. The repeals took place after letters were sent to a total of five cities warning that the restrictions were preempted by state law. The letters also warned cities that fail to repeal the Halloween restrictions could be sued in court.. “We congratulate Lancaster and Temecula for taking the necessary steps to repeal their unlawful ordinances,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “And we are preparing to…
Read MoreCASOMB Discloses Current Registrant Statistics
The California Sex Offender Management Board (CASOMB) disclosed several registrant statistics during its monthly board meeting on September 20. The statistics were presented by representatives from several state agencies. According to the California Department of Justice, there are currently a total of 106,627 people required to register as sex offenders. Of that total, there are 77,666 people who live “in the community”, that is, not in jail, prison or a state hospital. The total also includes 6,652 people who are homeless (also referred to as transients) of which about 1,500…
Read MoreThese sex offenders are begging to be deported. Why does California pay millions to keep them?
_____ _____ has a healthy kidney waiting for him in El Salvador. But he can’t get to it. Despite his pleas to be deported to his home country, where relatives have offered their organs for transplant, the state of California pays thousands of dollars for him to receive dialysis three times a week at Coalinga State Hospital. _____ is a sexually violent predator, among nearly 1,300 men in a special class of sex offenders who, under state law, are sent to the Fresno County mental health hospital after serving their…
Read MoreCA: Sex Offenders working for Riverside County?
An audit from Riverside County’s Auditor-Controller, Paul Angulo, matches two registered sex offenders’ names to two employees working for Riverside County’s health care network. But other county officials say the audit names the wrong people, noting there are discrepancies in middle names and that the photographs don’t match. And a sentence within the audit says the employees could not be “positively confirmed” as registered sex offenders. Still, Angulo stands by his audit, noting that even the discrepancy highlights a flaw in the county’s vetting process. Full Article
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