The Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws (ACSOL) is dedicated to protecting the Constitution by restoring the civil rights of registrants and their families. In order to achieve that objective, ACSOL will educate and litigate as well as support or oppose legislation. The ACSOL website and recordings are provided as a service to registrants, registrants’ families, and others for general information only. The information on the website and in the recordings are not designed to provide legal or other advice or to create an attorney-client relationship. You should not take, or refrain from taking, action based on their content. Prior results and case studies do not guarantee a similar outcome in future representations. ACSOL accepts no responsibility for any loss or damages that may result from accessing or reliance on content on the ACSOL website and recordings and disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all liability with respect to acts or omissions made by registrants, registrants’ families and others on the basis of content on the ACSOL website.
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How one lawyer proves her faith in criminal rehabilitation
[mystatesman.com] Any criminal justice system has two purposes: The first is to punish those who have broken the law; the second is to bring about rehabilitation in the lawbreaker, so that he or she will turn his back on a life of crime and embrace a law-abiding life in society. The first is accomplished largely within the closed ranks of the legal system, through...
Guns and sexual offenders: strange bedfellows?
[narsol.org] By Sandy . . . A bill is working its way through Congress for states to honor, or to reciprocate with, the concealed carry gun laws of other states. Sponsored by Rep. Richard Hudson (R NC), this bill would require states that have gun control laws in place to honor the laws of another state with laxer or even no such laws when...
NE: LB693 would create new offenses, including “unmanned aircraft harassment by a registered sex offender”
[nebfacts.blogspot.com] It remains to be seen if this bill will get off the ground. The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on LB693, introduced by Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood, which would regulate the use of unmanned aircraft (drones) in the state. Much of the bill's language prohibits the use of drones to trespass or spy on another person. Read more
MO: Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens indicted for felony invasion of privacy
[stltoday.com] ST. LOUIS • Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, who was swept into office in 2016 with a vow to clean up a corrupt state government, was indicted and booked Thursday on a felony invasion of privacy charge for allegedly taking and transmitting a non-consensual photo of his partly nude lover shortly before that campaign started. It stems from a scandal that broke last month,...
FL: Florida bill would effectively ban sex offenders from vacation rentals
[UPDATED links 2/26/18] [floridaactioncommittee.org] A new bill concerning vacation rentals, HB 773, sponsored by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, is making it’s way through the Florida House of Representatives. (https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=768073.docx&DocumentType=Amendments&BillNumber=0773&Session=2018) The bill, among other things, would require vacation rental owners to give 24-hour notice to residents who live within 1,000 feet of the properties that sex offenders will be staying at the rentals....
KY: Committee hears sex offender’s social media bill
[ocmonitor.com] FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bill on sex offender’s use of social media was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee. House Bill 70 is trying to clarify and revise Kentucky’s restrictions on internet access for registered sex offenders. Sponsor Rep. Joseph M. Fischer, R-Fort Thomas, said he introduced the measure after a unanimous decision by U.S. Supreme Court in June of last year...
AL: Alabama schools struggle with juvenile sex offenders in classrooms
[montgomeryadvertiser.com] PRATTVILLE — The parents of a young Autauga County sex crime victim want something done. Three years ago, their daughter was victimized by a then-14-year-old boy. What happened next combines the heartache of a family trying to get back to “normal,” a young man paying his debt to society, old wounds being reopened and a bureaucratic maze of board of education meetings and potential legislative action....
SD: Sex offender, human trafficking punishment increase bills move forward
[UPDATED 2/23/18 with realted link] Bills to toughen the punishment for attempted human trafficking of minors and repeatedly failing to register as a sex offender continue to make their way through the legislature. Senate Bill 61 would increase the penalty for sex offenders who fail more than once to register after moving to a new address. Currently law penalizes second offenses the same as...
MO: Jackson Co. takes tough stance on tracking sex offenders’ social media activity
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office takes a tough stance on making sure sex offenders are compliant with the law. They do it in a number of ways, including sweeps. Offenders are required to report the basics, his or her name, home and work address, any vehicles they own, any scars or tattoos they may have, and internet presence they may have. Full Article
PA: Wolf signs bill to protect victims of sexual abuse crimes
[theprogressnews.com] HARRISBURG — Governor Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed House Bill 631 into law, now Act 10 of 2018, the primary intent of which is to provide for greater public safety by ensuring convicted sexual offenders remain subject to registration requirements in the wake of recent court decisions impacting Pennsylvania’s implementation of the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act. The legislation, introduced by Rep....
Legal Scholars Call on Universities to Reform ‘Victim-Centered’ Sexual Misconduct Policies
[freebeacon.com] Nearly 140 legal scholars have signed a letter calling on universities to reform current policies governing sexual misconduct allegations with a renewed focus on due process, rather than by a doctrine of "always believe the victim." The letter highlights dangers inherent in "‘victim-centered' practices" that "undermine neutrality in campus Title IX processes," and claims the imbalance has been plaguing institutions for nearly three...
The Promise and Potential of Circles of Support and Accountability: A Sex Offender Reentry Program
[aei.org] Key Points Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA), whose goal is “no more victims,” provides sex offenders released from prison with pro-social support as they return to society and emphasizes accountability by insisting that offenders accept responsibility for their actions. Findings from a CoSA program in cshowed that the program significantly reduced sex offense recidivism, lowering the risk of rearrest for a new...
KS: Can Registries Cover Too Many Crimes? Kansas Legislation Suggests A Rollback
Junkie logic brought an addict to the doorsteps of a Topeka woman once convicted of selling cocaine. The addict was looking to buy, and Kansas’ online database of criminal offenders has a handy geographic search tool that lets users pull up the names, crimes and addresses of people who live within a few miles of their homes. It’s meant to boost public safety, but...
UK: Crossing Guard, 77, Accused of “Grooming” Children By Giving Them High-Fives
[letgrow.org] A 77-year-old school crossing guard was ordered to stop high-fiving kids, as this could be the gateway to sexually abusing them. In response, he has thrown in the towel. Bryan Broom, a “lollipop man” (so-called not because he gave kids lollipops, but because crossing guards in Britain hold up circular stop signs on sticks), said he can’t stand the idea that merely being...
TX: Contentious 331st District race pits longtime judge against attorney
[mystatesman.com] The only contested judicial race in Travis County’s criminal district courts has gotten contentious, with challenger Chantal Eldridge saying taxpayers have been underserved by the incumbent while Eldridge faces questions of her own about the registered sex offender she employs in her law firm and intends to bring on as a judicial aide if she wins. Eldridge, a 53-year-old career defense lawyer who...
MN: Convicted rapist wins the right to live in West St. Paul
[citypages.com] Thomas Evenstad was convicted in 1999 of raping an 18-year-old woman. In 2014, he picked up more convictions for stalking and harassing the victim, her family, investigators, and the judges involved in his prosecution. When he finally got out of jail last August, he moved in to a friend's apartment in West St. Paul. Three days later, police told his landlord that Evenstad...
WA: Law Would Reduce Severity of Charges for Teens Who Send, View Sexually Explicit Images
[chronline.com] The state Senate a week ago passed legislation amending state law to reduce charges against teens over 12 years old for sending, producing or viewing sexually explicit material of other teens over 12 years old from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. According to a news release from the Washington state Senate Democrats, the changes reflect the distinction between the sending of sexually...
IN: Sex offender registry levels stiff penalties
The Indiana Sex and Violent Offender Registry is designed to protect the citizens of the state of Indiana — but some convicted offenders may become victim to stringent, statutory requirements. Full Article
TX: Weekend Read: They served their prison sentences, but they’re still locked up
[splcenter.org] Jason Schoenfeld already served a full prison sentence, but he’s back behind bars — not because of what he’s done, but because of what the state of Texas says he might do. Schoenfeld entered a detention center in Littlefield, Texas more than two years ago. Located in a remote corner of the Texas Panhandle, it was once a prison and currently houses a...
FL: Registrant Denied Access to Hospital For Son’s Surgery
[floridaactioncommittee.org] A member contacted us this week. He’s on the registry for an offense that took place over 15 years ago. He brought his son to Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando for surgery and was denied access at the door because of his status on the registry. These policies that prevent former offenders from ever parenting their children are ridiculous! When someone looks back...