Source: nbcrightnow.com 3/2/26 KENNEWICK, Wash. – The site of the proposed less restrictive alternative (LRA) housing facility for registered sex offenders in Kennewick was vandalized overnight on Monday, according to Kennewick Police Department officer Jair Ealy-Thomas. The site, on West 8th Avenue, has been the source of controversy in recent weeks and faced opposition from the Kennewick City Council and Kennewick School District. Watch the video
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FL: Bill upping prison time for child sexual predators heading to Senate floor
Source: floridapolitics.com 3/2/26 The legislation comes as Attorney General James Uthmeier has stepped up action against child sexual predators. A bill designed to increase prison sentences for child sex offenders is now heading to the Senate floor. The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee has advanced the measure, completing the Committee review process in the upper chamber. “This bill increases penalties and creates mandatory prison sentences for the most serious sex crimes, especially those involving children,” said Sen. Jonathan Martin, a Fort Myers Republican who sponsored the bill (SB 1750). “This deals with child pornography…
Read MoreGA: Georgia “One Strike Act”: Even More Life Sentences, Even Less Parole
Source: filtermag.org 3/2/26 In late February, senators in Georgia introduced a bill known as the One Strike Act. Though the name—a riff of sorts on the better-known “three strikes” approach—and marketing imply mandatory life sentences on first-time convictions of the most serious felonies, the bill is primarily about lengthening sentences and removing parole for any and all felonies. Senate Bill 592 is cosponsored by State Senator Steve Gooch (R), a former senate majority leader and current candidate for lieutenant governor. Gooch, a noted proponent of mass incarceration, was also a cosponsor…
Read MoreCA: Public Safety Committee Approves AB 1568 Despite Lack of Support
Source: ACSOL The CA Assembly’s Public Safety Committee today approved AB 1568 despite a lack of support for that bill. In direct contrast, 24 people including ACSOL leaders and members as well as leaders of other organizations voiced their opposition to the bill. “The petitioning process under the Tiered Registry Bill is not broken and therefore it does not to be fixed,” ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci testified. “The petitioning process is working well as evidenced by the fact that about 12,000 petitions have been filed so far. Of that…
Read MoreFlorida registrants: Please help with research on your experience on Florida’s registry
Source: School of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University A doctoral research study through the School of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University is seeking participants to explore the lived experiences of individuals on Florida’s Sexual Offender Registry. The purpose of this study is to better understand how being on the registry impacts daily life. Participation involves taking part in a confidential interview that will last approximately 60 minutes. Participation is completely voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time. Participants will be compensated $50 for their participation. No identifying information will…
Read MoreCA: Thousands brace for fallout from unreported LA County criminal convictions
Source: dailynews.com 3/1/26 More than 100,000 felonies may not have appeared during background checks with the state Department of Justice Nearly 330,000 people whose convictions in Los Angeles County went unreported for decades will soon have their rap sheets updated and, potentially, their employers notified for the first time. Some could lose their jobs if the conviction would have disqualified them from the position they have, while others may have professional licenses revoked or firearms confiscated, experts say. The massive update to criminal histories follows the discovery of an error…
Read MoreACSOL Board Members to Meet in Legislators’ D.C. Offices
ACSOL Board Members Janice Bellucci and Roger Hunnicutt will meet in the offices of four members of Congress on March 6. Two of the four meetings will be in the D.C. offices of Congressional members Greg Steube and Nancy Mace who recently introduced legislation harmful to registrants. The remaining meetings will be in the offices of the Congressional members who represent the two board members. “It is important to meet in the offices of Congressional members who introduce legislation that could significantly those required to register,” stated ACSOL Executive Director…
Read MoreGeneral Comments Mar 2026
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of Mar 2026. 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. Other months General Comments
Read MoreCA: Two Large Organizations Join ACSOL in Opposing AB 1568
Source: ACSOL In addition to ACSOL, two large organizations have formally filed their opposition to AB 1568 which, if passed, could block thousands of registrants from petitioning for removal from the registry. The organizations are California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ) and Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC). Letters from both organizations are similar (see them at the bottom of this article), but not the same as, the opposition letter filed by ACSOL. According to CACJ, passage of SB 1568 would set a dangerous legislative precedent that other elected…
Read MoreMace continues her crusade by introducing bill allowing federal death penalty for child sex crimes
Source: abcnews4.com 2/26/26 UPDATE: Below you can read ACSOL’s letter to Nancy Mace WASHINGTON D.C (WCIV) — Rep. Nancy Mace introduced legislation Thursday that would allow the federal government to impose the death penalty on people convicted of raping or sexually assaulting children. The bill, titled the Death Penalty for Child Rapists Act, is intended to expand capital punishment eligibility to several federal child sex crime statutes and to the rape of a child under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, according to the press release. “We have zero mercy for…
Read MoreCA: Fresno leaders plan to block registered sex offender from serving on City Council
Source: fresnobee.com 2/26/26 Related article: “‘I felt attacked’: Sex offender running for Fresno council seat speaks out after councilmember comments” [2/27/26 yourcentralvalley.com] Some members of the Fresno City Council said they plan to introduce legislation to block registered sex offenders from serving on the council in an effort to disqualify a candidate in the crowded race for the District 7 seat. The City Council primary race gained national attention this month after The Bee reported on Rene Campos, a registered sex offender who plans to run for the council seat…
Read MoreTX: NARSOL Sues Texas for Excluding Federal Convictions from State Registry Removal
Source: floridaactioncommittee.org 2/26/26 NARSOL has filed suit on behalf of registrants in Texas who were convicted of a sexual offense in federal court, claiming the state’s process for petitioning for removal from the registry excludes them, because they were not convicted by a Texas court (a requirement for removal). The class action complaint alleges, “Article 62.404 provides a mechanism for early termination of registration. Under that provision, an eligible registrant may seek relief after completing the minimum required registration period and undergoing an individualized risk assessment conducted by CSOT. If…
Read MoreWI: Wisconsin Supreme Court OKs warrantless searches of potential child porn
Source: courthousenews.com 2/24/26 Social platforms like Google Photos that voluntarily scan for child sexual abuse materials are not acting as agents of the government and the search is private, according to the state’s top court. MADISON, Wis. (CN) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday unanimously held that Google’s voluntary scan for child sexual abuse materials is constitutional. Andreas Rauch Sharak stored child sexual abuse materials in his Google Photos account in violation of the terms of service, which warned such materials would be removed if detected and reported…
Read MoreCA: After parole granted to convicted child kidnapper and molester
Source: abc10.com 2/23/26 SACRAMENTO, Calif — Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper on Monday criticized the parole of David Allen Funston, a 64-year-old man convicted of kidnapping and molesting children in 1995 and 1996, after state records show he was granted parole under California’s elderly parole program. “A judge in Sacramento described him… as the monster parents fear most, yet today the parole board decided he is suitable for release,” Cooper said during a press conference at the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office… Read the full article
Read MoreIA: Man arrested after allegedly admitting during law enforcement employment application lie detector test he viewed child pornography on dark web
Source: whsv.com 2/23/26 WARREN COUNTY, Iowa. (Gray News) – An Iowa man was arrested after allegedly admitting during a lie detector test that he viewed child pornography on the dark web. According to a search warrant application, 35-year-old Gregory _____ had applied to be a deputy with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, KCCI reported. While taking a pre-employment lie detector test in November, the tester said Gregory admitted to viewing child pornography on the dark web. Investigators said while searching Gregory’s phone, they found what appeared to be AI-generated images…
Read MoreACSOL Online Meeting March 21, 2026
You are invited to join ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci and President attorney Elie Miller to our next meeting. The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 21 online on Zoom beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific time, 1:00 PM Eastern, and will last at least two hours. You can use the Zoom app or you can call in using a Zoom phone number. There is no registration needed for this meeting. No government officials are allowed to attend the meetings. This meeting will be recorded and posted within a couple…
Read MoreCA Action Alert: Call Committee Members to Stop AB 1568
As reported yesterday, the Assembly’s Public Safety Committee will consider AB 1568 next week on Tuesday, March 3. If that bill is enacted into law, it will block many registrants from petitioning for removal from the registry. Please call the nine members of that committee today or any day prior to the hearing to let them know that you oppose AB 1568 and want them to vote “no” during the hearing. Each call will take one minute or less and is very important because without opposition, the bill is likely…
Read MoreNJ: Out-of-state sex offenders can challenge registration requirement, court rules
Source: newjerseymonitor.com 2/23/26 Authorities must weigh whether a sex offender convicted in other states committed a crime similar to a Megan’s Law offense before forcing them to register under the law in New Jersey, an appellate court found Monday. The ruling, which ordered two cases in Secaucus and Union City reopened motions to dismiss and reversed a conviction in the Secaucus case, says authorities in both cases failed to perform an analysis required by law before charging the two men with failing to notify authorities that they had moved. “Indicting…
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