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.
Important News / Announcements
Janice's Journal
General News Feed
I’m a public defender. My clients would rather go to jail than register as sex offenders.
When I first became a public defender, I believed the worst punishment that my clients would face would be time in jail. Since then, I've learned that incarceration is not the only — and perhaps not the worst — punishment the criminal justice system can impose. The registration requirements imposed on those convicted of sex offenses are unfairly harsh and punitive, though few recognize...
Federal appeals court upholds judge’s lowest possible sentence in child-porn case
CINCINNATI, Ohio — An appeals court on Monday rebuffed the U.S. Attorney's Office's attempt to overturn a Cleveland federal judge's decision to give the lowest possible sentence to a man who downloaded and shared child pornography. Full Article
Washington enacts Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity
Washington State courts are now authorized to grant certain individuals a Certificate of Restoration of Opportunity (CROP), which prohibits many state licensing entities from disqualifying the holder solely based on his or her criminal history. A CROP also protects employers and housing providers from liability for negligent hiring and renting. The new certificate authority was created by HB 1533, which was signed by Governor Jay...
Schools turn to high-tech security to block sex offenders from campuses
Parents now go through an extra step on some Orange County campuses that are on the lookout for sex offenders. Full Article
Why the sex offender registry isn’t the right way to punish rapists
There are two parts to any criminal sentence for any crime involving sex. There’s the standard sentence: prison time or probation. As soon as the first sentence ends, the second one begins. After getting released from prison, an ex-offender has to sign up for his state’s sex offender registry. If he moves to another state, he’ll have to sign up there too. Depending on the...
IN: COA reverses lifetime sex offender registration, upholds ban from school property
The Indiana Court of Appeals agreed with a man challenging his lifetime registration as a sex offender that the law as applied to him violates the Indiana Constitution’s prohibition against ex post facto laws. But he lost a similar challenge to the unlawful-entry statute that prohibits him from entering school property. Full Article
SD: Letter – Celebrating freedom in the ‘Land of the Free’
As we prepare to stand watching and enjoying “the freedom parade,” with our children and grandchildren, we must think about the many families who are not allowed that privilege as a family. This single group of American citizens have been “labeled” sex offenders and are banished from public events where children are present, even if it means their own children will have to attend...
AUS: Derryn Hinch’s mission to change Australia’s sex registry
Senator Derryn Hinch wants to use his newly appointed powers to publically expose sex offenders and pinpoint precisely where they live. Full Article Related Don’t Elect Dangerous Derryn Hinch: The Case For Treating Criminals Humanely
IL: Little-known registry lists murderers in your town, but is it a good thing?
... But a few strategic keystrokes will lead anyone with internet access to information about _____'s murder conviction, his current address and a recent photo. His is among more than 3,600 names on the Illinois State Police Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry, a tool established in 2012 by state lawmakers at the urging of families of victims. ... "I've had comments on...
Janice’s Journal: David Slays Goliath Again
Like the young shepherd who battled the giant Goliath, Major David Ellis slayed Charles Rodrick in federal district court this week. It was Ellis’ second court victory against Rodrick, who is the owner and operator of a series of websites including three websites which identify more than 750,000 American citizens as registered sex offenders regardless of whether they are currently required to register or...
General Comments July 2016
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of July 2016. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it courteous and civil.
Jury delivers $325,000 verdict against sex-offender websites owner
Federal laws protecting the internet did not give the owner of several sex-offender websites license to post false and harassing information, a jury in U.S. District Court in Phoenix decided Friday. Full Article
NV: Ruling Allows Nevada Sex Offender Registration Requirements to take Effect [UPDATED with NV Supreme Court action]
An emergency writ was filed with the Nevada Supreme Court late Thursday in a last-gasp effort to block a new sex offender registry law from taking effect Friday. Full Article Update July 1, 11 am NEVADA SUPREME COURT STOPS SEX OFFENDER LAW FROM BEING IMPLEMENTED CARSON CITY — The Nevada Supreme Court Friday put the brakes on a law that would impose new registration...
Phoenix website owner’s attorney denies harassment claims in federal court trial
An attorney for a businessman accused of using multiple websites for internet harassment is arguing in court that his client did nothing wrong and that his online activity was protected by federal law. Full Article
Should a juvenile sex offender be locked up indefinitely?
Even when they serve their time, sex crime offenders in some states are being held years beyond their release date. The civil commitment laws that let jailers deem convicts too dangerous to walk free are facing increased scrutiny, especially in Minnesota, where even juvenile sex offenders grow old behind bars. William Brangham reports. Full Article
ACSOL Monthly Meetings: San Diego (Sep 10), Los Angeles (Oct 15)
Please mark your calendars for ACSOL's upcoming monthly meetings. Registrants, friends and family and interested service providers are invited to attend these free meetings. There will be no law enforcement or media present in order to protect everyone's privacy. The meetings start at 10 am and last about 2-3 hours. Topics of conversation include information about ACSOL's advocacy as well as current topics and...
The U.S. needs to reexamine how it uses sex-offender registries
Many people end up on sex offender registries who aren't a danger, like minors who have consensual sex, public urinators or streakers, the author argues. Full Article
FBI didn’t need a search warrant before hacking child porn suspect, judge rules
The FBI didn’t need to obtain a warrant before investigators hacked the computer of a man suspected of viewing child pornography, a federal judge ruled Thursday. Full Article Related Federal Court: The Fourth Amendment Does Not Protect Your Home Computer Decision
Sex, Lies and “Severe Impact”: In Defense of Judge Aaron Persky
_____ ____ ____ was convicted of three felony counts related to his digital penetration of an unconscious victim behind a dumpster at a frat party and sentenced to a short six month period of imprisonment. ____'s sentencing generated public outrage, especially after the long, visceral and rambling 7,400 letter by the anonymous victim read to ____ in court went viral. Deeming ____'s sentence "too lenient"...
Indonesia Approves Castration for Sex Offenders Who Prey on Children
JAKARTA, Indonesia — The Indonesian president, Joko Widodo, signed a decree on Wednesday authorizing chemical castration for convicted child sex offenders and requiring those released on parole to wear electronic monitoring devices. The new punishment comes in response to the brutal gang rape and murder in April of a 14-year-old girl on her way home on the island of Sumatra. Seven teenage boys were...