____ ____, the New York financier, managed to evade federal prosecution a decade ago in a Florida sex case involving dozens of teenage girls, in part by agreeing to register as a sex offender. But for a man with many residences, and many high-powered lawyers, registering as a sex offender was not the blanket penalty it might seem. Full Article Related New Mexico AG Wants New Sex Offender Law Amid Epstein Probe https://mobile.twitter.com/schwartzapfel/status/1149686629445111808
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Bahamas: Sexual Offences Court Could Have Disruptive Impact
[tribune242.com – 7/4/19] JUSTICE Bernard Turner yesterday expressed concern that the establishment of a sexual offences court could have a “disruptive impact” as legal counsel may already have matters scheduled for other courts. Speaking during yesterday’s session of the National Crime Council, Justice Turner also said judges undergo sensitivity training to deal with these kinds of matters. Justice Turner was also asked his views on the establishment of the sexual offender’s registry. While he declined to comment specifically, he noted communities have an “obligation to protect themselves” without “unnecessarily stigmatising…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: Tennessee Temporary Restraining Order Extended Indefinitely
We were all waiting for July 11, 2019 the court date for the preliminary injunction regarding whether or not TN registrants would be allowed to continue to reside in their homes with minor children. July 10th 2019 an Agreed Order Extending the Temporary Restraining Order, was filed in The United States District Court for The Middle District of TN At Nashville. What should have been a slam-dunk win for registrants, even according to the judge who stated “plaintiffs have demonstrated a strong or substantial likelihood of success on the merits…
Read MoreNC: Animal abusers could appear on registry — like sex offenders in North Carolina
[abc30.com – 7/10/19] RALEIGH, N..C — A new bill introduced in the North Carolina legislature would require the names and photos of convicted animal abusers to appear in an online registry for at least two years. The legislation is called the North Carolina Animal Abuser Registry Act and it was introduced by North Carolina state Sens. Floyd McKissick, a Democrat, and Danny Britt, a Republican. First-time offenders would be put on the registry “for two years following the date of conviction.” After two years, the individual would be removed from…
Read MoreDepartment of Justice Enables Direct Tribal Access to FBI National Sex Offender Registry
[justice.gov – 7/11/19] The U.S. Department of Justice announced today a new tool giving tribal governments the ability to directly input data and gain access to the FBI’s National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) using the Tribe and Territory Sex Offender Registry System (TTSORS). The system connection will be available to all tribal governments already participating in the Tribal Access Program (TAP), which allows information sharing between tribal and federal government criminal information systems. TTSORS is a no-cost registry system provided by the Justice Department’s Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring,…
Read MoreCA: Organization protecting sex offenders’ rights continues statewide lawsuit campaign, sues Lompoc
An organization dedicated to protecting the rights of registered sex offenders is ion a campaign to sue cities throughout California with ordinances in place that it believes are unconstitutional. The city of Lompoc is one of the group’s most recent targets. Attorney Janice Bellucci, who is the founder and executive director of Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws, and anonymous Lompoc resident John Doe filed a lawsuit against the city in February. According to the complaint, the organization claims the city’s ordinance restricting where sex offenders can live violates state…
Read MoreACSOL ACTION ALERT! Call Assy Approp. Committee to support CA Senate Bill 145
The calls you have made so far about CA Senate Bill 145 have made a dramatic difference in blocking Residency Restrictions! Great teamwork! You also helped LGBTQ registrants from being treated unjustly. They appreciate that! Your calls also have given ACSOL a huge increase in political credibility, especially in gratitude from Senator Scott Wiener for supporting SB 145, which affects a key constituent of his. Let’s keep the momentum going! We want to finish the last two steps in getting SB 145 passed to cement our political credibility. The next…
Read MoreGeneral Comments July 2019
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of July 2019. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it courteous and civil. This section is not intended for posting links to news articles without additional relevant comment.
Read More[Updated 7/9/19] Facebook updates standards to allow death threats against alleged sexual offenders
[Updated by ACSOL 7/9/19] Earlier today it was reported by the Washington Examiner newspaper that Facebook had revised its posting policies to allow individuals to post threats of harm to anyone who the media had identified as committing a sex offense. In record time, Facebook has reversed those policies and now states that it will not allow such threats to be posted. Below is link to the newest revised policies. Facebook did not explain why it made this remarkably quick change, but regardless we can be grateful that the change…
Read MoreCA: Program lets victims confront offenders
[avpress.com – 7/9/19] SACRAMENTO— California officials are experimenting with a new diversion program for criminals that includes allowing victims to directly confront their offenders. The budget that took effect July 1 includes $5 million to fund the program for five years in a county with a history of high crime, although it has been tried elsewhere and is more frequently used with juvenile offenders. The California program is for offenders of any age. It will pair victims and offenders before they are convicted, and offenders who complete the program can…
Read MoreCA: Assembly Committee Approves Senate Bill 145
Today the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee approved a newly amended version of Senate Bill 145 (SB 145) that eliminated all references to residency restrictions. Specifically, the newly amended version eliminated Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the bill. “This is a great victory for registrants and their families who no longer need to worry that SB 145 would cause them to be homeless,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. In the introduction of his bill, Senator Scott Wiener apologized to “everyone who could have been affected” for language in a…
Read MoreFL: DeBary ordinance expands sex offender regulations
DeBary’s City Council passed an ordinance expanding regulations over registered sex offenders. The ordinance bans registered sex offenders from community pools, water parks, school bus stops, and other private and public areas. The ordinance also increases the distance sex offenders can live from these places. Full Article
Read MoreNY: NY Sex Offenders Don’t Have To Disclose Facebook Accounts To Law Enforcement, Court Says
[dailyvoice.com – 7/8/19] People convicted of sexual offenses in New York will not have to disclose their status and will be permitted to use their Facebook accounts provided they don’t use a false name. The New York State Supreme Court unanimously made the ruling on Thursday, June 27, after a man from Ticonderoga was charged for failing to disclose to state officials that he used the social media website. His case has since been dismissed. Read more Related links: Where sex offenders don’t socially register [observertoday.com – 7/7/19]
Read MoreSUCCESS! Your calls worked! ACSOL supports SB 145 again because residency restrictions are removed! But still come July 9!
Newly Revised SB 145 Deletes References to Residency Restrictions! Senate Bill 145 was revised today by deleting all references in that bill to both residency restrictions and Jessica’s Law. Specifically, Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the earlier version of the bill have been removed. The newly revised version of SB 145 will be considered on July 9 by the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee. “This is a significant victory for registrants and their families,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “This victory came about due to the efforts of individuals…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: The Media Loves To Hate “Sex Offenders”
The manner in which news about sexual offenses is reported by the media affects public opinion and perception of “sex offenders”. Registrants seldom receive good press and it seems too often that “as the media goes, so goes the law.” While re-offense rates for registrants are on the decline compared to other types of offenses, news media ignores and fails to report these facts. Positive facts about registrants just don’t make for eye-catching headlines, they don’t create the hype and moral panic that media relies on to sustain its self.…
Read MoreWI: City must set aside emotion on sex offenders
[lakegenevanews.net – 7/3/19] I know how people feel about sex offenders. I agree that sex crimes are reprehensible, especially those in which children are the victims. Such offenders often face long prison sentences or long commitments inside mental health treatment centers. And rightfully so. But after they are released from custody — after they have paid their dues to society — these offenders have rights just like any other American citizen. Among other things, they have a right to live wherever they choose. I know that is difficult to hear.…
Read MoreAR: Arkansas woman must register as sex offender after trying to frame husband for child porn, rape
[wreg.com – 7/2/19] BENTONVILLE, Ark. — An Arkansas woman was given six years probation for trying to frame her husband by downloading child pornography on his cellphone and telling authorities he raped a 13-year-old girl. Cherie Renee Bolton, 34, of Siloam Springs, pleaded guilty last week in Benton County Circuit Court to distributing, possessing or viewing child pornography and filing a false police report. Bolton must register as a sex offender and pay more than $2,000 in fines and court fees. Judge Brad Karren also ordered that Bolton must serve…
Read MoreNo Havens for Registered Persons: Why “Most ‘Sex Offenders’ Per Capita” is a Meaningless Statistic
[sosen.org – 7/1/19] A Patch.com article entitled “Sex Offenders: How Illinois Ranks On Registry,” published June 27, 2019, proclaims that Illinois ranks 25th, smack dab in the middle of the list for most registered persons per capita. The article cited ASecureLife, a private website that reviews (and promotes) various security products. In turn, ASecureLife cited the stats from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The statistic has no real meaning, quite frankly. In 2011, Indiana, the state next to Illinois, endured the tragic murder of Aliahna Lemmon. The…
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