If you, like most of us, have a conviction on your record, beginning on January 1, 2018 you will belong to what might be called a “protected class” for hiring purposes. The California State Legislature passed and Governor Brown signed AB 1088 that will require employers to remove the “Box” on employment forms and require that they not ask any questions related to an applicant’s criminal background. Of course, if you live in the City of Los Angeles or San Francisco, a more stringent law is in place. AB 1008…
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CA: LA’s Hidden Sex Offender Problem is about to Get Worse
A few hours before Los Angeles voters went to the polls for a recent election, an unaccompanied man hauled voting equipment and confidential voter information into an LA elementary school’s auditorium through a front entrance as early arriving children and teachers trickled in during the early part of the 6am hour. According to the LAUSD and the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder, this man’s presence at the school is strictly prohibited because he is a registered sex offender with a years-old aggravated felony for lewd or lascivious acts with a child…
Read MoreCA: Why Highland is repealing its sex offender residency ordinances
The city of Highland is repealing its residency restrictions on sex offenders, two years after the state Supreme Court deemed similar restrictions unconstitutional. The City Council has agreed to repeal its ordinance, which prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of public or private schools and parks, after receiving a threat of litigation from Sacramento-based attorney Janice Bellucci. Full Article
Read MoreCA: Child porn case against California doctor dismissed
[pressherald.com] The child pornography case against a California doctor whose computer was searched after he submitted it to Best Buy’s Geek Squad for repair has been dismissed after a judge ruled that an FBI agent made “several false or misleading statements or omissions … with reckless disregard for the truth” in a search warrant affidavit. The case against oncologist _____ attracted national attention because it revealed that technicians at the Geek Squad’s central repair facility in Kentucky had been paid by the FBI and would tip off the FBI field…
Read MoreCA: Recall effort for Brock Turner judge gaining momentum
[ABC 10] The campaign to recall the judge who sentenced former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner to six months in jail for sexually assaulting a woman appears to be gaining momentum. Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, who’s behind the effort to recall Santa Clara County Judge Aaron Persky, told ABC10 that they now have more than 70,000 petition signatures. “When Judge Persky gave Brock Turner only six months in jail for three felony sex crimes, he gave Turner the same kind of privilege that Harvey Weinstein and others have received…
Read MoreCA: California Men Sue Over Gay Sex Stings
[Florida Action Committee] Five California Men are Suing the City of San Jose after being arrested in a “gay sex sting.” The charges against them were eventually dismissed, but undoubtedly much damage was done regardless. The men claim their Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated when they were arrested for “loitering” during a 17-month operation conducted beginning 2014 at a park known to be a meeting place for Gay and Bisexuals. In total, during the 17 months, only 19 men were arrested. Six fought the charges and ultimately got…
Read MoreCA: City Council repeals sex offender residency ordinance
Facing the threat of another costly lawsuit the Highland City Council voted 3-2 to repeal a city ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from residing within 2,000 feet of schools, parks and other locations identified for children’s use, Nov. 14. Full Article
Read MoreCA: Tulare County men arrested during sex offender compliance check
Two Tulare County men were arrested after they failed to provide information during a sex offender compliance check on Friday. Full Article
Read MoreCA: Family Law Clinic for People with Records
We (Root & Rebound) are excited to announce our first-ever Family Law Clinic for people with criminal records. We will be offering one-on-one appointments with our reentry attorneys for any person with a criminal record who needs help with issues related to family law. Date: December 2, 2017 Time: 10 am – 4 pm Location: 1730 Franklin St., Suite 300, Oakland, CA 94612 At this clinic, get help with family law issues like: Understanding your rights in family court, probate court, or dependency court as a person with a criminal…
Read MoreACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of CA Registrant
ACLU filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Los Angeles last week on behalf of a California registrant who is on parole. According to the lawsuit, the registrant is being denied the ability to access social media as well as to attend and participate in church services. Subsequent to the filing of the complaint, the ACLU filed an application for a Preliminary Injunction this week. A hearing on the PI application will be held on November 27 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 9C in the U.S. District Court, Central…
Read MoreCA: Initiative Would Expand DNA Gathering, Restrict Early Parole
[CBS Sacramento] A Democratic lawmaker on Monday proposed a ballot measure that would bar certain convicted rapists and sex traffickers from earning credits to reduce their sentences and expand the list of crimes for which a perpetrator’s DNA is collected. Assemblyman Jim Cooper of Elk Grove said he’s taking the measure to California voters because Democratic leaders repeatedly stonewalled legislation to enact similar changes. “This initiative holds bad people accountable,” Cooper said at a news conference outside the Capitol flanked by prosecutors and law enforcement officers. Read more
Read MoreDoes Megan’s Law Put A Scarlet Letter On A Sex Offender’s Former Address?
Does the Megan’s Law website actually hurt some homeowners or renters? A La Puente woman says it does and that she has become the target of vandals. CBS2’s Randy Paige investigated and discovered a loophole in the law that could put future homeowners and renters at risk. Full Article
Read MoreCDCR Motion Denied in Prop. 57 Case; New Hearing Date Set
A Superior Court judge has denied the demurrer filed by the CA Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and canceled the hearing on that topic which was scheduled for October 27, 2017. In addition, the judge scheduled a hearing on the merits of the case for February 9, 2018. “Because the judge did not grant CDCR’s demurrer, we will have the opportunity early next year to present legal arguments regarding how and why CDCR’s emergency regulations implementing Proposition 57 are both invalid and unconstitutional,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “The public is encouraged to attend that…
Read MoreSimi Valley Formally Notifies Registrants of Repealed Halloween Ordinance
The City of Simi Valley has formally notified registrants in that city that they are no longer required to post a sign on the front door of their home on Halloween and are allowed to decorate their homes as well as answer their door to children. According to the letter dated October 18, these changes are the result of a decision made on October 16 by the Simi Valley City Council to repeal its Halloween ordinance which was adopted in 2012. The Simi Valley letter did not make reference to…
Read MoreCA: Simi Valley links to Megan’s Law site to safeguard kids from sex offenders on Halloween
Simi Valley on Thursday unveiled a new strategy to safeguard trick-or-treating children from the city’s registered sex offenders. It used its Nixle.com account to link to the state’s Megan’s Law website, which lists the names, photos and addresses of 97 of the city’s 165 registered sex offenders. Full Article
Read MoreCA: California law will bar cities and counties from providing information for a ‘Muslim registry’
[Los Angeles Times] Gov. Jerry Brown signed a closely watched bill on Sunday to block the creation of any so-called Muslim registry should President Trump choose to act on a proposal he repeatedly suggested during his 2016 campaign. Senate Bill 31 by state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) bars state and local governments from releasing personal information to the federal government for the creation of any religious list, registry or database. It also prohibits them from using resources to create their own lists. Dubbed the California Religious Freedom Act, the…
Read MoreCA: Sex Offender Law Repealed In Simi Valley
[CBS Los Angeles] SIMI VALLEY (CBSLA) — Don’t take candy from strangers. But what about sexual offenders? The Simi Valley City Council decided on Monday night to overturn a law aimed at protecting children from sexual predators. City leaders say the law wouldn’t stand up in a legal appeal so they killed it. There will now be nothing to stop registered sex offenders in Simi Valley from interacting with trick-or-treaters. So when Halloween rolls around in a couple of weeks, parents say they’ll be a lot more vigilant. The ordinance…
Read MoreSimi Valley Repeals Halloween Ordinance
The Simi Valley City Council unanimously agreed tonight to repeal its Halloween Ordinance which required the city’s registrants to post a sign on the front door of their homes as well as prohibited them from decorating their homes, answering the door to trick-or-treaters and illuminating any exterior lights. The City Council vote was taken without discussion or debate, however, the City Attorney recommended repeal of the ordinance prior to the meeting due to a lawsuit filed on behalf of a registrant and his family who reside in Simi Valley. “The…
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