[The Kansas City Star] The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is targeting some sex offenders for arrest at the City Union Mission because it sits near a park, according to a federal lawsuit alleging that the practice violates the charity’s constitutionally protected rights of religious freedom. The suit centers on how the sheriff’s office interprets a Missouri law that prohibits certain offenders from “loitering” within 500 feet of a public park that contains a pool or playground equipment. The mission operates several facilities in the 1100 block of East 10th Street…
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AL: Teacher Accused of Sex with Students Gets Charges Thrown Out as Unconstitutional
DECATUR, Ala. – An Alabama teacher accused of having sex with two of her students succeeded in having her charges thrown out on constitutional grounds, Morgan County Circuit Judge Glenn Thompson confirmed Thursday. Carrie Witt was facing potential prison time for allegedly having sex with two students between 16 and 19 years old while she taught at Decatur High School. Read more
Read MoreMI: Neighbors, community members react to registered sex offender looking to open business
A registered sex offender wants to open up shop two blocks away from a school, and right next door to a toy store. He says he wants to help the community, but some neighbors say no way! Full Article Update Sex offender warned to stay away from his own business
Read MoreU.S. Counter-Terrorism Unit Targets Virginia Prisoner for Writing About Prison
Free Speech vs. Incarceration Nation: In case no one noticed ICE and the Counter-terrorism Units have branched out thanks in part to Trumps insistence on ‘Mexican Rapists.’ ICE’ website keeps bragging about all the ‘sex offenders’ they’ve caught trolling the internet (never mind that the sex offenders are not ‘illegal’ its just easier to hook into long standing prejudices and pump up their statistics. Instead of actually going after dangerous people ICE (and now with the BAN) they are targeting the easiest most accessible people (like federal prisoners and the…
Read MoreThe school of redemption
[vindy.mobi] We forgive. We hate. They are two polarizing traits that distinguish humans from all other species. In America, we are exceptional at both, and that is the paradox in “The Land of Dreams.” We watch news footage of kangaroo leadership and human atrocities in far-flung places and convince ourselves that we are an advanced and reasoned society as we sign checks to the needy, walk racetracks for cancer, build homes for the poor and so on. All of it, though, conceals an ugly American truth – like a waterway…
Read MoreThe Practical Case for Parole for Violent Offenders
[NY Times] The American criminal justice system is exceptional, in the worst way possible: It combines exceptionally coercive plea bargaining, exceptionally long sentences, exceptionally brutal prison conditions and exceptionally difficult obstacles to societal re-entry. This punitiveness makes us stand out as uniquely inhumane in comparison with other industrialized countries. To remedy this, along with other changes, we must consider opening the exit doors — and not just for the “easy” cases of nonviolent drug offenders. Yes, I’m suggesting that we release some of the people who once committed serious, violent…
Read MoreFL: Hundreds of Miami Sex Offenders Live in a Squalid Tent City Near Hialeah
Cradling a heavy box of Budweiser against his flour-dusted apron, Mario Medina clicks open the door and greets two waitresses behind the counter at La Cascada, a retro Cuban pizza parlor in Northwest Miami-Dade. Besides the voice of a sports commentator on the TV and sporadic blips from arcade games in the back, the restaurant is quiet, and all five tables are empty. It’s 30 minutes into the lunch rush hour, but only three weary patrons in construction boots sit hunched over glasses of cold beer at the bar.“Before, we…
Read MoreMA: Landlord to sex offenders in Ware, on registry himself, says safe home cuts risk
Many of the 23 registered Level 3 sex offenders who live in Ware rent from another Level 3 sex offender who owns several properties and plans to provide a home for other offenders who need help. Full Article
Read MoreOH: Petition started to romeve convicted sex-offender from Youngstown State football team
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A student at Youngstown State University wants a football player who was found delinquent of rape removed from the football team. And she’s started a petition to make her wishes known. Full Article Petition
Read MoreIN: County prosecutor – State effort valuable tool for parents seeking child care
A new state registry is meant to help parents look into the backgrounds of the people their children spend time with. Last year, the Indiana State Legislature approved a child abuse registry, which became available in July. The registry, which is searchable by name, will provide information about everyone convicted of child abuse-related offense in Indiana from the past five years. Full Article
Read MoreEditorial, 8/5: Ruling gives justice to juvenile offenders
[journalstar.com] The blindfold seen on statues of Lady Justice worldwide represents how the judicial system must not be affected by outside influences. All who enter a courtroom must, too, be treated fairly. A Monday ruling by the 8th Circuit Court confirmed that justice must be blind to geographical boundaries and equitable to all juvenile Nebraskans, regardless of where they committed their offenses. By reaffirming that a teen should not be placed on the state’s sex offender registry because of a juvenile court ruling in his previous home state of Minnesota,…
Read MoreAfter Exoneration,Jarrett Adams is Helping Others Wrongfully Convicted
Lester Holt interviews Jarrett Adams, who was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault when he was just 17 and — as an attorney — is now helping others who are in similar positions as he used to be. Watch Video
Read MoreThe Well-Meaning ‘Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act’ Could Be A Trojan Horse
It’s hard for me to argue about a proposed law called Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act. After all, I’m co-founder and CEO of ConnectSafely.org, an internet safety group, and have been active in child protection organizations for decades. But this proposed law, which has the support of several prominent Republican and Democratic senators, may have some unintended consequences both for tech companies and the very people the bill hopes to protect. Read more Additional article from Slate.com
Read MoreLA: Debate builds over suggestion by child rape victim’s mother to create sex crimes arrest list
ST. TAMMANY – Should there be a public list for sex crimes arrests similar to the state’s convicted sex offender registry? The mother of an alleged child rape victim is making that suggestion after learning her child’s accused attacker had been free on bond for almost eight years, awaiting trial for child pornography charges. “I’d love to open up a dialogue because there’s no reason that what happened to my daughter should happen to anybody else’s daughter,” she said, “That way we can look at these people and say, hey,…
Read MoreWI: Family Says City’s Sex Offender Law Goes Way Too Far
MILWAUKEE (CN) — Prosecuted as an adult when he was 17 for having sex with another teenager, a married man with three children has been sleeping in his truck since a Milwaukee suburb forced him out of his house because he’s a sex offender, he says in a constitutional complaint. Full Article
Read MoreNE: 8th Circuit says Nebraska’s sex offender list doesn’t apply to boy
The 8th Circuit Court has ruled in favor of a 15-year-old boy whose family sued the Nebraska State Patrol to keep him from being put on the state’s sex offender registry for a juvenile case in Minnesota. Full Article
Read MoreEveryone Keeps Asking Me, Why Don’t You Take a Vacation?
Life as a U.S. Registered Sex Offender isn’t Just a Posting on the Internet, its One Arbitrary Misstep Away From a Felony. Full Article
Read MoreWI: Milwaukee may dramatically loosen sex offender residency restrictions
The City of Milwaukee may dramatically loosen its residency restrictions for sex offenders. The city’s current ordinance bans many sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of places like schools, parks, and day care centers. A measure set to be considered Monday by the Common Council would reduce that “buffer” to 500 feet. Full Article
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