Category: General News

Judges often refer to a plea deal as subject to the rules of contract law. However, when judges make that statement, they usually backtrack and realize how poorly contract law operates in the criminal domain. The role of the judge as a third party to the deal as well as a lack of normal consideration are particularly difficult to square with typical contract rules. The ongoing struggle in plea deals involving sex offenders is particularly illustrative of how plea bargaining sometimes operates in an environment of anarchy. Full Commentary Related Article

YOUR ARTICLE “Case shows difficulty of tracking sex offenders” (Metro, June 7) illustrates the folly of our current approach to this highly charged subject. High-risk sex offenders have a compulsive illness that can’t be cured, but it can be managed. As your story indicates, at least one sex offender, desperate not to give in to his compulsion, would call the police for help when he feared he might reoffend. We’d be much safer if we provided supervised residences, practical support, and treatment geared to management of this disorder. Full Letter…

Three more cities took action this week toward the repeal of their sex offender ordinances. Mission Viejo led the group during its City Council meeting on June 2 while Santa Ana and Galt followed that lead on June 3. “California RSOL commends these three cities for beginning the repeal of ordinances which prohibited registered citizens from visiting public and private places such as parks, libraries and restaurants,” stated California RSOL president Janice Bellucci. “They join a growing number of cities that have eliminated similar laws that violate the state and…

In my post of the 21st I basically explained how the U.S. House VIOLATED its own rules of procedure when passing International Megan’s Law act (HR-4573). I find it very disturbing that lawmakers expect the nation to follow rules while they violate them with impunity, but I guess that is some kind of a lawmaker’s code. Commentary

ELGIN — Backers of former state Rep. Keith Farnham of Elgin — who is facing federal charges alleging he had child pornography on his computers — had used his record “targeting predators” as a selling point on a piece of 2010 campaign literature. Full Article

South Lake Tahoe City Council reluctantly voted to repeal an ordinance that bans sex offenders from parks and other public areas in the city following decisions by California courts that such laws are unconstitutional. Full Article Also see: FEDERAL LAWSUIT CHALLENGES SOUTH LAKE TAHOE ORDINANCE

WASHINGTON — The United States House of Representatives passed legislation Tuesday aimed at protecting children from roving convicted sexual predators who travel abroad. The International Megan’s Law, H.R. 4573, which was authored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4), establishes a model framework for international law enforcement notifications when convicted child-sex offenders who pose a danger to children arrive in a destination country. Full Article H.R. 4573

How to Stay Compliant by Meeting State Registration Requirements Registered citizens must meet registration requirements in the states they visit as well the states in which they reside. State visitor requirements vary widely from 48 hours in Florida to 10 days in Hawaii. These requirements apply regardless of whether the visit is a vacation, business trip or school-related activity. “It is essential for registered citizens to remain compliant when they visit another state,” said CA RSOL President Janice Bellucci. “In order to remain compliant, registered citizens must know the requirements…

Fullerton, Huntington Beach and Yorba Linda this week join the list of Orange County cities pulling back from local bans on sex offenders in parks in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling that said they didn’t comply with state laws. Full Article

Victims targeted for harassment on sex-offender websites pleaded with a Maricopa County jury to financially punish the owner and take away his ability to continue operating. Full Article Also see: USA Today

It’s hard to think of a class of people more reviled in America than sex offenders. This is due to both the appalling nature of the offense and the belief that they are at high risk to reoffend. Thus society imposes burdens and disabilities on them that not even murderers or drug dealers are subject to. In a few cases, these include being held beyond the completion of their prison sentences, but much more frequently involve restrictions on where they can live and requirements to register with authorities to be…

DEAR ABBY: As a licensed psychotherapist who has worked with both victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse over the past 25 years, I would like to respond to “Stunned in the City” (Jan. 22), who found her co-worker’s name on a website for registered sex offenders. Full Article

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN7JTXrUD2w