The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (Yes, that’s a thing) claims that state prison officials have undermined Prop 57’s parole process, by not including sex offenders for consideration for early release. Full Article
Read MoreCategory: California
Debate over sex offenders moves to court as California undertakes prison parole overhaul
A Los Angeles-based nonprofit is claiming California prison officials have undermined last fall’s ballot measure to overhaul the state’s parole process by excluding sex offenders from consideration for early release. The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, which advocates for the rights of those convicted of sex crimes and their families, says the exemption — written into newly released guidelines to implement Proposition 57 — “impermissibly restricts and impairs the scope” of the initiative. Full Article
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: Next Two Weeks Could Make Huge Difference
The next two weeks could make a huge difference in the lives of more than 100,000 registrants and their families. That difference could be a decision by the Senate Appropriations Committee to release the Tiered Registry Bill (SB 421) from the committee’s Suspense File on May 25, the deadline for this action to be taken. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s decision will be based, in part, upon the budget analysis for SB 421. Therefore, it is important to understand what the analysis has to say. First, the budget analysis for SB…
Read MoreShould sex offenders charge GPS devices at the library?
If you’re homeless, where do you charge the ankle monitor a judge has ordered you to wear? Businesses accuse you of stealing power and scaring away their customers. The city cut off power to some major downtown spots over similar concerns.Full Article
Read MoreIn-depth: California lawmakers consider bill that ends lifetime registration for certain sex offenders
California lawmakers are considering a controversial bill that would end lifetime registration for certain sex offenders. Proponents of the bill say it would allow law enforcement to concentrate on high-risk offenders. Full Article Related http://kron4.com/2017/05/17/in-depth-why-arent-all-sex-offenders-listed-on-megans-law/ http://kron4.com/2017/05/16/in-depth-are-high-risk-sex-offenders-really-where-they-say-they-are/ http://kron4.com/2017/05/15/in-depth-what-happens-to-sex-offenders-in-violation-of-megans-law/
Read MoreSB 26 Added to Suspense File
The Senate Appropriations Committee added Senate Bill 26 (SB 26) to its Suspense File during its hearing on May 15. The Committee is expected to decide whether to keep SB 26 in that file during its final hearing on May 25. If the bill is not removed from the Suspense File on that date, SB 26 can not move forward. So far, SB 26 has been amended four times — on March 20, April 5, April 18 and May 20 — by its author Senator Connie Leyva. As currently written, some registrants who are parents would…
Read MoreIn-depth: What happens to sex offenders in violation of Megan’s Law?
ALAMEDA COUNTY (KRON) — Since the 90’s, citizens of California have been able to see for themselves where registered sex offenders are living in their communities because of the Megan’s Law website. But with more than 100,000 sex offenders in the state, who is making sure those offenders are living where they say they are? Full Article
Read MoreAssembly Appropriations Delays Consideration of AB 558
During its hearing yesterday, the Assembly Appropriations Committee delayed consideration of AB 558 by placing the bill in its Suspense File. The bill may or may not be heard during the Committee’s final hearing on May 26. If the Committee does not hear the bill on that date, the bill will not move forward to the floor of the Assembly or to the Senate. “As currently written, AB 558 would require the addition of information regarding thousands of registrants to the public Megan’s Law website with no corresponding benefit to…
Read MoreConsideration of Tiered Registry Bill Delayed (SB 421)
Senator Scott Wiener, author of the Tiered Registry Bill (SB 421), has waived presentation regarding that bill on May 15, the original date on which the Senate Appropriations Committee was scheduled to consider the bill. Due to this waiver, SB 421 will be placed in the committee’s Suspense File and will not be considered until May 25. According to staff in the office of Sen. Wiener, there is uncertainty regarding the estimate cost of implementing the Tiered Registry Bill. The estimated cost is expected to be revealed in a Budget…
Read MoreFixing California’s bloated sex-offender registry
R Street just signed a letter calling for commonsense reform of the California sex-offender registry, based on a bill proposed by our friend and Legislative Advisory Board member Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine. Full Article
Read MoreAppropriations Committees to Consider AB 558, SB 26 and SB 421
Three bills of great importance to registrants and their loved ones will be heard soon by the relevant Assembly or Senate Appropriations Committees. The Assembly Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider AB 558 (internet exclusions) on May 10 and the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider both SB 26 (school campus visits) and SB 421 (tiered registry) on May 15. Due to the large number of bills to be considered on each of those dates, the committee hearings will begin at 9 a.m. and could end at 5 p.m.…
Read MoreCalifornia Inmates Decry Changes to Voter-Backed Early Release Plan
With the support of Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown and voters, California is preparing to overhaul decades-old determinate-sentencing laws and make thousands of nonviolent inmates eligible for early parole…. With the department planning to start determining parole eligibility on July 1, a civil rights group claims in state court that prisons officials cunningly tweaked the voter-approved measure and are planning to categorically exempt inmates incarcerated for nonviolent crimes that require them to register with the state as a sex offender. Source Related Newly Filed Lawsuit Challenges CDCR Regs for Prop 57
Read MoreNewly Filed Lawsuit Challenges CDCR Regs for Prop 57
A lawsuit was filed on April 27 challenging regulations recently issued by the CA Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) which prohibit the beneficial effects of Proposition 57 from applying to anyone convicted of a sex offense. Those benefits include shorter prison terms that result from earning credit for good behavior as well as participation in rehabilitative, educational and career training programs. “Most registrable sex offenses are not violent offenses according to existing state law,” stated attorney Janice Bellucci. “Therefore, CDCR’s regulations have no legal foundation and are unlawful.” The lawsuit, filed in…
Read MoreSenate Committee Passes Tiered Registry Bill (SB 421)
The Senate Public Safety Committee passed the Tiered Registry Bill (Senate Bill 421) in a hearing during which three members of the Committee agreed to co-author the bill. The bill is now co-authored by Committee Chair Sen. Nancy Skinner as well as Committee Members Holly Mitchell and Joel Anderson. During the hearing, a total of 47 people spoke in favor the Tiered Registry Bill including representatives from the ACLU, Equality California, Root & Rebound and the Friends Committee. “Today’s victory is based in large part upon the registrants and family…
Read MoreSenate Committee Approves SB 26 With Amendments
The Senate Public Safety Committee today approved Senate Bill 26 with the promise that it would be further amended. The approval came despite the testimony of more than 40 people, including registrants and family members, who spoke in opposition to the bill. As currently written, Senate Bill 26 would require all registrants who are parents to be supervised by a school official while visiting a school campus for any reason including parent-teacher night, athletic events and graduation. In addition, individuals convicted of 10 offenses, including some misdemeanors, would be permanently…
Read MoreSupport for Tiered Registry Bill Growing
Support for the Tiered Registry Bill (SB 421) is growing both in the form of letters of support as well as a new co-author, Republican Senator Jeff Stone of San Diego. “The growing support for the Tiered Registry Bill is evidence that it is time to stop the state’s lifetime registry for all,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “It is time for California to join 46 states in the nation through adoption of a tiered registry.” Letters of support from law enforcement include letters from the CA Police Chiefs…
Read MoreNew bill could change way sex offenders are registered
Some sex offenders could soon lose their lifelong registration in the state of California. That’s if a new bill headed to the California Senate is signed into law. Full Article
Read MoreNew Author Announced for Tiered Registry Bill
Senator Scott Wiener (Democrat, San Francisco) has agreed to author the Tiered Registry Bill. As part of that decision, the Senator gutted a prior bill he previously introduced, Senate Bill 421, and amended that bill with the language of the original Tiered Registry Bill. “We thank Senator Scott Wiener for his courage in deciding to be the new author of the Tiered Registry Bill,” stated Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “His decision could increase public safety by making more efficient use of government resources.” The Tiered Registry Bill recently attracted the…
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