The Lancaster City Council, in a unanimous vote, repealed virtually all of its sex offender ordinance during a meeting on March 26. This was the second and final vote on that issue. “California RSOL did what had to be done by challenging an ordinance that violated both the state and federal constitutions,” stated President Janice Bellucci. “The Lancaster ordinance prevented more than 100,000 individuals and their families from visiting public places such as the museum and library as well as private places such as movie theaters and bowling alleys.” The…
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California RSOL Meeting May 18 – Los Angeles
California RSOL will return to L.A. on May 18. The meeting will be held at ACLU building at 1313 W. 8th Street and start at 10 a.m. As always, topics of discussion will include issues of importance to registrants and their family members, such as parole conditions and residency restrictions, as well as news about pending legislation and litigation. Attendance is free of charge and restricted to registrants and their friends / family / supporters. No media or government officials are allowed. Hope to see you there!
Read MoreLosing Sex Offender Scarlet Letter After 16 Years to Return Man’s Life, Claims Defense Lawyer
Orange County can be a pretty hostile place if you are a sex offender, witness the bans on pervs in parks the district attorney’s office has pushed for and the personal information about parolees made public thanks to the likes of county Supervisor Todd Spitzer. So, perhaps it is with some added gusto that a Tustin law firm is trumpeting a client getting his sex offender scarlet letter removed. The unidentified fellow had been arrested and convicted in 1996 for misdemeanor indecent exposure after removing all his clothing and running…
Read MoreSex offenders sue over personal info posted online
SEATTLE –A group of convicted sex offenders is suing three websites for posting their photos and personal information and then allegedly charging them to take the information down. In their federal lawsuit, the sex offenders claim that is extortion. “I was shocked and at the same time I was almost devastated,” said one of the sex offenders, who has asked to be referred to as John Doe. Article
Read MoreOffenders Complain of Online Extortion
Five Arizona men conspired to extort sex offenders by claiming they will take their names and photos off websites for $500, but leaving the information online whether their victims pay or not, 10 sex offenders claim in a federal RICO complaint. Eight John Does and two Jane Does sued five Arizona men, claiming they use websites to extort money from registered sex offenders, and from sex offenders who no longer have to register. Full Article
Read MoreSex Offender Law Reformers Sue Websites That Post Personal Details, Demand Cash to Remove
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL), which has been part of lawsuits against the County of Orange and Orange County cities over controversial laws that ban registered sex offenders from public parks, now has a new target. A lawsuit filed by RSOL in federal court Wednesday challenges websites that identify people as sex offenders, include their names, photos, home addresses and personal information, and demand up to $500 to have individual listings removed from the sites. “It is time to stop the extortion of more than 750,000 individuals in this…
Read MoreCalifornia RSOL Challenges Websites in Federal District Court
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (CA RSOL) filed a lawsuit in federal district court today challenging websites which identify individuals as sex offenders and include their personal information including names, photos, and home addresses as well as demand up to $500 for removal of that information from the websites. Offendex – Press Release
Read MorePending Legislation – AB 702
Bill introduced by Assembly member Ammiano that would instead establish 3 tiers of registration based on specified criteria, for periods of 10 years, 20 years, and life, respectively, as specified. Bill Info
Read MoreLos Alamitos amends sex offender law
LOS ALAMITOS – Looking to address potential legal issues surrounding sex-offender-related laws, the City Council on Monday night amended its code that bans registered sex offenders from public places. The local ordinance now narrows the definition of “sex offender” to those who specifically have been convicted of a sexual offence involving a minor. “This will ensure that the restriction serves to protect the public from the specific threat of child predators, without unnecessarily burdening the rights of individuals who may not present that threat,” according to a staff report. Full Article
Read More‘Pocket park’ aims to increase green space in LA neighborhoods
HARBOR GATEWAY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A sliver of land in Harbor Gateway South is about to be transformed in to Los Angeles’ first “pocket park.” It’s just 1,000 square feet, but it’s having a big impact on the community’s sense of safety. “It takes care of the sex offenders and keeps the kids off the street gives them somewhere to play,” said resident Janet Shour. Until now there was no green space in the 13-block neighborhood, but there was an unusually high number of registered sex offenders – more…
Read MorePending State Legislation
Below is a summary of bills pending in the California Legislature and CA RSOL’s position on each proposed bill. Get involved! CA RSOL OPPOSES AB 201 – This bill would state that a local agency is not preempted by state law from enacting and enforcing an ordinance that restricts a registered sex offender from residing or being present at certain locations within the local agency’s jurisdiction. The bill would authorize a local agency to adopt ordinances, rules, or regulations that are more restrictive than state law relating to a registered…
Read MoreTwo Victories for California RSOL
California RSOL has scored two victories in the cities of Simi Valley and Lancaster where city councils have agreed to relieve registrants from the burdens of sex offender ordinances passed in September 2012. The city of Simi Valley ordinance required registrants to post signs on the front door of their homes on Halloween while the city of Lancaster ordinance severely limited where registrants could live and visit. “These are two significant wins for CA RSOL,” stated Janice Bellucci, President of California RSOL. “In both cities, the civil rights of registrants…
Read MoreCity of Lancaster Modifies Registered Sex Offender Ordinance
On March 12, 2013 the Lancaster City Council voted, in a first reading, to modify its current ordinance imposing restrictions and regulations on places that persons required to register under PC 290 may frequent. The modified ordinance includes restrictions only related to Halloween (see below). California RSOL attended several hearings last fall and spoke against the ordinance, and advised the City Council that the ordinance, as approved at that time, was unconstitutional and was going to be challenged in court. https://all4consolaws.org/2012/09/lancaster-furthers-restrictions-on-registered-sex-offenders/https://all4consolaws.org/2012/12/rights-group-sues-over-lancasters-restrictions-on-sex-offenders/ Source: http://www.cityoflancasterca.org/index.aspx?page=570, select March 12, 2013 and jump to…
Read MoreLancaster may ease offender policies
By: Craig Currier LANCASTER -In the face of a lawsuit challenging the city’s six-month-old ban on registered sex offenders going near libraries, parks, museums and other public places, the City Council is expected to adopt a significantly scaled back version of the policy at its meeting Tuesday. The revised ordinance would eliminate all restrictions on the places where sex offenders may travel and frequent and focus on limiting their activities on Halloween night, which was the initial motivation for the policy when it was first suggested some 18 months ago.…
Read MoreLA sex offenders need rehabilitation
What is more innocent and idyllic than a public park? The idea of one, however, has taken a dark turn. Instead of existing for the sake of fun and perhaps a bit of fresh air, small “pocket” parks have opened up across the country in order to drive out sex offenders, according to the Denver Post. Jessica’s Law states that sex offenders cannot live within 2,000 feet of a school or public park, according to the Post. And thanks to the rising number of sex offenders living in the Harbor…
Read MoreNeighborhoods Seek to Banish Sex Offenders by Building Parks
New York Times: LOS ANGELES — Parents who pick up their children at the bus stop in this city’s Harbor Gateway neighborhood say they often see men wearing GPS ankle bracelets and tell their children to stay away. Just up the street, 30 paroled sex offenders live in a single apartment building, including rapists and child molesters. More than 100 registered sex offenders live within a few miles. So local residents and city officials developed a plan to force convicted sex offenders to leave their neighborhood: open a tiny park.…
Read MoreGeneral Comments March 2013
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of March 2013. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it ‘professional’.
Read MoreCA RSOL Opposes AB 321
The California Reform Sex Offender Laws organization and the 102,000 families it represents oppose Assembly Bill (AB) 321 as currently written because it would further reduce the locations at which a “sex offender” can reside. That is, the bill would preclude “sex offenders” from living near a day care center or a foster home. Current state law precludes “sex offenders” on parole from living within 2,000 feet of a school or a park. That law significantly limits where a “sex offender” and his/her family can live. In fact, it completely…
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