[apnews.com – 3/24/19] WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. (AP) — Residents of a Connecticut town have repealed a local ordinance that banned registered sex offenders from local parks, schools, the town library and other public places amid a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law. The Windsor Locks law was approved 11 years ago amid concerns about threats to children’s safety by people listed on the state’s sex-offender registry. A federal lawsuit by an anonymous resident and an advocacy group alleges the ordinance violates sex offenders’ constitutional rights. Read more
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Kat’s Blog: Winning One Battle at a Time
TN House Bill 407 went before the house committee on Wednesday. In summary, the bill which was proposed by House Rep. Doggett and Senator Hensley sought two amendments to the current registrant residency restriction law. First, it sought to increase from 1,000ft to 2,000ft, the current residency restrictions for registrants. Second, it asked to mandate that no registrant whose victim was a minor, shall knowingly reside or conduct an overnight visit at a residence in which a minor resides or is present. For weeks before this committee meeting myself and…
Read MoreTX: Judge’s campaign ‘team’ included convicted sex offender
[abc13.com – 3/20/19] HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A convicted sex offender had apparently worked for a newly-elected Harris County judge’s campaign, but wasn’t detected until he was handcuffed in a court room. ______, 36, appeared for an arraignment Wednesday, accused of failing to alert Houston Community College of his sex offender status while enrolled there. Deputies took ______ into custody while working for Harris County 270th Civil Court Judge Dedra Davis. Harris County has no record of ______ as an employee, and neither does the district court administrator. If they…
Read MoreACSOL Meeting in San Diego on Saturday, March 30
There is MUCH TO DISCUSS at this important monthly meeting! First, we will talk about Assembly Bill 884 and how it would gut the Tiered Registry Law by adding everyone convicted of PC 288(a) to Tier 3. That bill will be heard in the State Capitol on April 2. Second, we will discuss the status of the pending lawsuit against the City of San Diego which challenges the city’s residency restrictions. Third, we will listen to challenges YOU are currently facing. And as always, there will be free refreshments. ACSOL’s…
Read MoreCA: Judge Delays Decision on Sexually Violent Predator’s Release Into East County
A judge has delayed a decision to release a man convicted of sexually assaulting several children in the 1980s back into the San Diego community during a hearing Friday morning. Full Article
Read MoreFL: Cops Re-Arrest 26 Sex Offenders in ‘Operation Karma.’ Their Crime? Not Updating Their Car Info.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department in Florida is touting its successful completion of “Operation Karma,” a three-day sting in which cops arrested 26 registered sex offenders for violating various legal obligations imposed on them. “They are apparently up to no good and we are going to hold them accountable,” Sheriff Grady Judd promises The Miami Herald. Full Article Related ‘Karma’ caught up with these sex offenders and predators, Florida cops say
Read MoreNY: Gov. Cuomo Supports Banning Sex Offenders From Subway
You see all kinds of things on the subways, but if one New York City lawmaker has his way, repeat sex offenders won’t be among them. City Councilman Chaim Deutsch’s proposed ban is designed to prevent certain sex offenders from taking public transportation, CBS2’s Jessica Moore reported Wednesday. Full Article UPDATE 4/2: NEW YORK LAWMAKERS WANT TO BAN SEX OFFENDERS FROM THE SUBWAY. THAT WON’T SOLVE ANYTHING. (Commentary)
Read MoreOrganizations Join ACSOL’s Opposition to AB 884
Three organizations have joined ACSOL in its opposition to Assembly Bill 884 by sending formal letters of opposition to the Public Safety Committee. The organizations are Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, East Bay Community Law Center and Root & Rebound. In their letters, the organizations emphasized that Assembly Bill 884 would harm the original Tiered Registry Law which they supported in the past. They also noted the fact that a lifetime registry for all registrants does not increase public safety. “We appreciate the support of these organizations and look forward…
Read MoreCT: Press Release from One Standard of Justice, Inc. re: Windsor Locks federal suit re: “Child Safety Zones”
[onestandardofjustice.org – 2/7/19] On March 27, 2018, Stamford attorney Audrey Felsen of Koffsky & Felsen filed suit in federal court seeking declaratory and injunctive relief against the town of Windsor Locks. The suit, on behalf of plaintiffs One Standard of Justice, Inc. and a Windsor Locks resident identified as John Doe, challenges the constitutionality of Windsor Locks’ “Child Safety Zones” ordinance. “This suit is for declaratory and injunctive relief from an overly broad ordinance that clearly violates the first and fourteenth amendments of the United States Constitution,” said Felsen. “The…
Read MoreThe Dobbs Wire: Banishment! Patty Wetterling, Jill Levenson and more
[twitter.com/TheDobbsWire – 3/18/19] The Dobbs Wire: Banishment! In the 21st century many localities in the United States use an ancient means to get rid of people who have been stigmatized and are despised, banishment. More formally and politely known as “residency restrictions,” the desired result of such laws is to drive individuals who are blacklisted — required to sign the sex offense registry — out of their houses and even out of town altogether. The most infamous example of these awful laws is the encampment of homeless registered persons that…
Read MoreIN: Sex offender ban includes grandparents
A grandparent who has been convicted as a sexually violent predator would not be able to care for his or her grandchildren under the current version of a bill barring predators from serving as child care providers. That possible scenario is perhaps the last remaining concern among legislators who have so far been unanimous in passing Senate Bill 258, resulting from a loophole found when an Anderson sexual offender advertised as a babysitter. Full Article
Read MoreNigeria: Ekiti state moves to publicly shame sex offenders by displaying their photographs in prominent places
[alternativeafrica.com – 3/18/19] Ekiti State Government in the western zone of Nigeria Monday announced new measures aimed at curbing sexual violence, especially child defilement and rape in the state. The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapounda at a press conference to announce the new measures disclosed that persons currently standing trial for offence of child defilement and those whom the Director of Public Prosecution had issued a ‘case to answer’ legal advice for the same offense will henceforth undergo compulsory psychiatry test. Other measures according to…
Read MoreACSOL Emotional Support Group Meeting Alert in L.A. on Sat, March 23
ACSOL will conduct an Emotional Support Group for registrants and their loved ones on Saturday, March 23, beginning at 10 a.m. at: ACLU Building 1313 W. 8th Street Los Angeles Free parking is available under the building and there is no charge to attend the meeting. There is also a second Emotional Support Group meeting on the phone most months. If you want to attend this conference call, the group leader wants to talk with you first to ensure we don’t get inappropriate callers. He will tell you the date…
Read MoreNJ: Huge increase in released sex offenders is draining resources from other inmates
Across the United States, a growing number of incarcerated individuals are being released to face the barriers to reintegration with no support. From 1990 to 2012, the number of max-outs – those who serve their entire sentences incarcerated and are released entirely unsupervised – increased by 119 percent, so that according to the latest numbers from Pew Charitable Trusts, the current max out rate across the country is 22 percent. … Nevertheless, the number of individuals released to supervision in New Jersey continues to decline. In 2003, nearly 7,777 individuals…
Read MoreKat’s Blog: Vigilantism Against Registrants: What More Proof Do They Need?
I hate writing blog pieces like this, they’re depressing, scary and hit too close to home. But pieces like this are important for all of us to read. Pieces like this serve as “slap in the face, wake you up” reminders of what we’re all fighting for and why we need to seriously amp up the fight. Looking back at statistics, vigilante crimes against registrants have been occurring for over a decade if not longer. Murdered registrants don’t receive a lot of press and their deaths aren’t counted among those…
Read MoreMI: ACLU lawsuits look to reform Michigan Sex Offender Registry
[wsbt.com – 3/15/19] KALAMAZOO, Mich. — A federal court ruled three years ago that parts of Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry laws were unconstitutional, but since then, nothing in the law has changed. The ACLU is looking to reform, or even do away with the registry as part of an ongoing lawsuit. “The law that we have now is broken, it’s bloated, its ineffective and it actually makes us less safe,” said Miriam Aukerman, an attorney with the ACLU of Michigan. Aukerman said the state’s sex offender registry law is unconstitutional…
Read MoreCT: Windsor Locks to vote on repealing sex offender proximity ordinance
[journalinquirer.com – 3/15/19] Nearly a year after an advocacy group and an anonymous resident filed a lawsuit against the town over an ordinance barring sex offenders from designated public places, voters will have the option Tuesday to repeal that ordinance at a town meeting. The town meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The ordinance, enacted over 10 years ago, prohibits those on the sex offender registry from “child safety zones,” which include local parks, public schools, the library, the Town Hall gymnasium, and the senior center. There…
Read MoreFL: Bill to ban child sex dolls advances in Florida legislature
A Florida bill to ban childlike sex dolls passed its third Senate committee on Wednesday and is headed to the Senate floor. Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, sponsored SB 160 amid an international conversation surrounding child sex dolls and their link to increased sexual preying on children. Full Article
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