Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of Jan 2023. 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.
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Janice’s Journal: Don’t Feed Oxygen to a Fire
ACSOL is aware that articles have been published and TV reports have been broadcast that are spreading misinformation about alleged early releases from prison of several hundred registrants in California. These false articles and reports claim that the registrants pose a current danger to the public. ACSOL has decided not to publish these articles and TV reports on its website because they are not based on reality. Instead, they are based on unsupported allegations made by an attorney in California who is a former prosecutor. The same attorney is also…
Read MoreGeneral Comments Dec 2022
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of Dec 2022. 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.
Read MoreFrank Lindsay’s Health Continues to Improve
ACSOL leader Frank Lindsay’s health continues to improve although he remains hospitalized due to low oxygen levels. Frank was initially hospitalized after being diagnosed with both COVID and pneumonia. At one point in time, Frank was transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) and placed on a ventilator. “Thanks to the thoughts and prayers of many people as well as great medical care, Frank is returning to good health,” stated ACSOL Executive Director Janice Bellucci. “We expect Frank to be discharged from the hospital during the next week or…
Read MoreFederal Court Stops Lawsuit Challenging Denial of Base Access
A federal district court judge has stopped a lawsuit filed on behalf of a registrant who is also a military retiree and denied access to a military base solely because he is currently required to register. According to that judge, access to a military base is a privilege and not a right. The judge also noted that a base commander has absolute authority to control access to a military base. In addition to granting the federal government’s motion to dismiss the case, the judge denied plaintiff the right to amend…
Read MoreGeneral Comments Nov 2022
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of Nov 2022. 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.
Read MoreSanta Cruz judge denies general ‘transient’ release to [former] “sexually violent predator”
SANTA CRUZ — The bid to release a twice-convicted rapist into the community without a set, permanent residence failed Tuesday. Bonny Doon residents rallied at the county courthouse in November to speak out against “sexually violent predator” Michael Cheek being housed on Wild Iris Lane. (Shmuel Thaler — Santa Cruz Sentinel file) Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Syda Cogliati ruled against a “transient release” petition by 71-year-old Michael Cheek, designated by the state as a sexually violent offender. In November, Cogliati approved Cheek to move under supervised release into a…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: Halloween Is Here Again
Earlier this week I was preparing to write a column about Halloween when I was interrupted by a more pressing matter. I am glad that I was interrupted because the message of that column is no longer true. The original focus of my message was about Halloween and that is the focus of this column. The difference, however, is that the original column was going to address the seeming lack of Halloween restrictions being levied against registrants as well as the lack of media inquiries. Unfortunately, the actions of two southern…
Read MoreWA: Thousands of formerly incarcerated people in Washington allowed to vote with no carve-outs
WASHINGTON, USA — The November midterm elections are less than two weeks away and for thousands of people in Washington, it’s the first time they are eligible to vote under a new law that restored voting rights to formerly incarcerated people. “I was actually incarcerated at 17,” said Cyril Walrond. Walrond spent 17 years in prison and was released on Aug. 1 at the age of 34. “The very next day to register to vote and to vote in the primary, really gave me a sense of connectivity within my community, where…
Read MoreCA Court Grants Contested Petition for Removal from Registry
A judge in Pasadena Superior Court yesterday granted a petition for removal from the registry despite an objection filed by the Los County District Attorney. The petition was filed on behalf of an individual who was convicted 25 years ago in the same court and by the same judge. According to the District Attorney (DA), the registrant should be required to continue registration in order to “significantly enhance community safety.” The only evidence presented in support of this position by the DA were documents related to the initial charges and…
Read MorePLF Files Two Motions in SORNA Regulations Case
The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) this week filed two motions in the pending federal lawsuit challenging SORNA regulations that became effective earlier this year. One of those motions asked the court to approve the use of pseudonyms for four individuals identified as John Doe #1, John Doe #2, John Doe #3 and John Doe #4. The court granted that motion one day after it was filed. The second motion is a request for preliminary injunction which would, if granted, stop enforcement of some SORNA regulations. A hearing for this motion…
Read MoreGeneral Comments Oct 2022
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of Oct 2022. 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.
Read MoreRebecca Myers: “I have spent 25 years treating serious sexual offenders – this is what I’ve learned”
“Sexual offenders can be deceitful and cruel. But they may also be ashamed and desperate to change. Helping them is the only way to prevent more victims.” ” ‘I’ve got a list of questions I’d like to ask you about your sexual offending against children, if that’s OK,’ I say. ‘You might find some of them … ‘ I pause, unable to find the words, ‘ … a bit detailed and personal.’ The grizzled old man sitting in front of me nods, but does not make eye contact. I don’t…
Read MoreCA: Lakeside neighbors furious over home housing sex offenders
SAN DIEGO — Frustration and worry have grown in Lakeside over a home that is housing a group of registered sex offenders in a family neighborhood. Neighbors say they checked the California Megan’s Law website, and were surprised to learn five sex offenders were living in the home. Some reached out to CBS 8 for answers as to why they weren’t notified. “I’m so angry about this, it’s not fair,” said Jeanette. Lakeside neighbors are fuming after learning five registered sex offenders are living under this roof on Sesi Lane…
Read MoreCourt to Rule on SORNA Regulations Motion Without Hearing
The Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) decided today to waive oral argument regarding its pending Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed in the SORNA regulations challenge. The decision to waive oral argument was made by PLF after the court delayed six times the date of the hearing on that motion. In the absence of oral argument regarding the motion, the court will make its decision based upon the extensive written record provided by both parties. The court does not have a deadline by which to make its decision, which could affect the…
Read MoreUncivil Commitment: How The DOC Can Keep You Past Your Sentence
By Matthew Feeley, One of the foundations of a civilized society is the concept that people who do wrong need to be held accountable for their crimes. What naturally follows from that precept is that once a person has successfully paid society back by serving their prison sentence, they have earned the right to be free and return home. What would you think about a slick scam that legally circumvented such justice? A system where, after serving years in prison and mere days before being released, the state went back to…
Read MoreGeneral Comments Sept 2022
Comments that are not specific to a certain post should go here, for the month of Sept 2022. 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.
Read MoreCompelling Law Review Article Provides New Tool for Challenging Sex Offender Laws
There is a new and compelling law review article that provides a new tool for anyone who is considering a challenge to a sex offender law. That article, Panicked Legislation, is written by law professor and ACSOL vice president Catherine Carpenter who will speak about the article on October 1 during ACSOL’s annual conference. The tool described in the law review article is the Irrebuttable Presumption Doctrine which can be used “to combat false presumptions in legislation that masquerade as universal truths.” For example, many courts have falsely stated that…
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