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South Africa: Warning against making register for sex offenders public

[www.iol.co.za – 5/7/21] Pretoria – The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has warned against calls to make public the national register for sex offenders. It is believed that making the register public would curb sexual offences against children, but according to the department, this would fuel mob justice against perpetrators. … Department spokesperson Steve Mahlangu said publicising the register could not be done without violating the right to privacy of an individual, as enshrined in the Bill of Rights. “There are also dangers of the register being used unjustifiably…

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CA: Unanimous Opposition Expressed to Re-sentencing Regulations

[ACSOL] During a telephonic hearing marked by significant technical difficulties, more than 20 members of the public expressed their opposition to regulations proposed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) that would exclude groups of people, including those required to register as well as those sentenced to Life Without Parole, from re-sentencing opportunities.  A total of 43 members of the public participated in today’s hearing. “If the current version of these regulations is made final, we will challenge the regulations in court,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. …

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CA: Supervisors approve better public notification of people listed on the registry

[10news.com – 5/5/21] The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved methods intended to increase public notification about people listed on the registry and placement of people labeled as “sexually violent predators”. One way, according to Supervisor Joel Anderson’s office, would be advance notification of the district attorney, supervisors and other community leaders before people convicted of a sex offense are placed in or move into a neighborhood. Based on a recommendation by Supervisor Jim Desmond, the board also approved better notification for Native American tribes, if people…

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CA: Registrant Gains Access to Section 8 Housing

A registrant in California has gained access to Section 8 housing.  This is a significant change because in the past all California registrants were denied access to Section 8 housing because they were required by state law to register for life. “This is a significant milestone,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci.  “With the help of ACSOL, a registrant was able to persuade the federal government that he is no longer a lifetime registrant.” The registrant, who wishes to remain anonymous, applied to live with his fiance in Section 8…

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Uganda: Stiff penalties for sexual offenders as Uganda moves to create directory

[monitor.co.ug – 5/5/21] Persons convicted of sexual offences will have their data registered with the National Identification and Registration Authority (Nira), according to the Sexual Offences Bill, 2019 that Parliament passed on Monday night. The Legal and Parliamentary Committee chairperson, Mr Jacob Oboth Oboth (NRM, West Budama South) presented the Bill in Parliament on Monday afternoon. He asked the House to create a sex offender’s register, which will be linked to the Nira system and information shared within 10 days on conviction of the offenders. “The register shall be managed…

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WA: Sex offender sentenced to more than 12 years for extortion scheme

[kitsapsun.com – 5/4/21] Saying she would sentence him longer if she could, a Kitsap County Superior Court judge gave a sex offender 12 ½ years in prison for an online extortion scheme targeting gay men in which he assumed the identity of a prior victim. Judge Jennifer Forbes told Christopher Malik Longmire, 25, the 152-month maxim sentence was “not enough.” “I’ve come to the conclusion that our society needs to be protected from you as long as the law will allow,” Forbes said. Kitsap County sheriff’s detectives started unraveling the…

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MA: High court takes up whistleblower claim that Sex Offender Registry Board violated law

[gloucestertimes.com – 5/4/21] SALEM — Lawyers for the state will be back in front of the state’s highest court this week, this time trying to convince the court to find that the state’s whistleblower protection law does not apply in the case of the former sex offender board chairwoman ousted by then-Governor Deval Patrick over her handling of his brother-in-law’s case. The hearing Wednesday before the Supreme Judicial Court stems from the long-running lawsuit brought by the former head of the Sex Offender Registry Board, who sued Patrick and the…

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Australia: South Australia Wants To Set Up A Public Domestic Violence Register

[ladbible.com – 5/5/21] South Australia has outlined a new proposal to tackle domestic violence in the state. The state government has suggested a public register be established in a similar fashion to a public sex offender registry, according to the ABC. It would allow anyone, particularly potential partners, to look up a person’s name to see if they have any history with domestic abuse. The potential updates to the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme would also see South Australian Police notify a person of their partner’s history if they believe they’re…

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TX: Kyle approves child safety zones to restrict sex offender residency within city

[communityimpact.com – 5/4/21] After several months of discussion and amending guidelines, the city of Kyle has approved implementation of child safety zones that would restrict where registered sex offenders may reside. … City officials noted during discussion of the ordinance in February that based on its definition of common areas where children gather, residency within 95% of Kyle would be off limits for registered sex offenders. Read the full article Related: Kyle officials revisit safety zones designed to restrict registered sex offender residency [communityimpact.com – 4/20/21]  

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OR: Former Oregon Democrat House Majority Speaker Arrested For Human Sex Trafficking

[thegatewaypundit.com – 5/3/21] Former Oregon House Speaker and current Clackamas Community College board member Dave Hunt has been arrested and charged by Portland police in an undercover sex traffic sting operation. Hunt, a Democrat, voted for the 2011 bill that he is charged under. Read the full article Look up bad sex-related bills in your state so you can fight them!(select your state and type “sex” in the search)  

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WA: Lawsuit: State operation to catch sex offenders entrapped innocent men to boost arrest numbers

[spokesman.com – 5/2/21] Quentin Parker believes the sting operation that identified him as a “dangerous child predator” in 2019 failed its mission. Though charges against him were ultimately dropped, he claims in his recent lawsuit against Washington State Patrol that dishonest detectives manipulated him and “forever tainted and destroyed” his life for their own financial gain. According to the suit filed in Thurston County Superior Court this February, detectives funded by a nonprofit now under criminal investigation pretended to be women and girls on social media to entrap men, boost…

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CHALLENGE MET to Provide Funds to Fight SORNA Regulations. Thanks!

[Thanks to all of you who helped meet our goal to fund our fight SORNA regulations! Of course we encourage all to continue donations to ACSOL so we can expand our fight] The sum of $1,200 has been provided to ACSOL in the form of a challenge grant in order to fight the federal government’s proposed SORNA regulations. However, the sum comes with strings attached. That is, ACSOL must collect at least $1,200 from others during the next seven days in order to receive the original $1,200. “We thank the…

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PA: What protections are in place to stop repeat sexual offenders FOX43 Reveals

[fox43.com – 5/2/21] HARRISBURG, Pa. — Most registered sex offenders are well within their rights to live close to a school or daycare—and many do. FOX43 Reveals how often it is happening and what protections are in place to stop repeat offenders. Each month, daycare supervisor Karla Rivero gets a new batch of mugshots of registered sex offenders that live near her work: Busy Bees Child Care Center in Lancaster. “If I could tell you the amount of papers we receive in a month, it’s ridiculous,” Rivero said. Megan’s Law…

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CA: SJ County loses $220 million because of old criminal records, legislation proposes relief in SB 731

[recordnet.com – 4/30/21] A criminal reform bill is making its way through the California State Senate that could automatically seal criminal records after a person has completed 2 full years out of the criminal justice system. This new bill – SB731 – proposes criminal record relief, where records are sealed after a person has served their time, completed their probation and parole time, and spent 2 years without no new convictions, offenses or charges pending. … Formerly incarcerated people are more likely to experience homelessness – and homeless individuals could have a history of incarceration that’s keeping them on…

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WA: Washington State Officials Propose Toolkit to Help People With Mental Health, Addiction Issues Find Housing

[chronline.com – 4/29/21] Almost 10 years ago, state researchers conducted a study looking at how many people in Washington state became homeless after leaving inpatient treatment for a mental health issue or substance use disorder. The results were shocking. Nearly half the people discharged from a drug or alcohol treatment facility in 2010 were homeless or didn’t have stable housing within a year. For the people discharged from state psychiatric hospitals, it was 30%. In the midst of an ever-growing homelessness crisis a decade later, there’s little to suggest that…

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CA: East County is ‘dumping grounds’ for sexually violent predators, official says

[fox5sandiego.com – 4/28/21] SAN DIEGO – The fight to keep violent sexual predators out of a home on Mt. Helix intensified Wednesday as Supervisor Joel Anderson joined the effort in asking for change. “Sadly, East County has become the dumping grounds for all our sexually violent predators,” Anderson said, claiming roughly 67% of the overall predators have been placed there. “I will not allow my neighbors to be tortured by these violent criminals who are being rewarded for their disgusting behavior,” said Sarah Thompson, a woman who lives in the…

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