The Senate has passed HR-803 “Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills Act” or the “SKILLS Act” with further amendments. The essence of this bill, which amends many different laws, is to retrain displaced workers for newer type jobs of today. While this is a GREAT bill it also excludes folks convicted of several crime types, one of which is sex offenses, folks we advocate for. Full Article
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MO: Springfield sued over order to close group home
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – A Missouri nonprofit has filed a lawsuit contending that the city of Springfield violated federal and city laws when it ordered the closure of a group home for recovering alcoholics, drug addicts and sex offenders. Recovery Chapel and its executive director, Farris Robertson, said in the federal lawsuit filed Tuesday against the city and its Board of Adjustment that the city’s refusal to allow the group home violates the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as local zoning codes. Full Article
Read MoreNY: Security upgrades at Carthage Central School District screen sex offenders
Visitors to Carthage Central School District buildings will go through a new security system for admission that will cross-reference a national sex offender registry and provide visitors with a personalized pass with their photo printed on it. “Essentially most schools have a sign-in sheet to monitor who comes into the school,” said Ramona Dent, district director of computer technology. “Sign-in sheets aren’t nearly as secure. The biggest positive is we will now truly know who is in our school district at all times.” Full Article
Read MoreThe Field Validity of Static-99/R Sex Offender Risk Assessment Tool in California
Policies that differentially apply to sexual offenders at different risk levels require defensible procedures for classifying offenders into risk categories. The current study examines the reliability and validity of Static-99 and Static-99R sexual offender risk assessment tools as implemented in the State of California. California is a valuable case study because it is a large jurisdiction that has devoted considerable resources to the implementation of risk tools. Download (pdf)
Read MoreFederal Judge Rules No-Fly List Process Is Unconstitutional
A federal judge in Oregon says the process surrounding the federal government’s “no-fly list” is unconstitutional. Specifically, U.S. District Judge Anna Brown said the process doesn’t give Americans on the list an effective way to challenge their inclusion. Full Article
Read MoreInternational Megan’s Law / RSO Travel Issues
I have written two pieces on the RSO travel issue, just published: The first is about International Megan’s Law (download pdf) The second describes current treatment (and regardless of Megan’s enactment) of RSO’s into the U.S. (download pdf) It was an ambitious undertaking but I hope that you will find them to be worthwhile. I believe that it is the most comprehensive treatment of this subject (thus far) but it is entirely possible that there may be omissions in these pieces and so would welcome your comments or criticisms for…
Read MoreSex offender ordinance repealed
A city ordinance prohibiting sex offenders from frequenting parks, playgrounds, daycare centers, schools, libraries and other places where children are normally present was repealed at the June 11 Placerville City Council meeting. Full Article
Read MoreCity of Porterville repeals sex offenders ordinance
The city council Tuesday reluctantly repealed a section in the Municipal Code referring to sex offenders and regulating their proximity to children’s facilities. The matter was brought before the council by City Attorney Julia Lew because of recent lawsuits in other cities with the same type of ordinance and because the city has been receiving letters and suggestions of legal action. Full Article
Read MoreOH: New Sex Offender Requirements for Long Term Care Facilities
Nursing homes, residential care facilities and county homes (“Homes”) in Ohio will soon have additional requirements related to the admission of a registered sex offender. Full Article
Read MorePositive Appellate Court Decision Halted by CA Supreme Court
The California Supreme Court has granted review of the appellate court decision, People v. Tirey, which increased slightly the number of registered citizens eligible to apply for a certificate of rehabilitation. The appellate court’s decision did not, however, change the criteria for who could be granted a certificate. The appellate court decision was issued in November 15, 2013, and was based upon the equal protection clause of the constitution. Because the Supreme Court has granted review, the holding in the Tirey case cannot be used as precedent until that court…
Read MoreFelons turn to ‘pardon guy’ to verify that they’re rehabilitated
John Garbin hears from people who say they’ll commit suicide if he doesn’t help them. Because of mistakes they made years ago — criminal mistakes — they can’t get a job, move on with their lives, or escape their tarnished reputations, even though they’ve served their time. “The calls we get are from people who are absolutely desperate,” he said. “We do not live in a forgiving society.” Full Article
Read MoreIL: Chicago police easing registration process for sex offenders
Illinois legislators love to pass laws to punish sex offenders. But those laws always increase restrictions. No legislator wants to decrease restrictions on sex offenders, because that would not look good on a mailer by an opponent in the next election. Full Article
Read MoreJuvenile rape legislation — ‘Audrie’s Law’ — stirs Capitol debate
SACRAMENTO — When San Jose lawmaker Jim Beall set out earlier this year to strengthen penalties for youths who sexually assault unconscious victims, he expected to win broad support easily. Instead, he ignited a familiar Capitol debate among lawyers, victims and juvenile advocates about whether the justice system’s goal should be punishing or rehabilitating offenders. That debate will be renewed on Tuesday when an Assembly committee will again consider Beall’s bill. Full Article Related: Audrie’s Law goes too far, some legislators insist
Read MoreRI: Bill would make businesses rethink hiring sex offenders
The Rhode Island General Assembly passed a bill Friday that would fine certain businesses for knowingly hiring a child sex offender. Target 12 broke the story that prompted action, and now, a new state law is in place to protect children from sexual predators. In the final days of the legislative session, the Alliance for Safe Communities was closely watching its bill about child safe zones. Full Article
Read MoreGov. Jerry Brown’s prison reforms haven’t lived up to his billing
Nearly 15 months after launching what he called the “boldest move in criminal justice in decades,” Gov. Jerry Brown declared victory over a prison crisis that had appalled federal judges and stumped governors for two decades. … Brown’s realignment solution when he took office in 2011 required creating a new category of criminal — the non-serious, non-violent, non-sex-offender felon. Full Article
Read MoreCity repeals ordinance in response to lawsuit by sex offender
The City of Taft has, for all intents and purposes, settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of a registered sex offender Tuesday night when it repealed a seven-year-old ordinance regulating where convicted sex offenders could live and visit. Full Article
Read MorePomona takes steps to repeal part of its sex offender ordinance
POMONA >> Members of the Pomona City Council have taken steps leading to the repeal of part of a 2008 ordinance regulating the presence of sex offenders in the city. Council members gave preliminary approval at their June 16 meeting to an ordinance repealing a portion of the 2008 local regulation and they are expected to have a final vote July 7. Full Article
Read MoreMA: Quincy councilors upset sex offender was employed by city’s trash hauler
A registered sex offender worked for almost a year for the company that collects residential trash in Quincy, violating terms of the city’s $3.5 million contract with the Boston-based hauler, Sunrise Scavenger, said Ward 4 City Councilor Brian Palmucci. Palmucci called the breach a public safety issue, a concern echoed by Ward 6 City Councilor Brian McNamee, who wants city leaders to prevent it from happening again. Full Article
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