Lompoc’s City Council members tonight will consider easing loitering restrictions in the city’s sex offender ordinance to conform to state law, and temporarily suspending enforcement of residency limitations for registered offenders. Full Article City Council Hearing Video (click on #9) Update 7/16: Lompoc Council OKs settlement with registered sex offender (Lompoc Record) Update 7/17: To Settle Lawsuit, Lompoc Council Agrees to Ease Restrictions for Sex Offenders (Noozhawk)
Read MoreCategory: California
Supervisors set to repeal sex offender ordinance
The Riverside County Board of Supervisors are expected to repeal Ordinance 902, the ordinance that sets rules on where sex offenders can live or visit. The board decided to appeal the ordinance on the advice of legal counsel following Appeals Court rulings on similar ordinances in nearby areas as unconstitutional. Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone registered a “No” vote, making a strong political statement on the subject during the July 1 meeting. Full Article
Read MoreLompoc May Revise ‘Presence’ Restrictions for Sex Offenders
The City of Lompoc is poised to repeal its stringent requirements on where registered sex offenders can visit, a change stemming from a lawsuit filed by a Grover Beach man. Full Article Related: Santa Maria attorney files sex offender lawsuit against Lompoc LOMPOC SEX OFFENDER ORDINANCE CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT
Read MoreRiverside County Officials Discuss Repealing Sex Offender Ordinance
TEMECULA (CBSLA.com) — A major move by Riverside County officials could do away with a sex-offender ordinance that sets rules on where they can live or visit. Sex offenders across California aren’t allowed within 2,000 feet of public parks or schools, and in Riverside County, they aren’t welcome within 300 feet. The county also has stronger restrictions on where sex offenders can live. Full Article
Read MoreTehachapi repeals sex offender ordinance to avoid lawsuit
TEHACHAPI, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) – The city is backing away from an ordinance that restricted sex offenders.The city’s ordinance prohibited sex offenders from visiting libraries, parks and other places where children gather. Full Article
Read MoreSex Offender Registry Reform Effort Aims to Parse for Future Risk
California is one of only four states that require sex offenders to register for life. The state board overseeing the registry is once again pushing to overhaul the system. The board wants to make it easier to spot sex offenders at high risk of re-offending. Reporter: Tara Siler. Radio Program Read the full story (State of Health) Related: Sex Offender Board Calls For Registry Overhaul (May 30, 2014)
Read MoreRIVERSIDE COUNTY: Sex-offender ordinance to be repealed
Riverside County is poised to do away with an ordinance that sets rules on where sex offenders can live or visit in an effort to avoid a lawsuit. The county established sex-offender residency and loitering prohibitions for unincorporated areas in 2010, but the Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval last week to repeal the law because an appeal court has invalidated similar ordinances in other municipalities. Full Article
Read MoreSex offenders sue over ordinances that ban them from places
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) – Wasco and Taft are among a group of California cities being sued by a civil rights group that advocates on behalf of sex offenders. In 2006, state voters approved Jessica’s Law, which bars sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. Shortly after, numerous cities adopted much more restrictive local laws that prohibit sex offenders from being present in any “children’s facility,” such as a public library, school bus stop, or “any location that facilitates on their property classes or group activities…
Read MoreStudy: Middle Schoolers Engaged in Sexting Six Times More Likely to Be Sexually Active
Middle school students who have engaged in “sexting” — sending or receiving sexually suggestive text messages or photos — are dramatically more likely to be sexually active, according to a USC study released today. Full Article
Read MoreRiverside County repealing sex offender rules
RIVERSIDE – Riverside County is considering repealing a law that for four years has restricted the activities of convicted sex offenders such as going within 300 feet of day care facilities, schools, school bus stops, parks, public libraries and other places where children gather. Full Article Riverside County Staff Report
Read MoreCA RSOL Meeting in San Diego – September 20
On September 20th the monthly California RSOL meeting will be from 10 am to 1 pm in San Diego. The meeting will take place at California Western School of Law at 225 Cedar Street San Diego, CA 92101, Room LH2. Registrants, family and friends, supporters and professionals are welcome to attend. As always media and government officials are not invited in order to ensure everyone’s privacy. Topics of discussion will include changes in the laws as well as pending litigation and advocacy strategies. Please join us on September 20 in San Diego – Show up, Stand…
Read MoreProposed ‘Audrie’s Law’ ignites new debate over juvenile justice sentences
The California Legislature is working on a proposed sexual assault and cyberbullying law inspired by the case of Saratoga High School student Audrie Pott, who committed suicide in 2012 after she was sexually assaulted at a party and photographs of the assault were distributed to classmates. Full Article
Read MoreSan Jose lawmaker’s teen sex offender measure changes in compromise
A San Jose lawmaker under pressure from juvenile justice advocates has agreed to ease a measure meant to toughen penalties for youths who sexually assault unconscious victims. Sen. Jim Beall on Tuesday will move to eliminate from the legislation termed Audrie’s Law the requirement that some juvenile sex offenders serve at least two years in a juvenile detention facility. Instead, the bill will require that youths who commit any sex crime complete a sexual offender treatment program that juvenile court judges will have broad discretion to tailor to each offender…
Read MoreSex offender ordinance repealed
A city ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from frequenting parks, playgrounds, daycare centers, schools, libraries and other places where children are normally present was repealed at the June 11 Placerville City Council meeting. Full Article
Read MoreCity of Porterville repeals sex offenders ordinance
The city council Tuesday reluctantly repealed a section in the Municipal Code referring to sex offenders and regulating their proximity to children’s facilities. The matter was brought before the council by City Attorney Julia Lew because of recent lawsuits in other cities with the same type of ordinance and because the city has been receiving letters and suggestions of legal action. Full Article
Read MorePositive Appellate Court Decision Halted by CA Supreme Court
The California Supreme Court has granted review of the appellate court decision, People v. Tirey, which increased slightly the number of registered citizens eligible to apply for a certificate of rehabilitation. The appellate court’s decision did not, however, change the criteria for who could be granted a certificate. The appellate court decision was issued in November 15, 2013, and was based upon the equal protection clause of the constitution. Because the Supreme Court has granted review, the holding in the Tirey case cannot be used as precedent until that court…
Read MoreFelons turn to ‘pardon guy’ to verify that they’re rehabilitated
John Garbin hears from people who say they’ll commit suicide if he doesn’t help them. Because of mistakes they made years ago — criminal mistakes — they can’t get a job, move on with their lives, or escape their tarnished reputations, even though they’ve served their time. “The calls we get are from people who are absolutely desperate,” he said. “We do not live in a forgiving society.” Full Article
Read MoreJuvenile rape legislation — ‘Audrie’s Law’ — stirs Capitol debate
SACRAMENTO — When San Jose lawmaker Jim Beall set out earlier this year to strengthen penalties for youths who sexually assault unconscious victims, he expected to win broad support easily. Instead, he ignited a familiar Capitol debate among lawyers, victims and juvenile advocates about whether the justice system’s goal should be punishing or rehabilitating offenders. That debate will be renewed on Tuesday when an Assembly committee will again consider Beall’s bill. Full Article Related: Audrie’s Law goes too far, some legislators insist
Read More