A California Court of Appeal that last month rebuked a Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) sting operation targeting adults in pursuit of minors for sex on Craigslist has refused a California Attorney General’s office request to reconsider its decision, but nonetheless softened it stance in the case. Full Article
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Doe vs Harris Decision
“… requiring the parties’ compliance with changes in the law made retroactive to them does not violate the terms of the plea agreement, nor does the failure of a plea agreement to reference the possibility the law might change translate into an implied promise the defendant will be unaffected by a change in the statutory consequences attending his or her conviction. To that extent, then, the terms of the plea agreement can be affected by changes in the law.“ 6-1 Decision
Read MoreDon’t want mug shot online? Then pay up, sites say
After more than seven years and a move 2,800 miles across the country, ____ ____ thought he’d left behind reminders of the arrest that capped a bitter break-up. That was, until he searched the Internet last month and came face-to-face with his 2006 police mug shot. Full Article
Read MoreTrio of sex offenders arrested in Santa Rosa registration sweep
Only three of 46 people contacted by police Wednesday had not followed state sex offender registration laws or were violating probation terms, Santa Rosa police said. Officers from several agencies joined Santa Rosa police during the all-day effort to make sure sex offenders registered in the city were complying with the law, Sgt. Terry Anderson said. Full Article
Read MoreSan Juan Man Guilty in Vigilante Murder of Sex Offender
A jury has convicted San Juan Capistrano resident Robert Eugene Vasquez of murdering his neighbor in what prosecutors described as a vigilante killing. He was also convicted of almost killing a second San Juan Capistrano man two days later, as he was hiding out from the police. Full Article
Read MoreCA RSOL supports AB 218
CA RSOL strongly supports the passing of AB 218 in the California Legislature. This bill would remove questions about criminal convictions from public job applications, postponing them until later in the hiring process. Through your support of AB 218, the State of California can begin to unlock employment opportunities for thousands of residents and help them obtain the second chance they deserve, thereby,significantly improving public safety and reducing the current recidivism rate. AB 218 was approved by the Assembly on May 30, 2013, and is now under consideration in the…
Read MoreBrian Banks’ accuser ordered to pay school district $2.6 million
The Long Beach Unified School District has won a $2.6-million judgment in its lawsuit against a former student who falsely accused classmate and football player Brian Banks of rape, officials said Thursday. “The court recognizes that our school district was a victim in this case,” district Supt. Christopher J. Steinhauser said in a statement. “This judgment demonstrates that when people attempt to defraud our school system, they will feel the full force of the law.” Full Article
Read MoreFederal judges order Brown to begin releasing inmates immediately
A panel of federal judges on Thursday ordered Gov. Jerry Brown to immediately begin releasing inmates from the state’s crowded prisons. In a 52-page order signed by U.S. District Judges Stephen Reinhardt, Lawrence Karlton and Thelton Henderson, the court ordered Brown to expand good-time credits that allow inmates to finish their prison terms early. Full Article
Read More[UPDATED] California RSOL Meeting July 27 – Los Angeles
California RSOL will discuss the California Supreme Court decision of Doe v. Harris — its meaning and its impact — in the organization’s monthly Los Angeles meeting on July 27. The meeting will be held at the ACLU building at 1313 W. 8th Street and start at 10 a.m. The meeting will also include updated information regarding the exciting National RSOL Conference to be held in Los Angeles starting August 29. The conference will include experts and dynamic speakers including Alex Landon, criminal defense attorney and author of “A Parallel…
Read MoreIs new sex offender bill’s “throw ‘em in jail” philosophy good policy?
Article provided by Ventura Criminal Defense Lawyer – Bamieh & Erickson PLC Those convicted of sex crimes have long been a straw man for elected officials looking to bolster their political clout. Every time a politician wishes to appear “tough on crime,” one of the easiest avenues is pushing new sex offender legislation through the California House and Senate. But, while new sex offender regulations may be popular with the public, they are not always good policy, often hampering the livelihoods of individuals who would have otherwise simply paid their…
Read MoreMurder trial to begin in 2011 death of sex offender in O.C.
A man accused of killing a registered sex offender in a San Juan Capistrano mobile home park and attacking a second victim days later goes on trial Monday for murder. Robert Vasquez, 36, could face a sentence of life in state prison without parole if convicted, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office. Full Article NOTE: We copied and pasted the headline in the interest of news aggregation. However, we strongly disapprove of the choice of words and this type of reporting.
Read MoreVictims not keen on long prison terms
A survey that a crime victims’ group described as the first of its kind in California yielded some findings contrary to conventional wisdom Thursday: Most victims question the benefits of imprisoning more criminals and prefer rehabilitation, education and Gov. Jerry Brown’s realignment program. “This report turns on its head the notion that victims care only about tough-on-crime sentences,” said Lenore Anderson, director of Californians for Safety and Justice, the nonprofit that commissioned the poll. Full Article
Read MorePalmdale Ordinance Repeal is Final
The City of Palmdale has repealed its sex offender ordinance, which included both residency and presence restrictions. The repeal is permanent and therefore registrants are no longer required to meet any of the ordinance’s requirements. “Palmdale has chosen to follow the path started by Lake Forest in December 2012,” stated Janice Bellucci, President of CA RSOL. “As such, Palmdale is one of many cities that now realize that the ordinances they passed did not increase public safety and denied the civil rights of registrants.” The Palmdale City Council voted…
Read MoreSen. Jim Beall’s Statute of Limitations Bill to Sue Child Molesters Makes Progress
Legislation to overhaul the statute of limitations so adult survivors of child molestation can seek justice in civil courts against their abusers approved by Senate Judiciary Committee. Legislation by state Sen. Jim Beall to overhaul the statute of limitations so adult survivors of child molestation can seek justice in civil courts against their abusers was passed earlier this month by the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Senate Bill 131 changes California’s antiquated statute of limitations on civil claims brought forward for childhood sexual abuse,’’ said Beall, whose District 15 includes Los Gatos. Full…
Read MoreTiered Registry Bill Stopped by Appropriations Committee
The Appropriations Committee of the California Assembly today stopped further consideration of the tiered registry bill, AB 702, this calendar year. There was no discussion of the bill nor was a vote taken. Instead, Chairman Mike Gatto (Democrat, Los Angeles) decided to “hold the bill” in the committee’s suspense file. “This is a sad day for registrants in California,” stated CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “Because of this decision, California will remain 1 of only 4 states in the nation that has a lifetime registry for all registrants.” …
Read MoreCalifornia RSOL Lobbies for Tiered Registry Bill
Ten individuals representing California RSOL are lobbying in Sacramento in support of a tiered registry bill, AB 702. The bill, as currently written, would remove some individuals from the registry after 10 or 20 years after their release from prison, probation and/or parole. “It is great to have two teams of individuals, including registrants and family members, lobbying in support of the tiered registry bill,” stated Janice Bellucci, President of CA RSOL. “We are educating elected officials and members of their staff regarding the need for a tiered registry.” AB…
Read MoreRestrictive Residency Rules and the Illusion of Public Safety
The latest strategy to restrict where convicted sex offenders live is to create parks where none exist to force registered sex offenders to move out of a neighborhood. The City of Los Angeles plans to build three pocket parks in the communities of Harbor Gateway and Wilmington. California state law prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a park, playground school or a daycare center. Some states restrict living within 1,000 feet or near certain bus stops. There are similar residence restrictive laws in every state along with…
Read MoreBusted! Offenders Adds Sex Offender Registry Information from Sacramento, California
Busted! Grid, the leading innovator in the aggregation of crime information, announces the addition of sex offender registry information from Sacramento, California to the Busted! Offenders database. Over 6,600 registered sex offenders living and working in Sacramento have been added to the BustedOffenders.com website. The addition will help ease family’s safety concerns among people in the city who come in contact with their children. Full Article
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