Lake County >> Even though the county has the highest number of sex offenders when compared to its neighbors, the recent loosening of housing restrictions will not cause any notable change in Lake County. “The supreme court’s decision doesn’t affect us,” Lake County Chief Probation Officer Rob Howe said. “With the current supervised population, there is no affect in Lake County, not to say that it couldn’t in the future.” California voters passed Jessica’s Law in 2006 with the intention of protecting children from predators; however, there is no data…
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Board Repeals Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to nullify an ordinance prohibiting convicted sex offenders from living in close proximity to schools and parks. On a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor John Tavaglione absent, the board followed a recommendation from Riverside County Counsel Greg Priamos that Ordinance 902 be invalidated effective May 7. Priamos proposed the repeal based on a California Supreme Court finding that residency restrictions were no longer enforceable, except in narrowly defined circumstances. Full Article
Read MoreSharon Runner Demands Transparency from Corrections Department
SACRAMENTO – Senator Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster) has called upon the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide insight into its decision to terminate enforcement of the uniform sex offender residency restrictions under Jessica’s Law. “I was alarmed by CDCR’s sweeping decision to stop enforcing the people’s will as expressed in Jessica’s Law,” said Runner. “The residency restrictions in Jessica’s Law provide important peace of mind for California’s families.” Full Article
Read MoreLet local governments set safety zones for children: Guest commentary
California’s sex offender laws are blanket policies that may not properly capture all of the nuances needed in various communities. While the state has laws that restrict where sex offenders can live, it is clear that communities know best where local children are most vulnerable and it is critical that local authorities have the necessary tools to protect them. Jessica’s Law already prohibits registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools and parks, but it does not restrict them from spending time in parks, community centers or other…
Read MoreBEAUMONT: Council to weigh sex offender residency restrictions [UPDATED]
The Beaumont City Council may repeal local sex offender residency restrictions when it meets on Tuesday, April 7. The state Supreme Court has ruled such regulations are unconstitutional. Full Article April 9: BEAUMONT: City set to repeal sex offender residency restrictions (First Reading) City Council Hearing / at 71:20 (with reference to Presence lawsuits)
Read MoreCalifornia’s Sane New Approach to Sex Offenders
And why no other state is following its example. – Last week, California officials announced that the state would allow some sex offenders to live within 2,000 feet of schools and parks for the first time since 2006, making it easier for them to find housing. High-risk sex offenders and those whose crimes involved children under the age of 14 will still be subject to the residency restrictions, which were introduced as part of a voter-initiative known as as Jessica’s Law—but all others will be granted exemptions on a case-by-case…
Read MoreChanges to law impacts where sex offenders can live
REDDING, Calif. – Under Jessica’s Law, a voter-approved mandate passed in 2008, registered sex offenders are not allowed to live within 2,000 feet of schools or parks where children are. Last week, California officials announced significant changes to the law including changes to where registered sex offenders can live. Full Article
Read MoreSupreme Court was correct to throw out Jessica’s Law (Editorial)
How do you feel about zero tolerance? It’s often a simple way to deal with matters when we don’t want to be bothered, but it can cause all sorts of problems. Some of our laws are written in much the same way – like Jessica’s Law, the 2006 ballot initiative targeted at sex offenders that passed with 70 percent of the vote. Finally, California officials have done something about it. Full Editorial
Read MoreSex-offender laws: Heed the evidence
Should California have laws covering sex offenders that actually increase the chance of new sex crimes? Of course not. That’s why we welcome the recent decision by the state Supreme Court to reduce some of the travel restrictions imposed on sex offenders and last week’s follow-up announcement by the state that it will exclude less-threatening sex criminals from the ban on living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Editorial – UT San Diego
Read MoreState laws on sex offenders should not be crafted by emotion (Editorial) UPDATED
UPDATED with Reader’s Reactions California’s Supreme Court was right to drop Jessica’s Law, @latimes editorial board says. Jessica’s Law — California’s version of it, anyway — was a mess from the beginning. Voters here adopted it (as Proposition 83) in 2006 because they mistakenly believed they were cracking down on horrific crimes against children. They were urged on by nightly harangues from national TV commentators who campaigned on-air for swift action following the rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in Florida, a crime that touched an especially sensitive nerve…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: A Step in the Right Direction
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), not know as an ally of registered citizens, took an important step in the right direction on March 26 by declaring that they will apply the recent Taylor decision statewide. In the Taylor decision, the California Supreme Court ruled it is unconstitutional for CDCR to levy residency restrictions against all registered citizens on parole as a blanket condition. Also in that decision, the Court provided CDCR with discretion to levy residency restrictions on a case-by-case basis. CDCR’s decision to apply the Court’s…
Read MoreCalifornia loosens sex offender residency restrictions to focus on pedophiles, sex crimes on children
SACREMENTO – California will alter its 8-year-old ban preventing all registered sex offenders from living near schools or parks, state officials announced Thursday, instead imposing the restriction only on pedophiles and others whose sex crimes involved children. The state corrections department said it is changing its policy in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that found the blanket prohibition unconstitutional. The high court ruled this month that restrictions imposed by California voters in 2006 go too far to limit where sex offenders can live. Full Article
Read MoreCalifornia eases Jessica’s Law restrictions for some sex offenders
When California voters approved Jessica’s Law in 2006, the goal was simple: to keep sex offenders away from children. The sweeping measure prohibited all sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools and parks where children gather, regardless of whether their crimes involved children. The law left large swaths of neighborhoods off-limits to these parolees, creating consequences that not everyone expected. Sex offenders were pushed into industrial areas, homeless camps and other remote locations. In Harbor Gateway, officials even built pocket parks to help make larger portions of the…
Read MoreWary of lawsuits, Downey rolls back restrictions on sex offenders
DOWNEY – The City Council on Tuesday reluctantly but unanimously voted to roll back its residency restrictions on registered sex offenders after the state Supreme Court ruled that similar restrictions in San Diego County are unconstitutional. … Councilman Sean Ashton instructed Garcia to investigate whether the city can bill sex offenders to cover the costs of police supervision. “I don’t want sex offenders here. I don’t care where else they have to go, I just don’t want them here,” he said. Full Article City Council Video at 1:31:30
Read MoreCalifornia loosens rules on where sex offenders can live
California officials announced Thursday the state will stop enforcing a key provision of a voter-approved law that prohibits all registered sex offenders from living near schools. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it will no longer impose the blanket restrictions outlined in Jessica’s Law, which prevented all sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park, regardless of whether their crimes involved children. Full Article Related UT San Diego SF Chronicle CBS Sacramento KCRA
Read MoreBoard to Rescind Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders [UPDATED]
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Supervisors vote to lift sex offender residency restrictions (March 24) Riverside County supervisors are expected Tuesday to begin the process of nullifying an ordinance prohibiting where convicted sex offenders can reside. The Office of County Counsel is requesting that the Board of Supervisors completely invalidate Ordinance 902 in order for the county to comply with a California Supreme Court finding that residency restrictions are no longer enforceable, except in narrowly defined circumstances. Full Article Agenda – Repealing Ordinance
Read MoreSex offender placement plan cause for concern (Opinion)
With the current controversy surrounding a convicted sex offender being released in our community, and the further insult of having the $3,200 rent check for a fairly nice house being covered by California taxpayers, it is time we look closer at the policies and views on how we handle sex offenders, Megan’s law policy and its corresponding database. Full Opinion Piece
Read MoreState Legislation Would Require SVP’s to Reside Near Police Departments
A state Assembly bill would, if enacted into law, require anyone deemed a sexually violent predator (SVP) to live within 10 miles of a “permanent physical police or sheriff’s station”. That bill is AB 262 which was introduced by Tom Lackey, who is a Republican member of the state legislature representing Palmdale and a former CHP officer. “The public needs to be protected from individuals who currently pose a current threat to public safety,” stated CA RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “However, this legislation is written too broadly because it would…
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