Making a mild criticism of sex offender registries looked like it could have hurt a Massachusetts judge in her bid to serve on the state’s Supreme Judicial Court. But on Wednesday the Governor’s Council, an eight-member elected body responsible for approving judicial nominees, voted unanimously in favor of Superior Court Judge Kimberly Budd’s nomination to serve as an associate justice. During a grilling by the Governor’s Council last week, Budd had said the state Sex Offender Registry is too expansive, ensnaring people who are far from a threat to anyone.…
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OR: Calling all Sex Offenders
Are you a sexual deviant? Are you a serial rapist? A child molester? A sexual predator? Well welcome to Oregon, the government has got your back. Full Article
Read MoreFL: FAC Members Sue Florida Over Internet Identifier Law
Moments ago, The Florida Justice Institute, Inc. and the law firm of Weitzner & Jonas, P.A. filed a lawsuit in Federal Court to strike down the State of Florida’s requirement that registered citizen’s “Internet Identifiers” be reported. Full Article
Read MoreMN: Appeals Court overturns conviction of man accused of soliciting a minor for sex over the internet
In a decision unique to the digital era, a man’s conviction for soliciting a minor for sex over the internet was overturned because he wasn’t allowed to claim the child lied about her age. Full Article
Read MoreMA: Nominee’s comments make her unfit for Supreme Judicial Court
BOSTON (State House News Service) – Superior Court Judge Kimberly Budd’s “ideological statements” have “no place on the Supreme Judicial Court and render her unfit to serve as a justice,” according to Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, a Taunton Republican. … Under questioning by Governor’s Councilor Robert Jubinville, Budd also said she thinks there are too many crimes included on the Sex Offender Registry, including people who don’t need to be on the listing. “Not from my professional experience, but just hearing about people who wind up on the registry that don’t…
Read MoreFL: Sex Offenders’ Fight for Rehabilitation
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) – For sex offenders living in Leon County, getting reintegrated into society means connecting with the right people. The Insiders team looked at why finding housing and employment is much more difficult than most think. Full Article
Read MoreIL: Inmate may have to register as sex offender for flashing guard
For the first time, a Cook County Jail inmate may be required to register as a sex offender for repeatedly exposing himself to correctional officers, a sheriff’s official said Thursday. ____ ____, who is awaiting trial in a 2015 murder in Humboldt Park, was held in contempt of court Thursday by Judge Vincent Gaughan for allegedly exposing himself to a female guard on Wednesday, said Cara Smith, policy chief for Sheriff Tom Dart. … Smith said she hopes the possibility of ____ becoming a registered sex offender sends a message…
Read MoreNY: Low-level sex offender monitoring by state coming to an end
A bill to extend supervision of low-level sex offenders for another decade failed to gain approval in the Legislature in 2016. Full Article
Read MoreIN: Life parole lacks active monitoring
Earlier this year, 33-year-old ____ ____. was charged with molesting four local children. He recently agreed to plead guilty and to disclose details about even more victims. The Mishawaka man admitted to similar incidents before, in two other Indiana counties. He left prison in 2010, and as a sex offender on parole, he was subject to strict rules including no alcohol, drugs or pornography. He couldn’t be around children or change addresses without permission. That period of parole supervision, which included frequent contact with a parole officer and the possibility…
Read MoreNY: Gov. Cuomo orders Pokémon Go prohibition for sex offenders on parole
For sex offenders in New York, it will be Pokémon No Go. Gov. Cuomo Sunday ordered that the state make it a condition of parole for sex offenders that they stay away from Pokémon Go and similar interactive games, the Daily News has learned. The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is barring all registered sex offenders under supervision from downloading, accessing, or playing such Internet gaming activities, under the directive. Full Article Related Pokémon NO! Disturbing investigation finds pokémon popping up at high-level sex offenders’ residences (NY Senator Jeffrey…
Read MoreNC: Sex Offender Premises Restrictions Revised in Response to Doe v. Cooper
The General Assembly amended G.S. 14-208.18, the law that makes it a Class H felony for certain registered sex offenders to go certain places. The changes are a response to Doe v. Cooper, a federal case in which the trial judge enjoined every district attorney in the state from enforcing the parts of the law he found to be unconstitutional. Today’s post takes a look at the revised law. Full Article Related NC: Federal Judge Enjoins Enforcement of Sex Offender Premises Restriction NC: Bans sex offenders from spots children gather
Read MoreIN: Judge keeps sex offender’s voting suit alive
A registered sex offender’s lawsuit against the Indiana Secretary of State and other parties will proceed, a federal judge ruled Thursday, denying the defendants’ motion to dismiss. Blackford County resident ____ ____ filed the federal suit alleging his First and 14th Amendment rights were violated because he cannot vote at the local polling place located in the Blackford County High School auxiliary gym. ____’s suit challenges I.C. 35-42-4-14 that prohibits “serious sex offenders” from entering school property. The law took effect in 2015, and ____ meets the definition of serious sex offender…
Read MoreIL: A chance to get sex offender laws right [Editorial]
When the 19-year-old son of ____ ____ of Downstate Fairview Heights had sex with his 16-year-old girlfriend, he was forced to register as a sex offender. He was a legal adult and she was a minor. Police told his employer to fire him, and when he found a job in a new town, the police there ran him off, too. Full Article Related IL: Sex offenders sue, saying registry laws keep them from church, living with family IL: Are Sex Offender Restrictions So Vague They’re Unconstitutional? — 2 efforts in Illinois…
Read MoreCT: State Supreme Court Overturns Denial Of Rental Assistance To Sex Offender
The state Supreme Court has ruled that housing officials improperly removed a man from Connecticut’s rental assistance program because his name was on the state’s sex offender registry. The state Department of Housing issued a regulation in 2012 that made those on the registry ineligible for housing assistance. But the court ruled Thursday that the regulation cannot be applied retroactively to those who already were in the program. Full Article
Read MoreIN: First In The Nation To Create Child-Abuse Registry
Starting in July 2017, Indiana will become the first state in the nation maintaining a child abuse offender registry, The new law tracks anyone who has ever been convicted in Indiana of child neglect – or physical or sexual abuse of a child. The Offender Registry will be maintained by the Division of State Court Administration. Full Article
Read MoreNC: Bans sex offenders from spots children gather
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina has banned some sex offenders from places children gather while a similar state law from 2009 remains under federal review. Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill Thursday that would prohibit sex offenders who have been identified as threats to minors from places like arcades, parks, libraries and the State Fairgrounds during the fair. It takes effect in September. Full Article Related House Bill 1021
Read MoreTX: Rowlett Couple Harassed After Mistaken Sex Offender Notice
ROWLETT (CBSDFW.COM) – A Rowlett couple fear for their safety after police mistakenly listed their address as belonging to a sex offender. The Texas Department of Public Safety sent postcards to neighbors within four blocks of the house on Kirby Road, alerting them a “high risk” offender, ____ ____, lives there. “It’s been a nightmare, and I want it to be over,” said Michelle Swindle. Full Article
Read MoreNY: Sex offenders are moved out of North Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)- Parents are relieved after two sex offenders are moved from a group home in North Buffalo. “I’m thrilled that they’re out of our neighborhood,” said Andy Bus, who lives down the road from the home. Full Article
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