ReformSexOffenderLaws RSS Feed

Reform Advocates Travel to New York

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:52:17 -0700

The Paula Gloria and Joe Friendly Shows are TV shows on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network a local access media outlet in New York City which reaches some 600,000 homes in urban New York City. Both shows featured three authors of books related to the consequences of life on the sex offender registry-- Ken Kish, author of the book Despised Things, Lynn Gilmore, author of Consensual Consequences and CEO of SOSEN, and Derek Logue, author of Once Fallen and host of www.oncefallen.com

The purpose of the show was to both promote the books written by the various authors, and to raise awareness of the damage caused by the public along with the movement to reform laws targeting those on the public sex offender registry.

(The above text provided by eAdvocate)

Below is the video from the Paula Gloria Interview - Pt 1

Below is the video from the Paula Gloria Interview - Pt 2

Below is the video from the Joe Friendly Interview

Litigation against residency restrictions filed in TX

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:18:51 -0700

On March 26, 2012, a suit sponsored by Texas Voices was filed against the town of Lewisville, TX, by Richard Gladden, attorney, on behalf of the Duarte family, members of TX Voices. The press release by Mr. Gladden gives a fairly thorough synopsis of the suit and the issues. http://texasvoices.org/lawsuit/

Reason.TV

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 15:48:11 -0700

"You can be put on the sex offender registry for urinating in public, having consensual sex as a teenager or even for “sexting.” And in California, once you are on the list..." You can view the Reason.TV site here.

See the video below.

Human Rights Watch Project

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:22:18 -0800

Nicole Pittman of Human Rights Watch is making this appeal for interview subjects; her contact info is at the end.

Searching for Interview Subjects …

I am conducting a nationwide investigation for Human Rights Watch on the harmful impact of sex offender registration and notification laws on children. This project will focus on documenting and advocating against the human rights violations that stem from subjecting children to such laws. Three general concerns are:

First, the laws can be overbroad in scope and overlong in duration, requiring child offenders to register who pose no safety risk.

Second, given the easy public access to online sex offender registries, registrants may be subjected to public humiliation, harassment, and violence. In certain cultural or religious communities, the registration requirements can harm a young person’s ability to practice their religion or enjoy their cultural rights.

Third, residency restrictions can have the effect of banishing registrants from entire geographical areas, forcing them to live far from their homes and families. The risk of public humiliation, family separation, and de facto community banishment can be particularly harmful for youth, including by harming the mental health and developmental progress of youth. The subjects I am looking to interview include but are not limited to persons with information relevant to the concerns outlined above who meet the following characteristics and categories;

1. Children (under the age of 18) who have been adjudicated delinquent or convicted as an adult of a sex offense that either;

a. Subjects (or subjected them) to sex offender registration and notification laws. This can include residency restrictions, zoning restrictions, housing restrictions, etc.

b. Were subjected to registration or notification laws but successfully petitioned to get off the registry

c. Were subject to registration and notification laws but aged out of the juvenile justice system and no longer are required to register.

2. Family Members affected by a child relative subject to registration and notification. Family members can also include siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunts/uncles, coaches, clergy, foster parents, teacher, principals, or anyone in a guardian/mentor-like position in the child’s life that was indirectly affected by the child’s registration status.

3. Attorneys representing children in underlying criminal proceedings or adjudications.

4. Government Officials A Government official in this case can be a probation officer, a judge, prosecutor, mandatory sex offender treatment provider, sex offender registration group treatment provider, police officer, interstate compact on juvenile official, etc.

Interviews with a wide variety of people from the above categories is essential to the success of this investigation and publication of findings. Every interviewee will have the right to refuse participation and / or to provide information confidentially.

Please contact me by email or phone with the name and contact information of the potential interviewees. If the subject is homeless or does not have access to email or phone, please contact me so we can discuss alternate ways to reach out to them. My contact information is listed below;

NICOLE PITTMAN, ESQ.

Soros Senior Justice Advocacy Fellow | Human Rights Watch

1441 Sansom Street #729 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102

Tel: 267.765.6766 | Fax: 267.765.6981 | Email: pittman@hrw.org

Nominations are re-opened

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 06:43:18 -0800

To date the RSOL Committee of Electors has received only three completed applications for a position on the Admin Team. As we wish to have a pool of qualified applicants from which to select, a new nomination period is being opened in which to place nominations. The new period begins at 12:01 a.m., Tuesday, March 6th, 2012, and closes forty-five days later at 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2012. Four Admin Team members will be chosen by the Committee of Electors from these nominees and will join the current five members on the board. At this point, all positions are undesignated positions. Once the full board of nine is assembled, officer and committee positions will be decided by the board itself. Nominations are open to all supporters of RSOL.

All names of nominees must be submitted to Robin at Salemredux@gmail.comduring the forty-five day nomination period.

A person may nominate him or herself or someone else. In nominating someone other than yourself, be certain that the person you nominate wishes to serve in the position should he or she be elected. After the name is submitted and acknowledged by Robin, each applicant will be asked to complete the answers to a set of questions and submit them to Robin at the same email address.

On Sunday, February 19, our whole RSOL community lost a dear, dear friend

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:49:26 -0800

Alex Marbury was the very heart and soul of RSOL during its formative years. He loved RSOL and its people and, in turn, was the recipient of much appreciation and affection. Hundreds of those now connected to RSOL were first welcomed into the organization by Alex in his role as email contact and member of the Admin Team. He has been sorely missed since his retirement a few years ago.

Alex died in the hospital on Sunday February 19 after a year-long debilitating illness.

All of us in RSOL are deeply indebted for his indefatigable efforts to end the registry and stand against the demonization of people labeled sex offenders. But his work on behalf of human rights for sex offenders was only a small part of Alex’s life and work for social justice and racial equality. No one of any background whose humanity was being violated would fail to receive Alex’s support and love. In next month’s Digest Alex’s good friend and admirer, Paul Shannon, an initiator of the RSOL project, will share a few of the details of Alex’s remarkable life.

This month's RSOL Digest will be dedicated to the memory of Alex. He cared deeply about the Digest and enjoyed nothing more than being asked to write an article for an upcoming edition. His retirement left a gap in our hearts and our lives; the sadness at his passing is only mitigated by the knowledge that he is now at rest and at peace.

Deadline Extended for Nominations to Admin Team

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:47:08 -0800

The deadline for nominations for a position on the RSOL National Admin Team has been extended to Thursday, February 23, at 11:59 p.m. Four Admin Team members will be chosen by the Committee of Electors from these nominees and will join the current five members on the board. At this point, all positions are undesignated positions. Once the full board of nine is assembled, officer and committee positions will be decided by the board itself. Nominations are open to all supporters of RSOL.

All names of nominees must be submitted to Robin by the deadline. A person may nominate him or herself or someone else. In nominating someone other than yourself, be certain that the person you nominate wishes to be considered for the position.

Reynolds v. US - an Analysis

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:26:04 -0800

Analysis by RSOL Legal Team

There is some confusion regarding the recent decision of the United States Supreme Court dealing with retroactivity of the Adam Walsh Act (AWA). There were three issues before the Court, but none involved the constitutionality of sex offender registration itself. ...Reynolds was indicted by a federal grand jury for violating the AWA. The Indictment alleged that Reynolds had engaged in “interstate commerce” when he moved from Missouri to Pennsylvania without keeping his registration current in either jurisdiction. Reynolds filed a Motion to Dismiss the government’s Indictment, arguing that the “Interim Rule” was invalid because it violated both the Constitution’s “non-delegation” doctrine and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Reynolds did not challenge the constitutionality of registration itself.

For the full analysis, click HERE.

Be a Part of the Admin Team

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:40:27 -0800

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

The nominations for a position on the RSOL National Admin Team will open at 12:01 a.m., Wednesday, January 25, 2012, and close ten days later at 11:59 p.m., Friday, February 3, 2012. Four Admin Team members will be chosen by the Committee of Electors from these nominees by February 25, 2012, and will join the current five members on the board. At this point, all positions are undesignated positions. Once the full board of nine is assembled, officer and committee positions will be decided by the board itself. Nominations are open to all supporters of RSOL.

All names of nominees must be submitted, along with the answers to the questions that follow, to Robin V. using our Contact Us page during the ten-day nomination period.

A person may nominate him or herself or someone else. In nominating someone other than yourself, be certain that the person you nominate wishes to serve in the position should he or she be elected. Please provide the person with the questions to complete, and submit the answers when you submit the name.

Questions:

1) Please describe your pertinent advocacy experience and advocacy-related affiliations to date, most especially those that may impact your work with the Admin Team or which may reflect upon the credibility of RSOL either positively or negatively.

2) What unique skills and passions will you bring to your service on the RSOL Admin Team?

3) Serving on the RSOL Admin Team is a challenging and time-consuming responsibility. It often involves lengthy meetings and assorted tasks between meetings. How sufficient is the time you have available to meet this commitment?

4) If elected to serve on the Admin Team, what special goals or directions will you work toward?

5) What other information about yourself would you like to share with the Committee of Electors?

MTV: "I'm a Sex Offender"

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:08:44 -0800

This program features, among others, Tonia and Illinois Voices. You may watch the full episode here: http://www.mtv.com/videos/true-life-im-a-sex-offender/1677462/playlist.jhtml#series=2211&seriesId=5232&channelId=1