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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Janice's Journal
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Sex offenders sue over personal info posted online
SEATTLE --A group of convicted sex offenders is suing three websites for posting their photos and personal information and then allegedly charging them to take the information down. In their federal lawsuit, the sex offenders claim that is extortion. "I was shocked and at the same time I was almost devastated," said one of the sex offenders, who has asked to be referred to...
Offenders Complain of Online Extortion
Five Arizona men conspired to extort sex offenders by claiming they will take their names and photos off websites for $500, but leaving the information online whether their victims pay or not, 10 sex offenders claim in a federal RICO complaint. Eight John Does and two Jane Does sued five Arizona men, claiming they use websites to extort money from registered sex offenders, and...
Sex Offender Law Reformers Sue Websites That Post Personal Details, Demand Cash to Remove
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL), which has been part of lawsuits against the County of Orange and Orange County cities over controversial laws that ban registered sex offenders from public parks, now has a new target. A lawsuit filed by RSOL in federal court Wednesday challenges websites that identify people as sex offenders, include their names, photos, home addresses and personal information, and...
Patty Wetterling questions sex offender laws
On an overcast spring day in 1996, a handful of people filed out of the Oval Office and assembled on the driveway of the White House before a scrum of reporters. They cast satisfied glances at the television cameras as birds chirped and a helicopter whirred nearby. Nothing except for the white memorial ribbons pinned to their lapels indicated the nature of their fateful connection to...
Forcing women and girls to report rape can lead to false rape reports
In the UK, in 38% of investigations linked to allegedly false claims referred to the Crown Prosecution Service between January 2011 and May 2012, the initial complaint of rape or domestic violence was made by someone other than the suspect. That's a shocking statistic, but it is consistent with what we know about false rape claims. Among those under 18 it was 50% and...
WI: De Pere City Council Votes to Repeal Sex Offender Residency Ordinance
De Pere becomes the first community in Northeast Wisconsin to repeal its sex offender residency ordinance. In a 5-to-3 vote last night, the city council moved to no longer limit where convicted sex offenders can live. For the last three years, registered sex offenders in De Pere, unless approved by a city residency board, could not live within 500 feet of where children gather, like...
California RSOL Challenges Websites in Federal District Court
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (CA RSOL) filed a lawsuit in federal district court today challenging websites which identify individuals as sex offenders and include their personal information including names, photos, and home addresses as well as demand up to $500 for removal of that information from the websites. Offendex - Press Release
Pending Legislation – AB 702
Bill introduced by Assembly member Ammiano that would instead establish 3 tiers of registration based on specified criteria, for periods of 10 years, 20 years, and life, respectively, as specified. Bill Info
FL: Two arrested in videotaped school sex incident at Fivay High School
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. - Two juveniles have been arrested in connection with a videotaped sex act in the library at Fivay High School in Pasco County, according to a sheriff's statement. Deputies say a 17-year-old boy had sex with a 15-year-old girl, reportedly on tables behind some book shelves. Thy say the act was videotaped by a 15-year-old boy and shared via Bluetooth transmission with...
Los Alamitos amends sex offender law
LOS ALAMITOS – Looking to address potential legal issues surrounding sex-offender-related laws, the City Council on Monday night amended its code that bans registered sex offenders from public places. The local ordinance now narrows the definition of "sex offender" to those who specifically have been convicted of a sexual offence involving a minor. "This will ensure that the restriction serves to protect the public from...
FL: Threats posted on Facebook are crimes
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - A Florida appeals court has decided that posting threats on one's personal Facebook page can be prosecuted under the state's "sending written threats to kill or do bodily harm" law. The 1st District Court of Appeal on Monday ruled in a case that a Facebook post could be considered a "sending" for the purposes of the law. Article
‘Pocket park’ aims to increase green space in LA neighborhoods
HARBOR GATEWAY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A sliver of land in Harbor Gateway South is about to be transformed in to Los Angeles' first "pocket park." It's just 1,000 square feet, but it's having a big impact on the community's sense of safety. "It takes care of the sex offenders and keeps the kids off the street gives them somewhere to play," said resident...
Pending State Legislation
Below is a summary of bills pending in the California Legislature and CA RSOL's position on each proposed bill. Get involved! CA RSOL OPPOSES AB 201 - This bill would state that a local agency is not preempted by state law from enacting and enforcing an ordinance that restricts a registered sex offender from residing or being present at certain locations within the local...
Two Victories for California RSOL
California RSOL has scored two victories in the cities of Simi Valley and Lancaster where city councils have agreed to relieve registrants from the burdens of sex offender ordinances passed in September 2012. The city of Simi Valley ordinance required registrants to post signs on the front door of their homes on Halloween while the city of Lancaster ordinance severely limited where registrants could...
City of Lancaster Modifies Registered Sex Offender Ordinance
On March 12, 2013 the Lancaster City Council voted, in a first reading, to modify its current ordinance imposing restrictions and regulations on places that persons required to register under PC 290 may frequent. The modified ordinance includes restrictions only related to Halloween (see below). California RSOL attended several hearings last fall and spoke against the ordinance, and advised the City Council that the...
Lancaster may ease offender policies
By: Craig Currier LANCASTER -In the face of a lawsuit challenging the city's six-month-old ban on registered sex offenders going near libraries, parks, museums and other public places, the City Council is expected to adopt a significantly scaled back version of the policy at its meeting Tuesday. The revised ordinance would eliminate all restrictions on the places where sex offenders may travel and frequent...
LA sex offenders need rehabilitation
What is more innocent and idyllic than a public park? The idea of one, however, has taken a dark turn. Instead of existing for the sake of fun and perhaps a bit of fresh air, small “pocket” parks have opened up across the country in order to drive out sex offenders, according to the Denver Post. Jessica’s Law states that sex offenders cannot live...
Neighborhoods Seek to Banish Sex Offenders by Building Parks
New York Times: LOS ANGELES — Parents who pick up their children at the bus stop in this city’s Harbor Gateway neighborhood say they often see men wearing GPS ankle bracelets and tell their children to stay away. Just up the street, 30 paroled sex offenders live in a single apartment building, including rapists and child molesters. More than 100 registered sex offenders live...
General Comments March 2013
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of March 2013. Contributions should relate to the cause and goals of this organization and please, keep it 'professional'.
CA RSOL Opposes AB 321
The California Reform Sex Offender Laws organization and the 102,000 families it represents oppose Assembly Bill (AB) 321 as currently written because it would further reduce the locations at which a "sex offender" can reside. That is, the bill would preclude "sex offenders" from living near a day care center or a foster home. Current state law precludes "sex offenders" on parole from living...