Action Items
Important RSOL Events and Efforts You Can Be Involved In
This page focuses on the projects forming RSOL's main work. Some of these have been initated by RSOL, and others are the efforts of others which we encourage our members and the public to support. Our main focus is to lobby for changes in the law, but some of our projects are aimed at giving a helping hand to registered individuals and their families. Keep checking this page for developments.
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Write These Foundations NOW!
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By Margie <snapper1964@hotmail.com>
Posted on 17.11.2008
Link to this action item: [0033] |
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ATTENTION - We join Margie in urging RSOL participants to write to these foundations, that support the ¨victims¨ in the name of famous and violent sex cases - to urge them to review their campaigns in the light of the terrible injustices now wrought by ¨sex offender registries¨ and similar laws across America!
Refer to Action Item No. 0033, and send to Margie at the above email address, and send a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
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Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 9956
Trenton, NJ 08650
Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
2314 University Ave W., Suite 14
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Mark Lunsford
c/o Jessica Lunsford Foundation
POB 4319
Homosassa Spring, FL.
34447
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Offender Hopes to Move to a Better Place
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By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 17.11.2008
Link to this action item: [0032] |
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NOTE: Anyone responding to this, please be aware of the laws in your state about offenders who move into state. Those who wish to respond, should send email to Alex Marbury at the above email address, and I will send your response, either with your email address, or anonymously, as you choose, to the person who wrote this request. Please comment by referrring to Action Item No. 0032.
Alex
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(From a ¨registered sex offender¨ now living in an Eastern state with strict residency requirements)
IM LOOKING FOR A STATE THAT UNDERSTANDS THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE
TO LIVE WITH (AS A NONVIOLENT REGISTERED ¨SEX OFFENDER¨). I
AM READY TO RELOCATE NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A PIECE OF LAND, WITH ELECTRIC AND WATER HOOK UP, SINCE I BOUGHT A 30 FT CAMPER JUST SO I COULD HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE,AND NOT BE IN A SHELTER OR UNDER AN OVERPASS.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE IN WYOMING, MONTANA, COLORADO, UTAH OR IDAHO ON A LARGE SECTION OF LAND WITH NO PEOPLE, EXCEPT MABY A RANCHER THAT HAS BEEN IN THE SAME POSITION AS ME AND MAY NEED A HAND.
IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE THAT IS SEARCHING FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME LET ME KNOW PLEASE, THANK YOU. ITS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAVE LIVED WITHOUT REGISTRATION I CANT EVEN REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS LIKE BEFORE MY CUSTODY BATTLE, I WOULD THINK THERE ARE OTHERS LIKE ME OUT THERE, IF I COULD GET CONNECTED IT MAY BE EASIER THAN BEING ALONE.
W. |
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Colton Calhoun Update
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 15.11.2008
Link to this action item: [0031] |
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To comment,refer to action item no. 0031 and send to the above email address.
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The case of the young Oregon ¨sex offender¨ who claims false charges brought him to prison needs to be updated. His website has been taken down, evidently unfairly. Participants have sent this url for a montage that clearly outlines his case as he sees it. As in all ¨false charges¨ claims, we do not assume that we know the ¨truth,¨ but we do know that false charges abound and that offenders need their case to be heard, since it is seldom heard in court.
Alex Marbury
URL -
http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared
p=48791a0838b78fb05ef904&large&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=embed |
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Sign the Texas Petition!
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By Mary Sue Molnar <marysueintx@yahoo.com>
Posted on 13.11.2008
Link to this action item: [0030] |
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URGENT - ONLINE TEXAS PETITION:
To ALL RSOL signatories and other participants: Texas Voices, the RSOL Texas affiliated group, has its own online petition to reform sex offender laws. Please visit the Texas Voices website
(www.tx.voices.com) and follow instructions on how to sign this important petition!
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Comments should refer to Action Item No. 0030, and be sent to Mary Sue (email above) as well as to me, Alex Marbury, alexm60@fastmail.fm
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Tune it to Texas Voices Radio!
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By Mary Sue Molnar <marysueintx@yahoo.com>
Posted on 12.11.2008
Link to this action item: [0029] |
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Refer to Action Item No. 0029 or blog No. 0076 and contact Mary Sue Molnar at the above email address.
TEXAS VOICES, the Texas RSOL affiliate, has its own radio show on ¨real public radio.¨ Texas Voices, American Voices.
The 2nd program will be Nov. 15, then weekly thereafter.
You can listen online or by phone.
Listen Online:
Go to TalkShoe.com and enter in Call ID: 29561
or click on the link below:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=29561&cmd=tc
Listen by phone or call in with
comments:
724-444-7444 enter Call ID: 29561
Press 1# to join as guest
Look at this link for additional information:
http://tx.american-voices.us/TexasVoicesRadio.html
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Ongoing Battle in Maine
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 21.09.2008
Link to this action item: [0028] |
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Thanks to the Maine contact person, Matthew, and to volunteer coordinator Alain Levesque,for this item!
to comment, refer to Action Item 007, and email alexm60@fastmail.fm
URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED FOR CASE IN MAINE
RSOL has reported for a year now on the case in Maine where the Main Supreme Court ruled that a "sex offender" registrant could indeed sue to have his name removed from the registry - with the Supreme Court justice using strong language to indicate disapproval of the registry approach, likening it to the witchhunt in Salem.
Now the original suit, in Superior (local) court has been joined by others, with a total of 25 registrants suing to overturn the part of the law that makes the registry retroactive for those who completed their sentences before the registry was enacted in 1992. Alaska and Missouri Supreme Courts have already thrown out portions of their laws on ex post facto grounds, which is the key in the Maine case.
WMTW TV in Portland, Maine, reported recently that the case is going forward in Kennebunk County Superior Court, though the presiding justice in that court, Hon. Michaela Murphy, could take a year or more to get to the case. Meanwhile, State Senator Bill Diamond (D) of district 12, has indicated he is considering a bill to remove the retroactive portions from the registry.
ACTION: We urge all Maine RSOL participants - and others, too - to contact Matthew of the Maine group - Mainersol@yahoo.com, and join him in calling the judge to urge her to consider the matter promptly, and to contact the Senator to set up a meeting to consider strategy for this and other reforms in Maine!
To see the TV story, go to
http://www.wmtw.com/news/17474588/detail.html
Alex |
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Important Websites for S.O. Action!
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 11.09.2008
Link to this action item: [0027] |
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WE NEED TO KEEP INFORMED! WE URGE RSOL FOLKS TO GO TO THESE WEBSITES!
1. An excellent source for all information about sex offender issues is http://sexoffenderresearch.blogspot.com
Here one can find information on the murders of registered sex offenders, as well as suicides caused by the burden or registration. This site provides the best list and summary of all current bills before the US Congress that impact registered sex offenders and their families. The site also has a detailed summary, point by point, of the Adam Walsh Act and problems with it.
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2. The Justice Policy Institute is a major research and action tank aimed at ¨reducing society´s reliance on incarceration.¨ It has several important articles on sex offender issues.
http://www.justicepolicy.org
From the Justice Policy Institute on the Adam Walsh
Act - http://sexoffenderresearch.blogspot.com/2008/09/from-justice-policy-institute-on-adam.html
Three brilliant pieces of public policy work produced by the Justice
Policy Institute - http://www.justicepolicy.org/.
*Fact Sheets Examine Impact of Sex Offender Registries*
Factsheet: Youth Who Commit Sex Offenses http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/08-08_FAC_SORNAFactFiction_JJ.pdf
Factsheet: The Negative Impact of Registries on Youth http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/08-08_FAC_SORNAKidsAreDifferent_JJ.pdf>
Factsheet: What Will It Cost States to Comply with the Sex Offender
Registry and Notification Act (SORNA)? http://www.justicepolicy.org/images/upload/08-08_FAC_SORNACosts_JJ.pdf
Note: The third Factsheet concludes "Given the enormous fiscal costs of implementing SORNA, coupled with the lack of evidence that registries and notification make communities safer, states should think carefully before committing to comply with SORNA." A list is provided of the estimated costs for ALL states, compared with the estimated money that will be lost if the state does not comply with SORNA by July 2009.
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Internat. Megan´s Law Cosponsors
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 16.08.2008
Link to this action item: [0026] |
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TO ALL RSOL participants. Here are the sponsors of the chilling ¨international Megan´s Law Act¨ bill (HR5722). We urge you to contact your own US Rep and Senator to urge them to vote against. It is especially important for those who live in the districts of these Representatives, to contact them and let them know your opposition. We think the Democrats may be particularly approacheable on this, but members of both parties should be contacted. Let me know of your efforts and the responses - alexm60@fastmail.fm. Refer to Action Item #26.
Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ]
Cosponsors [as of 2008-07-06]
Rep. John Boozman [R-AR]
Rep. Dan Burton [R-IN]
Rep. Steven Chabot [R-OH]
Rep. Thelma Drake [R-VA]
Del. Eni Faleomavaega [D-AS]
Rep. Jeffrey Fortenberry [R-NE]
Rep. Frank LoBiondo [R-NJ]
Rep. Donald Payne [D-NJ]
Rep. Joseph Pitts [R-PA]
Rep. Deborah Pryce [R-OH]
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL]
Rep. Diane Watson [D-CA]
Rep. Addison Wilson [R-SC]
Rep. Frank Wolf [R-VA]
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URGENT: International Megan´s Law Bill
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 14.08.2008
Link to this action item: [0025] |
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URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Contact US Representatives and Senators to urge blockage of HR5722 - the ¨International Megan´s Law Bill of 2008.¨ Let me (Alex) know the results of your lobbying. To read the full text of this bill, see
HR 5711 http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-h5722/text
The International Megan´s Law bill is in some ways the most chilling to come down the pike among all these unConstitutional proposals that undermine our Constitution and way of life. It mocks the Constitutional right of freedom of travel.
HR5722 would make it mandatory for every ¨sex offender¨ to report in advance any intention to move to or visit a foreign country. ¨Sex offender¨ is defined as it is currently in the national ¨sex offender registry,¨ which means that it includes a vast array of people, from teens who engaged in consensual sex, to those entrapped on the internet by fictituous ¨victims,¨ to others. As reviewed by some legal experts, it could be applied retroactively, possibly as far back as 1965. It would make it virtually impossible for any current or former ¨sex offender,¨ no matter what their state law currently allows, to travel abroad. The bill also calls on foreign governments to require their ¨sex offenders¨ to report any travel they intend to the U.S., and to contact the U.S. government about such travel. With regard to foreigners, it defines such people as any persons accused or convicted of such ¨sex offenses,¨ or (and get this incredible provision), any persons whose behavior could be interpreted as having been a sex offense under U.S. law.
The bill would collect information on foreign governments, including making a list of those governments that have not made efforts to comply with this U.S. law! Such arrogance is unfortunately customary today when the U.S. deals with other governments.
We urge all rsol participants to contact their U.S. Congress people and to report the reactions. Urge defeat of the ¨international Megan´s law bill.¨ If anyone gets the Senate number for this, let us know!
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RSOL-generated HOTLINE IS UP!
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By alex marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 12.08.2008
Link to this action item: [0024] |
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The Support Hotline is now ready for calls and emails!
800-773-4319
hotline@thesupporthotline.org
The Support Hotline is an all volunteer project staffed by private
citizens. We are not professionals or lawyers. We are people deeply
concerned about the damage being done to our families, our children and
our country by the nation's sex offender laws. We are working to change
those laws.
The goal of this hotline is to support people affected by those laws
with information and ideas - or just listening to what people have to
say about what's happening to them. Given how bad the laws and the media
are, we may not be able to be of much help. But we will try.
You can call the hotline at 800-773-4319 or email us at
hotline@thesupporthotline.org. We will return your call or email within
24 hours. If , however, you prefer not to leave a message, you can call
during the following hours to speak directly to a volunteer:
(Please note that all times provided are for the eastern time zone. So
please adjust them to your time zone.)
Mondays 10:30am to 2:30pm
Tuesdays 7am to 11am
Thursdays, 3pm to 9pm
Fridays, noon to 6pm
Saturdays, 9pm to 2am
Sundays, 1pm to 5pm
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Comparing SO Laws in the states
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By alex marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 09.08.2008
Link to this action item: [0023] |
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TO ALL RSOL PARTICIPANTS:
We are constantly trying to get comparative information about the sex offender laws, state by state. It´s still hard to do. The following websites are not perfect, but they are a start. Give me your feedback - and let me know if there are other helpful sites for state-by-state comparisons.
Alex Marbury
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This one lists the sex offender registry, registry requirements, registry requirements for those moving in from other states, and other regulations for sex offenders state by state (a few states are not there because they don´t have state-wide rules), but it´s mostly as of Sept. 2007
LLRX.com/features/sexoffenderlaws.htm
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This one is more up to date - some as late as spring 2008 - and has a list of all laws and bills before the legislatures in virtually every state. Full texts of most laws and bills.
http://sexoffenderstatelaws.blogspot.com/search/label/ |
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Crisis at Fla. Civil Comm. Ctr
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 05.08.2008
Link to this action item: [0022] |
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There is a terrible situation at the Florida Civil Commitment Center in Arcadia, Florida. During the last 3 weeks of July - the hottest days of the year, this facility was without air conditioning. As temperatures soared between 95 and 105 degrees, the men held there were still detained within their cells, which have no access to fresh air, no windows, etc. They were given no relief, but made to endure such inhumane conditions continuously for the three-week period. People are urged to call the Commitment Center and the Florida Civil Liberties Union.
alex
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Housing needed in Oregon
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 02.08.2008
Link to this action item: [0021] |
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URGENT APPEAL TO PEOPLE IN OREGON
A young ¨sex offender¨ is having serious problems finding housing in the Aloha, Portland or Beaverton, Oregon, area, for this fall´s school term. He is an upstanding young man, is supported by his loving family, and is also hoping to attend school. If you are willing to give your name and email to me, I will forward this to his mom who will contact you. Let us hear as soon as possible.
Alex Marbury |
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URGENT ACTION - HELP JEAN PONZANELLI
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 31.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0020] |
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TRAGEDY IN TEXAS
Go to the MEDIA PAGE of this site, to read the sad story of Jean Ponzanelli´s sentence. In my opinion, this is another ¨plea bargain¨ engineered by a ¨public defender¨ - and it is no bargain at all! Jean was 17 when arrested, he´s 19 now, and after 3 years in prison, he´ll be deported - all for consensual sex between two teens!
If you can, please go to KXAN.com and send your comments. So far, there are many comments denouncing Jean´s sentence as unjust, including some really good ones from Mary Sue, the RSOL Texas contact, and from Jan Fewell, a local, very brave woman who has championed Jean´s case. And Jean is not alone! At least 6 other teenaged boys in Williamson County Texas have received similar or longer sentences for consensual sex with other teens. Justice in America!?
You may also email Jan Fewell - msfewell@sbcglobal.net - to find out more and to offer your support to her in this difficult and sometimes lonely struggle in Texas!
Alex Marbury
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Contact Texas TV to protest coverage
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By Mary Sue Molnar <marsueintx@yahoo.com>
Posted on 21.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0019] |
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"Where Sex Offenders Work in Lubbock: NewsChannel 11 Investigates"
Texas sex offenders may soon face unemployment due to the addition of "place of employment" on the registry. Lubbock News Channel 11, KCBD, recently took advantage of this issue by launching an irresponsible campaign to provide viewers with specific names of local sex offenders and their places of employment. Pandering to public hysteria, KCBD has certainly crossed the line. Those who may have found this report entertaining must realize that their tax dollars will now be used to pay un-employment wages. Creating barriers for offenders who are trying to succeed will not keep our children safe. KCBD should continue their unethical investigative reporting and address the following related issue: "The Witch Hunt Continues........ KCBD Investigates".
> Mary Sue Molnar
Texas Voices
From Alex Marbury: We urge all RSOL participants, especially those in Texas, to contact KCBD and protest this witchunt action which is the very opposite of what we think American media should stand for: Fairness.
www.KCBD.com
11listens@kcbd.com
TV News ll
5600 Ave A
Lubbock, TX 79404
866 744 1414 |
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Windsor Locks, CT, votes on residency requirements
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 20.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0018] |
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From David Fields, RSOL Signatory in Connecticut:
I have written a letter to the first selectman, Steven Wawruck,
of Windsor Locks, CT, regarding an ordinance his office is
proposing (similar to the one already existing in Danbury CT)that would keep registered sex offenders out of designated safe zones. This ordinance will be put to a vote by the town on August 5th 2008.
I wrote to Mr Wawruck asking him to reconsider how ineffective such laws are in really protecting children. I also strongly recommended he visit the RSOL web site to better understand why hastily drawn up ordinances and laws to control where RSO can live can be counterproductive and unfair.
Please contact Mr Wawruck:
Mr Steven Wawruck First Selectman
Town Hall Windsor Locks
50 Church St
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
They also have a town web site with phone numbers if you want to contact him by phone.
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Support Colton Calhoun in Oregon
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 14.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0017] |
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HELP COLTON CALHOUN GET A NEW TRIAL
A particularly grievous case of an unfair trial seems to be that of a man, now 24, who was convicted at age 19 for sex with another teenager, and who makes a strong case that he did not get a fair trial. Check out his case, and if you agree, you may want to sign his petition. His name is Colton Calhoun, and his website (maintained by his supporters since he is in prison) is www.coltoncalhoun.com. Calhoun was a star athelete and excellent student, with no previous record, when he was charged, and he claims was poorly represented by his lawyer, and mislead by her. Let us know if you do support him after going to his website.
Alex |
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Alert Australia to Dangers of Copying US SO Laws
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 14.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0016] |
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Several RSOL particpants and also some citizens of Australia have urged us to post this! Please go to the article url and send your comments to keep the Australians from just blindly copying bad U.S. law!
AUSTRALIAN LEGISLATORS URGE RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS SIMILAR TO US
FOR SEX OFFENDERS
RSOL partipants are urged to go to the url below and leave comments, telling Aussies that Jessica´s Law and the Adam Walsh Act have been very bad mistakes here and certainly should not be copied!
click here and go to the site, follow instructions to leave comments. let us know if you do! email alex at alexm60@fastmail.fm
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23995183-5017590,00.html
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Urgent: Please Complete Survey
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By Mary Sue Molnar <marysueintx@yahoo.com>
Posted on 11.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0015] |
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This survey is very important! Dr. Levenson has been a tremendous help for our cause and was responsible for the Harvard Study. Results of this study were overwhelmingly in our favor. Please take the time to complete this survey and/or pass along to others
http://www.txvoices.com
Dear Sir or Madam:
Please post the following invitation on your website or blog:
Website invitation:
Dr. Jill Levenson of Lynn University in Florida is conducting a research project to better understand the impact that sex offender registration, notification, and residence laws have on families of registered sex offenders (RSO). If you are the family member of a registered sex offender in the USA, please click on the link below to complete the survey. This survey is confidential, secure, and anonymous. All answers will be used only for research purposes, and your identity will not be known. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. If you have already completed this survey, please DO NOT do so again. However, please feel free to forward this link to anyone else you know who is a family member of a RSO and might be interested in taking the survey.
LINK:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Vp78RpEgx5vauuvyWtho8Q_3d_3d
Click Here to take survey
Jill Levenson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Human Services
Lynn University
3601 N. Military Trail
Boca Raton, FL 33431
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Forced Lie Detector Tests
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 02.07.2008
Link to this action item: [0014] |
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New Jersey is requiring all registered sex offenders in certain categories to take lie detector tests annually - the specific questions to be asked remain unknown. People in New Jersey should contact their legislators and demand that this requirement be repealed.
QUERY: Do others know of other states were forced lie detector tests are the law? Has there been a test case in the courts about this anywhere?
Please contact me, Alex Marbury, with any information |
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Petition for Jean Ponzanelli in Texas
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
Posted on 30.05.2008
Link to this action item: [0013] |
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------- FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS -------
Hi,
I wanted to draw your attention to this important petition that I
recently signed:
"Please help us fight for Jean Karlo Ponzanelli"
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fightforjean?e
I really think this is an important cause, and I'd like to encourage you to add your signature, too. It's free and takes less than a minute of your time.
Thanks!
---------------------------------------------
Once again, thanks for signing the petition!
Sincerely,
iPetitions Campaigns Team
p.s. If you would like to start your own free petition, you can do so
here: http://www.ipetitions.com/start-petition
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ABC NEWS 20/20
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@yahoo.com>
Posted on 08.03.2008
Link to this action item: [0012] |
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URGENT - Mary Sue Molnar and others in the newly active Texas RSOL group urge us to go to ABC News. Com, 20/20, and watch the March 7 segment on juvenile sex offenders in Texas. It is quite good. We urge RSOL participants to post comments and also to go to John Stossel´s website to see more - and to send email to ABC, 20/20 and Stossel, praising them for the courage to air this program. FINALLY, a bit of the truth about some of the unjust sex offender laws.
ALSO - Watch 20/20 next Friday, March 14, for the segment on the age of consent. RSOL does not take a position on age of consent, but it is an important issue. You can register your vote on the appropriate age of consent - only 15 and up are possible choices, or ¨none,¨ ignoring lower ages of consent in many countries, such as Spain where it is 13.
PLEASE LET RSOL know of your experience in watching these programs and in getting feedback from Stossel and ABC and 20/20. You may email your comments to alexm60@yahoo.com
Thanks! |
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Successful Coalinga Rally!
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By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fasmail.fm>
Posted on 04.03.2008
Link to this action item: [0011] |
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The brave detainees and their families at Coalinga State Hospital made a major breakthrough on March 2, with a public rally outside the hospital gates, demanding fair treatment for the detainees, and civil liberties for all sex offenders. Several dozen family members and supporters rallied outside, as detainees joined the protest inside. Jaymie Stallworth, a family member of a detainee, made strong and clear statements about the violation of the detainees´ rights. These were carried on local television stations, one of which also interviewed detainee Michael St. Martin by telephone. The hospital superintendent, Nancy Kinkaid, made outrageous statements about all the detainees being extremely dangerous offenders, ¨the worst of the worst.¨ Stallworth and St. Martin were able to refute her, showing the reasonable nature of the demands and the fact that many of the detainees were never dangerous in the first place, and that all have completed their sentences and should be evaluated for release. Paul Shannon of RSOL addressed the rally from Boston by phone, reading a strong statement of support. RSOL participants should congratulate the detainees and their families by emailing michaelst.martin@hotmail.com or Allan Marshall at detainees@gmail.com.
Link: http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/16171037.html |
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Mass. Sex Offender Hearing, Feb. 26. [UPDATE: March 2, 2008]
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By Alex Marbury <alex@reformsexoffenderlaws.org>
Posted on 21.02.2008
Link to this action item: [009] |
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Calling all Massachusetts citizens who oppose the repressive new sex offender residency and other draconian laws! The Joint Committee on the Judiciary will hold hearings on a host of such new proposals on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at l pm. Contact Paul Shannon at 617-497-5273 or Joel Pentlarge at joelpent@comcast.net. Consider testifying - call the House or Senate Judicary committees by Monday afternoon to register your name for testimony. The Senate chair, Senator Creedon, said at the last hearing that there was only one person testifying against these terrible laws. Let´s change that!
UPDATE March 2, 2008: Reason Finally Heard at Massachusetts Hearing
by Alex Marbury (RSOL)
Finally, at a hearing on a host of proposed new and mostly repressive and ineffective sex offender laws in Massachusetts, the side of reason was equally represented with that of hysteria. On Feb. 26, 2008, the Joint Committee on Criminal Justice heard from almost equal numbers of those opposed to the new laws and those in favor - whereas the last such hearing saw only two persons testify against the laws. Among the laws still before the committee is a state version of the so-called Jessica’s Law, mandating a minimum sentence of five years for forcible rape of persons under fourteen. Other proposed laws would be strict state-wide residency laws, and requiring sex offenders to publicly register their email addresses. The Boston Herald, a conservative daily, praised the hearing and editorialized against many of the proposals, instead supporting a carefully constructed intensive parole for serious offenders. The Herald’s news story reported that ¨one of the state’s most dangerous sex offenders¨ testified that such repressive laws only make it more likely that sex offenders will re-offend by depriving them of employment orhousing, driving them underground.
Joel Pentlarge, who is an RSOL supporter and hardly a ¨dangerous¨ offender (terms like dangerous and violent are often applied, in Alice-in-Wonderland fashion, to acts that are so-defined only because a minor was involved), is the person so described by the Herald. Pentlarge bravely stood before the committee and the media to testify about his own case as well as that of a man he met while in prison (who had been convicted as a juvenile). That man was released with $50 and no treatment, or other support, only to find that his only housing option was a homeless shelter. The man now stands accused of another offense. Pentlarge said this was a ¨textbook case¨ of how to make it more likely that people will reoffend. Pentlarge also testified in favor of a well-thought-out intensive parole for serious offenders. Several ¨victims¨ testified against the bills, including abolition of the statute of limitations in civil cases, among them a man who says he was molested by a teacher in an elite private school, but only realized it was molestation after he’d graduated from Princeton. Among those urging restraint and justice were Paul Shannon of RSOL, a well-known peace educator. Shannon spoke of the ¨corrosive effect of the hysteria on the whole society, making adults afraid to have normal interactions with children.¨ Others making similar comments were William Leahy, Chief Counsel for the Massachusetts public defenders’ association, and RSOL signatory Lloyd Fillion of the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition. The director of a homeless shelter spoke of the terrible plight of sex offenders he has dealt with over the years.
The directors of the Massachusetts Association for the Treatment of Abusers, which has been a primary advocate for victims, also warned of the unintended consequences of laws not based on evidence of their effectiveness. Even among the several ¨victims¨ testifying, one woman also warned that such laws were often counter-productive. Other RSOL signatories who left written testimony included Roswitha Winsor, a social worker from the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition and French Wall, editor of the international gay monthly, The Guide. Wall said that he felt the testimony of both Pentlarge and Shannon was “spellbinding,” while the victim testimony seemed somewhat pale, as though too often repeated. Both Pentlarge and Wall felt the legislators were especially attentive to the RSOL testimony. It will be interesting to see whether the testimony had any affect on the committee in terms of amendments and failure to report out some of the worst bills. |
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Coalinga Rally March 2nd
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By Alex <alex@reformsexoffenderlaws.org>
Posted on 21.02.2008
Link to this action item: [008] |
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COALINGA RALLY MARCH 2
Urgent: Calling all those who oppose unjust sex offender laws!
RSOL is cosponsoring a rally with the Families & Friends of the Detainees at Coalinga State Hospital in California. It will be at noon on Sunday, March 2, outside the main gate of the hospital. Almost 600 men are detained here after serving their sentences for sex offenses, many non-violent - we believe it is America´s closest thing to a concentration camp or gulag! The brave detainees have been protesting their conditions in various ways for months, including a hunger strike. Now is YOUR chance to support them in a public rally outside the facility. Please consider coming to Coalinga! This will take our protests to a new level! |
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Annotated SO Network List
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By webmaster <webmaster@reformsexoffenderlaws.org>
Posted on 04.01.2008
Link to this action item: [007] |
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| RSOL has received many messages from registered individuals and those around them asking for help with registered life. Although we are not a public service organization, we are working to build a few resources to help. The first will produce is a reasonably comprehensive annotated list of groups that work with registered individuals. These groups may be involved in anything from providing basic services for those transitioning from incarceration to the outside world, to psychological services for friends and family who are being punished by association. We are looking for both online and real-world associations, and we would like to have resources in every state. Although our resources focus on the United States, we welcome information about groups and organizations anywhere in the world. This work is currently in progress. If you would like to help with such an effort, please send an email to alex@ReformSexOffenderLaws.Org |
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