The Senate Appropriations Committee stopped Assembly Bill (AB) 2569 which would have reduced the number of registrants who are not listed on the Megan’s Law website. The bill, which was authored by Assembly Member Melissa Melendez, was previously passed by the full Assembly. “AB 2569 was stopped by the efforts of registrants, family members and supporters who wrote letters, made phone calls and testified,” stated ACSOL President Janice Bellucci. “The halting of this bill before it could be considered on the Senate floor is a significant victory.” The initial bill…
Read MoreCategory: California
Activists asking if police will be charged in sex scandal
Activists and relatives of a teenage woman at the center of a San Francisco Bay Area police sex scandal say they want to know if any of the more than two dozen law enforcement officials implicated earlier this year will face criminal charges. The woman, who turned 19 on Thursday and says she works as a prostitute, told The Associated Press that she informed internal affairs investigators months ago that she had sex with three Oakland police officers and a Contra Costa County deputy before her 18th birthday. Full Article
Read MoreCalifornia DOJ Agrees to Correct Megan’s Law Profiles
The California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) agreed yesterday to correct more than 90 percent of individuals’ profiles on the state’s Megan’s Law website which lack the date of conviction. The agency’s agreement is the result of a lawsuit filed by CA RSOL in November 2015. “The lack of a conviction date coupled with an individual’s current photo on the Megan’s Law website profiles led many potential employers, landlords and others to assume that the offense for which individuals were convicted occurred recently,” stated ACSOL President Janice Bellucci. “There are…
Read MoreSex offenders would have to disclose email addresses and usernames under bill sent to governor
Sex offenders would be required to report their email addresses, usernames and other Internet identifiers to law enforcement under a bill California state senators sent to the governor Wednesday. Full Article SB 448
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: Waiting for Justice
As summer comes to an end, we are waiting for justice. We are waiting for a judge’s decision in our challenge to the International Megan’s Law. We are waiting for cities to eliminate residency restrictions. We are waiting for a tiered registry bill to be introduced in the California state legislature. Why does it take so long? Why can’t judges, city officials and state legislators stop the punishment of registered citizens NOW? Perhaps it’s due to habit. For many people, including judges and elected officials, have adopted the habit of…
Read MoreTustin City Council Begins Repeal of Residency Restrictions
The Tustin City Council, in a vote of 4 to 1, voted yesterday in favor of repealing the city’s residency restrictions which prohibit registered citizens from living in most of that city. The only “no” vote was cast by Mayor John Nielsen who did not explain his vote. This is the first of two steps required by the City Council to repeal the restrictions. The second step is expected to be taken at the next City Council meeting which is scheduled for September 6. “This is a significant victory for…
Read MoreMurrieta Residency Restrictions Stopped Again
A federal judge issued a Preliminary Injunction (PI) on Monday that stops enforcement of residency restrictions in the City of Murrieta. The judge’s decision, in effect, continues a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) she issued about three weeks ago. Although the PI applies only to the plaintiff in this case now, its effect is expected to be extended to all registrants at a later time. “This is a significant victory for registrants and families living in the City of Murrietta,” stated attorney Janice Bellucci. “It is unfortunate that the City did…
Read MoreCalifornia gang database plagued with errors, unsubstantiated entries, state auditor finds
A California gang database maintained by law enforcement agencies is rife with unsubstantiated entries, names that should have been purged long ago and glaring errors, a state audit released Thursday found. Full Article
Read MoreProsecutors who falsify or withhold evidence could become felons under proposed state legislation
Prosecutors who intentionally withhold or falsify evidence could be charged with a felony under a new bill winding through the state Legislature. The proposal by Assemblywoman Patty Lopez, D-San Fernando, comes as prosecutors in Orange County face accusations that they’ve routinely misused jailhouse informants and withheld information from defense attorneys. Full Article
Read MoreThe punishment of sex crimes against women and minors
What the legislation would do: A number of California bills proposed this session seek to enhance punishment and repercussions for those who commit sex crimes, particularly against women and minors. Full Article
Read MoreCalifornia RSOL is now Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (CA RSOL) has a new name Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL). The new name is significant in two ways: 1. it no longer uses the name of the state in which it was incorporated and 2. it uses the term “sex offense” instead of “sex offender”. The CA RSOL board of directors determined that these changes are necessary because the organization has outgrown the borders of the State of California. For example, individuals in many states utilize the organization’s website on a regular…
Read MoreInternational Megan’s Law IML Protest – Registered Sex Offender’s Passports – Metamora Films
More than 40 people participated in a peaceful protest held outside the federal district court in Oakland, CA. Participants included registrants and supporters from California as well as several other states. View on YouTube
Read MorePeaceful Protest in Oakland Attracts More Than 40 People
More than 40 people today participated in a peaceful protest held outside the federal district court in Oakland. Participants included registrants and supporters from California as well as several other states, including Florida, Missouri and Oregon. Today’s protest included the burning of sex offender registration cards by six registrants led by CA RSOL Treasurer Frank Lindsay. Today’s protest was a tremendous success,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “We effectively communicated to the public and to the media our position that the International Megan’s Law (IML) violates the U.S. Constitution.” The protest immediately followed…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: We Need YOU to Help Restore Registrants’ Rights on July 27
A federal judge made a wise and brave decision on Friday. She granted a TRO which temporarily prohibits the City of Murrieta from evicting a registrant, who suffers from both medical and financial challenges, from the home of his sister, the only person willing and able to care for him. This judge’s decision is important because it is the first decision by a federal judge to limit the enforcement of residency restrictions in a California city. It can, and will, set a precedent in other cases both within and outside…
Read MoreFederal Judge Temporarily Stops Residency Restrictions in Murrieta
Federal judge Virginia Phillips issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) today that prohibits the City of Murrieta from enforcing its residency restrictions against a registrant who moved to his sister’s home earlier this month. The TRO will remain in effect until August 15 when a hearing will be held to determine whether the judge will grant additional injunctive relief. “This is a great victory for registrants,” stated attorney Janice Bellucci. “For the first time, a federal judge has stopped the enforcement of a city’s residency restrictions in the state of…
Read MoreEmotional Support Group Mtgs Resume in L.A. on August 6
Emotional Support Group meetings for registrants and their loved ones will resume in Los Angeles on August 6 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at the ACLU building, 1313 W. 8th Street, and free underground parking is available. There is no charge for attending the meeting. Participants are urged to arrive before 10 a.m. because access to the meeting will close at 10 a.m.
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: Hand-to-Hand Combat in California Cities
Today we are conducting hand-to-hand combat with cities throughout the state of California in order to challenge their residency restrictions. There are more than 100 cities that have such restrictions and thusfar we have filed nine lawsuits. The series of lawsuits began last year when we challenged residency restriction in the City of Grover Beach that prohibited registered citizens from moving into most of that small city. It also prohibited registered citizens already living in that city from moving into a new home within the same city…..including Frank Lindsay who…
Read More“Pokemon Go” leads players to California sex offender home
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — The addictive cellphone game “Pokemon Go” has led people to unlikely places to collect digital monsters – including the gates of a central California ranch that houses alcoholics and sex offenders. … But De Vaul, 72, told the Los Angeles Times that he was upset. “I have no idea what Pokemon is,” he said. “I have no idea who put the stop – if it was sabotage – because we don’t want kids showing up here.” If children visit the property, some sex offenders living there might…
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