Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of October 2013. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it courteous and civil.
Read MoreCategory: General News
Restricted Group Speaks Up, Saying Sex Crime Measures Go Too Far
NY Times … A few weeks ago, more than 100 people — sex offenders, almost all of them men, along with wives, girlfriends and mothers — came from around the country to “Justice for All: A Conference to Reform Sexual Offense Laws.” They and others have formed associations and are holding conferences like this one to argue that a wave of legal penalties and restrictions washing across the country has gone too far. They hope to convince judges, lawmakers and the public that indiscriminate laws aimed at all sex offenders are…
Read MoreJudge Battles Child Pornography Mandatory Minimum Sentence He Considers Unjust
With momentum building for sentencing reform and federal judges among the most avid supporters of rolling back harsh mandatory minimum sentences, one judge is standing up for lower sentences for a particularly controversial category of defendant — those guilty of child pornography offenses. As with other offenses, lawmakers have ratcheted up the sentences for child pornography sentences — including for online possession. And some judges have insisted that, as reprehensible as the offense can be, long prison terms are not the answer. Full Article
Read MoreCalifornia prisons careening closer to cliff
For a minute there, it looked like California’s prisons were on the verge of positive reforms. But the current situation in the state’s massive prison system — one of the largest in the world — is far from encouraging. It’s been a kaleidoscope of bad news lately. Full Article
Read MoreFederal Court of Appeals: Sex Offender Registry Fee Unconstitutional Ex Post Facto Violation Under Certain Circumstances
Plaintiffs John Doe of Connecticut (Doe I) and John Doe of Florida (Doe II) are each adult males who were previously convicted of sex crimes in Wisconsin and are subject to Wisconsin’s sex offender registration and notification statutes, Wis. Stat. §§ 301.45, 301.46 (2009-10)[1]. Plaintiffs filed this action against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC), its secretary and the director of the DOC’s Sex Offender Program, alleging that the application and enforcement of the Wisconsin sex offender registration requirements against them constituted punishment in violate the ex post facto clauses…
Read MoreEfficacy of sex offender treatment still up in the air
That is a front-burner question for judges and jurors in sexually violent predator trials. Understandably, before they decide to release someone who has been convicted of sexually molesting a child, they want reassurance that he is sincerely remorseful and has acquired the tools to turn his life around. In short, they want a certificate of rehabilitation attesting to his low risk. But does formal sex offender treatment really lower risk? Full Article
Read MoreRSOL Conference Videos
Presentation videos from from the National RSOL Conference continue to be published. Instead of posting them here piecemeal we are linking to the RSOL YouTube Channel. Thanks to RSOL for making these invaluable videos available. The 2013 National RSOL Conference was held in late August in Los Angeles and was hosted by California RSOL. — One of the presenters references an excellent article that was previously listed on this site – it is here again as a reminder. RSOL 2013: “Telling Your Story to the Media” – Article from the Dallas…
Read MoreReport: Kids Accessing Inappropriate Materials at Younger Age
According to a survey of parents around the world, thanks to the internet, kids are being exposed to adult content at an ever earlier age. More than 19,000 parents took part in an online study conducted by Bitdefender, an anti-virus company based in Bucharest. Full Article
Read MoreAgainst Juvenile Sex Offender Registration
Catherine Carpenter (Southwestern Law School) was a keynote speaker at the recent RSOL Conference in Los Angeles. Her excellent presentation can be viewed here. This is the paper she is referencing in her workshop. Download it here
Read MoreFBI Releases 2012 Crime Statistics
The FBI estimated that in 2012, the number of violent crimes increased 0.7 percent, according to the figures released today. However, property crimes decreased 0.9 percent, marking the 10th straight year of declines for these offenses, collectively. The 2012 statistics show that the estimated rate of violent crime was 386.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, and the property crime rate was 2,859.2 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. While the violent crime rate remained virtually unchanged when compared to the 2011 rate, the property crime rate declined 1.6 percent. Full Article
Read MoreFeds launch smartphone app to nab child sexual predators
(CNN) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has unveiled an iPhone app called Operation Predator that asks the public for help in gathering information on suspected child sexual predators, including those who are fugitives. The new app, created in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations’ Cyber Crime Center, lets users submit a tip by phone or by filling out a tip form in the app. All tips can be submitted anonymously. Full Article
Read MoreA Researcher’s Request: For folks in Los Angeles County ONLY
From Nicole Pittman, Raised on the registry. Hi Friends, Nicole Pittman, the author of the Human Rights Watch report, “Raised on the Registry: The Irreparable Harm of Placing Children on Sex Offender Registries in the US” brings great news to folks. BBC journalist, Jennifer Forde, and a small team recently relocated to Los Angeles to make a series of documentaries. BBC’s intention is to make a thoughtful, objective film about a subject which is normally approached with great emotion and prejudice. BBC has decided to focus one of the films on the sex…
Read MoreSex Offenders Aren’t All Monsters
Most law-abiding citizens would agree that sex-offenders should be locked-up and the key thrown away or once a child molester is released from prison they should be registered and never be allowed to be around children again. The purpose of sex-offender laws is to protect the public, but what about when human rights are violated to the point where laws are doing more harm than good? Full Article See Also: http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/05/08/sex-offenders-aren-t-all-monsters Full Report: Raised on the Registry – Report PDF ————- Related Post – Brandon’s Story
Read MoreTaking it on the Chin: Legislatively Imposed Internet Restrictions for Sex Offenders
Clear back on February 4, 2013, I gave some predictions for the coming year. I never finished my thoughts, getting waylaid by co-writing a book on Internet investigations. Sorry about that. One of my last comments was… “what about the remainder of my 2013 predictions, such as sex offender Internet restrictions?” It would obviously be silly to continue on with my Nostradamus imitation this late in the year. But what about my ending comment concerning Internet restrictions? Where are they? As luck would have it we had a lot movement…
Read MoreRSOL Conference 2013 – Catherine Carpenter: Sexual Offense Laws and Constitutionality
National RSOL Conference 2013 – Professor of Law, Catherine Carpenter of Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles talks about just how punitive and extreme sex offender laws have become over the years and the ways in which they violate US citizen’s constitutional rights. [hana-flv-player video=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qyA9TU8nE8″ width=”320″ description=”” player=”5″ autoload=”true” autoplay=”false” loop=”false” autorewind=”true” /] Youtube – RSOL Videos on Youtube
Read MoreRegistrant Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom
Bayard Rustin, who was recently named a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was honored at the 5th Annual National Reform Sex Offender Laws conference in Los Angeles. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. President Barack Obama posthumously named Rustin as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom on August 8, 2013. The medal is to be presented to Rustin and to 15 other individuals – including Oprah Winfrey and former President Bill Clinton — who have made meritorious contributions to the security…
Read MoreRSOL Conference 2013 – Sex Offender Mythbusters
Derek W. Logue of Once Fallen gives his presentation on Sex Offender myths at the 2013 RSOL Conference held in Los Angeles, CA. Features a special appearance by “Bill Blathers, Investigative Reporter.” The information in this video and the slideshow can be found at: http://www.oncefallen.com/SOMyths.html Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmGqNA6qrss
Read MoreOpinion: Sex Offense Recidivism Is Rare, Shouldn’t Determine Policy
The crimes featured in a recent Sun Sentinel investigation were tragic. The newspaper found that in Florida, for every one sex offender who was committed to a sex predator treatment center, “nearly two others were released and then arrested on a sex charge.” What the article does not highlight is that all of the sex offenders released from Florida prisons – 31,0000 of them — were screened for civil commitment over 14 years. Full Article Jill Levenson, Ph.D., LCSW, is an Associate Professor and Researcher at Lynn University. She is…
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