"INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE"
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
L.A. MEETING FOCUSES ON CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES, FUTURE ACTIONS
California RSOL continued its outreach to registrants, family members and supporters in Los Angeles on February 18. About 50 people attended the meeting held at the ACLU building which focused upon issues challenging registrants as well as potential future actions of the organization. The group discussed the recent defeat of Assembly Bill 625 as well as the opportunity to provide input for legislation next year that would create a tiered registry for those convicted of sex-related offenses. The group also discussed the status of the Mosley case, which challenges the application of residency restrictions to registrants. All briefs have been filed in the case and the California Supreme Court is expected to decide the case no later than June 2012. Finally, the group discussed two potential future actions -- a protest of public libraries that do not allow registrants to enter and a protest of the Orange County ordinance that prohibits registrants from entering county parks, beaches, harbors and other recreational areas. Dates for one or both of these actions will be determined soon. The next two meetings of California RSOL will be held in Orange County on March 24 and Los Angeles on April 21. For more information, please go to www.californiarsol.org.
ASSEMBLY DEFEATS AB 625
The Assembly has just voted on AB 625 and defeated it by 41 to 19. It's hard to believe that elected officials don't understand the current challenges faced by the state's 92,000+ registrants such as unemployment, homelessness and vigilante violence. These challenges are of course experienced by family members as well.
California RSOL attempted to educate them by lobbying efforts in October, November, December and January. Many thanks to Frank and Marshall who lobbied with me during the first months and with 8 others who joined us in January. And kudos to Ray and Ken who distributed fliers in Sacramento on both Jan. 26 and Jan. 30. Finally, thanks to Dana who did a great job designing the fliers as well as the CA RSOL brochure.
Please know that this is JUST THE BEGINNING. We are dedicated to this cause and passage of a bill that will end the lifetime registry in California!!! We don't want to remain in the company of Alabama, South Carolina and Florida as 1 of only 4 states in the nation with a lifetime registry. Our civil rights movement was dealt a setback today, but WE SHALL OVERCOME. Our next meeting will be held on Feb. 18 in L.A. at the ACLU Building, 1313 W. 8th Street, at a new time. We will start at 1 p.m.
CA RSOL PRESENTS TO SEX OFFENDER MANAGEMENT BOARD
CA RSOL made a presentation to the California Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) on January 19 in Sacramento. State Organizer Janice Bellucci made the formal presentation which was supplemented by the views of two registered persons at the request of Board members. Also in attendance were Board members Frank Lindsay and Marshall Burns, a third registered person, and a supporter.
The presentation included information about the organization and its lobbying efforts in support of AB 625. CA RSOL noted that the bill would implement a recommendation of the SOMB for a tiered registry within California.
Additional presentation topics included public opposition to the Lake Forest ordinance that bans all registrants from public parks and monthly meetings with registrants and family members throughout the state. During the presentation, CA RSOL asked the SOMB to research and report on two issues: vigilante violence inflicted upon registrants and unreasonable parole and probation restrictions. CA RSOL will continue to collaborate with SOMB on issues that affect registered persons.
CA RSOL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES LOBBYING EFFORT
California successfully completed its group lobbying effort in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 625 that would end the state's lifetime registry for many but not all registrants on Wednesday, January 18. Three teams of registrants, family members and professionals met with a total of 45 legislators and/or legislative staffers. CA RSOL received a warm welcome in many of the legislative offices and was commended for speaking out on this topic. In its lobbying effort, CA RSOL brought updated information to the legislative offices on topics such as recidivism and the impact of the registry upon registrants as well as their family members.
The state legislature is expected to vote on AB 625 in the Assembly on Monday, January 23. Passage of the bill remains uncertain, however, lobbying by CA RSOL has increased the chance of its passage. If the bill is not passed on January 23, it could be brought up for a second vote on Thursday, January 26.
There are several organizations, in addition to CA RSOL, that support AB 625. Those organizations include the ACLU, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and CalCASA a victims' rights organization.
CA RSOL LOBBYING STATE LEGISLATORS TO END LIFETIME REGISTRY
California RSOL began its group lobbying effort of state legislators in support of Assembly Bill (AB) 625 on Tuesday, January 17. The Bill would replace the state's current lifetime registry with a tiered registry that would allow individuals convicted of low level offenses to leave the registry in as little as 10 years from the date of their conviction provided that they have not re-offended. Individuals convicted of medium level offenses could leave the registry in 20 years while those deemed a significant threat would remain on the registry for their lifetime.
California RSOL's group includes registrants, family members of registrants, a PhD psychologist and an attorney from around the state, including San Diego and Napa. All individuals are volunteers who are donating their time as well as their personal travel expenses. The individuals supporting California RSOL are divided into teams who are meeting with legislators and/or legislative staff in at 45 offices identified as potential supporters of the bill. There are additional legislators who have already voted in support of the bill during committee meetings in which the bill was passed.
AB 625 will be voted upon on the floor of the Assembly during the month of January. A total of 41 votes is required for the bill to pass. If the bill passes, it will move to the Senate for further consideration. The Senate must pass the bill this legislative session or wait until 2012 to be reintroduced.