A tiered registry bill, which would end the state’s lifetime registry, has been introduced in the state Assembly. The Public Safety Committee will conduct a public hearing on the bill (AB 702) on April 16 in Sacramento. If passed, the bill would create three tiers in which some registrants would be removed from the registry after 10 or 20 years. The language in the bill is similar to AB 625 which was defeated in 2012. “Passage of a tiered registry bill is the highest priority of California RSOL and the…
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Residency Restrictions Removed in L.A. County
Residency restrictions for most registrants residing in Los Angeles County have been removed, according to a Superior Court decision. The decision, in the form of a blanket stay of enforcement, was issued by Judge Peter Espinoza on March 18. The stay of enforcement applies to all registrants currently on parole who are unable to find compliant housing. The decision allows the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) an opportunity to request from the court, on a case-by-case basis, an exemption “upon a showing of cause why a parolee is…
Read MoreCertificate of Rehabilitation
The first comment below is a very detailed description of the Road to a Certificate of Rehabilitation. We believe it deserves its own post. Thanks to the poster for taking the time to share. Although this unfortunately is not an option for many (PC 290.5), hopefully it will help someone.
Read MoreTests found major flaws in parolee GPS monitoring devices
A little more than a year ago, California quietly began conducting tests on the GPS monitoring devices that track the movements of thousands of sex offenders. The results were alarming. Corrections officials found the devices used in half the state were so inaccurate and unreliable that the public was “in imminent danger.” Full Article Also on Huffington Post
Read MoreLawsuit alleges online extortion, a growing menace
Los Angeles (CNN) — The California man thought he put his past behind him, but then he became victim to an online scam associated more with the mafia than the Internet. He is alleging in a federal lawsuit that three websites are running an extortion racket preying on his history as a one-time registered sex offender. The alleged shakedown is a growing trend in cyberspace that also includes “ransomware” — another extortion scheme that uses fake police and FBI warnings to demand money in exchange for unfreezing data on your computer, experts…
Read MoreSex Offender Sites Accused Of Extorting Money In Federal Lawsuit In California
A recent federal lawsuit claims a group of websites is trying to extort money from some of society’s least sympathetic people: sex offenders. Privately owned sites OnlineDetective.com, SORArchives.com and, before it recently went dark, Offendex.com, attract viewers by advertising photographs, home addresses and personal information of rapists, child molesters and other sexual deviants. Full Article
Read MoreLancaster Repeals Sex Offender Ordinance
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…
Read MoreCalifornia 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…
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