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    • Blog
    Updates, News, Analysis, and Personal Stories

    We aim to provide articles, links to news stories, as well as commentary on the fast-moving area of sex offender policy on our blog. You can make a contribution, too. We are especially interested in reports or analysis of lobbying efforts, reforms, and other developments in your local area, though you may send any media article of interest. We will also accept personal commentary explaining why developing a critical awareness about sex offender policy is important to you. Such personal stories can help others think differently. With diverse content we hope ReformSexOffenderLaws.Org will become an important information resource. Please send us all your comments and suggestions about this site and the project.

     
    Table of Contents

    Reminder of the Declaration of Independence
    By Bennie Walton <lostjustice@comcast.net>
    Posted on 07.03.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0212]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0212, "Reminder of Declaration of Indepdence," and send comments to lostjustice@comcast.net, with copies to alexm60@fastmail.fm. This is an excellent article posted by bennie on the Gimeweb.com website for his Colorado RSOL group! Great work, Bennie!
    --------------------------------


    Reminder of the Declaration of Independence
    It is our time for declaration and independence from abuse

    By Bennie Walton
    Gimeweb.com owner
    Colorado RSOL Representative

    The Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776 in large part was written to declare independence of the original 13 colonies from the dominion of the King of Great Britain. Also the document was written to declare the grievances the 13 colonies had with the King of Great Briton. When the “King of Great Britain” is spoken of in the Declaration of Independence, it means independence from the dominion and rule of that government and its military forces of the King of Great Britain.

    These declarations and “self-evident truths” within the Declaration of Independence are today guiding principles that seem to have gotten muddied in recent times, and deserve here to be brought forth as a reminder to us all that it is our right as a people to fight against abuses of any government of the United States, including the Federal Government, particularly its legislative, or law making body. This right to fight extends upon state and other local governments where the people have or are experiencing government abuses.

    The word ‘fight’ as used in this paper denotes the ability to “struggle to endure or surmount” by struggle, by petition, civil disobedience, and by courts of law and justice against abuses imposed upon a people, and to resolve by struggle differences between the people and the abusing government [s].

    It is further declared in the Declaration of Independence that ‘…when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them {the people} under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security …’.

    Today “Despotism” is not required to be absolute, as much as there is the need to show a long train of abuses to justify civil and legal actions against governmental bodies or agency of a governmental body of the United States. These abuses must be “self-evident”.

    In our hearts and minds, if we are not delusional or in denial, we know in our hearts when something is not reasonable, and we know when an action against a people has gone well beyond a government’s right to impose laws and duties upon a people that reduce them to citizens not deserving basic human needs.


    Enumerated Grievances

    1. When a government makes it so difficult and strained for a class of people to secure the basic need of reasonable shelter such that the majority enjoy, the governmental action is an abuse upon the people suffering the abuse.

    2. When a government makes it so difficult and strained for a people to make wages for the securing of the basic needs of reasonable shelter and food such that the majority enjoy, the governmental action is an abuse upon the people suffering the abuse.

    3. When a government by deception, misrepresentation, and/or omission causes a people to suffer continual punishment for a past offense or offenses, and for what a government thinks either with evidence or without evidence what a person may or may not do in the future, and causes a people to suffer a continual shunning is abuse by the government.

    4. When a government causes a person or a people to be removed from their residence that is their own, or causes a people to be removed from a residence that is rented without reasonable cause and due process of law {law of the land} , the people suffer governmental abuse.

    5. When a government by law causes employers to terminate individuals of a class by causing any listing of an employer, and to associate an employer with some wrong that does not exist with the employer or employee, then a people suffer governmental abuse.

    These enumerated grievances are the grievances of a class of people nearly reduced to sub human starting from the 19th to this 21st century, and which has become very acute in the 21st century under law making bodies that have progressively shown unreasonableness towards a people that are not entirely deserving of unreasonable lawmaking.

    These grievances although different from the grievances listed in the Declaration of independence are a reminder of why there is a “United” Constitution, Bill of Rights, and a Declaration of Independence. Governments when left to their own means have a tendency in time towards abuse of the people or a class of people under their dominion.

    Follow the following link and read as a reminder why we, the people of the United States should never allow governments from within to take on abusive powers that too many of the public may become comfortable with at the peril of others. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html

    As long as these grievances exist, and are real, all reasonable people must help to realign our governments to the will of all the people and not just the few. You can help Gimeweb.com by donating money to this end, and by donating your services and abilities not only with Gimeweb.com but also other grassroots groups that are struggling against judicial abuses, legislative abuses, legal abuses, abuses within law enforcements, and abuses of the public few that have commanded the attention of these entities for far too long, dismissing research presented to all of them that does not agree with the way these entities and person’s want to think or believe.
     

    An Embarrasment to Our Nation!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 06.03.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0211]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0211, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send them along to this student of social work!
    Alex
    ----------------------
    I am regretfully unable to publicly post my name on this website. I am a Social Work student and am currently obtaining a Masters Degree. I am very passionate about this issue and believe that the laws which ostrasize and demonize sex offenders are WRONG.

    I know someone who is on the registry, and he never molested or raped anybody. He had a one time sexual encounter with a minor, and at the time of the incident he was 20 years old. This happened almost 10 years ago. It was a mistake, and I am not defending what he did. However he is by NO means a danger to anybody, especially a child. Now, he is branded for life as a sex offender, and it makes me SICK. This registry, and these laws DO NOT protect ANYBODY.

    I do not dispute the fact that there are dangerous "predators" out there, however all of these people are lumped onto the same registry, regardless of the nature of their offenses. When a person hears the term "registered sex offender", the automatically think "rapist....child molester...". What about the CHILDREN who have family members (ie, a father or mother) who are on the registry. This registry is supposed to protect children, but what about the ridicule and humiliation an innocent child can ensue because of their own father or mother having to register? THIS REGISTRY NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED. By allowing it to continue, we are singling these people out.

    There are plenty of other people in our country who break laws and are a danger to society, but because their crimes aren't "sexually motivated" they do not have to be on any type of registry. If people who commit crimes of a sexual nature are forced to be publicly displayed accross our nation, then why aren't we forcing the same type of punishment on other dangerous criminals? What about murderers, and those who commit armed robbery? People don't have the right to know if a chronic house burglar is living in their neighborhood? Someone like that can be seriously dangerous to society.
    This registry makes me sick, and it's an embarassment to our Nation's claim to being the land of the free, and upholding of human rights. People on the registry have been assaulted, attacked, and even murdered by neighbors because of the fear that their status instilled. THIS IS WRONG and I make it my mission to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves....and those are the men and women of our country who are forced to be shamed for the rest of their lives...many of which made a ONE time mistake, and their "crimes" were not violent or forceful in nature.
     

    Anyone Could Locate with a Couple of Clicks!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 06.03.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0210]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0210, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I'll send the comments to the citizen who sent this in.
    --------------------

    I accidently stumbled across the Megans law web-site. I read for hours and never would had believed people were being treated the way they are. Everyone deserves a place to live and without it being publicized. They made a mistake - let them serve their punishment and
    move forward. Who are we to continue to punish them? People are crazy and could hurt these people and no one would even care because the are an RSO and anyone can locate them with a couple of clicks. Help these people so they can live a healthy life in privacy.
     

    Boy Who Cried Wolf
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 16.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0209]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0209, Boy Who Cried Wolf, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them along to this man.
    -----------
    This Law could have been good but are too reckless with it and now hurts people that shouldn't be on the list. The people that want to know about the dangerous ones don't know if they are or are not. Read The Boy Who Cried Wolf...
     

    Anyone Is Vulnerable to a False Charge!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 15.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0208]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No.0208 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send them to this private investigator, whose website is also listed below.
    IMPORTANT NOTE: RSOL does NOT promote lawyers or private investigators who charge for services. This person indicates he is not interested in charging. However, we urge people who contact the website to do so knowing that RSOL does NOT endorse this service.
    alex marbury
    ----------------------
    It is unfortunate that this witch hunt is so out of hand. I can take a Judge with the cleanest record, have some girl accuse him of
    molestation even though it never happened and he will be convicted. I am talking of proving that he can be convicted even though he has never been alone anywhere with this girl. All she has to do is say he did something and make up a story as to when and where and he will be found guilty by a Jury. That is the result of the witch hunt on the subject of molestation with a teenager.

    From the website, www.navarroinvestigativeservices.com
    False Allegations:
    Anyone can be the victim of a false accusation. If you are reading this page, It is possible that this has already happened to you or someone you care about. I have seen Police officers, Doctors, Deputy Sheriffs, Teachers, Principals, Nurses, day care providers, minor teenagers (accused by a younger child,) business people, Christians, people in low income families, others who are very well to do, divorcing parents (one accusing the other), a parent being accused by their own child or stepchild. All of whom have been falsely accused. What it comes down to is that anyone can be
    accused and it can destroy most if not all of what a person may have
    worked many years to build. Not only can it be financially devastating, it can destroy relationships with loved ones, marriages, well respected careers. Some of these people although innocent may end up in prison for many years. It can destroy your whole life as you've known it. There are usually multiple charges even if just one thing is alleged to have happened. If the
    allegations are sexual, especially sexual abuse of a minor, it is like a witch hunt. You will likely be viewed as being guilty by everyone until you can prove otherwise. This becomes an uphill battle. Even family and friends can turn against you regardless of how well they know you. The investigation can help bring out the facts, however, the police often do not investigate in favor of the defense, their investigation is usually concentrated on gathering evidence to prove the accused guilty and often evidence that may prove the opposite is overlooked. Therefore, the accused must provide their attorney with their own defense "discovery."

     

    Neighbors of S.O. Penalized, Too!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 12.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0207]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0207, ¨Neighbors Penalized Too,¨ and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. This person did NOT send his email, so we can´t send him comments. PLEASE send YOUR EMAIL even in an anonymous posting - we won´t publish your email, but then we can send you comments!
    ----------------------
    I'm a Bible believer and a proponent for safe neighborhoods. I'm not a registered sex offender, but I have been negatively affected by the registry. I had a neighbor who is a registered sex offender, and because of this, my family had to sell the house we owned for almost nothing. We lost tens of thousands because a guy who lived nearby had sex with a teenager when he was young. How is this fair that we were punished for the transgression of another? How is this fair to the neighbor? He seems like a nice guy.

    I know one thing, if I were forced to register and have my constitutional rights shredded by the state and be forced to live as an outcast, I would declare war! I would even consider setting the state on fire during the dry season. If the state government declared me a monster, then by God I would act like one. There are a million things each registrant can do to make the governments go broke. Vandalism comes to mind. Petitioning the governments or trying to fight in the courts to overturn these rules will not help. You are all "scum of the earth" so to speak (according to the "free" press and government "experts).

    If those on the registry all refused to comply with the unconstitutional laws and demanded jury trials, the governments would go broke prosecuting the cases or go broke paying for incarceration. If registrants don't want to do that, then they can use the rules to their advantage. If a politician want to sell their home, a group of registrants can pool together their resources to move into a nearby home and post their registration. This can be done for any bureaucrat who want to sell their home.

    If one wants to stay within the law, then one can post their side of the story on a large sign. It is time to educate people about how bad these sex offender rules actually are. They are cruel, unfair, and unconstitutional. If I were on a jury that was trying a person for non compliance with these rules, I would surely vote not guilty. A good site to look at in order to defeat unconstitutional laws is http://www.fija.org
     

    SORNA Violates Universal Dec. of Human Rights
    By alex marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 10.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0206]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0206 (also posted as a comment on Action Item 069) and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. This is a fantastic summary of how SORNA violates the Universal Declaration of Human rights! I´ll send comments to this wife in texas.
    alex

    From the wife of a sex offender;
    I could not dare say this to anyone around me, anyone I work with, or to anyone one I meet with great pride. Why, because I will get judged, my husband will get judged and the three children that we have together will get judged. I will be judged as a sick woman for being with a man who is a danger to children, he will be judged as a man who is looking for a child to victimize and my children will be judged as the children who are getting victimized by their own father. We will be judged, because this is what society has portrayed ALL sex offenders. The problem is not just how society portrays ALL sex offenders, but the problem is that the laws were passed to lump every sex offender in the same caegory and make them abide by laws that treat them unfairly so that society can label them as "dangerous to America's children". By all means, my husband is not that "dangerous" sex offender. He was 18, she was 17 when they had sex and it was mutual, since alcohol was involved in their concensual act, he got convicted of sexaul assalt on the second degree level. He was originally convicted four 5 years porbation and community service and be done with it. However, he got grandfathered into the SORNA laws and he has been paying for his crime ever since. Not only him, but we have too (we, the family who loves him dearly and respect him because he is a good man). My family has suffered humility and discrimination because of his label. My family has lost great opportunities for him to have a great career because the job is within a restricted zone. We have lost the opportunity to choose where we want to live in order for my kids to go to the school of our choice because they are in the restricted zone area. My kids have been teased and bullied because other kids found out that their dad is a sex offender. We have been separated for time periods from state to state in order to make sure that when we come together we are not violating any of the SORNA laws.

    Why am I writing this? I am writing this to show you how the SORNA laws are violating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

    My husband, nor my family deserve this punishment for something that he paid for a long time ago, but have been grandfathered into. I believe that the SORNA laws should only apply to the high threat sex offenders. Keeping the sex offenders who are not is a violation of their Human rights for themselves and for their families. Let me point out how the SORNA laws are violating the Universal Declaration of Human rights to my husband and his family..

    Article 3
    Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
    -Our family does not have the right to life because it is being stripped away from us to live life peacfully and successfully
    Article 5
    No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
    -We are degraded everytime a notification letter is sent to the people around us to let them know that he is in the area. This type of
    notification is misleading the people into believing that he is a threat to their kids or to the community. It leaves us self-consious
    everytime we step foot out the door and people stare as if to say "disgusting"
    Article 7
    All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law.
    -These laws are to protect the children from sex predators, but they do not protect my children from the humiliation and discrimination they
    have to face everyday because people know that their dad is a sex offender.
    Article 10
    Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of
    his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
    -My husband did not have a fair trial to begin with because the 17 year old that he had sex with, did not want to press charges, she agreed
    that it was concensual sex and that she was drinking alcohol too. So, the state picked it up anyways because the girl did not want to
    press charges. He did not get a fair trial and in addition to that, his initial outcome was to serve five years community service and
    probation. That was not fair, but accepted. What is not acceptable or more unfair is the fact that they grandfathered him into the SORNA
    laws and lumped him with the sex offenders that deserve to be convicted to them.
    Article 11
    1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a
    public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
    2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a
    penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be
    imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.
    - Part 2 of this Article goes against my husband's initial penalty, which was five years probation and community service. By
    grandfathering him into the SORNA laws after a judgement was already concluded, it became a heavier penalty that is now for life.
    Article 12
    No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon
    his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.
    - Because of the SORNA laws my address is not private, and my husband's conviction that happened over 16 years ago is not
    private. My son is an actor and I am an author, our reputation is on the line because my husband's conviction is open to the public. My
    husband can't have lunch with his son at school unless he is secluded in a confined room that is designated by the principal. this type
    of seclusion interferes with him being an honorable father to his children.
    The media attacks ALL sex offenders whether they are a dangerous one or not.
    Article 13
    1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
    -We are not allowed to reside where we want to live. We have to reside 2000 ft away from a school or daycare. This reduces our
    given right to choose where we really want to live. When we moved to a new state, we were looking at a really great city and
    had our hearts set on it, however that was stripped away from us because every house was near a school or daycare. Now I am
    living in a city that I had to settle for and am not happy with.
    Article 16
    Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
    Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
    The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State. -Thank God that the laws do not keep sex offenders form marrying, because my husband and I have been married for 13 years and I would not be happy without him. However, the SORNA laws violate the third section of Article 16. If the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State, then clearly the SORNA laws violate this because mentally the laws caused great stress factors and circumstances for may family and we have been separated for periods of times because we would be in violation of the SORNA restrictions laws if we were together. Society is labeling my husband who is not a threat to society and passing judgement on him everyday and discriminating against him. My children are suffering and losing new found friends because it is discovered that their dad is a sex offender. these laws are not protecting our family, they are hurting us.
    Article 23
    1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection
    against unemployment.
    2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
    3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy
    of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection.
    4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
    -My husband does not have the right to work where he wants to because of the 2000 ft restriction laws stating that he can't work
    near a school or daycare. My husband has been offered great job career opportunities that would have benefited my family,
    but has turned them down because they are within 2000 ft from a school or daycare. He is not able to ensure for himself or his
    family in the manner that he is capable of and the desire he wants because of the restriction laws.

    Please reform the sex offender laws and only make it apply to those who are a threat to society. Someone like my husband was convicted of having sex with a 17 year old when he was 18. He has shown to not be a threat to society 16 years later. He has a family who loves him and who he loves, he is trying to provide for us and give us the lifestyle that we all want to live, but he is restricted from truly living the way we want to live because of the SORNA laws that apply to him too. It is not fair.

     

    Our Family Lives in Fear Daily!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 07.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0205]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0205 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them along to this great wife and mom.
    alex
    ----------------------------------------


    Currently sex offender laws damage the lives of children and families of nonviolent offenders. They take away basic civil liberties like safety, the ability to make a living, and the right to private lives. No one should be punished after they have completed thier sentence or probation. Additionally, this law means that all groups of offenders are classified the same way and this is simply bad policy. Our family lives in fear everyday that someone will commit acts of violence against us because our address is listed publicly. The whole process has been horific for our daughter, my husband, and myself.
     

    NY SO Rules Violate Free Speech
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 06.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0204]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0204 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them to this offender in NY who is mad as hell!
    alex
    ----------------
    You should look at the New york e-stop laws concerning violating offenders rights by removing them from social sites. If im not
    mistaken this violates Freedom of Speech. Also by handing out the email addresses, the state of NY itself commits a misdemeanor by revealing personal information per "§168-u. Unauthorized release of information: The unauthorized release of any information required by this article shall be a class B misdemeanor." Just a couple of things for your guys to help us deal with.

    I think these rules are ridiculous when I have less rights than a
    murderer.
     

    This is War - Make No Mistake About It!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 03.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0203]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0203, This is War!, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fmk The writer did send an email, so I´ll send any comments along to him. NOTE: RSOL supports exactly the points made at the end of this blog - and the Canadian approach to a non-public registry for law enforcement only. alex

    SEE COMMENT AT THE END OF THIS BLOG!

    ---------------------
    This is a war. Make no mistake about it. The opposition is almost perfectly placed and funded, plus they have \'right\' on their side. I read amost daily of laws being passed and enacted, liberties being trampled, while a read of very few successes for the SO.

    I encourge everyone to band together, and FIGHT back! We need as many people contributing, rallying, offering alternative legislation as possible. We need \'heavies\', well known, publicly viable peole who are in theSO postion, or sympathetic to change and reform, to take to the media, print, internet, tv, whatever. We need exposure to success stories for SO\'s, to break the myth that SO\'s \"can\'t change\".

    We need lawsuits, and LOTS of them. Use the legal courts and process to foster change and reform. We need a strong national network, alonf with state and local ones, to form a united front, to communicate tgether. We need sharp, effective lawyers to help.

    We need to contibute monetarily, as much as we possibly can. We need to go forward and change the existing laws, along with making sure no 'Ipso Facto' can come up behind us and bite us later in our lives.

    We need to expose people like John Walsh, Mark Lunsford Nancy Grace, Chris Hansen, Perverted Justice. I wish there was a way to muzzle them, or to sue the living @#$% out of them for what they have so eagerly and blatantly put us, and our families and friends through. Hopefully a day of reckoning will come for us.

    A person makes a mistake legally, pays for it, then they should be done with it, and be able to walk away and start their life over.

    We need to ramp up our efforts guys, because the opposition is, daily. I hope we succeed.
    ------------------------
    I forgot a few things. We need as many stories of unjustice and hardship being taken to the mainstream media that occured by SO's, but mainly by their families, or those wrongly accused. then, maybe the sympathetic public can be reached, and they'll see that a 'blanket' approach to the registry is wrong, maybe the WORST, most dangerous SO's need to be on it.

    We need to find politicians who are willing to stand up for what is
    right. So much of the time, any reform spells a 'death sentence' to a
    politician´s career. We need legal victories, so that precedents can be established, and expanded upon. We need to push for little time on the registry, with the ability for low risk SO´s to get off, with that being the end of it. Maybe a record just available to the law enforcement authorities if a person gets into trouble again. Not widespread your history show up during traffic stop, and certainly not to any prospective employer, landlord, or credit agency..
    -----------------
    COMMENT
    I feel the same way and get really discouraged when I see all these
    action items that are posted on the action items page, but do not get a really good turn out. For example, last week you posted an action item to vote on change.org in regards to the sex offender laws and I would think that we would have hundreds of people voting for it to put it to the top of the list, however, we are barely in the race. I believe this whole sex offender issue is a war as well, but I do not feel like we have strong enough people who are really trying to win this battle. There are over 1000's of people who signed the petition, but where are those 1000's to help with the action items? Those same 1000's of people signing ths petition should have signed the sex offender "Action item" that was posted last week for change.org. There are only a little over 70 people who voted for it, and that is not to say that those 70 came from the www.reformsexoffender.org website. Isn't there a distribution email list that you have to be able to make the action items get out loudly. You know I signed up for other sites that had sex offender issues, and since signing them, I get emails from them giving out other issues to vote on. Shouldn't reformsexoffenderlaws.org have a distribution list so that a mass email can be sent anonymously when an important vote is issued so that we all can participate. I realize that people should be consistently coming back to the website to check on new action items, but truth is we don't. Some of us get busy in our lives and can't check everyday for the new action items, or some of us just simply forget about it, or lose hope. I feel that an email should go out to eveyone when an action item comes out so that it is right there in our face to remind us that this is war and we need to take action when action is so desperately needed.
     

    Helping Those Who Spend Horrible Years in Prison
    By Alice Benson <Madalleyreport@aol.com>
    Posted on 03.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0202]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0202 and send to Madalleyreport@aol.com with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    -----------------------
    Wonderful work in New Mexico to Help Released Offenders

    Thank God for New Mexico at present at least. Three days ago we picked up a 59 year old man who had spent 15 horrible years in prison. He had been stabbed three times and pushed down a long flight of cement stairs. He landed almost dead in the prison hospital. He heard of a rescue mission in Las Cruces, NM that would accept him. No sooner had he arrived there than he collapsed and went to the local hospital and had serious colon surgery. He was suicidal and committed to a mental health facility 100 miles east of Albuq. I was in touch with him by letter and phone and we decided to try and help. When released they brought him by van to Albuquerque. He had been told he qualified for SSI. We went to lengths to rent him an apartment, got the OK of the rental company for a sex offender, paid the damage deposit and told our friends he was coming. Within five days they filled the apartment with furniture, a new TV, stocked the refrig and cupboards with food and dishes. When he arrived he was overcome with joy. In the last two days we have taken him to Social Services, MVD for an ID card, gotten him a bus pass and opened a bank account. His income will be $600 a month and his rent is $400. He also has to pay the utilities! If we had not done these things where would he be??? This is a day that unless we can all suddenly change oppressive laws and regulations, we will have to care about people like this and help them. This individual cannot stop thanking all of us. Tomorrow a man who was released nine months ago will continue to take him to medical outlets and the food stamp office. Let me hear of similar events from the rest of you. I can tell you it is pure joy! Alice Benson
     

    MD: Excessive Personal Informaton
    By posted by eAdvocate <eAdvocate@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 01.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0201]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0201, ¨Excessive Personal Information,¨ and send to eAdvocate@yahoo.com, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.

    This is an excellent commentary from eAdvocate and a sad news story from Maryland! All Maryland RSOL participants are urged to protest this!
    Alex
    ----------------------
    Excessive personal information! Why? The purpose of the registry -in essence- was/is to notify the public of where the registrant lives, works or goes to school.

    KEY is: "Notify the Public" of whereabouts information.

    It appears that lawmakers are now using (mis-using) the registry as a vehicle to gather other personal registrant information, on the premise that, such would be needed if the offender committed another crime. i.e., law enforcement could more quickly solve crimes.

    Lawmakers are subverting the original registry intent -whereabouts information- for the public. Registrants need to BEGIN reviewing all such information requested by lawmakers, and start a quest to stop lawmakers from obtaining such information, other than whereabouts information.

    Registrants may have other rights under those laws. i.e., professional license may say such is private information. Registrants may then be able to thwart providing that information. This theory may apply to other information too. i.e. palm prints and beyond. Each item-requested needs to be further analyzed, and objected to accordingly following research of laws behing the information. The public has no right to have professional licenses or palm prints, in no way does that provide the public whereabouts of the registrant.

    Bills in ALL states need to be analyzed this way, and objected to specifically under the necessary and proper information for the public to know (intent of registry). Remember the registry IS NOT a vehicle to build a dossier on registrants!

    Finally, I sincerely hope they do catch whoever killed that little girl and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. However, with that said, such crimes should not be used as a vehicle to expand laws (excessive information) or subvert the intent of public registry laws.
    2-1-2010 Maryland:

    Legislation against sex offenders is gaining momentum in the Maryland General Assembly, as lawmakers consider lengthening sex offenders' prison terms, monitoring them with GPS devices and sharing their registry information with other states.

    Following the murder of 11-year-old Sarah Foster, who was abducted by a registered sex offender on the Eastern Shore and found dead on Christmas Day, Maryland lawmakers have been trying to figure out how to tighten up their laws.

    Sen. James DeGrange, D-Anne Arundel County, says the loophole may be in the state's Sex Offender Registry database.

    Under a bill he is sponsoring, sex offenders would have to provide more information -- such as palm prints and professional license information -- to the registry. And offenders would have to update their status with the registry every three months -- instead of every six -- to bring Maryland in line with federal standards.

    "Without making these changes, Maryland could lose $2 million in federal funding, so it's something that we have to do," DeGrange said. "It's something that's needed to know who these people are and to prevent a tragedy that was recently experienced on the Eastern Shore."

    DeGrange's bill was included in a list of 10 legislative priorities Democratic lawmakers announced for the 2010 session. His measure also would increase information sharing between Maryland and neighboring states, so offenders moving among states would be more easily identifiable.

    Expanding the state's Sex Offender Registry is one of several priorities Gov. Martin O'Malley outlined to the General Assembly.

    "There should be absolutely no mercy shown to anyone who harms a child in our state, and our legislation serves to impose the strictest standards of supervision to ensure that Maryland's children are protected," O'Malley said, describing his agenda for toughening up on sex offenders.

    O'Malley also said he supports lifetime supervision -- possibly using GPS devices -- for repeat offenders, criminal background checks for all employees at child care facilities, and reinstitution of the state's failed Sexual Offender Advisory Board, which hasn't convened in the four years since its creation. The board is expected to meet for the first time this week.

    Other proposals before the General Assembly would increase minimum sentences for second-degree rape and sex offense against a child from five to 20 years, prohibit offenders from earning "good time" credits in prison, and require repeat offenders to be placed in state mental institutions following a prison term. ..Source.. Hayley Peterson
    Examiner Staff

     

    Did Senator Pray Before Prosecuting Teens?
    By Jan Fewell <msfewell@sbcglobal.net>
    Posted on 01.02.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0200]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0200, ¨Did Senatory Pray?¨and send to msfewell@sbcglobal.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    At least the good religious senator is running again!
    Alex
    ---------------------------
    Texas State Representative Dan Gattis is quoted by 3 different sources (his own website, AAS and RR Leader), 3 different ways, on how prayer helped him to reach his decision to not run for Ogden's Senate seat or to run for reelection. (see attached)

    It isn't the praying I have an issue with. It is Gattis' sincerity and the need to disclose such a private matter to the public.

    However, I can't help but wonder if Gattis prayed before prosecuting some of the teenagers involved in consensual sex with a younger teen; particularly one young man who was revoked and sentenced to 10 years for sexual assault of a child. Dan Gattis was the Williamson County prosecutor on this case. This particular young man has a child with his so called "victim" This young man's so called "victim" and his little girl have visited him regularly for the last 10 years. As a result of residency restrictions, this young man could not find a home to parole to and was forced to serve his the full 10 years. For 10 years this little girl has been robbed of a father. This little girl's mother has struggled as a single mom. The young man and his family have suffered needlessly for 10 years.

    Did Gattis pray for Steven, Steven's little girl, and the little girl's single mom. Or, was Gattis' only concern for "the peace and dignity of the State of Texas"?

    jan fewell
     

    Adult Sons Qualify as Dis. Adults for Parents´ Taxes
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 31.01.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0199]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0199, Adult S.O.s Qualify for Parents´ Taxes, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them along to the mother who sent this in.
    ------------------
    Here is a suggestion for those who have a loved one that is stuck on the registry and can not find a job. My husband and I just finished our taxes. When we first did them we owed. Since son is stuck on the registry and has not found a job, I called the IRS hot line. He is a qualifying adult. So I now claim him on my taxes "legally". We owed money, now we don't. I pay his child support, and financially support him. He can not find a job. He also is eligable for food stamps. Just want the parents or working members of a family can claim their loved ones. Actually (and i have stated this before) they should be able to collect disability. That is what the laws have done, disabled this group of people.

     

    All SO´S SHOULD FILE FOR SSI!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 20.01.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0198]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0198 - all so´s should file for ssi. Send comments to alexm60@fastmail.fm and i´ll send them to this wife, who is fighting mad about what has been done to her husband!
    alex
    -------------------
    1. my husband is one of the non repeat sex offenders out there and he cant get a job either. So guys, boys, women and men - all you sex offenders go and file for ssi make the state pay you because under the guildline you are disabled if you can´t get a job for reasons beyond your control. maybe if the state had to pay all you guys they would change the laws. my husband can´t work or get a place to live or anything because they want to play god. his offense took place in another state 17 years ago. never happened again there, so that state gave him back his rights as a parent. now the state to which we moved wants to take them away again. stand up and be counted the states owe you ssi.

    2. Additional Comments: everyone needs to help get the sex offenders laws changed this is nothing but a witch hunt. all it is doing is hurting people not helping just because a repeat is register does not mean that he will not do it again cause you know it. grow up? parents need to start watching their own kids not the neighbor. don´t let your kids out of your sight just cause they want to walk to the park. unless they are at least 12 they should not go alone. be a parent. i dont want to watch your kids for you to make it easy for them to be caught. help change these laws or it may be YOU next on it cause - look it up - some states have laws against taking pictures of your kids in public, hugging in public, among other items.
     

    Do We Live in America?
    By posted by Alice & Thom <madalleyreport@yahoo.com,thomasrydzewski@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 20.01.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0197]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0197 - Do we Live in America?
    Two powerful comments from RSOL state organizers. The first, from Thomas Rydzewski in Md., was in response to news item no. 0201 about the soldier in Afghanistan charged with child porn for clothed photos of a family member´s child! The second is from Alice in N.M. in response to Thomas - she is so right about this being another ´back of the bus´ situation -and about MLK having to die to bring attention to this group of outcastes. Let´s hope rsol and other groups will make the difference, and Americans will begin to notice what´s happening to our civil liberties!
    alex
    ---------
    I keep wanting to ask "Am I still living in the United States of America?" Maybe this sort of thing could actually be an open door to appeal to many Americans? We are only one small group being attacked and harrassed right now. If we are continually allowed to be harrassed and have our freedoms, rights and privacy compromised, then who is next? Who will be the next group to be considered, "dangerous" or "potentially harmful"?


    This person is not even a sex offender (yet), but if he is so listed, than there is almost no limit to the invasions of his privacy as well as the privation of his liberties and rights.

    I think we need someone in marketing to figure out how we can appeal to the American people and say, "If this happens to us now, what is to stop the government from tartgeting you next?"

    Tom R.
    RSOL Maryland
    ----------------
    Response from Alice in New Mexico
    Tom I sense your frustration and actual disgust for the system we have fallen into. I can remember the black people hiding in the back of buses, sitting in the back row at church if they dared show up in a primarily white church. The civil right issue was so clear, but "nobody" did anything about it until the man we celebrated yesterday literally gave his life for the cause. I hope it doesn't come to that but it might. I rented an apartment today for a sex offender coming out of 15 years of prison. I spent time telling the lady at the desk his story and why I was doing what I was doing, co-signing for the apartment, rounding up furniture and household items, etc. etc. We have to prove to people what we believe, that "even sex offenders" who actually have the least recidivism of anyone, are people they would like to know, people they would enjoy sitting next to in church etc. I don't see sex offenders marching yet. They have been intimidated so much they would be afraid to do anything that public. We are manning a booth at our state legislature next month and we finally got the guts to put the name "sex offenders" in large print on our sign! We know we take a risk in doing that. That is what it is going to take. Alice Benson
     

    Seeking GOOD lawyers in NC!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 18.01.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0196]
     
    Refere in comments to Blog No. 0196 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm - I´ll send your suggestions to this woman in Charlotte, NC.
    thanks. alex
    -------------

    But I was wondering if anybody knew about any lawyers around the Charlotte Metro area. Good ones, or ones to stay away from. I'm trying to help a family member back to a normal life and all these lawyers seem to be chicken s$#! to put it bluntly. I guess these
    "sex crimes" get the DA and Sheriff wonderful recognition when they've caught somebody, so that they resort to threatening the defendant's lawyer into not fighting the charges, etc. That way they can say they did their job to save the children when all they've done is catch an easy target instead of the real predators. I wanted to post this on the NC RSOL facebook page, but it seems that it was taken down. I thought I should ask people who have been through a similar ordeal.
    Thanks - Susan
     

    Civil Confinement: All the Reich Moves
    By posted by Tonia <toniat@sbcglobal.net>
    Posted on 17.01.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0195]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0195, ¨All the Reich Moves,¨ and send to toniat@sbcglobal.net, witih copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.

    Note from alex: RSOL does not endorse the broad libertarian views of the linked url or the article there by Wm. Grigg, we do see the connections, and thus are posting Tonia´s excellent comment here about civil confinement and a totalitarian state! America, be aware!

    See also excellent comment from Thomas in Maryland at the end of this.
    -------------------------
    In 2006 – a very busy year for those beavering away constructing the Homeland Security State – Congress enacted the "Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act," a measure that permits perpetual "civil confinement" of "sexually dangerous persons."

    As previously noted in this space, the Adam Walsh Act is firmly in the totalitarian tradition of designating entire groups of people to be "socially dangerous" and thus suitable only for confinement, even in the absence of a criminal conviction or after a prison term has been served.

    The Obama administration, which recently defended that law before the Supreme Court, subscribes to the view of its predecessor that the end of a prison term doesn't necessarily mean the end of imprisonment. During oral arguments, this view appeared to find favor with a majority on the Court, including liberal (and therefore supposedly "soft-on-crime") Justices Breyer and Ginsburg. Breyer, according to the Los Angeles Times, drew an analogy between open-ended "civil confinement" and quarantine.

    The chief distinction here, of course, would be that "sexually dangerous" people (a category that includes many people entirely innocent of actual criminal offenses) would be subject to perpetual quarantine. As one former civil detainee pointed out to CNN, this may mean being "committed to a mental institution for the rest of your life."

    No rational person should suppose that the practice of perpetual civil confinement will be restricted to "sexually dangerous people." The definition of "socially dangerous people" will be made as elastic as our rulers desire, eventually becoming a net that will gather indiscriminately of every kind of dissident. This is exactly how the Soviet ruling elite filled the gulag.

    http://www.lewrockwell.com/grigg/grigg-w126.html

    Tonia
    ------------------------
    COMMENT
    I thought the exact same thing when I heard about this. It gives the federal government waaaaayyyyyy too much control and too much subjective room to decide which persons are dangerous - regardless of crimes they have committed. If we are going to start confining people to mental institutions for things they MAY DO, then we are following a very dangerous path that leads to tyranny, oppression and elitism. I find it scary that any judge would even consider such a practice acceptable after studying and knowing full well the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. As you said, if this precedent is set with sex offenders, then we can look at anyone who is considered "dangerous" as a threat and decide that they are not fit to live in society with those of us who are decent, respectable citizens.

    Tom R.
    Maryland
     

    A Nebraska Hero - Former DA Dornan!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 02.01.2010
    Link to this blog entry: [0194]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0194 - More Good News from Nebraska! and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    This was sent completely anonymously, so we cannot reach the person who sent it! When you send a blog or tale, please include an email address even if you want us to keep it anonymous!
    ----------------------

    MORE GOOD NEWS FROM NEBRASKA - Nebraska Hero former DA Dornin!
    This is in response and as an update on the challenge in the
    State of Nebraska challenging LB97, which gives the state and local law enforcement the power to monitor and restrict sex offender usage of their computers.

    Thanks to Stu Dornan, ex District Attorney in Nebraska, that law is being barred for people that have served their time before the law was written. He also went to bat Thursday, December 31 to have
    LB285, the Nebraska Version of the Adam Walsh Act, blocked as well, a
    judge ruled in his favor on both accounts and the latter will be looked at on Monday to determine constitutionality of the law. These stories are all over everywhere, both locally and nationally.

    Anyone can go to the Omaha World Herald online, or local television
    stations WOWT, KETV, KMTV or KPTM and get furthen information on this
    subject and keep track of how these cases are progressing. There is a
    hero for the State of Nebraska and his name is Stu Dornan.

    > http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/79901607.html
    > http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/80384977.html
    > http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/80240577.html
    > http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/79540827.html
    > http://www.kmtv.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?ClipID1=4398511&h1=Sex%20Offender%20Registry%20Change%20Faces%20Legal20Challenge&vt1=v&at1=News&d1=149267&LaunchPageAdTag=News&activePane=info&rnd=93458228
    > http://www.kmtv.com/Global/story.asp?s=11702211
    > http://www.ketv.com/video/22010018/index.html
    > http://www.omaha.com/article/20091217/NEWS01/912179970
    > http://www.omaha.com/article/20091222/NEWS01/712229904
    > http://www.omaha.com/article/20091228/NEWS01/912289971
    > http://www.omaha.com/article/20091228/NEWS0802/712289995
    > http://www.omaha.com/article/20091230/NEWS01/712319957
    > http://www.omaha.com/article/20100102/NEWS01/701029871
    >
    This is a fairly complete list of all the news coming out of Nebraska in regards to the new sex offender registry.
     

    AWA Not Passed by Full Congress
    By eAdvocate <eAdvocate@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 27.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0193]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0193, ¨AWA Not Passed by Full Congress,¨ and send to eAdvocate@yahoo.com, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm. Also, see Action Item 073, to challenge compliance with AWA in YOUR state.
    alex marbury
    ----------------
    THE ADAM WALSH ACT WAS PASSED BY A FEW IN CONGRESS, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS:

    There is no doubt that the Adam Walsh Act is going to cost millions (if not more) just in challenges to states which are/have made changes to comply with AWA which is being mandated by Congress. These costs are not figured into the cost of implementation by any state, but taxpayers will pay the price.

    One thing to never forget, AWA is not the will of a FULL Congress, it is the will of a few lawmakers (vindictive in this writer's belief) who used Congressional Rules in ways that were never intended to be used, to get the law passed. Under what is known as "Suspension of the Rules" each House -with a handful of lawmakers present- passed AWA into law. The Adam Walsh Act was created behind closed doors, by a handful of lawmakers, rushed into the full House & Senate when over 90% of lawmakers were absent, and passed by a "Voice Vote" of only those members present; a handful! Why were so many absent? Simply said, they did not want their names on the law which was so controversial at the time, and they all know about the trickery of using rules in ways they were not intended to be used. i.e., suspension of the rules which permits lawmakers to be absent and a vote still taken, although that is not written into that rule (misuse by misinterpretation). Today we see various challenges to the Adam Walsh Act taking place, notably Nebraska is one venue where two federal court cases have been filed. The state law which made the changes that are to be effective 1-1-2010 is LB285 and folks can research at that link. LB285 is a terrible law enacted without regard for reason or evidence, enacted so the state could get the funding which AWA denies them if they fail to make the changes; coercion legalized!

    Major filings:

    Case 1 (8:2009cv00456) filed December 16, 2009:
    Complaint

    Brief in Support of Temporary Injunction
    Case 2 (4:2009cv03258) filed December 18, 2009:
    Complaint
    Now there is an excellent site, obviously by those involved in Case-1, known as Families Affirming Community Safety (FACTS) which is documenting Case-1, not sure if they will also document Case-2.

    SexOffenderIssues is following the audio of the case.

    As always I will be posting news about the lawsuits as it becomes
    available.
    For now,
    eAdvocate
     

    Soon Every Man Will be on the Registry!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 27.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0192]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0192, ¨Soon Every Man Will be on the registry.¨ I´ll send them along to the person who wrote this.
    alex
    PS - There are men in their 90s who were similarly entrapped. Entrapment used to be illegal - but not in these cases. Beware!
    -----------------------
    My friend at the age of 66 was approached on the internet by somehone who turned out to be allegedly underage. He was trapped as it was the police. So now, at his age, he is registered as a sex offender. It was a fantasy and he would have never met a minor in his life. He made one mistake and is paying a very dear price. At the rate of entrapment, it won't be long before every man on earth will be listed as a sex offender - which is very sad.

     

    Criminalizing Mentally Ill Offenders - Remotely Ethical?
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 25.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0191]
     
    Comments should be sent to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and I will send them to this hard-pressed wife of a mentally ill man who is being treated as a criminal, instead of getting help!
    Alex
    I´ve just added more info from this woman about her struggle to help her mentally ill husband - it is at the end of her original blog.
    See the excellent comment at the bottom of this blog!
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    IS THIS EVEN REMOTELY LEGAL OR ETHICAL - TIME FOR FACT-BASED LAWS!

    I am writing on behalf of my Husband, A vet who served with distinction for over 25 years, before he fell ill to his undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder, Adjustment Disorder, OCD, and severe Depression and anxiety. He has a host of service connected physical issues as well, which according to his Dr, contributed to his implosion. He is currently considered disabled by the VA due to his service connected disabilities.

    This is a matter in which my husband of 9 years, who after serving in the Recruiting command, for 14 years (high stress) who is a great father and husband, with no criminal history, committed a "sex offense". He had what is called a manic episode after being under tremendous stress, and being awake for 3 days. From what I have read, this type of behavior, or many types of weird behavior, are often a result of an undiagnosed or diagnosed mental health issue?

    He was caught up in an internet sting. He after repeated requests to meet, over hours of chatting in an ADULT chat-room, despite repeated requests from police to send graphic pictures (he did not) drove to meet a well developed (they sent a picture) but never stopped, never exited his car, and was leaving when arrested. Subsequently he was jailed, and due to a well publicized rift with state prosecutors, his charge went Federal.

    We also believe they used his position in the Military (he was AGR in the recruiting command with the XXXX National Guard) for publicity. Sir, i Have known this man for over 10 years and have seen the slow course to implosion.

    He denied his depression and began to self medicate (drinking). His family and close friends saw a huge change in him. He was depressed, anxious, irritable, had huge mood swings, and could not turn his mind off and could not sleep for days. If we would have recognized the symptoms of the Bipolar Disorder, we would have intervened. He was getting promoted to E-8 and refused to seek mental health help for fear his career would be over, which ultimately it was anyway.

    He of course, has been disgraced, lost his career, retirement, home (bankruptcy) reputation, and most of his friends. The local media (Utah) is extremely biased, and loves a juicy story about "supposed" threat to the children. He in fact recruited for 14 years in and around high school students, coached at the middle school level, and substituted at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for years without one single mention of impropriety.

    What happened to due process? When a man who is supposedly "innocent until proven guilty" has his face and name splashed across the news and internet for days...how could he expect to receive a fair and unbiased trial? The police, despite him being innocent until proven guilty, and fabricating and coercing answers from him, despite his repeatedly telling them he was up for 3 days, under a tremendous amount of stress, coerced answers, lead him into answers, and publicly humiliated him, all before he was found guilty of anything.

    IS THIS EVEN REMOTELY LEGAL OR ETHICAL

    This was part of an internet sting. He did break the law, but as his Psychologists mentioned in his official evaluations, given his poor judgment and lack of impulse control during a manic episode, he succumbed to repeated requests by the officers to meet. He did not however, despite repeated requests by the officers, posing as a minor, send any pictures of himself or his genitals. There was nothing in the police transcripts to indicate he was masturbating. In addition his computers were seized, but later returned as there was no evidentiary value on them.

    He has been evaluated extensively and has taken a detailed sex inventory with no remarkable results. The psychologist stated that he shows no signs of the several pedophile tendencies. The evaluation essentially states that due to his long lasting,extremely high-level of occupational, marital, physical stresses, he imploded.

    Yet another reason I am writing you in particular is that, unfortunately after the fact, was diagnosed with the following severe mental Illnesses: Chronic Adjustment Disorder Bipolar NOS Chronic Pain Disorder with both a general medical condition and phsyclogical factors GAD He has also been diagnosed with several severe physical issues as well.

    I was amazed when the Federal Judge, during his sentencing actually asked "how could being Bipolar make you commit a crime"? I am shocked, that Federal Judge, with all the evaluations in front of him, outlining his severe mental and physical issues, could ask such a question? Even without the evaluations, just being in that position for 15 plus years would surely mean he has come across such a disorder before? The Judge, sentenced him to 46 months. This is insane? A crime with no victim? 46 months? And we wonder, if a recent supreme court decision concerning VET's may help?

    http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-10537.pdf


    This is clearly yet another case of the continuing criminalization of the mentally ill if I have ever heard of one????

    How could such a thing happen given the publicity, the DSM IV, the scholarly articles that outline what happens to a person that suffers from Bipolar Disorder, GAD, and Chronic Pain Disorder? As the public becomes more educated concerning the unjust "grouping" of all who have been deemed "sex offenders", registry reform must follow.


    The Adam Walsh Act, (as currently written was to identify all child abusers) is not being used to identify physical abusers of children, and murderers and is being used to identify people whose victims were adults thereby creating a registry that does not protect children and will continue to grow out of control.

    It is time for fact-based laws that will benefit society as well as the offender.
    ADDED INFORMATION from the same blogger(Jan. 2010)
    We wanted to run something by you to get your opinions. We have always felt, and now more than ever feel that our Attorney provided Ineffective counsel based on this or these facts:


    Especially his failure to request the Physciatrist to attend sentencing in order to explain my mental state and the connection between my service connected mental health issues and the commission of the crime.


    He also did not suggest we appeal the sentence? But the most damning failure was not calling the Dr to testify.
    Grounds for legal malpractice in criminal law are as follows:
    •Did not seek reduction of an excessive sentence
    •Did not appeal a conviction when one is warranted
    •

    •Did not insure the case could be properly appealed by establishing a record
    •Did not take a key witness deposition or investigate properly
    •

    •Did not call necessary and key witnesses at trial
    •




    --------------
    COMMENT FROM A SIMILAR SITUATION - there are SO MANY of these!
    It´s terrible!
    alex
    ------
    My son had the look of a wild animal - 10 years will be a life sentence for him without his meds inside!

    RE:Criminalizing Mentally Ill Offenders - Remotely Ethical

    No it is not ethical in my opinion. My son who was diagnosed as bi polar about 5 years ago and had been misdiagnosed for 15 years prior had all the similar reactions your describing. He could maintain normally for months and sometimes years. But when the mania kicks in he goes days without sleeping. He believes sometimes he is someone else. He sometimes thinks people are telling him to do things and there not.He hears and imagines things.

    During one of his last mania phases i told him he needed to do laundry which is something he would have normally known on his own. He went to the laundromat and sat for 5 hrs. watching people and thinking they were looking and hunting for him. Later he went home put all his clothes in the bath tub and filled it up and they sat there for days till i got there. These are just a few of the things he did.

    Just a month before this her had owned a business had a fiance and a few kids and was well liked. He turned to alcohol and drugs trying to fix whatever was wrong with him which of course it didn,t. Then so distraught that his fiance had taken all the kids and everything they owned and moved(she was scared) He called me from mental health facilty of local hospital and told me he was going to tell them he had inappropriatlet touched his 10 year old step daughter 5 years ago. I begged him not to say anything till i got there and he said no this will get her and i back together because they will put us in counseling.

    We will never know for sure what happened but DSS told her mom and grandma who had to try to help her remember back to when she was 4-5. We got a public defender and they sent my son who is on meds at this point to a state counseler who found him to be perfectly normal. Well when he is not in a state of mania and paranoid dillusions he is normal. The judge and the public defender at the da only used what this 1 dr. saw from my son for 4 hrs and they actually thought his problems were alcohol related. I can assure that at 3 years old when he saw a shrink for the 1st time he was not drinking. He was not at 6, 10 14 16 and all the other times that he was hospitalized for 30 days or more.

    He got 10 years last Fri. and from what I am seeing he actually got life.He has not been on meds since being arrested and they may never let him have them. Whats going to happen in a prison when he gets dillusional.

    The litle girl that this may have happened to and I pray it didn\'t. Her mom enters a contest before my son even went to court and told about how crazy my son was and how he had molested her daughter and she was having to go to counseling. Well the contest was to find the most deserving family for a new vehicle. She won a 2010 nissan and her and all the kids pictures all over the news and papers. If it was my child and i believed it was true i certainly would not have made it public and put her picture on the news.

    I am rambling on here but there is no compensation anywhere in our laws for mentally ill in any crime but especially this one. There is no way 1 dr. can evaluate a person that they have not been seeing both during good and bad. Bipolar can affect very young children and i have heard of people never being affected until there 40-or 50. Unless you have known someone you can\'t imagine. The last time he was sick I remember looking in his eyes and I could not see my son anywhere. He had the look of a scared wild animal.
     

    Trashing Porn is Not Enough!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 16.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0190]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog 00190, Trashing Porn is Not enough, and send them to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them along to this man who made a bad mistake - WARNING - it´s not enough to put such images, accidentally downloaded or not, in the trash! They remain deep in your computer and can be seen easily by authorities.
    ---------------------
    I am the father of 3 wonderful children. Around 15 years ago I received a computer as a gift from my wife. After having it for about 3 months and having access to the internet for only around 1
    month of this time, the FBI came to my house and seized it along with all of my guns. While searching for LEGAL "run of the mill" (for lack of a better term) pornography, I came into possession on my computer of 4 or 5 images of child pornography. I simply deleted them, or thought I did and forgot about it. Needless to say my life has been hell ever since.
     

    Porn Addicts Fear Therapists Go to Police
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 16.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0189]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0189, Porn Addicts Fear Therapists, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send them to the mother and wife who sent this anguished appeal.
    ---------------------------
    Three years ago my ex-husband was sentenced to prison for 15-45
    years and now my son has been arrested. They say they were never able to get help with child porn addiction because they were afraid therapists would report them to the police, which is required. I wish they could have gotten help before they hurt anyone.
     

    You Better Believe We´ll Fight!
    By anonymous offender´s wife <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 16.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0188]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0188, You Better Believe We´ll Fight!, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    This one was sent without an email address. PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL WHEN YOU SEND A COMMENT SO WE CAN SEND YOU FURTHER COMMENTS - We promise to keep your identity anonymous. Thanks.
    ------------------------------

    I was very interested to read about your civil reform ideas. You mentioned there are not many sex offenders/families who are willing to come forward to fight for reform at this time. I agree that is the case.

    However, I am saddened to say that I do not believe that will be the case for long. As states come into compliance with Satan's Law...I mean, the Adam Walsh Act...more and more former Level I and Level II offenders who are currently exempt from public notification will be ousted from our private world and forced into the glaring spotlight caused by this country's growing thirst for our blood.

    Once our names and addresses have been plastered across a multitude of PC monitors, laptops, and iphone screens, we will no longer have the one thing we've managed to hold on to throughout the trials and tribulations we have endured...our dignity.

    With nothing more to lose, you better believe we will fight. With all our heart and all our soul...we will fight.

    Offender's Wife
     

    A Woman´s Open Letter to Women Who Lie
    By posted by Dr. Corry <ccorry@ejfi.org>
    Posted on 10.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0187]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0187 and send to Dr. Corry of the Equal Justice Foundation - ccorry@ejfi.org, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    NOTE: RSOL often publishes Blogs and News Items with which we do not fully agree - and publishing this is in no way an endorsement of these views by RSOL. I do feel that this is a very important issue that needs full discussion by women, as well as by men, within RSOL. Send your comments!
    Alex
    ---------------------------------

    A Woman's Open Letter to Women Who Lie
    by Joni

    This Christmas, all across America, are untold thousands of children who will be spending the holiday in misery. Why? Because their fathers aren't allowed to see them due to incarceration or parole/probation or therapy that forbids contact. These are men (almost exclusively) that are victims of lies and a court system that is anything but just and fair.

    We're not talking about true sex offenders (SO's) or true perpetrators of domestic violence (DV). To be fair, women are actually more apt to be the perps in DV cases, but male-hating feminists have convinced lawmakers and the courts that women and children are incapable of lying in DV and SO prosecutions. The problem is that they DO lie. They DO ruin lives. What's is so scary is that they can do so so very easily. The system is now set up so that if a phone call is made accusing a man of SO or DV, they are history. A defendant will spend every dime on an attorney who 'specializes' in these kinds of cases; they are led on until a trial time is nearing, then suddenly the attorney wants more money or, if he refuses to take a plea, more charges will be added. Ninety-six percent of cases never go to trial. Why would someone cop a plea if they're innocent? When you're looking at life in prison on a first offense, your attorney says your judge is biased, you don't want to drag your children through court (if they are involved), a jury doesn't want to look soft on child molesters, you aren't allowed to produce evidence of your innocence, and your funds have dried up, you're gonna cop a plea - guaranteed.

    Why would anyone lie like this? How could they blithely lie through their teeth and get away with it? How do they live with themselves? (1) Jealousy, vindictiveness, spite - 'hell hath no fury...' right? An acrimonious divorce where the woman wants the kids to have no contact with their father, and any number of other reasons...it's just too easy. (2) There is a large part of a generation lacking any empathy, compassion, love, forgiveness, or heart. They live their lives in hatred and fear and are, unfortunately, passing those traits onto their own children. (3) Very comfortably, apparently. Could you look yourself in the mirror, knowing what you've done? Not only to an innocent person, but his family - EVERYONE who loves him is affected, especially the children who face a lifetime of vigilantism, scorn, ridicule, embarrassment, hopelessness, loss of self-esteem, loss of a beloved parent and on and on and on.

    Estimates range from 2% to over 75% of how many men have been falsely accused and wrongly convicted of domestic violence or a sex offense. The 2% number is what you'll find on a victims' rights or VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) site. Feminists would have you believe women and children are incapable of lying and they have convinced lawmakers this is so. The figures 50-75% are closer to the truth. There are no numbers and in some states, such as ours, a person convicted (usually by a coerced plea) is forbidden to proclaim innocence to anyone or face more time.

    The public seems to have no idea any of this is going on - especially regarding sex offenders. Only 5% of those forced to register can be considered dangerous to children. They think everyone on there is a predator (a name wisely chosen by those who support these laws) and baby raper. This simply isn't true. Most are registered because of laws that have broadened so far as to include victimless crimes and sex between adults (prostitution). Chances are if you have offenders in your neighborhood, they didn't molest any children.

    A word to defense attorneys: Shame on you for masquerading as someone a scared, naive young man can trust. You lead them on, take their hard-earned money and that from their desperate families, all the while reassuring them you know what you're doing, then, at the last minute, you coerce them into taking pleas. They learned in school that our court system is supposedly honest and fair and you know damn good and well it's not. How do you think they feel as they watch you laughing and joking with their prosecutor in court? Pleas are win/win for both of you. Quite a scam you all have going. Thousands of dollars for doing absolutely nothing. Do your mothers know what you do? I'll bet not, as it would make them as sick as it makes me.


    Merry Christmas.
    Joni
     

    This Should Not Happen in America!
    By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 09.12.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0186]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0186 and I´ll send to Scotty´s mom. Send comments to me
    alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    ------------------------
    TO ALL RSOL PEOPLE - THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN AMERICA:
    When will we finally say enough is enough???? This happened in Fayetteville, W. Va., and although I sent out an appeal to W.Va. rsol participants, no-one showed up! PLEASE DON´T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!

    From Bobby, a W.Va. father and Combat Veteran:
    Our son was sentenced to 35 to 100 years Dec 4. We spent thousands of dollars for the best attorneys. He was examined by Forensic psychiatry. He showed no signs of being a sex offender. He was given a polygraph and passed. They do not let you use them but the psychiatrist stated that they are used in treatment of offenders and that it brings out the truth. He said Scotty did not need any counselling. This doctor is on the Board at Marshall University. He is starting a new program at West Virginia University. This Judge, John Hatcher, stated that he did not agree with the psychiatrist´s logic! There were 3 others who spoke up for Scotty at the hearing - his Mother his daughter´s mother and his pastor, as well as Dr. Miller. He had support from family and friends. There was no-one there from RSOL. There was no-one at the hearing for the victim´s family, but only people from Child Protectivd Services. They are the people who pushed this through. The victim´s family stated previously that this did not happen. The doctor´s report stated that this did not happen.

    Pray for Scotty, his three children and our family. I am a combat Vietnam Veteran and I am haveng a hard time accepting that they have take my son´s freedom. We are going to appeal. This should never happen in this great country we live in. Freedom is not free.
     

    They Know us in Sweden!!!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 17.11.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0185]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0185 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    --------------------------------
    I heard about you on Swedish radio and I support you because the laws to register people for life is a \"fascist idea\", and not worthy of a modern democracy.

    I am absolutely positive that many of the politicians or legislators who have enacted these laws have "skeletons in their closets" too.

    Fight for your rights! Best of luck!

    Johan, Sweden
     

    It Has Already Begun!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 13.11.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0184]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0184 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    -------------------------------
    I love my country, but this reminds me of what the Nazi party did in it's early days in power. They began picking on "undesirables" with overbearing laws. Then, they started expanding who was considered "undesirable," until it included anyone who disagreed with the government. If anyone thinks it can't happen here, they need to think again. It has already begun
     

    S.O. Laws Promote Prejudice
    By annonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 27.10.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0183]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0183 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm .
    I will send these comments along.
    -------------------------
    Thank you for building the non-sex offender coalition for
    reforming the laws - expertise, credentials, and experience from these individuals is not recognized enough. As an RFSO, I experience firsthand the effects these laws have on innocent misinformed family, friends, associates, and community members. Laws which promote prejudice, isolation, and demoralization of RFSO's, and ignore restorative justice, treatment, and rehabilitation back into society, have become the evidence
    and excuse to condemn, ridicule, and punish me indefinitely. When we
    can't as a society expect reasonable justice in the law, how can we
    expect society to be reasonable or protected by the law?

     

    He Without Sin, Cast the lst Stone.
    By Jan <msfewell@sbcglobal.net>
    Posted on 09.10.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0182]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0182 and send to Jan at msfewell@sbcglobal.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.

    AMEN, JAN! If only all of us could remember this one line - ´whoever is without sin, cast the first stone.¨ Even some within our movement forget this, when they seek to castigate one group or another, saying, well, we didn´t mean THOSE PEOPLE! All of us are in the same human boat.
    -------------------------------------
    One of my favorite pictures of Jesus from my childhood Bible is the one of Him surrounded by the little children. As a victim of child molestation and a mother of 3, I know the need for protecting our children from sexual predators. However, the net cast by the current and ever changing laws relating to sex offenders is a very broad net.

    3 examples: a 25 year old man is currently listed on the public registry because at the age of 10 he allegedly showed his winkie to a 7 year old little girl. 2nd example: The 23 year old who has been on the public registry since he was 17. He had consensual sex with a girl he believed to be 16 in a couple of weeks. The girl was soon to be 14. The girl and her family do not agree nor like what has been done to this now 23 year old; it was the State’s decision to prosecute. 3rd example: The 29 year old who had sex at 19 with his 15 year old highschool sweetheart. They are now married and have a child.

    As registered sex offenders, these three young men would be banned from going to Church. Their crime is a crime relating to man’s law, but what about God’s Law? Did this 10 year old little boy break God’s Law? If so, which one? We know the teenage boys and girls broke God’s Law so perhaps there are some who can justify banning the young men from Church, but what about the girls?

    I can visualize Jesus (our Perfect Example) as he drew in the sand and told the hypocrites that whoever had no sin cast the first stone. What if we (based on God’s Law) banned everyone from Church who has ever broken God’s Law regarding premarital sex, extramarital affairs, lust, porn addicitons, coveting your neighbor’s wife (husband), etc? Who would be left to watch our children?

    Maybe this is why some things are best left for God to judge.

    just my thoughts,
    jan
     

    The Look in Their Eyes Took My Breath Away
    By Anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 08.10.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0181]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0181 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    THIS comes from a terrific organizing effort in California co-sponsored by California RSOL and Women Against the Registry (WAR) - It is to be applauded and replicated in other states!!!!
    Alex
    --------------------
    I wanted to share with you the how our say went yesterday. WOW! To look in the eyes of these people just took my breath away. You could see the pain in the parents´ eyes and the pain in the man who was convicted for something so stupid and should not have ever been convicted. And the man who made a mistake. I was so moved. I wish everyone could see this side of the registry. We met about 10 people. Most of them just wanted to tell us their story. They are all in so much pain and I could relate to them. The combination of having a male and female knocking on the door was great. Marshall and I created who we were going to be for the afternoon. I said I was going to be a contribution and he would be love.

    There was one home we went to and it was the girlfriend of the offender she was about to slam the door on us and I looked at her and said we are on your side. I told her my boyfriend was in prison right now. She calmed down and then listened to Marshall. We told everyone we were having a meeting they were so happy to hear this was going to take place. Marshall and I did meet someone who was on the registry for homosexual acts. The kindest man you will ever want to meet. Than we had one man who had tears in his eyes . I cried when I left because he has no life and after hearing his story I was shocked at why he was arrested.

    It was an emotional afternoon for me . At the same time, very healing.
    I know are going to make a big difference in this world. I do recommend this going out and meeting the offenders. There is something more personal and powerful when you lend an ear and look into someones eyes. Marshall and I are going out next week to another neighborhood and we are going to meet a few women on the registry. I am greatful for Marshall's fight in this. All of you who are fighting in this I am grateful .. Thank you.
    Sandra
     

    Man´s Suicide Due to Paper´s False Charges
    By posted by Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 05.10.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0180]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0180, SUICIDE, and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. GO also to the url for this blog by a prominent US Law Professor, Jonathan Turley (George Washington University) and send him your comments, too.
    the url is
    http://jonathanturley.org/2009/10/05/man-commits-suicide-after-newspaper-wrongly-says-he-was-charged-with-molestation-of-boys-then-issues-a-remarkably-callous-account-of-suicide/

    ------------------------------------------
    MAN COMMITS SUICIDE AFTER TORONTO STAR FALSELY SAID HE WAS ACCUSED OF MOLESTING YOUNG BOYS
    Jonathan Turley, LLD

    Whatever David Dewees did or did not do, he was not accused of what The Toronto Star printed before he committed suicide by laying across railroad tracks: molestation of young boys. Yet, the newspaper (the largest in Canada) published a story on his death that can only be described as remarkably cold and callous.


    In its publication today, the Star recounts how Dewees, a popular teacher at the Christian-based Ontario Pioneer Camp in Port Sydney, Ontario had “died an innocent man.” It then, however, writes the entire article with a mocking presumption of guilt. This is precisely why I have written and spoken against the rule that you “cannot defame the dead,” here.

    The newspaper quickly asks “was it guilt of another kind, shame and self-loathing, that made the 32-year-old lie down on the tracks at High Park subway station Saturday morning rather than face trial?” Well, then there is the fact (buried deep in the article) that the newspaper earlier reported that he had actually molested little boys:

    The Star, it must be acknowledged, got the charges wrong in a Friday digest item that said Dewees had been charged with sexually assaulting two 13-year-olds. There was no assault alleged by police. The distinction is important though it’s doubtful – this too can never be ascertained – such an error (corrected) had much impact on Dewees’ state of mind.

    “The distinction is important though it’s doubtful”? The difference is between alleged Internet solicitation and actual molestation of boys. The newspaper goes on to say that the Dewees’ family with have to deal with ” the taint of cowardliness.” Most such solicitations, while potentially criminal in their own right, do not result in actual acts of molestation and are given far lower sentences, including probation without jail.

    The newspaper admits that the police have withheld the details of any alleged crime but still speculates in purple prose where “Dewees really did lie prone on the rails and wait for an oncoming train to mangle his body, condemning himself to those moments of terrifying anticipation, then he embraced a worse comeuppance than any retribution the courts could impose. This was a ritualistic punishment, a self-mutilation.” Wow.

    Not done, the newspaper accuses him of shunting blame on to others and acting guilty.

    What is most striking is that the newspaper expressly states “our law affords no protection from libel to the dead. So we will assume by his actions, and for the purpose of exploring this awful event, that Dewees was guilty as charged.” Unbelievable.

     

    US V. JUVENILE MALES: More than Meets the Eye
    By Bally and Pertinax <website: http://senseoffenses.blogspot.com/>
    Posted on 02.10.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0179]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0179, MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE. We urge rsol participants to read this blog regularly - including the Sept. entry, IF NOT HERE, WHERE? Mary of Virginia (rsolvirginia@comcast.net) has suggested these, send responses to Bally, at the blog, as well as Mary and me (alexm60@fastmail.fm)
    -----------------------------------------------

    THERE'S MORE HERE THAN MEETS THE EYE
    from the BLOG, SENSE OFFENSES, Oct. l, 2009
    Pertinax

    I have a few thoughts on this so emblematically-entitled case, recently decided by the Ninth Circuit. The text of the Decision is here.

    The case concerns whether a person convicted of a sex offense in juvenile proceedings long ago now has to register under the Adam Walsh Act (formally known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, or SORNA). The Court decided that Registration and Notification would be punitive for a juvenile conviction and thus could not be applied retroactively, even if the juvenile is now well into adulthood.

    Writing for the Court Judge Reinhart asserts at the outset that “the avowed priority of our juvenile justice system (in theory, if not always in practice) has, historically, been rehabilitation rather than retribution”.

    I’m not sure that the distinction is that easy, between juvenile and adult justice systems. Adult prisons are not called “correctional” for nothing. Yes, juveniles might have more of a chunk of future ahead of them, but that’s not why they are more eligible for rehabilitation. Their brains – and precisely the most uniquely human parts, the prefrontal lobes and cortex – are not yet fully developed.

    But that’s no guarantee – a bunch of other factors including what can still be called ‘character’ enter into it and nothing is certain. But it’s always worth the try and in most cases some lasting good will come of it.

    But I don’t see how the Court can so easily assume that adult justice is only for retribution. Adults can also grow and develop – it’s part of what makes humans such remarkable beings. Yes, an adult may commit a crime that requires punishment, but there is utterly no certainty that s/he will not use that opportunity to catalyze some profound corrective growth, and – as I suggested in my previous Post – perhaps achieving a level of growth beyond what average life-experience would or could deliver. You can never tell in these things.

    That, of course, is exactly what the sex-offender-as-incorrigible-monster-narrative is designed to eliminate: this irrepressible possibility that a human being can take a difficult situation – including his own guilt – and somehow metabolize it into growth, perhaps remarkable growth. If this element of human-ness were allowed to remain attached to sex-offenders in the public mind, then they could not be so easily dismissed (and vilified) as monsters.

    So this sex-offender-as-incorrigible-monster-narrative plays a critical role: its job is to dehumanize or un-humanize the individual so as to make it easier to do what the scheme has in store for him.

    That’s a deceitful and dangerous gambit for any society to run. You cannot deny another human being’s humanity – it violates the fundamental truth of the species. And when you do such a thing, then you not only violate the fundamental truth of being human, but you also endanger your own human-ness. The untruth weakens your grasp on your own humanity, even your own capacity to be human.

    Worse, as an entire society starts this slide, then others all around you are doing the same – the young even more than the old – and so not only your own but your society’s grasp of its own most fundamental qualities starts to weaken.

    And in the Framers’ vision, you can’t start letting the government decide who is and who isn’t ‘first class’ – everybody is possessed of those “inalienable rights” and that core dignity. A government that would try to remove those rights and that dignity is going to taste a ‘blood’ that will turn it feral – like the oppressive monarchies and tyrannies of the Old World. A government unanchored by Truth, presiding over a citizenry equally unable to understand the truth of its own heritage and its own unique nature as human beings, is going to start heading down dark paths in short order.

    Interestingly as well, in a by the by, the Court notes that it makes its judgment “in light of the pervasive and severe new additional disadvantages” that “result” from the SORNA requirements. Why these only apply to juveniles and not to adults is a question that has to be asked.

    The Court notes that “the regulation went into effect immediately as an interim rule, without providing for a notice and comment period in advance of SORNA’s retroactive application”. The “regulation” refers to the Attorney General Guidelines Congress ordered that Office to come up with. As with so many of these sex-offense laws, they bypass the usual legislative and even statutory practices calling for deliberation, public and professional input, overall kicking-the-tires examination. The usual reason given for this is that ‘it’s an emergency’ and ‘we can’t wait even one more day’; such government-by-emergency has a very ominous history in this world.

    And there exists no small possibility that the Guidelines, which establish “retroactivity”, are probably going to be as “interim” or temporary as taxes – unless there is significant civic push-back.

    Nicely, the Court acknowledges (in support of the juvenile) that “when an individual challenges a new law, such as SORNA was at the time this case began, it would appear to be impossible for him to develop a record which contains the “clearest proof” [the Supreme Court standard with which sex-offenders are burdened] of the punitive effects that the law will have upon him or indeed upon others”. Again, I can’t see why this isn’t also true for adults. Such experience of the law’s effects can’t be determined when the law is new. But then, the FAA doesn’t require a couple-three planes of a new type to crash before it refuses to issue an airworthiness certificate to the design – there are other avenues for ascertaining if their design and operating characteristics are going to result in the aircraft’s design not being flight-worthy.

    The Court continues immediately: “Certainly, we would not require [the juvenile] to suffer and then document the ill effects … before permitting challenges to its retroactive application”. Wisely said. And why that doesn’t apply to adults is again the question.

    The Court considers whether the retroactive application of SORNA “imposes an affirmative disability or restraint”. It concludes that “given the degree of damage former juvenile offenders may suffer in their adult lives by the retroactive application of the statutory requirement, we conclude that this factor is by far the most compelling in our analysis”. I can see that. But that must also be true for adult offenders.

    It quotes the Supreme Court in Smith v Doe that “although the public availability of information may have a lasting and painful impact on the convicted sex offender, these consequences flow not from the Act’s registration and dissemination provisions, but from the fact of conviction, already a matter of public record”. And I’d like to say something about that.

    First, “the public record” means something verrry different when all a person has to do is click onto a site and move a mouse in the convenient comfort of his/her own home, rather than taking the time to go down to the courthouse and checking the files. Yes, in the barest technical sense a public record is a public record. But going down to the courthouse means that a person has to at least decide that the trip is worth it and make the time and expend the effort; that makes for a degree of seriousness in the searcher.

    Clicking onto a site when you’re at home (or, who knows, have taken your portable computer down to the local bar) invites a much different situation: a person may well have a far less serious purpose and approach the record with an attitude well-short of maturity and gravitas. But all that information is right there literally at one’s fingertips. There’s a good reason why Congressfolk don’t like to be ‘too available’, as it were: they don’t want just anybody walking up and venting on them.

    But also, the folks who are looking up the info aren’t just looking up a public record. They have already been primed – by the government itself – to see ‘sex offenders’ as monsters. As I’ve said in previous Posts, the ‘Findings’ that legislatures have made (and courts have far too easily accepted) to the effect that sex-offenders constitute an immediate and permanent and incorrigible threat to individuals and their children … these Findings mean that when somebody is convicted of a sex offense he is automatically perceived in the public eye as having been certified by the government as a monstrous and permanent threat. The government, as I’ve said, has effectively educated the citizenry into the (grossly inaccurate) belief that sex offenders are incorrigible monstrous threats.

    So when a person goes onto the internet and looks up a ‘sex offense’ record, s/he is not simply looking up the public record of a criminal conviction; s/he is looking up the information on a government-certified monster.

    And this is not true for any other crime.

    So to say that it’s just a “public record” really doesn’t reach the core reality at work here: the citizenry are primed by the government (with the assistance of sensationalist media) and so they are already in a quite abnormal state of agitation when they approach the “public record”.

    So it cannot be said – as too many courts are saying, following the Supreme Court’s lead – that such troubles as the registered sex offender will encounter stem not from anything the government has done (merely publishing an already public record of conviction), but rather stem simply from the conviction itself (which is the offender’s own fault). Lots of folks are convicted of this or that; but only sex offenders are officially and with great fanfare ‘certified’ as permanent and monstrous threats even after they’ve done their time. And it is precisely that ‘certification’ by the government that makes a sex offender’s record far more than just your average “public record” of conviction.

    And, as I’ve said, that ‘certification’ is grossly inaccurate.

    And it is precisely that ‘certification’ that imposes a stunning and life-wrecking burden on the sex offender. It’s insufficient for a court to opine that registration is not “historically” a cruel and unusual punishment. It’s not the registration. It’s the double whammy of ‘certifying’ the offender as a permanent and monstrous threat to a public that the government itself has already primed, and then tossing the offender’s identity and information out onto the internet like chum in a shark tank.

    No, this isn’t a “historical” form of punishment. Precisely so. This is a whole new thing in American law and society – and it ain’t good. But anyone who can claim with any pretensions to maturity and intelligence that this doesn’t constitute a cruel and unusual punishment should take a few days off for some really deep thought – and maybe some prayer as well.

    And again, that’s why a sex offender’s ‘information’ is not simply ‘information’ – it is actually a colored flag (and maybe a green light): ya know all those monsters we’ve been telling you about? Well this guy’s one of them – here he is.

    All law – especially in a democracy – is in some way ‘political’; it has to interact with the citizenry and thus with the emotions and conceptions of public opinion. That’s always been true.

    But throughout the 20th century there has been – as Gustav Le Bon noted* at the very end of the 19th – an increasing science – and by no means a purely bright one – dedicated to manipulating public opinion.

    What has happened in this country, embraced by the Left** a few decades ago, is that this manipulation has been deployed by the Left – especially the ‘New Left’ of the post-1965 era – for its purposes. Which are often considered ‘revolutionary’ but in a good sense; that is to say, with the intentions of introducing new ‘reforms’ and changes. Very large changes introduced very quickly (hence the ‘revolutionary’ aspect). I don’t agree that such a simple baptism of ‘good intentions’ suffices to make a ‘change’ or a ‘reform’ a worthwhile and workable plan when it comes to actually passing sweeping legislation.

    In this sex-offense mania it has worked out this way: the public opinion is whipped up by stories that are reputedly backed by ‘science’. Then under a purposeful regime of ‘advocacy’ organized elements of lobbyists and ‘scientists’ or ‘experts’ step up to put the pressure on Congress, making for a dramatic if too-simple story-line that the media often eat up like catnip. The politicians can then ‘respond’ with quick laws. And in this case, the unsleeping urge – natural to all governments as the Framers knew – to increase government power and control over their citizenries comes into play. Though in a democracy, especially after the overt tyrannies of Fascism and Communism, this has to be done somewhat covertly, using some form of ‘sheep’s clothing’ to disguise itself.

    This is the pernicious and rather new dynamic that is now operating in the sex-offense mania. It is a vigorous if subtle feedback loop.

    Thus, the ‘sex-offender-as-incorrigible-stranger-monster’ is literally created. And public opinion ‘demands’ and legislators ‘respond’ with all their authority and courts often – alas – go along, since the Supreme Court too “reads the election returns”.

    So that’s what’s going on beneath the surfaces of the sex-offense mania.

    No other crime is or has ever been treated like this. Yes, outrage against gangsters and even liquor (Prohibition) have taken place – but everybody knew that ‘gangsters’ were bad and needed to be reined in. But nobody assumed that gangsters were as profoundly and thoroughly and uniquely ‘evil’ the way sex-offenders have been painted. Folks knew that there were ‘gangsters’ and that they needed to be reined in, but nobody lived in the perpetually anxious agitation that they were ‘everywhere’, seeking to involve themselves in you and your family and your children and could strike – even in the disguise of a ‘decent’ citizen – at any moment, right in the heart of your world and your town and your neighborhood and your home and your life. And that there were innumerable legions of them, hiding throughout the length and breadth of the land (like ‘Communists’ were supposed to have been in the early Cold War era).

    No other convicts or class of criminal offender get this sort of treatment – except maybe those individuals, whatever they’ve done, who get up on the most-wanted posters at the post office (if they still have them).

    So I think the courts have to accept that sex offenders are not at all ‘just convicts’ and they don’t simply have ‘public records’. No. Sex offenders, through the deliberate action of the government, are publicly and officially claimed to be ‘monsters’ and are in a situation no other convict or class of convicts are in, and on top of that this is a brand-new type of thing in American society so the courts cannot simply look in the past for precedents.

    Unless they go back to Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia, Mao’s China, or France during the Terror, all of whom raised up their own versions of 'enemies of the people', class enemies', or 'enemies of the revolution' - or all four together at the same time.

     

    S.O. Laws Bring in Millions for States
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 26.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0178]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0178 and be sent to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send this on to the Colorado sex offender who must remain anonymous - out of fear of retaliation from the state. These are sad times!!! Alex

    ------------------------------------------
    To make a long story short I feel like the most privileged sex offender in my county, I have minimal restriction. However, I have to register as a sex offender, and despite that I am in a deferred sentence I appear in the internet as a convicted felon with a “sexual assault on a child” conviction.

    We know the sex offender registry is a tool for politicians to get votes. “I am tough on sex offenders and children safety is my first priority” is the slogan of many politicians. However, here is another interesting fact about the sex offender laws:

    Average probation cost per offender = $8,000 (Colorado has over 10,000 registered sex offenders).

    Registration fee is $100 per year for quarterly registration.

    Treatment cost = around $260 per month once the offender reaches re-lapse prevention the cost of treatment goes to about $360 a month for about 6 months. Treatment cost varies from provider to provider. The lowest I know is $200 per month.

    Meetings with the offender, treatment providers and family members are about $50 to $75 per section.

    Each polygraph examination is $225; each offender takes about 5 polygraphs per year at the beginning of treatment, more polygraph examinations may be required depending on failure rate.

    Call me sarcastic, pessimist or cry baby if you will, but the amount of money generated by a state with sex offender probations is in the millions, and perhaps part of the reason why sex offender laws are the way they are.

     

    Just a Kiss, and Now He Has No Life!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 25.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0177]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0177 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    I will send the comments to the mother of this young man - they NEED support! PLEASE HELP! Alex Marbury
    -------------------
    i haven,t heard from anyone in awhile. i have been so upset about not being able to do anything about the way our government keeps sucking life out of my son and alot of others. young boys who made a bad decision. my son admitted to just a kiss, all the evidence was negative. they had nothing, but convinced us that if my son didn´t plea bargain with the state he would be sentenced to 12 yrs. my son was 17 the girl was 15, he is now 25 and still paying for his mistake. he does´nt even want to live! he works every day, and he believes that because of this he will never have a regular life. i really don´t know what to do.
     

    80 Yr Old Says: Re-Evaluate This Paranoia
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 23.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0176]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0176 - and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and I will send them along to this great elderly woman!
    ---------------------
    As a divorced other of four children during the 1950-1960s, my children and I were helped by several people. We could not have survived without such assistance. Upon achieving adulthood, my boys sought out persons they could help as well. Their actions were misinterpreted during the 1990s. They were labeled with the sex-offender title. Although one is now on probation in Colorado,his brother, an honorably discharged Viet Nam era veteran was accused of several such charges- all hearsay. He was imprisoned then parolled but was returned to prison by a parole officer, who vowed to him that he would again put him in prison.He is schedueled for review in December and is schedueled for release in 2014. I do not have the thousands of dollars needed to assist him in a defense by a parole attorney. Although my son does have a VA disability pension, he will hase a difficult tie finding a place to live. I plan to assist him, but it is going to be an uphill climb.
    Good God, I will be 80 in as few days. This sex offender paranoia has to re re-evaluated.
     

    CURIOUS, NOT CRIMINAL!
    By posted by Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 23.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0175]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0175 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send to this courageous and supportive father!
    ---------------
    (SEE ALSO BLOG No. 0174 and Tale from the Registry No. 00116, and look for the full story in the October RSOL Digest and E-Magazine.)

    we came to know Joshua and his mother thru our attorney who was also his attorney. Our son was caught with internet child porn on his computer which started in his early teens unknown to us. He faced the same consequences as Josh, but because we went befor a different judge in Ohio, he was sentenced to 5 years of probation and having to register as a sex offender for at least 10 years.

    It seems to me that young men his age are not criminals, but curious youth. If the "Justice System" wants to arrest every teen age boy who views porn they had better start building a lot more prisons for these boys. This is a travisty of Justice on such young men and boys. I can understand an older guy getting into serious trouble for viewing child porn, but hormones rage in teen boys and if the internet had esisted when I was a teenager I would have been all over it loooking for the same things. Our Justice System is very Nazi Like now and I won't be surprised if they try and take away our freedom of Speech and the Press adn only allow liberal media to publish or broadcast. I would love to join the fight against this injustice.
     

    WARN CHILDREN: DANGER from Porn Law Enforcers!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 23.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0174]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0174 - and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    I will send them to this young man´s brave father!

    See also Tale from the Registry No. 00116, for Josh´s story - possibly one of the saddest and most urgent of these types of stories which RSOL receives daily. America is a very sad place indeed!
    ----------------------------------------------
    FROM JOSH´S DAD
    I am attempting to gain all possible support to achieve vindication and freedom for my son while at the same time educating other children and parents to the dangers of internet pornography and the even greater danger of those that “enforce the law”.
     

    Love & Crime - Letter from Tonia
    By tonia <toniat@sbcglobal.net>
    Posted on 13.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0173]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0173 and send to Tonia, toniat@sbcglobal.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    Tonia is one of our two excellent Illinois RSOL contact people.
    You can read the article to which she is responding on rsol´s News Item No. 0171.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Love and Crime
    Regarding Bill McClellan's "Maybe less is more in sex offender lists" (Sept. 4): I am glad that Mr. McClellan understands what is happening with so-called sex offenders. Many lives are ruined by this label. My son, at age 19, had "consensual" sex with his 16-year-old girlfriend. For this so-called crime, he is a registered sex offender. He's lost two jobs and isn't allowed in church, near schools, in parks, etc. He recently was arrested for seeing his girlfriend (she's 18 now). His probation required him to stay away from her. So he's in prison. Was this what the registries were intended for? I don't think so.

    I and thousands of other people truly appreciate that Mr. McClellan wrote about this. It is unfortunate that many people believe that every so-called sex offender is a child molester. I'm trying to spread the word, but the public doesn't want to listen, the politicians don't answer the phones, the teachers and principals think I'm encouraging sex between teens and the media only tells of the horrible stories. I also have started a website (www.love-is-not-a-crime.com) to show the world who is on the sex offender registeries.
    Tonia
     

    British Class Action Suit
    By Brian Rothery <br@rothery.com>
    Posted on 06.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0172]
     
    Send comments, with reference to Blog 0172 and Action Item 0062, to Brian, br@rothery.com, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.

    Inquisition21, the European sister of RSOL (which predates us by some years) is a great group that is fighting a sex panic, initiated from the US, but spilling over into Britain. Here is the latest article. Go to their website (linked on RSOL) - it´s http://www.inquisition21.com for more information.

    ----------------------
    Class action marks 10th anniversary of the Landslide FBI raid.

    I am the coordinator of a class action against the British police.
    Called the Operation Ore Group Action (a class action is a group
    action over here), this is about to reach the High Court in London,
    United Kingdom.

    September 8 2009 will be the 10th anniversary of the infamous

    Fort Worth Landslide FBI raid. The worldwide reverberations

    of that event are now about to rebound dramatically and possibly

    roll back on America. The British outcome of Landslide was

    Operation Ore based on information supplied to the British

    police by the FBI.


    The Operation Ore Group Action (class action) will shortly

    receive its first test in a sample appeal in the High Court in

    London. This will hopefully be followed by a raft of appeals

    and claims for compensation for false arrests, convictions,

    cautions accepted under intimidation and much more. The

    group action team will be presenting new evidence secured

    in America never before shown to the defence. It is hoped

    that after the group action is underway charges of perverting

    the course of justice will be brought against the British police

    and their 'experts'.


    Operation Ore was the extraordinary British response to the
    notorious Fort Worth, Texas, US Landslide case, but where the US
    authorities arrested only a little over 100 in America in connection with Landslide, the British, acting on false information from the US authorities, went after over 7,000, ruining most of them and their families. While the British were the worst by far in their response to the Landslide information, the US authorities through Interpol released the names of some 250,000 alleged subscribers to Landslide to the police forces of around 60 countries. ONE QUARTER OF A MILLION MEN and their families were thus affected by this travesty. Based on our estimate of British men who committed suicide as a result of the Landslide-originated police raids, thousands may have committed suicide worldwide.

    After the British class action commences, it is planned to expand it
    worldwide. The main plank of the class action is based on
    prosecution evidence, never before shown to the defense, which we, the action team, have obtained by travelling secretly to Fort Worth Texas. This includes both the Landslide records and the relevant FBI files. We will also be exposing lies told by the US authorities.



    The massive credit card fraud which we have uncovered has

    been up to now hidden or denied by the police. The British police

    are expected to claim that the US authorities hid this from them,

    but it was immediately apparent once we secured the evidence. The

    evidence has also provided clear proof that serious lies were told

    about its contents. None of this will be good news for certain

    individuals in the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS),

    the FBI and Terri Moore, a First Assistant in the Dallas County

    District Attorney's Office.



    Brian Rothery
    Ireland
    Operation Ore Group Action
     

    A Biblical Blog: Jonah and Sex Offenders
    By so issues <soissues@gmail.com>
    Posted on 06.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0171]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0171, sending to soissues@gmail.com and send a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    NOTE: RSOL takes no position on specific religious points of view, but this is an interesting comparison! Alex

    THE URL of the BLOG where this is posted:
    http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2009/09/message-of-hope-in-book-of-jonah.html
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    A Message of Hope in the Book of Jonah

    Shortly after reading the Book of Jonah in the Bible, a curious viewpoint was revealed to me. Nineveh, the wicked city of 120,000, was to be warned of destruction by the Lord through Jonah. Of course, Jonah did not want to go warn the city of Nineveh because of the slight chance that the Lord’s wrath will be appeased and the Ninevites would be spared. From Jonah’s viewpoint, Israel’s enemies deserved annihilation; however the Lord, who is wiser and all seeing, is the only one to decide whether annihilation is deserving and whether it will be carried out or not.

    My thoughts drifted to the viewpoint of John Walsh and other individuals, politicians, etc, who would like all 700,000+ sex offenders banished, imprisoned, or preferably destroyed. As we all know, the ‘sex offender’ is a broad label that encompasses many, regardless of how severe or petty the incident was and regardless of how long it has been since the incident. It is democratic in that it distinguishes all in one big group – dangerous and to be feared by society. It is a fault-ridden label created by cowardly politicians and vindictive fear-mongering advocates.

    However, despite the many tirades of John Walsh and his types, the ‘sex offender’ population will not be destroyed. One reason, that as long as the list remains, it will only get larger and burdensome for the taxpayers. The basic law of diminishing returns will insure that. Second, and more importantly, because the Lord knows that not all ‘sex offenders’ are evil incarnate, that many of them should not even be on a list, especially after they have done their time. Moreover, the dangerous child-raping murderer that society fears is not on the list. Why, you ask? Because they are in prison or death-row! They are not mingling in the public. Therefore, despite all the silly ordinances that are created, it will eventually come to pass that sensibility will once again prevail in the land and much of the nonsense will be tossed into the ash heap of bad legislation. How much suffering and burdens will have to be endured between now and that day, I am not sure, but it will eventually get better.

    Referring back to Jonah, the Lord didn’t destroy Nineveh because they were willing to seek forgiveness and He graciously forgave them. Many ‘sex offenders’ already know the Lord has forgiven them. Therefore we can take comfort in the fact that John Walsh and his types, like Jonah, will not be granted their wishes for destruction.

    -Anonymous
     

    Hard Day Lobbying in Columbus!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 04.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0170]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog 0170 and send to alemx60@fastmail.fm and I´ll send to these hard working RSOL folks in Ohio!
    ------------------
    Today was a trip to Cleveland which including Sarah, My Mom and myself. We first found went to the Cuyahoga County Justice Center to meet with and reach out to those there for register purposes. There, we found as many as 15 frustrated faces waiting to register. We made our presence known, and what our purpose was for being there today, and it wasn't too long before the silent area we found when we first arrived, became filled with the sound of many hopeful and excited voices, sharing stories and discussing the horrible wrongdoings of this registry. This included one man, whose crime happened in 1960.

    From there, we made a trip over to the Public Defender's Office and found great comfort when a young Aide came to greet us. He actually gave a sigh of relief when he found out that we were not there to condemn offenders, but instead to speak on their behalf. He soon had us speaking to a Public Defender and the five of us were able to sit down and discuss what their office has done and where other opportunities exist that we can explore. We were thanked by them both for taking this fight on, and told to feel free to stay in contact as well as being given other names to contact.

    Back to the County Registration Unit where we found at least 8-12 more ex offenders and once again we gave them the same talk. The conversations between them was still going on after we left the immediate area, lingered as we walked down the hall. This is personally my favorite part...whether or not they decide to stand with us together, it is imperative to give them hope.

    The next stop was the ACLU where we found a locked door and communicated with a staff member though speaker phone and were directed to leave literature as they see people only by appt.

    Next was the Federal US Attorney's Office, in all of its fancy, wasted space and a confused staff member who told us that this office would really not be of much help to us, but at least took the literature we kept after we told her this would not be our last visit.

    Our final destination included another Ohio Statehouse across the street from the Fed building, (and we thought there was only one Statehouse in Columbus, who knew?) This included a visit to the Ohio Attorney General's Office where we spoke to an who had a well rehearsed response,but at least kept the literature we provided. Another stop proved to be a little more successful, to the Govenor's, Cleveland Office where we spoke to an Assistant. We were asked to contact her again to make an appointment in the near future with her Supervisor, which we assume is probably an Aide. At least she was more congenial.

    From our last Columbus Monday (at the begiining of August), we do have a scheduled appointment at Sarah's home w/ one of the state reps for a meeting!

    Please keep trying, fighting, and doing what we each appreciate.
     

    BOOKVILLE - under the Miami Bridge
    By SOSEN <rickysmom@rickyslife.com>
    Posted on 03.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0169]
     
    Send comments to ricksymom@rickyslife.com, with copies to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    SOSEN is to be congratulated for sticking with this terrible tale.
    -----------------------------------

    AN INTRODUCTION TO BOOKVILLE

    The newly coined name for the sex offender colony situated under the
    Julia Tuttle Causeway, in Miami, Florida, is Bookville. Named after its creator, Ron Book, Bookville is the home to a group of homeless former offenders.

    Ron Book is the chairman of Miami-Dade's Homeless Trust. In his position with the Homeless Trust, Book has become well known to the Miami-Dade area. As the creator of Bookville, Ron Book has become known worldwide. This latter distinction, we are sure is one that he would sooner have left out of his resume.

    After his daughter was molested by a nanny hired by the family, (The
    nanny was not a registered offender) Book, filled with hate for all
    offenders, began a campaign to rid Miami of former sex offenders. His hatred coupled with lack of knowledge and understanding of how to handle former offenders has led to the creation of Bookville.

    As for the former offenders who live in Bookville, they are not there by choice, nor are they there for lack of funds to find homes. No, the former offenders who have been forced to live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway are there due to oppressive residency laws that target only former sex offenders. No other class of criminal is subjugated to such harsh treatment once released from prison or after being put on probation. No other class of criminal is denied the right of reintegration into society.

    The former offenders of Bookville have been forced into homelessness by the very man who champions the cause of homelessness in Miami-Dade, Mr. Ron Book the chairman of Miami-Dade's Homeless Trust. For Mr. Book, there is no lack of work; on the one hand he helps the homeless and on the other he creates homelessness. One must ask, is this a conflict of interest?

    Unnoticed

    Until recently, Bookville had gone mostly unnoticed by the residence of the city of Miami. Oh, from time to time, someone would ask, “Why are there so many cars parked alongside the road next to the bridge?” But other than for curiosity sake, this disadvantaged group went unnoticed. Unnoticed until the day that SOSEN B.O.D. members paid a visit and filmed documentary about the plight of those forgotten, undesirable members of society.

    While filming the documentary, the SOSEN B.O.D. members attended a
    Broward county Task Force meeting which Ron Book's daughter sat on. It was not long after this that the mainstream media began to seriously cover the plight of the residence of Bookville.

    Today, Bookville stands as a testament to the arrogance of men; when they allow fear and hate to create laws, when they ignore facts and prefer prominence, the outcome is oppression and cruelty, the outcome in this instance is Bookville.


    A change of attitude?

    Since the media has begun to follow this story, many supports of
    residency restrictions have begun to backpedal. Even Ron Book seems to have begun to rethink his position. Book at onetime claimed that if an offender wanted too, they could find a place to live that was not in a restricted area. However, since Book has been looking unsuccessfully for the past couple of months for housing for the former offenders who reside in Bookville, he is now seeing firsthand the conundrum that he helped to create. One would think that he would see the folly of the laws he help to create. Not so when hatred clouds the mind. Proof of his hatred for these former offenders comes from his own comments.

    Speaking of the former offenders, Books had this to say as reported by www.justnews.com “If they are not there, they are somewhere where we cannot keep track of them. And that should be a scary concern for the public,” said Ron Book of the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust.
    >
    “The concern is that any sex offender who is registered under the
    bridge but actually lives elsewhere is putting children at risk –
    because families in that neighborhood won’t know to be on alert.
    “Can you imagine a community with a bundle of sex offenders and
    predators running loose in a community? Without anybody knowing where they are?” said Book.
    >
    Book is using fear and misinformation to gain public support for his
    position and to lessen the impact of the problems he helped to create. The facts regarding former offenders that you will not hear from Books are these.
    >
    1. The registered offenders who live in Bookville are only required to spend the night sleeping under the bridge (6 hours). During the day they work and can travel, visit family and shop. If they were such a danger as Book claims, why there would be hundreds of sex offences being committed by them daily. The press would be covering these stories and it would be widely known. And yet that is not the case, is it?
    >
    2. Re-offence rates for former offenders is surprisingly low.
    According to the Department of Justice the recidivism rate for former sex offenders is only 3.5% over three years. Compare that to other crimes. Auto theft -78.8%, Possession/Sale of stolen property -77.4%, Burglary -74%, Robbery -70.2%, Larceny -74.6%
    >
    3. According to studies in both Colorado and Minnesota, Residency
    Restrictions do not work and are counterproductive.
    >
    4. According to the Department of Justice, 93% of new sex crimes are committed by people who have never been convicted of a sex offence. Thus they were not on the registry and the registry was useless in preventing those offences.
    >
    5. Support systems help to reduce recidivism. Anything that keeps a former offender away from these support systems and accountability
    network would be harmful. Residency restrictions are harmful. Former offenders need a stable home and work environment.
    >
    6. Treatment has been proven to reduce recidivism to 1%.
    >
    7. Megan's Law ineffective, study says.” ( Philadelphia Inquirer. Sat, Feb. 7, 2009) The study, released Thursday, concludes that there is little evidence, despite the popularity of the sex-offender notification laws, that they are effective…. On the one hand, some people may take better precautions to protect their children if they know there is a sex offender in the neighborhood. On the other hand, such laws can stigmatize sex offenders, placing them under greater stress, which can contribute to repeat offenses… The study estimated the cost of implementing Megan's Law in 15
    counties that responded to a survey to be $3.97 million per year, mostly attributed to additional staffing costs. Recent studies on sexual offender notification laws in New York and Arkansas reached similar conclusions.
    >
    > *****
    >
    No Change
    >
    Even though there is now much talk about the problems created by
    counterproductive residency restrictions in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the inhabitants of Bookville still remain under the bridge. The simple solution would be to ease the restrictions thus solving the problem. However as with any issue where strong feelings are involved, pride and prejudice go hand in hand. No one wants to be the first to blink. Finger pointing seems to be a better solution for the politicians involved in the issue. All the while they seem to be hopeful that the courts will absolve them before the voting public by ruling the restrictions in violation of state law. That way they can pander to the public that, we tried their best to keep out the bogyman, but the court wouldn’t let us. The real concern for these elected officials is votesnot human lives.
    >
    > *****
    >
    > Public opinion and the law
    >
    >
    The facts regarding former offenders are a far cry from the propaganda being spread about them. The fact that 95% of convicted sex offenders will never commit another sex crime should warrant some change of policy. But what will it take for the public to come to terms with sex offender hysteria and demand change? Education of the public perhaps? The media presenting facts and not pandering to fear for rating? Politicians not pandering for votes by pushing counterproductive laws to make the public happy? At SOSEN we feel that it will take all of the above.
    >
    What is SOSEN and what is SOSEN’s attitude about former sex
    offenders?
    >
    SOSEN is the Sex Offender Solutions and Education Network. The mission of SOSEN is to educate the public, media, law-enforcement, and legislators regarding the facts, based on current research, of sexual abuse. We strive to incorporate fact based solutions thus helping to change the laws that affect former offenders, their loved ones, victims and the communities where they live.
    >
    1. At SOSEN, we do not condone what former offenders have done. In
    many cases the harm done by former offenders is horrendous. No one can take that away. However, we feel that with proper treatment the victims can move on with their lives and put the pain and anger behind them. We know that this is the best thing for them as many members of SOSEN are former victims who have reached out for healing and now live normal productive lives.
    2. We believe that treatment is key to reforming former offenders and returning them safely to society.
    3. We know that former offenders and victims alike can be productive, safe, responsible citizens who show both love and fellow feeling towards one another. We know this because it occurs every day at SOSEN.
    > 4. We believe that repeat offenders should bear the responsibility for their individual actions. We also believe that those who have not reoffended should not suffer for the sins of those who have by the implementation of blanket laws that effect all former offenders.
    > 5. We do not condone vigilantism in any form. Vigilantism aided by the public registry is directly responsible for the deaths of many former offenders.
    > 6. We believe that with good behavior, over a period of time, a former offender should be removed from the registry and all restrictions.
    > 7. We do not believe that juvenile offenders should be place on the national registry.
    > 8. We do not believe that consensual offenders should be placed on the national registry.
    > 9. We do not believe that ex post facto laws should be tolerated simply because they target one group, former offenders.
    > 10. We would like to see the registry returned to its original intent. That of providing a database of truly dangerous offenders. Only those that are determined by facts to be likely to reoffend, and then only in the hand of law enforcement due to vigilantism.
    >
    Before we end this article, we would like to return to the subject of
    Bookville. Yes it still remains. Since it does, we would like you to consider another group of sex offenders from the past. These offenders wore a pink triangle to set them apart for the rest of the people. The public was happy. These offenders were herded away from the public for the sake of safety. The public was happy. In time more registries were set up and the list became wide with many colors of triangles being added. The public way very happy. In the end millions died, murdered. You know it as the Holocaust. The German public was condemned by the world for allowing such a thing to occur. They were no longer happy.

    Are there any similarities?
    Today, sex offenders have been branded by a public registry, the new pink triangle. The public is happy. They are driven from their homes by residency restrictions. The public is happy. Now more registries are being added. The public is very happy. So tell me, will the American public be happy when there is another holocaust, an American holocaust, one created by "legal" design?

    © SOSEN.us 2009
     

    They took away my America!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 03.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0168]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0168 and send to alemx60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them along to this brave and articulate woman.
    ----------------
    I am happy to finally have found a forum for my frustrations. After 3 years of feeling outrage, they not only took away my husband, they took away my America. In an instant (I realized) everything I had been taught to believe in my country was a lie. The governement came into my house and brought unbelievable terror into my life. I thought it only happened in 3rd world countries. I want to help bring justice back to America.

     

    S.O.Registry May Push Some to Be Recluses
    By Ronie Dee <roniedee@hotmail.com>
    Posted on 01.09.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0167]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog 0167 and send to roniedee@hotmail.com .
    alex
    --------------------------------
    Well if you see the news you know that Phillip Garrido, a registered sex offender, also on parole for rape... Kidnapped 11 year old J.C. Dugard, and kept her for 18 years..

    If anything, being a registered sex offender made Garrido a recluse where he hatched a scheme to KEEP his victim and repeatedly violate her.

    Would someone please tell me how the sex offender registry will stop sex crime?

    Bet J.C. Dugard's family don't think it helped much.
     

    Socially Conservative Until My Son Was Accused!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 30.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0166]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0166, ¨Socially Conservative Until My Son Was Accused,´ and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send the comments to this enlightened man who has suffered with his son´s case.Alex
    ---------------------------
    At one time, I was one of those politically and socially conservative persons that cheered when Megan\'s law was passed,
    when the patriot act was passed and numerous other laws and statues were instituted. That is, until my son was accused of a consenting sex act with a female under the age of 18. Supporting my son through this terrible time, seeing the heavy handedness of the law enforcement persons, the violation of rights by the prosecutors and the same from those charged with adjudicating the charges, has caused me to see what we are doing to a large section of our society: We are creating two new classes of citizens, one (those accused of sex offenses) subjected to inhumane treatment for life and the other, (teenage females who make accusations) protected and
    taught that they can make fallacious charges of sexual impropriety without responsibility for truth. We must change this.
     

    Public Protests, Public Awareness
    By Bennie Walton <benniewalton@comcast.net>
    Posted on 22.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0165]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0165 and send to Bennie - benniewalton@comcast.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    Bennie Walton is the RSOL contact person for Colorado. Here he lays out a good discussion for public protest, which he sent his Colorado rsol participants. MORE POWER TO THE PEOPLE IN COLORADO! Alex
    --------------------------------------------------------

    Public Awareness by Public Protest in Colorado
    Bringing Grievances to the Government by Protest
    By: Bennie Walton

    Colorado RSOL Organizer

    August 21, 2009





    Purpose:



    To put forth an idea that must be explored by all family members of people in prison, interested and supportive people from the public, and people labeled as sex offender. What do we want, and how do we want to achieve a goal of mass awareness that would involve local media, and that would put pressure on legislative members, the governor, and the state attorney general, and that would bring the citizens of Colorado squarely into this problem of overreaching and overbearing sex offender laws? How long will we be content in just working in the background only?



    Is public protest viable, and is it something we want to do in time?



    This writing is just a capsule of something I think we all need to think about seriously.





    “Mass protests, throughout history have come at a time when enough of the population has been affected by policies of the rulers and elite. They have often been met with brutal, efficient crackdown by the guardians of the elite, be they local police, militias, national militaries, or even another nation’s military forces.” [1]



    A statement made not so long ago that expresses the reason that many public protests have taken place around this globe. Often times grievances due to government policies, legislated laws, and indifference by those in power have gone unheard, and over time the anger of people have prompted people to do what they ordinarily would not do, think about public protest. It isn’t an easy decision to come together with other people having the same grievances to talk about public protest, and it isn’t an easy decision to participate in a public protest for there are legitimate concerns that many people have, for example:



    1. If I participate in a public protest, will law enforcement arrest me?

    2. If I participate in a public protest, will I lose my job if I am noticed participating?

    3. If I participate in a public protest, will I run the risk of going to jail or prison?



    Questions that are important to answer and that should be resolved in the mind and heart of each individual that wants their grievance and the collective grievance of a people no longer ignored. To help shed light on public protests, let us see how effective protests might be done with minimal or no risk of jail or prison, and how to minimize the risk of job lose for participation in a public protest.



    ‘Understanding First Amendment Rights on Public Property: The government entity that issues or denies a permit for a public assembly or march on public property have specific considerations, and law enforcement have specific considerations they too must be ready to perform. “The Supreme Court has indicated that in the context of protests, parades, and picketing in such public places as streets and parks, “...citizens must tolerate insulting, and even outrageous, speech in order to provide adequate breathing space to the freedoms protected by the First Amendment. Police face difficult constitutional and operational issues when tasked with the dual responsibility of maintaining public order and protecting the first amendment rights of protestors and marchers ...’[2]



    In our consideration of a public protest, we must consider what our public conduct will be and adhere to that conduct that will minimize the heavy hands of law enforcement, and allow a public protest to proceed. We must also understand that with the use of placards indicating the reason for the public protest, that we might be confronted by others in the public who might be quite disagreeable, and who might not agree with our First Amendment Right supported by a permit to be at a particular location. Because of the subject material, which we would be representing to the public, the media, and to government and legislative officials, our conduct most likely should be passive although visible.



    It probably would not be a good idea for people who are on probation or parole to participate in such a public event. Before we can put together such an event, we need to solicit for people of the public who are in agreement with us that sex offender laws have to be reformed. These laws affect prison inmates, people on probation, people not on probation, people on parole, family members, and everyone else who might take a picture of their naked baby, and a host of other innocent things people do that are now made criminal.



    Getting Ready



    In order for us to get ready for a peaceful protest, we need to do several things:



    1. Select committee members for overseeing an event from beginning to end,

    2. Select a spokesperson(s),

    3. Solidify the message that will be seen by the public and media,

    4. Determine the number of days the protest should take place, and the time(s),

    5. Make posters/placards with simple themes, etc.



    It is my hope that someday soon we might all come together, the CURE and RSOL members to make this happen. We may not be ready now, but we will need to be soon. Public protest is the only way to get media involved in a large way, and the only way to get legislators up to the governor aware there is a problem, and that there are people willing to stand up for their rights as Human Beings to help bring sanity and reasonableness back into the making and reform of sex offender laws.





    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [1] Public Protests Around The World, Author by Anup Shah, 2003

    [2] Controlling Public Protest. First Amendment Implications by Daniel L. Schofield, S.J.D Chief of the Legal Instruction Unit at the FBI Academy. http://www.welcomehome.org/rainbow/nfs-regs/control.html





    Bennie Walton
    4238 Freeport Way
    Denver, CO 80239
    Email: lostjustice@comcast.net
     

    Even the abused see the laws must change
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 20.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0164]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0164 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and I´ll send them to this courageous woman.
    ------------


    I am a survivor of a sex-offender. I am completely outraged that the people who make the laws seem to not have a clue as to what is going on in the minds of a "sex-offender." I am also outraged that politicians make it so if an offense is regarding genitalia (NO MATTER WHAT IT IS)it is deemed a sexual-offense. It is absurd. You know something is wrong when even the abused can see where rules and laws need to be changed. The rules and labels need to be changed to actually fit the crime. The public needs to know that \"sex-offender" does not automatically mean "child rapist" There is too much that falls under a sex offender category. (ie. urinating in public). This has got to change.
     

    Porn Sites: Bait Used to Entrap?
    By posted by Mary <rsolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 16.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0163]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0163 and send to Mary, rsolvirginia@comcast.net with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    I´ve thought for a long time that the FBI may even post some of these sites theselves to entrap people. Of course, we need to educate everyone - especially young people - NOT to go to such sites, if only because they can be charged for one-time visits. I think of so many lonely (sometimes obese or disfigured) teenagers, especially boys, who are alone for hours with a computer, and these sites are just tempting them! Shame on the law enforcement officers who do this ugly work.
    Alex
    -------------------------------
    A recent Virginia article got us thinking, Porn Gets Prof Probation http://www2.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/article/porn_gets_prof_probation/43903/

    A former Mary Baldwin College psychology professor will spend three years on probation for a one-time Internet search for “nude young girls” that kept him on the Web for a total of 45 minutes. He entered an Alford plea to avoid a possible sentence of 140 years in prison.

    The former professor did not purchase, create, distribute or download anything that he saw in his 45 minutes on the Internet but he faced 140 years in prison, how is this possible?

    Murders, Drug Dealers, Drug Users, Armed Robbers and DUI’s won't result in a 50 year sentence let alone 140 years so why would this?

    Is our Government looking for the owners of these sites? Has our Government shut these sites down? No, they have not. So if visiting these sites whether by accident, for curiosity or intentionally is against the law resulting in conviction, imprisonment and life long stigma as a Violent Sex Offender why wouldn't our Government eliminate these sites?

    We believe it’s because these sites are bait for more convictions, more prisoners, more probationers and parolees and every time our state, our government can publicize another “pervert” has been captured and punished it keeps the hysteria and fear alive in the parents and citizens of our country.

    If that’s not the reason then why wouldn't the authorities just shut all these illegal, immoral and disgusting sites all down?



    Mary

     

    Illinois RSOL Leaders at ACLU Parade
    By posted by Tonia <toniat@sbcglobal.net>
    Posted on 15.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0162]
     
    Comments to this refer to Blog 0162, and send to toniat@sbcglobal.net with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    These two ladies of RSOL are really working!!!!!
    Thanks!
    Alex
    ---------------------------------------------
    Yesterday, Renate and I drove up to Springfield, IL and participated in the ACLU parade. Just thought I'd give you a quick recap. We got there a little bit early, so hit up the HUGE parking lot before we went over. We put between 250-300 flyers and brochures on every car windshield (the RSOL link was on each one we used). When we got to where we were meeting everyone, I sat down with the attorney for the ACLU and told her about mine and Renate's sons and their situations. She's a new attorney and pretty young, but I was quite surprised that she had no idea that RSO's could not go to church. She said she was going to look into that - we'll see if she does.

    When the parade started, it was the hugest one I've even seen in my life. It actually took 2 hours into the parade to even get us in line - crazy. They had these little folded cards for each of us to pass out that was giving people information on what to say if you get confronted by the cops, got pulled over, etc. So, Renate took some of my business cards (with my website on them) and stuck them inside each one and handed them out (ha ha). She must have given out over 100 cards to people on the sidelines of the parade - it was great. After the parade, when we were walking back to our car, I put one of my brochures on every state cop car I could find (ha ha). 45 more hits to my website since I left yesterday - wonder how many were from what we passed out. We also handed out a brochure to the 2 governors who are going to be running against Quinn in the next election. I only "briefly" had a chance to talk to one of them, but he was given my website, so we'll see. The other arogant one said, "ACLU, yeah, I go with them SOME of the time" and then laughed. Whatever, I stuck a brochure in his vehicle. ha ha

    Anyway, just thought I'd fill ya in - we spread the word as much as we could. Thinking about going back with my husband tonight (he wants to see Leonard Skynard) and if we do go, I've got another 300 flyers and brochures. Mary, in Virginia told me that one of the members of Lynard Skynard is a registered sex offender and suggested I "try" to talk to him. I'm hoping when my husband gets off work, he's not too tired to go because if I could get to this guy, I think it might make a huge impact and, if nothing else, continue to spread the word. Keep your fingers crossed I go. Anyway, though I would sahre a couple pictures of me and Renate - she's a trooper!

    We're planning on going to a little city near our houses in the next week or two and handing out more information. They have these little farmers markets each weekend and I think we could reach more people - EDUCATION IS POWER!

    Tonia
     

    S.O.s Need Jobs: CORI Law Needs Changing
    By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 14.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0161]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0161 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    I´ll send them along to the person who wrote the blog.
    alex
    ---------------------
    we need to see if we can get the registration for life overturned for first time sex offenders. this is the most important thing that needs to be addressed. 2) we need to have cori limited to less then 7 years for first time offense. no reason one time sex offenders have to be unemployed for life. 3) most important issues are money and place to live. 4) cori prevents good employment.employers use cori to discriminate against hiring sex offenders. 5) new hampshire is worst offender. the law there states you have to wait 15 yrs to get records sealed or annulled. thats way too long.

    we also need to address how sex offenders can find jobs, and maintain employment. whatever we can do as a group to solve this will be enormous. - people deserve a chance to make a living for themselves once they get out of jail, complete probation, and complete the mandatory sex offender counseling programs.
     

    RESPONSE TO A BIASED D.A.
    By Mary <rsolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 14.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0160]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0160 and be sent to Mary at rsolvirginia@comcast.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm. Also we urge you to follow Mary and send in your own comments to this uninformed prosecutor! (See also RSOL News Item 0157 and Action Item No. 057)
    --------------------
    Robin,

    I just read your Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-sax/did-the-economist-do-sex_b_258282.html response to The Economist's article Sex Laws Unjust and Ineffective a factual article that should have been written years ago.

    Then I decided to read about you, your background and your experience in this field. That's when I learned that your career and financial existence is entirely rooted in the media and political hysteria that has landed our country here.

    To say real sex assaults are not treated the same as teenage consensual intercourse, sexting, public urination, mooning, streaking or flashing is reckless. To also claim that cases with an accusation alone or no evidence are not prosecuted is a complete lie.

    There are many dangerous and sick people out there and they should be the ONLY people convicted, imprisoned and stigmatized as "Sex Offender", but that is NOT what has happened in our country and if you want to bury your head in the sand to the reality of our justice system go ahead, but stop spreading those falsehoods in so-called news articles.


    Our Story- http://www.rsolvirginia.org/our_story.html
    Mary, RSOL of Virginia Organizer
     

    Are Sex Offenders Ready for Civil Disobedience?
    By posted by Bennie <lostjustice@comcast.net>
    Posted on 10.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0159]
     
    Comments to this blog should refer to Blog No. 0159 and be sent to Bennie at lostjustice@comcast.net, with a copy to Alex at alexm60@fastmail.fm
    -----------------------------------------
    A DEBATE ABOUT RSOL STRATEGIES: Lobby One Senator at a Time, or Start Massive Civil Disobedience? Or both?

    Are we ready for mass demonstrations, public lobbying, or even civil disobedience, or must we start smaller than that until we have the numbers?

    This debate was started by a Colorado sex offender who wrote our Colorado RSOL state organizer to propose massive refusal to register by sex offenders. This reminds one of the massive refusal to register for the draft that finally led to the end of the Vietnam War! Here´s G´s initial question - What If Thousands of Sex Offenders Refused to Register, and then Bennie of Colorado´s thoughtful but moderate response, and finally my own contribution!
    Let the Debate Begin!

    -------------------------------------------------------------
    Hi Bernie
    We have exchanged a few emails over the last 3 or 4 months. I am a sex offender. I have a question for you. I have been emailing back and forth with a few other sex offenders who are doing what they
    can to bring attention to the Adam Walsh Act and the effect this unconstitutional law is having. One of the guys brought up an interesting point: there is stength in numbers! If every sex offender in the country refused to register, the government could not arrest and throw us all in prison for it. The prison system nation wide is already maxed out. Florida was just ordered to reduce their prison population and given 2 years to do it. If there was an organized move to do this, what effect do you think it would have to bring attention to what is going on. (G.)

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Hi, G -
    Organization is a very big IF. I have already expressed to members of RSOL that it will take something like a civil rights march, a beginning, but that we are not ready for it because far too many people labeled as sex offender are unwilling to come out of hiding so to speak. There are only a few people in comparison to the numbers of people labeled as sex offender who are standing up and speaking out. Yes, a mass demonstration on Congress or even by state could bring attention, but I doubt any significant movement initially. A single (small) demonstration would do nothing but harden the hardheaded. Before we can even consider a mass demonstration particularly on Washington, D.C., significant numbers of people would have to come out of hiding, and those supporters would have to be willing to demonstrate as well, just as was done in the civil rights marches that finally brought needed change.

    The best we can do now is to make every effort to change the minds of state officials and congressional men and women from each state by all the methods we are currently using until the numbers are there to get local and national news networks to start talking and interviewing, Then we can build on that. As long as the major local and national news networks continue to ignore the plight, the fight is one senator, one representative, one state official at a time.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    To G and Bennie,
    This is a very interesting discussion about mass action, mass lobbying and perhaps mass civil disobedience (refusal
    to register).

    I feel as though I´m re-living history, that we are repeating the stages of the anti-war movement of the 1960s!!! You both (G. and Bennie) make interesting points, and your points all have merit. It´s a chicken and egg kind of thing. You can´t get a movement going until you have masses of people, but you can´t get masses of people until you show that you have a movement. As one who was active in the anti-war effort (during the Vietnam war) and the civil rights movement before it, I faced these same concerns. I stood with about 100 others in one of the first demonstrations in front of the White House against the Vietnam War, and we felt dwarfed by the support for ¨our boys in action¨ which at that point represented 80% or more of the American population. A few years later, I marched without about 200,000 past the same point, and then a year after that, I looked from the U.S. Capitol at nearly a million marching down Pennsyvania Avenue. We had to start somewhere.

    The notion of refusing to register is a powerful one! But people
    must be willing to go to jail again for that. In the case of sex offenders, that usually means going BACK to the dreadful horror of imprisonment as pariahs. It will be harder today to get those already stung by imprisonment to consider resistance, than it was to persuade the young, idealistic 18 year olds to refuse to register for the draft back then.

    There was a group during the Vietnam War called Resist, which got people to refuse to register. A few resisters were jailed, but eventually thousands refused to register and, as G points out, there weren´t enough jails to hold them all! Thousands more went to Canada, where there was no draft and where there was strong opposition to U.S. war policy, to avoid registering, When there
    were enough who refused to register, the whole system of the draft collapsed! And then US involvement in the War in Indochina could not contiune.

    We are in the very beginning of a long struggle. The struggle to end the war in Vietnam took years. I´d be surprised if our struggle
    took less than that. Unfortunately, despite the fact that Canada again has a more enlightened policy than the U.S.A., US-Canadian immigration agreements have been put in place to prohibit another similar flight north by those refusing to register. So the collapse of the sex offender registration system may take even longer than the collapse of military conscription.

    Everything we can do at this point is valuable! The approach of ¨one state Senator at a time¨ is one good strategy, a meeting in Washington with Congresspeople is another. Demonstrations at local Registry Offices, or at Oprah´s studio, or at the Apple Computer HQ,
    whether with a dozen people or a thousand, is yet another valid approach. We also need a concrete proposal to ¨resist registration¨ altogether! Our own ¨RESIST!¨ That´s one more powerful strategy.

    The approach of RESIST during the Vietnam War was called the ¨Charlottesville Pledge,¨ which began in Charlottesville, VA. The idea was to get people to sign a pledge which said, ¨As soon as 10,000 other draft age men sign this, we will all refuse to register for the draft.¨ Then one day, there were more than 10,000! And the jails couldn´t hold them. Maybe a similar pledge could be started among rso´s - to get thousands of sex offenders to refuse to register, or to un-register, or to commit civil disobedience in some way. When an agree-upon number of verified signatures were there, the fact could be unveiled in massive action in DC or NY or CA.

    All of these things are worth thinking about! I don´t think demonstrations of even just a dozen people will harden the hard-headed. Others among those who must register and their friends and families will take notice, as will the whole American society. The next demonstration will attract a hundred, then a thousand. Finally, the unjust sex offender registry system will collapse under the weight of its own injustice. All such tyranny (and that is what the sex offender laws are) eventually does tumble down. Not this year, probably not next year - but one day soon!

    Alex Marbury
     

    REVERSE DISCRIMINATION: HIRE ONLY S.O.S!
    By Alice <madalleyreport@aol.com>
    Posted on 08.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0158]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog no. 0158, Reverse Discrimination, and send to Alice, madalleyreport@aol.com, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    And it goes on and on!
    Alex
    ---------------------------------------
    As I said previously you need to check your local laws about who can live with whom, especially if they are "off papers." BUT if you hire people I think it would be wonderful to dish out some reverse discrimination and hire only Sex Offenders.
     

    SEPARATE S.O. ENTRANCES & WATER FOUNTAINS
    By Jackie Sparling <jackie.sparling@gmail.com>
    Posted on 08.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0157]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog no. 0157, SEPARATE S.O. ENTRANCES & WATER FOUNTAINS, and send to Jackie at jackie.sparling@gmail.com, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    And as Linda in NC said, separate S.O. movie theatres, parks, and all the rest!
    Separate but, of course, Equal. Sure!
    ---------------------------------

    As we all know, history repeats itself, and that's mostly because people don't learn from their mistakes.

    We shouldn't be surprised to see "NON-SEX OFFENDER" and "SEX OFFENDER" entrances to movie theaters, restaurants, public buildings, etc. Even separate water fountains.

    Morons.
     

    RSO FAMILY HOUSING!
    By Shelley <or4balancedlaws@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 08.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0156]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0156, RSO FAMILY HOUSING, and send to Shelley at or4balancedlaws@yahoo.com and a copy to alex marbury at alexm60@fastmail.fm

    Many people are commenting on this proposal from Shelley to seriously work to develop family housing for sex offender families.
    I urge all rsol participants, state by state, to work on this!
    Alex

    ----------------------------------------------------
    SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING FOR SO FAMILIES
    Seeking 501(c)(3) Status for Housing Develpment Groups in Each State

    From Shelley in Oregon:
    Is it possible to obtain 501(c)(3) status and create single-family dwellings for RSO families? Apartment complexes and multi-families raise concerns for some, but among us, the know-how (development, remodel, capital? etc.) exist. Why couldn't we start this on a state-by-state basis and get moving? Start denying anyone who is
    NOT an RSO. There are people doing this on a smaller scale. And I'm
    pleased to see that there are enterprising individuals also among us who are starting businesses and hiring only RSOs. If I had the funds, that's where they would go.




    From an Illinois RSOL participant:
    I would hope that they start to allow group homes for SOs to live - I personally have dreamed of starting one of those homes and getting federal funding for it – until I realized that they don’t want more than one SO living in the same location – what a croc! I have this vision to start this home giving them a place to live and providing transportation for them, if necessary, to work – and working with companies to get them jobs. Not sure I have all of the necessary psychological background to be of a real resource for them – but I have the heart and compassion to run a place like that – but I’m not too naïve to think I probably don’t realize all of the ramifications from doing something like that -- I’d also add a spiritual component and provide computer-training on a supervised basis – so no one will get themselves into further trouble

    Even though they weren’t doing anything. I would attempt to make a friendly connection with the local authorities so they would be ‘on our side’ so to speak. This dream keeps cropping up in my mind –

    But, as the young man who we are supporting, indicates to me – he doesn’t want to live with anyone else that has a similar past or even a criminal record because he’s afraid if they get into trouble, then he could get into trouble by association – perhaps that’s a very valid point???

    From Linda in North Carolina:
    OK, well it MUST be time for the Federal Govt and State Govts to create an apt complex specifically designed for ONLY SEX OFFENDERS since they are taking away all their other options!

    they may as well create SHOPPING CENTERS ONLY FOR SEX OFFENDERS and
    CHURCHES and SKATING RINKS and MOVIE THEATRES ONLY FOR SEX OFFENDERS. oh oh, and what about CITY PARKS where ONLY sex offenders can visit. take tax payer money to create 'em.

    hey, if we think about it we could help get jobs for SOs because they
    will need apt managers, and people to run the theatres and other places, right?

    ok i am being seriously facetious but you get my drift/point, right? and it will get the areas under the bridges cleaned up for those who REALLY need to panhandle (at least in my area of NC they are EVERYWHERE but don't REALLY need to panhandle. you've seen 'em but the law does NOTHING with them.)



     

    FIRST SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY, 1947
    By Omwale <http://omowale-dontletthemfoolyou.blogspot.com>
    Posted on 03.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0155]
     
    Most people are not aware that sex offender registration was started in 1947. Today you have people who may be back on probation or
    parole for non-sexual crimes or for failing to register as a sex
    offender. Some of these cases go back 10,20,30,and even 50 years. These people have not done anything, except in many cases forgot to register on time or report a change of address,but California politicians have spent millions of tax payers´ dollars and continue to do so, just to win your vote.

    None of this has decrease sex crimes. One reason is the fact that most people who pose a threat to you and your kids are closer to you than you know. It is not the stranger you already know about ,who only wants to get on with his life. Stop believing in the trash!

    http://omowale-dontletthemfoolyou.blogspot.com
     

    We Are Not All Activists - Sadly.
    By Bennie <lostjustice@comcast.net>
    Posted on 03.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0154]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0154, and send to Bennie, lostjustice@comcast.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    Bennie is the rsol state coordinator for Colorado, and his website is found on the rsol affiliated state group page.
    -----------------------------------------------
    NOT EVERY ONE IN RSOL IS AN ACTIVIST
    Some people associated with RSOL, SOSEN, CURE, and others are
    associating (with these groups) because this injustice has come into their familiy or their lives, and had been looking for quick and immediate help. Not everyone we associate with through RSOL or others are true activists who are looking for justice for all.

    Only a few of us are life long Human Rights Activists. We are activists because we strongly dislike human to human, and government to human injustices, and feel that we must do something to help people who for practical purposes are being tortured everyday of their lives from the time they were babies. In a sense the true Human Rights Activist is somewhat like an Empath. We truly feel the pain and suffering of others, (just as we feel) our own pains and sufferings.

    Not everyone looking for help is an activist. They are simply people
    looking for and wanting help out of a difficult situation and time.
    Example: There was a woman that contacted me through my Colorado RSO website looking for help. She was labeled as a registered sex offender. I found out that she only had three months left on her registration. Well, after her three months and successful bid to get off the registry and out from under the label she no longer wanted to be part of helping, and no longer wanted any contact.

    The true activist - if there is such a person - and the person who is
    narrowly focused on self or some family member, or other close person are two very different people having very different goals.
     

    The Yellow Star - Again!
    By French Wall <srparedon@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 01.08.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0153]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog. No. 0153, The Yellow Star, and send to French Wall, the author (and an rsol signatory) at
    srparedon@yahoo.com, and a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    This was an editorial written before most of us noticed just how bad this whole thing had become! Congratulations to French Wall for all he has done on behalf of justice in these cases, and to The Guide Magazine (www.guidemag.com) for publishing this back then.
    Alex


    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Editorial from The Guide
    > September 2006
    >
    > The Yellow Star
    > By French Wall
    >
    > Sixty-five years ago this September, German Nazis made it
    > compulsory for Jews to wear a yellow Star of David.
    > Holocaust survivor Victor Klemperer, writing in I Will Bear
    > Witness 1933-1941: A Diary of the Nazi Years, recalls the
    > introduction of the mandatory Star as the darkest moment of
    > the entire Nazi regime.
    >
    > Klemperer suffered countless indignities, saw and endured
    > horrific abuse, and heard of unspeakable atrocities
    > throughout the Nazis' rise to power and their subsequent
    > subjugation of much of Europe. One of a handful of German
    > Jews who escaped the round-ups and deportations to the death
    > camps (his wife Eva was an "Aryan," thus deferring
    > his fate), Klemperer miraculously
    > survived the firestorms following the Allied incendiary
    > bombing of Dresden and then months on-the-run as a destitute
    > and starving displaced person. And yet he remembers the
    > mandate requiring display of the "Jewish Star"
    > with singular abhorrence.
    >
    > What was it about a bit of "yellow cloth, at the
    > center in Hebrew-like lettering [the word] 'Jew,' to
    > be worn on the left breast, large as the palm of a
    > hand" that seemed worse than beatings, worse than
    > confiscation of all one's property, worse even than the
    > fate awaiting those who disappeared after a visit from the
    > Gestapo?
    >
    > The Star was meant to mark its wearer as "other,"
    > a non-citizen. The Star signaled to hooligans and vigilantes
    > that its wearer was a sanctioned target for torment. The
    > Star made it impossible for its wearers to go about any
    > civic life without constant fear of violence and death, for
    > themselves and any of their companions. The Star meant
    > abandonment by employers, neighbors, and
    > friends-- all legitimately fearful of what their
    > association with a known "enemy of the Reich"
    > would mean to them and their families. The Star signaled
    > that its wearer was a de facto "outlaw," fair game
    > for anyone wanting to indulge their sadism or
    > anti-Semitism.
    >
    > In short, the Star was mean to denote that its wearers were
    > sub-human, deserving no more consideration or legal
    > protection than "the vermin" that they-- according
    > to relentless state propaganda-- were.
    >
    > It may be true that those ignorant of history are destined
    > to repeat it, but current events confirm that knowledge of
    > history is no guarantee of avoiding repetition of past
    > tragedies.
    >
    > Enter a post office, police station, registry of motor
    > vehicles, or other civic office in today's United States
    > and you will likely be confronted with posters of so-called
    > "sex offenders," required to register, often for
    > life, with the state. Faces, addresses, and employment
    > locations are all
    > prominently displayed. You will read signs telling you
    > that even more information about these men (and women,
    > mostly garden variety prostitutes) can be found on the
    > internet, part of the new nationwide effort supposedly to
    > protect the Homeland and its children from such
    > "predators."
    >
    > But of course, "protection from predators" is not
    > the goal of sex-offender registries, any more than
    > "protection from Bolshevism" (the stated excuse
    > for promulgation of the 1941 Yellow Star regulation) was the
    > Nazis' purpose. If public safety were truly the goal,
    > why list those whose "crime" was offering a
    > blowjob-for-hire to a willing adult? Or those who were
    > caught masturbating in the woods near a highway rest stop?
    > Or those who never violated another's consent nor did
    > any physical harm? If "protection" were the real
    > aim of tracking and publicizing offenders and their
    > whereabouts, wouldn't it make more sense for registries
    > to list arsonists rather than flashers? Why
    > should society need protection from those who suck
    > teenagers, but not from those who kill them?
    >
    > No, the goal of sex-offender registries is not protection--
    > just the opposite. Sex-offender registries, like earlier
    > Yellow Star regulations, are intended to create outlaws
    > stripped of jobs, housing, family, and friends. Such
    > state-created monsters can then be targeted for
    > vigilantes' violence and self-serving politicians'
    > self-righteous invective.
    >
    > Today's sex-offender registries signal, as did the 1941
    > Yellow Star decree, a breakdown in the rule of law. For
    > those fighting to rebuild a US Constitution and Bill of
    > Rights so shattered in these past years, no greater sign of
    > progress will be than the abolition of sex-offender
    > registries and their odious effects.
     

    It Will Take a Mass March to Change Laws!
    By bennie walton <lostjustice@comcast.net>>
    Posted on 28.07.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0152]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0152 and send to Bennie at above email, and a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    ----------------
    COMMENT upon hearing that Obama´s Atty General has extended the time limits for complying with the Adam Walsh Law

    Comment from: Bennie Walton owner of Gimeweb.com, and an RSOL freedom fighter in Colorado.
    We as a people are not ready to march in mass to effect the changes we know need to be made. It took the civil rights marches by many brave individuals (the harmed) and other individuals (supporters) to bring the terrible wrongs of the legal systems, enforcement systems, judicial systems, and the political systems squarely into the light of day. It will take that effort repeated in our time. Until we are ready to march in mass, we must continue to work each state in ways that will elicit responses, and help those in other states as well. Some responses we will not like, but that is the nature of fighting for true justice and for the humanity of man and woman. As President Obama stated when in Africa; 'the capacity of humans to exact great harm upon others still exists'.
     

    Children of Sex Offenders Ignored
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 28.07.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0151]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0151 and be sent to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and I´ll send them on to this mother.
    A strong supportive comment from another mother is attached at the end of this blog.
    SEE COMMENT BELOW THE BLOG
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    CHILDREN OF SEX OFFENDERS IGNORED

    I think that the children of sex offenders are being ignored. Their lives because of the new sex offender laws are being changed drastically as well. Children of sex offenders are no longer able to go anywhere with their parent that offers children activities. Families of sex offenders are being terribly affected by these laws. There are no family outings to the parks, swimming pools, children themed resturants, or even church. This is not a pro family law. It needs to be revised right now. Offenders can not go to there childrens schools, or daycares. They can not even pick them up or drop them off. I live in NC and beleive that some one should bring this to the attention of the general public. Not everyone registred as a sex offender is a evil person waiting to do it again. There are innocent people who have been convicted wrongly, and some who were guilty but will not re-offend. The sex offender registry covers such a broad area of sex offenses, to target all sex offenders and their families is wrong.
    ----------------
    COMMENT
    I agree so much with this blog. My husband can not do anything with our 7 year old son nor our two girls. Our son plays sports and my husband has to sit at home and do nothing. He isn't (able to enjoy) our children's childhood. I am sending a letter to our President and senators to tell them my story of how these laws are affecting my children and others like my family. I am so depressed but have to keep a strong front for my husband. I am not giving up!

    COMMENT
    I am at the beginning stages of going through what this mother is going through. I am looking to find other mothers who are in these shoes, so I can figure out how to cope with this as my son grows up. Please feel free to pass my message on.
     

    A Noble Cause for Human Rights
    By Bennie Walton <rsolcolorado@comcast.net>
    Posted on 26.07.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0150]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0150 and send to Bennie at rsolcolorado@comcast.net, and with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    This was sent by Bennie to the six new RSOL state affiliate coordinators added this month. Welcome to them, and good going, Bennie! Alex

    SEE ALSO STRONG COMMENT BELOW THIS BLOG
    ------------------------

    Instead of several emails of congratulations let me give congratulations to all of you in the one. I have noticed that RSOL is definitely growing in numbers in comparison to two other organizations I am most familiar with. My hope is that soon, I don't know when, that we all will march on Washington D.C., and each statehouse in the contiguous United Sates.

    There are a lot of smart people in RSOL, Citizens for Change, SOSEN, and the CURE Groups, and other's less known. Just because many of us carry a label of sex offender does not mean we are less than human as one racial group was legally recognized for a very long time, and treated as such.

    People can be beaten down for so long of a time before something happens to spark a movement to action en masse, and every movement needs strong people who will have the courage to keep together as best as is possible the people, the Human Beings who will help force hate based destructive sex offender laws to be changed.

    Some politicians in that not so distant past of America fought hard against the civil rights movements that brought forth the dignity of those despised. Resistors such as George Wallace who stood fearlessly for failed ideas and failed ways, and failed notions of people deemed less than human, but in the end such dogmatic people either gave way to the new era in America, or they remained as outcasts; hanging onto the past while America in its breadth and depth moved forward.

    You're all part of a period in American History when again the establishments must be challenged and made to concede to their failed ideas and notions of who and what most person's labeled as sex offenders are, and the rights and liberties, and the equal and fair application and protections of the laws toward the mother's, father's, and families suffering the indignities of unbalanced, unfair laws along with those they love who are suffering various forms and degrees of societal banishment.

    We acknowledge victims when and where there are real victims, but on the other hand we recognize that changes must be made to right the scales of justice.

    This is a noble cause for Human Rights.

    RSOL of Colorado
    Bennie Walton
    4238 Freeport Way
    Denver, Colorado 80239

    ------------------------------------------
    Comment -
    Good work Bennie, I will see you in the Fight! Never Give Up!!
    Craig


    Email: rsolcolorado@comcast.net
    Website: http://www.gimeweb.com/
     

    Virginia's Homosexual GITMO
    By posted by John & Mary <rsolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 27.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0149]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0149 and send to rsolvirginia@comcast.net, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.

    This is a marvelous piece of work - it exposes the unspoken anti-gay prejudice of sex offender commitment. RSOL hopes the gay community will take notice and act!
    ________________________________________________________________
    Virginia's Homosexual Gitmo

    RSOL of Virginia attended today’s Virginia Crime Commission meeting in Richmond, VA. One of the many topics they covered was the Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators.

    We recently received correspondence from two residents at the Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (VCBR for the civilly committed) which implied that a disproportionately large amount of the residents that have been civilly committed are homosexual. We attended today’s crime commission on this topic to attempt to ascertain if in fact homosexuals were being either purposefully or unintentionally targeted by the tools utilized to institutionalize them as Sexual Deviants who are a danger to society.

    During today’s discussion between legislators and the Attorney General’s office they covered the questionnaire/assessment tool (Static-99) used to decide who is a “Sexually Violent Predator”. They covered 10 questions and the implication was that there are only 10 on the Static 99. The current score to decide who must be locked up as a “SVP” is a 4 or a 5 and the discussion between the legislators and the AG’s office was about lowering it to a 3. This test is currently limited to just a few specific crimes, but the discussion was leaning towards removing that as a stipulation also. Thus any “Sex Crime”…. Underage Consensual Sex, Public Sex, Sodomy, Aggravated Sexual Battery (grabbing someone’s buttocks in a bar that results in a fight) “Sexting” and the like would be subject to the Static 99 Evaluation.

    Three questions give a grave concern on the Static 99 evaluation. They are as follows:

    · Is the Perpetrator 18 to 24.99 years of age? Yes, results in 1 point.
    · Has the Perpetrator ever lived with a lover for at least 2 years? No, results in 1 point.
    · Was the Victim a Male? Yes results in 1 point
    · Has the Perpetrator had any previous criminal convictions of any type, sexual or non-sexual? Yes, results in 1 point.

    As one can easily see any college aged, homosexual male, who has not lived/shacked up with anyone for 2 or more years need only to have a reckless driving mis-demeanor conviction and he is currently just 1 point away (4 points) from being deemed a serious threat to society and needs to be locked away for life in an insane asylum for the “Sexually Perverse”. Clearly the most insignificant “Sex Crime” would then immediately make him eligible for a life sentence being Civilly Committed.

    We find this unacceptable and hope you share our concern and outrage over this twisted form of justice.

    Mary and John
    RSOL of Virginia Organizers
    Reform Sex Offender Laws
    PO Box 98
    Mechanicsville, VA 23111
    Virginia Web-site - www.rsolvirginia.org
    National Web-site - www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org

    Seeking Justice and Safety for All Virginians
     

    Query: Propose Alternatives or Work to Reform SO Laws?
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 15.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0148]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 0148 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    This active RSOL participants asks us to think about wether working for other changes, such as education of parents and children, might be better FIRST, before we work for reform of S.O. Laws. Send her your thoughts! Alex
    COMMENTS
    ------------------------------------------------


    I often wonder while we fight against the sex offender laws, maybe if we propose alternatives that would be better to end these types of crimes, would be a better way to go? This has just been a thought of mine. Like asking to put more money into education with school children, parents, and rehabilitation. Or maybe even demanding that there be better rehabilitation for these people and a real opportunity for them to change and get off of these lists. I know that until my son got caught for a sexual crime there were so many "stories" with his peers and their parents, that every time i went to correct a disbelief my son had, someone would discredit what I told him. And there were no one in school that taught them about the laws. It was only about safe sex and substance abuse. I mean people should have the right to know the facts, before they get into trouble by doing the wrong thing. Especially when everyone is all for this Face book and cell phones with cameras.They keep on arguing that this is all incurable, I honestly think that it never been given an honest try. I mean all the outside rehabs. for sex offenders, are packed and have waiting lists, because there is so few. This is something that really needs to change becfore they say this is incurable!
    -------------------
    COMMENT
    I read your comment with the utmost interest because it truly
    hit so close to my situation. My son was sentenced to 10 years in
    federal prison for having child pornography on his laptop and that has really torn me apart. I live in Illinois and he is serving time in Texas so visiting him on a regular basis is way out of the question so I have to settle for letters and occasional phone calls. To this very day I don't know what caused my son to go down this road for he was not physically abused and because of that I have stated many times that before a "good" person is sentenced to such harsh time a phycological study should be done to find out why such a path was chosen and if the reason can be found work on it which would hopefully save a life of being destroyed in prison along with a family. I firmly believe the expense would so much less and a postive outcome could possibly be achieved versus sending a person to prison where treatment is next to none and the possibilty of a negative outcome would occur. With prisons busting at the seams and with cities and towns being buried under financial hardship would that not be a better route to take? My son knows he has done wrong
    and has taken responsibility for it but at the same time he wants to
    show society that he can and has changed and has learned from this very critical mistakes but he won't be able to if society keeps that scarlet letter on him. That is my future nightmare - to think that my son could possibly be homeless, jobless in short literally a nobody. Why is it that if someone murders someone they seem to get a light sentence with a possibility of parole and once released they can pick up THEIR life where they left it where as my son received 10 years in which he must serve all of it and then must register for how long I don't know along with other hardship that may make living into shear survival. Granted I don't like the idea of child pornography at all in fact I really don't like any pornography at any level but I find it rather odd that the world of law considers possessing child pornography worse than taking a life, something that can never be given back. The law needs to be looked at and
    revamped before many more families are destroyed such as mine has.
     

    Open Your Hearts, America!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 15.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0147]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0147 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ------------
    I have never been arrested nor had any violations. I have read stories from sex offenders and have met and spoken with sex offenders. It would seem fair for me to shun these people, but these people have names and have families. They are are people once with clean slates, just like me. What I have learned from these people is that they have feelings just like me. Some have turned their lives over to a better person inside than they were before their crime.

    So what triggered their crime? I have discovered it is often childhood up-bringing in the household. You would be horrified to here how some sex offenders were raised. And I can certainly see how they got off track. Do I praise what they did? I certainly do not. My question to American people is this: why haven't you done your homework? Research sex offenders' childhood history. How would you like to be raised in a family who abused and sexually tormented you until legal age or ran away from home?

    Yes, I realize there are some who were not abused. But do your home work on them as well. I do not know about you, maybe there is no empathy in Americans anymore, afterall, it did not happen to them as a child. Wake up America, open your hearts and try to learn about these people`s childhood. We must reaffirm the laws and give these people a second chance to reestablish their lives. Give them living space and couseling support so they can live once again with their families. Did they not pay enough in the prison system? Something to think about, why must their families suffer for life,also. Let it not be said that Americans are a heartless nation. Keep on doing this unjust thing and we will reap what we sow. God Bless America.
     

    `All Are Created Equal` Includes Offenders
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 14.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0146]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0146 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    Please note, RSOL is a good national organization to lobby in Congress, and our state affiliated contacts have done so, urging reform of the AWA.

    -----------------
    I believe that there is a fundamental constitutional right to distinguish between first time non-violent sex offenders with no recidivist criminal history and those sex offenders convicted of violent and serious crimes, or have been convicted as sexual violent predators.

    Most states have a provision in their respective statutes that first time offenders are given a true and fundamental chance to rehabilitate and integrate themselves back into mainstream society, with full reinstatement of their constitutional rights, privileges, benefits and immunities.

    There is no empirical data to support the present statutes which imposes the same and severe restrictions on first time non-violent and non-recidivist offender similar to the violent predator. Yet, this class of first-time offenders are handled by the State and the Federal with that same classification and restrictions.

    We must promote lobbyists and create a National Organization for the purpose of sending representatives during congressional hearings or senate hearing (State and Federal) to express the opposition against such selective, arbitrary, pretextual and oppression mode of operation.

    I do not believe that our forefather’s phrase contained in our Constitution, “All men are created Equal” means that convicts no longer are protected by that term and phrase of fundamental constitutional provision. We must get attorneys to represent offenders in case where it is clear that their prosecution for non-registration is arbitrary, capricious and pretextual. There must be a proactive assertions to change these “hate laws” which have been passed under the auspices of “protecting the public.
     

    Hate Speech Against RSOs
    By Eadvocate <eadvocate@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 09.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0145]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0145 and be sent to eadvocate@yahoo.com.
    =======================
    CA- Elementary school students suspended for kill list and sexual threats

    Comment from Eadvocate:
    Clearly the sexual issues are the result of all the political hate speeches about former now registered sex offenders, and real sex offenders who are committing crimes today. This is what political speeches are teaching to today's youth (esp. children of RSOs who not only hear it but also live it). Hate speech about RSOs, while not protected under Hate Crimes laws still has its effects on society, here we see today's youth using it at a very young age. No matter how you view this, it is a NEW form of "second generation" retaliation / revenge for what they are suffering daily. What goes around comes around...

    5-25-2009 California:

    A group of parents allege Santa Margarita Elementary School officials have failed to provide a safe environment and have chosen to keep their children home until their concerns are addressed.

    After numerous complaints, two Santa Margarita Elementary students have been suspended in the past few weeks for threats against other students. A fourth grader was sent home for producing a hit list and a third grader was suspended for making sexually violent threats against his classmates.

    CalCoastNews has chosen to leave out the names of the parents and the students involved in the incidents in order to protect the children’s privacy.

    More than a handful of parents said their children have been traumatized by a series of incidents that began on May 13. Parents described a student’s graphic sexual threats against other students in his classroom.

    Officials and parents claim Principal Melanie Karp has been slow to respond to complaints made by parents and students and has minimized the situation.

    School officials are mandated reporters and as such are required by law to report these types of criminal threats and certain suspicions of child abuse immediately, and follow up within 48 hours with a written report, said Child Protective Services Social Worker Desilyn King.

    “This all needs to be dealt with for the best interests of all, not just my child,” a parent said voicing her concern for the safety of the aggressor as well as her progeny. “My child hasn’t wanted to go to school.”

    Several parents have opted to keep their children home until school officials can assure them their children are being protected. Parents allege Karp has threatened to turn them in for truancy if their children do not return to school.

    “Our first and foremost goal is the safety of our students,” said Atascadero Unified School District Superintendent John Rogers. “It is awful to deal with providing the appropriate resources to help the individual student and balance the need for other parents to be assured their child’s safety is foremost.”

    Principal Karp was unavailable for comment.

    On May 13, the third-grade aggressor was suspended for three days and sent home to a parent who is on the Megan’s Law sex offenders list. Upon his return, he blamed a student for a beating he claims to have received as punishment for the suspension, sources said.

    An attempt to find out if a report regarding the alleged beating was filed with Child Protective Services was denied due to privacy issues.

    He then threatened to shove items into the complaining students’ rectums and/or vaginas. As a result, Karp assigned the child to a half day in-office suspension before placing him back in the classroom. Due to parent complaints, on May 20, the boy was moved to another classroom comprised of second and third graders.

    Parents also voiced concerns that the child’s mother, a registered sex offender known to commit lewd acts against children under 14 years of age, is permitted to attend school functions.

    “They recently put a black metal fence around the perimeter of the school to protect our children,” a parent said. “Then they let a sex offender in the front door.”

    There is a common misconception that laws prohibit registered sex offenders from encroaching on school grounds. However, according to California code, sex offenders may be allowed on their child’s campus for a variety of reasons. In addition, not all sex offenders are listed on Megan’s list which is primarily for habitual or violent offenders, said a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff deputy.

    While at Santa Margarita Elementary School, the boy’s mother is required to register and is then provided an escort while on school grounds, Rogers said.

    In addition, on Thursday May 14, school officials discovered a fourth grader’s kill list along with a visual depiction of a student’s demise. Five days elapsed before the mandatory threat assessment protocol was implemented, sources said.

    Following parent objections to a lack of concern over the hit list, on May 19, sheriff deputies were called to the school and the boy’s home was searched, sources added.

    The child remained in the classroom, shoulder to shoulder with children on his kill list, until he was officially suspended on May 20.

    The district has adopted a threat assessment protocol, a flow chart to be implemented by the principal. During the week following the threat, four psychologists did an evaluation to determine if the written warning was a transient or a true threat, Rogers added.

    “I can’t comment on what we have done with any one student,” Rogers replied when asked what actions had been taken.

    Last year, Karp was sentenced to two days in county jail for driving under the influence. Her blood alcohol was .12, one and a half times the legal limit. She is slated to retire at the end of this school year.
     

    I am Angry, but you won`t be surprised!
    By Mary <rsolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 09.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0144]
     
    Please send comments to mary at rsolvirginia@comcast.net, and refer to Blog No. 0144. thanks, Mary!!!!
    -----------
    Responding to the Smithton, Illinois story about the boy charged with a sex offense for consensual sex with a teenaged girl
    ----------------------------------

    I am angry and you will probably be surprised to hear this, as I am the organizer for Reform Sex Offender Laws of Virginia.

    I am angry because our country has gone beyond the extreme and implemented ridiculously harsh laws and penalties when it comes to consensual sex between teens and young adults.

    Each state has a different age of consent and a different age gap allowance. What is a crime in one state, may not be in another state. But one thing that is certain across EVERY state is, if you are a public offical, politician or celebrity you will not be convicted, imprisoned and stigmatized as a "sex offender" even though every other citizen will be.

    Consensual sex between a 19 and half and a 16 year old or a 17 and half and a 14 year old here in Virginia will be prosecuted as statutory rape or carnal knowledge. Our state has even been known to wait until the older teen turns 18 to press charges.

    We have one supporter who was the mother of a 15 year old that had consensual sex with a 20 year old. The mother didn't encourage the relationship or house their indiscretion she in fact told them both to stop it. But they continued on behind her back and when the state of Virginia discovered that the mother did not report the 20 year old to the state, the mother was charged, convicted of indecent liberties by person of supervision and is now stigmatized for life as a "violent sex offender".

    Just a little over a week ago the 40 year old aide to Senator Orie (PA) was caught asking a 15 year old for sex on-line. Senator Orie was a strong advocate for the Adam Walsh Act.Will the aide be charged, convicted and stigmatized as a "sex offender" as any regular person would be, it's yet to be determined but I'm betting, NO.

    Back in 2007 Joshua Lunsford, 18 year old brother to assaulted and murdered sister Jessica found himself in the hot seat for consensual sex with his 14 year old girlfriend. We do not believe this should be a crime, but our government does and they prosecute all others with a vengeance, except for Joshua Lunsford. It seems that if your father Mark Lunsford lobbyed Congress for legislation against "sex offenders" and you have now been caught up in the same laws your father advocated you can get off.

    I could go on with more examples but I will stop here.

    The state of Illinois should be ashamed of themselves. They destroy the lives of teens and young adults who are having consensual sex but they allow this 29 year old police officer to get off scott-free for having sex with a 16 year old.

    If I lived in Illinois I would be demanding that the district attorney hold this officer to the same standards as hundreds if not thousands of innocent Illinois teens and young adults have been and will be held to. Everyone and that includes public officials and celebrities must be held accountable to the same laws and standards even if those standards are questionable and need to be reformed.


    Mary


    RSOL of Virginia
     

    `Death Would Be OK`
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 09.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0143]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0143 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I will send it along to this sex offender who is obvioulsy in considerable anguish.
    --------------
    This is not how I feel at this time, but I would like to share my
    thoughts. And thank you for the great work your group
    does.


    Well death would be ok, they have put us in a place that we can never get out of and will never be allowed to get our life back. No matter what we do we are the scum of the earth and that is the way our crooked politicians wanted it, so they can be reelected on our backs.

    The hopelessness and pain never goes away no matter how much we would like it to. The lies we have been told by all the people in charge are overwhelming.

    The stigma of being a sex-offender has taken its toll on so many people around me, not only other offenders that I know, but their families and few friends that they have anymore. Most of us are not a threat to anyone, but the law does not look at it this way, it has become a life sentence. So what are our choices?

    We lose our wives and children, our friends, our freedom, our right to work. We have no where to live and in my case cannot ever go back where I was the most happy, China where I married my lovely wife and wanted to start a new life, before all the lies of my ex-wife and my oldest daughter changed my life for ever.

    A court system that said I was guilty before I even had a chance to
    defend myself and one that broke me financially and mental in the
    process. Even my so called lawyer lied to me. I am not crazy or insane but the system has beat me down so hard and taken every thing a loved away from me and each day I fight it just gets harder..

    To die in battle would be better than to live in the shadows of this
    corrupt country. I do not want to hurt anyone but they have given me so little choice and I have not one damn thing to lose except my life and it has became unbearable. If you saw the hopelessness on the faces of the men and women in the groups that I go to you would understand what I am talking about.

    I have reached out for help from every one I know and also the system
    itself only to get the door slammed in my face every time.. This is not a letter about self pity, this is the plain truth how most of us feel, the system does not work and never has, what choice to you give a person when you take every thing from them and tell them to go live under a bridge or a vacant field and make them pay a monthly fee even if they cannot find work ,who cares pay the fee or go to jail.

    And then when you think it will end they change the laws again and you have to register for life, when that was not the deal in the first place, oh you will not have a record if you take deferred judgment, just another lie and the many the system has told you. Therapy will only be a few years and then when you enrolled it’s open ended and 40 dollars a week for the next 10 years, and the lie detectors 200 to 300 dollars every time you take one and all the have to do is say you failed and you have to take a retest at another 300 dollars even when you know you have not done anything to fail it , it does not matter the have all the cards.

    The system as made a business around crime it is not about wanting to
    reform any one it is about the money and power. Does anything in this
    letter sound familiar to anyone? This is a example of hopelessness if we let it happen, Think about it, get angry and then stand up!

    If we do not stand together and let our voices be heard not later, but now, we will always be held down, Please get involved and start the battle to change these laws or hopelessness is going to be all you will ever know. Join any group you are interested in and donate your time and money, so we do not have to write these sad letters of how we feel, lets get our hope and life back so we can be productive citizens again!
     

    Who is the `victim` afterwards?
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 09.06.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0142]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0142 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. This person sent no email - PLEASE GIVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO WE CAN SEND COMMENTS TO THE WRITER OF THE BLOG.
    Alex
    -------------
    Who becomes the victim after the victim? that's the real question. and with all these catch 22 laws that the states are passing it seems that i'm going to be a victim for the rest of my life. which makes trying to do something with my life seems useless.

    i have people telling me to keep my head up, but with this witch hunt going on it hard, and i know i'm not the only one that feels this way. and the crazy part about it is that a lot of people don't agree with the sexoffender laws but the state lawmakers got it so that the people can't vote on all the b.s sexoffender laws they pass.

    i always thought the policy was the people decided on the passing of big laws but i guess not, at least not in florida. so please contuine to fight for us to get some of these laws changed. and if the state feels murderers, thieves and other criminals should be allowed to get back into society we should be able too!!
     

    Confused `victim` feels pain, but also wants justice
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 30.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0141]
     
    Please refer in comments to blog no. 0141 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL WHEN YOU COMMENT so we can send it to the person who wrote the original blog or tale. This blog, to me, shows how very difficult this whole sex offender issue is for many people, including those who are victims of rape - this woman is in pain, and yet she also wants to make sure there is justice for the falsely accused, as well as for everyone.
    ---------------------
    I'm writing because I want to explain my story to someone that might understand poeple from the other side of this. I am a rape victim. I was 15, he was 21 and he beat me severely and raped me. It was new years eve and we were all partying and i passed out on a hotel bed and my friends left me with this man. i woke up to fists in the face and on and on. Well the police were mean to me and nice to him. I have suffered for years from that police abuse and society b.c i was drinking and partying.

    Then to read all these articles about how the justice system is going overboard to help these victims or so called victims amazes me. My rape occured in 1992 and i am now 33 years old. I am a single mom of two beautiful kids and turned my life around after this rape. After the rape i started with panic attacks and people phobias of being in public. I have struggled with very disruptive disfuntional relationships after this. My entire life has been flipped over b/c this man chose to rape me. I have had a lot of therapy but it is something no matter how hard you try, that never fully leaves you.

    I agree 100% that these people on the registry deserve some sort of life i do. but to expect these people to live as if nothing ever happened is not an option. I wish everyday i could wake up and live as if i were never raped but it doesn't work like that. To the wrongly convicted, that leaves a hole in my heart. NO ONE should suffer for having consensual(sp) sex with a girlfriend. That's crazy and we're all guilty of that. No one should be registered b/c they walked naked around there homes JESUS what has happened? I'm afraid for my kids. I know they will sexually experiement as we all do as adolecents. But to know that you could be a felon and punished even if the so called victim doens't even want to press charges is just crazy. Something does need to be done!!!

    But to have sympathy for a 24 year old man sleeping with 13 year olds or younger or to have sympathy for for a grown man having sex with someone he knows better, well these men are destroying young girls. He is the adult and he should know better. But if it's a legitamate wrongful case, jesus help these people. if you're guilty of truely hurting someone, well KARMA comes with life for all of us. I have nightmares, panic attacks, eating disorders and the list goes on b/c of my rape. And i have helped myself more than the average victim. so sorry no sympathy there. but to have someones life ruined b/c someone grabbed someone's butt while they fell to help them from not hitting the ground is crazy. as a victim i do believe in justice. Convict and give fair trials. WE ALL DESERVE THAT. the guy that beat me up and raped me got a plea and didn't serve the time he should have yet the innocent seem to be getting the screwy end of the deal. I don't get it. BUt again, if you're guilty you deserve your punishment. You are different than robbers and addicts b/c of the fact you completely alter someones life forever. i will never be the same due to a mans selfishness and violence. and he doesn't have the right for his life to return to the same either. for these women lying and getting angry, they deserve to be prosecuted as well.

    They make real victims such as myself the ones who really pay. this system is serious and for crimianls, not girls who get pissed a guy dumped them, hell i've been dumped alot, it's part of life. but it doesn't give you the right to literally ruin an innocent humans life. something really needs to be done

     

    Even a Fantasy in Texas is a Felony
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 29.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0140]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0140 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    COMMENT IS POSTED AFTER THIS BLOG
    --------------
    EVEN A FANTASY IN TEXAS IS A FELONY

    In Texas (33.021(d)(3)in the Texas law code) even a fantasy is a felony. Worse, lawyers and judges will tell you it is unconstitutional, but you won't find a judge in Texas willing to strike it down, because they want to continue being elected - apparently, their jobs are more important than upholding the constitution or even just doing the right thing.

    Comment from Renate in Illinois,gvr123@aol.com

    this goes right along with the convicton of "intent of
    moving" no proof or "alleged" or "no criminal intent" as it was in
    the case of my son. guilty without proof like so many of our sons.
     

    Not About Protecting Children, But About Govt Money
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 25.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0139]
     
    Please send comments to alexm60@fastmail.fm and refer to Blog No. 0139. ALSO, PLEASE SEND US AN EMAIL EVEN WITH ANONYMOUS BLOGS SO WE MAY PASS ON COMMENTS TO YOU!
    ---------------------------------
    We miss the whole point of sex offender registration.
    This is not about safety of our children. This is all about the federal government (FBI) getting a data bank and federal funds using John Walsh as a catalyst. Larry King live with John Walsh. John Walsh stated after his son was abducted and found decapitated, that he had approached the FBI regarding posters for wanted criminals. The FBI told him we have data banks for auto theft burlary, homicide but not sex offenders or DNA to identify criminals after the fact. The FBI, according to John Walsh, said, ¨Why don't you do something about it.¨ John Walsh said that got him started.

    The FBI has used John Walsh and Patty Wetterling in order to tear down the U.S. Constitution on ex-post-facto and retroactive laws. All these laws are meant for collecting and storing data and getting funds for the FBI.

    Read all the text within these laws. Not one state getting the funds cares about what the state constitution stands for, or the federal Constitution means.

    All our elected officials care about is money for the state.

    When an unconstitutional bill passes Congress and is signed by the president, or when it is passed by a state legislature and signed by the governor, the Supreme Court is the last line of defense against its enforcement.

    Their job is to protect our rights. When they do, we owe them our gratitude for a job well done. When they don't, our very existence as a liberal democracy is threatened.

    Federal funding based on the number of sex offenders that are on the register each year for state’s compliance was the main catalyst (SEC. 607 , B, “In allocating funds under this subsection, the Director may consider the annual number of sex offenders registered in each eligible State's monitoring and notification programs”) violating the Tenth Amendment’s anti-commandeering prohibition, which prohibits the federal government from commandeering state officials into enacting or administering federal law. Congress also invoked its Commerce Clause authority, for the first time making it a federal crime to cross-states lines and fail to register. The use of the spending clause was used to circumvent the true meaning of the 10th amendment and the commerce clause.

    FLORIDA EXAMPLE
    The 1999 Florida Statute Title XLVI Crimes Chapter 775 definitions.

    775.24 Duty of the court to uphold the laws governing sexual predators and sexual offenders. (1). mid paragraph, The laws relating to sexual predators and sexual offenders are substantive law .Furthermore the Congress of the United States has expressly encouraged every state to enact such laws, and has provided that, to the extent that a states laws do not meet certain federal requirements, the state will lose significant federal funding provided to the state for law enforcement and public safety programs.

    §5.01 The Purpose of the Dormant Commerce Clause [117-119]
    The Dormant Commerce Clause seeks to achieve two purposes. First, it seeks to create a national economic market by preventing states from imposing barriers to trade. Second, it seeks to foster political cohesion by inhibiting states from imposing reciprocal barriers. The Dormant Commerce Clause addresses the situation in which Congress has not regulated some area which is within the Commerce power. Where Congress is silent, what, if any, barriers are there to state regulation?
     

    FEAR out of control!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 24.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0138]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0138 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them on to the brave woman who wrote this!
    -------------------------
    FEAR out of control!

    I have been praying that God would raise up an advocate for "us." I say "us" because I am in this with my husband, a registered sex offender. Every day we lose more and more rights as they somehow get away with tagging onto his already-served sentence. It has got to stop. This is FEAR out of control. Please know and understand that
    we both are wholly committed to stopping the terror of sexual abuse and firmly believe that there need to be laws to protect; however, with so many categories of sexual offenders clumped together on the State registries, how will people really know the ones that are dangerous if they have to weed through them all? There needs to be massive change in the registration laws, AND they need to quit grandfathering-in all sex offenders when they make new laws. It is ludicrous that my husband continues to "serve" his sentence LONG AFTER he has served his sentence. Thank you for stepping into the craziness that has escalated beyond belief and that has to be curtailed. Your efforts and your compassion (though I understand that does not mean condoning the individuals' actions) encourages me that there is hope. God bless you all.

     

    Criminal Justice Student Disovers S.O. Injustice
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 14.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0137]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0137 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and I¨ll send them on to this enterprising and honest young man!
    SEE COMMENT BELOW
    ---------------
    As a criminal justice major at my college, my first thought was that everyone on the national sex offender registry was an enemy of the state and I knew nothing about the laws governing the registry. My conclusion: The laws governing the national sex offender registry are unconstitutional, people are being put on the registry for the most ridiculous crimes, and the registry does nothing to protect the public except labeling and humiliating people for the crimes they’ve committed in the past (for the rest of their life). I agree we that may need a registry or some way to keep track of dangerous sexual predators, but the laws need to be reformed. I will get the word out to my local college and educate them to the best of my ability.

    --------------
    Comments
    Thank you from a sex offender's wife for that comment. Please do all you can to help all of us.
     

    Modern Day Lynching - It Felt That Way!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 04.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0136]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog. No. 0136 and send to alexm60@fastmail.fm. I´ll send them to the mother who wrote this.
    SEE ALSO STRONG COMMENT BELOW
    -----------------
    I need support. I dont know what to expect. My son was taken from me at 17 in form of a modern day lynching. It felt that way! I am yet grieving. What is next when he is released from prison?

    from a grieving mother in Arkansas
    -----------------------
    My son, too, was taken away at the age of 13 and just like you, it felt like a lynching to me as well. He was in prison for 2 1/2 years, then was paroled and made to reside at a treatment center. He will receive treatment for a year and then be placed in an independent residential home. He\'ll be on parole until the age of 21 and he has to register for the rest of his life.

    So, when will my son ever be allowed to come home? The registry will prevent him from coming home for the next 14 years because he has younger siblings who are only 4 and 5 years old. My son will be 30 years old before he will be able to reunite with his family.

    And they call this our American Justice...I call it cruel and unusual punishment.
     

    Everybody can be tracked in this country!
    By Renate <gvr123@aol.com>
    Posted on 01.05.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0135]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0135 and by sent to Renate at gvr123@aol.com, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    -----------------------
    Don´t worry about IPhones - Anybody can be tracked in this country!
    Renate

    pull up your little towns in your area, it gives you all the attractions, parks scools, restaurants.how many people live there and yes, how many sexoffenders live there.

    we don't even need the registry to look up sexoffenders. just pull up your area towns. the gov makes it easy for us. just expose everybody, violent or not, now the iphone and also oprah.

    the motivation behind all this is clear, easy money for everyone to make, in the name of the safty of our children. maybe a few gov.grants also. i realy don't know what good it does us to pay taxes for schools and parks and other opportunities, if most of our family members are not allowed to go there or participate!

    does anybody know, what comes up on the screen, if the police run your license? is this your right also to have a look at it? what happens if there is a hospital stay needed? will the ´sex offender' be in a single room? does anyone have to go and report and register if he stays in a hopsital? failure to do so: imprisonment?

    these polititians have their little get togethers and come up with more restrictians without public knowledge. everything is hush hush. who voted these people in office? us. but i find they do everything in the dark, just the same as they spread the panic: the next offender will snatch your child in the dark.

    everybody can be tracked in this country, via satelite(you already have a cellphone). your computer is not safe, your new car has a box somewhere, not known to the buyer, cameras on the city street corner. don't get all upset about the iphone, make use of it. turn it around and make it work for you.

    the motivation to promote all this nonsense about "getting though on crime" is very questionable to me anyway. but those are just my 2 cents worth of thoughts.
     

    Throwing a Person Away is Easier!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 21.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0134]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog 0134 and be sent to me, Alex, and I´ll send them to the person who wrote this.


    -------------------------------------------

    My son became addicted to child pornography and because of that is now serving a eight year sentence. I use the word addicted because that is how I am truly starting to see this as especially after talking to many others who's love one is serving time for the same crime. I really believe that this type of crime can be controlled with the correct therapy and understanding rather than just throwing them into prison and looked upon as though they have leprosy to become a non-person just as we did not to far back with people who had bipolar or HIV. Now that we understand those two we are no longer afraid and the same can be done with people who are addicted to any type of pornography while on line. This could be a big step for the prison system by keeping this type of person out and really homing in on the issue and getting to the bottom of it, the population of the total system could possibly go down along with the possibility of the financing of keeping that person there. To stop the revolving door the system has to be dissected completely - or is it just that throwing a person away is much more easier to do. Out of sight out of mind.
     

    Brave and Angry: Austin´s Mom Writes Back
    By Shelley <shelley_led@hotmail.com>
    Posted on 19.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0133]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No.0133,and send to the above email address,with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ------------------------------------
    Here are comments from Shelley,RSOL Oregon contact, about the ordeal she and her family have faced in recent weeks as a local paper has published a photo of their missing son, as ¨most wanted.¨ Below Shelley´s comments, are a letter to Shelley from Tom Brewer, who has helped organize a campaign for another young man, Colton Calhoun, also in Oregon. Taken together, these show both the incredible evil of this sex offender system, and the great integrity of those who oppose it!
    ------------------------------------
    Comment from Shelley to RSOL people:

    Just when we thought it couldn't get any worse, as some of you know, two weeks ago, in the Sunday East Oregonian, they published Austin's picture with the heading MOST WANTED and his charges beneath the photo. I thought about this for a while then decided I could not just let this pass. I wrote a letter to the editor and had not heard anything until Friday when someone from the newsroom called and verified that I'd written it. It's in today's Sunday paper, the best day I could have hoped for. Please forgive the length. The letter follows.

    ********
    LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE EAST OREGONIAN,
    Published, Sunday, April 19, 2009

    Prayers and understanding are greatly appreciated

    We wish to express our most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all of you who know the truth of Austin's case and who, due to a recent newspaper posting, have taken this opportunity to contact us and again strongly affirm your love and support for him and your faith in his character. After this happened, Austin struggled to make a way for himself by way of employment, housing, etc., to no avail, and possibly feeling he could not survive here, unfortunately, he went missing a while ago. We fear for his safety and his health due to Crohn's Disease, and the compassion you've shown toward that helps ease the pain we feel.

    Never in our worst nightmares would we have believed such a travesty could occur in this community. Over the past 20-plus years we have lived here, our family, including and especially Austin, has willfully and unselfishly volunteered for community activities, including fund-raising efforts for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and National Wild Turkey Federation, the Pendleton Round-Up, Pendleton Youth Soccer Association, high school and middle school band activities, and church functions. To see someone whom we love so much suffer so greatly has broken our hearts and caused us to question why we remain here. But then you write, and you call, and you cry with us, and you pray for us, and the reason is once again clear.

    Please continue to pray that Austin is safe. We miss him and love him so much as we know you do too.

    Shelley Ledbetter
    Pendleton
    *********
    (Footnote for RSOL -
    If the people who did this to him can read, I hope they see it. I had to word it in a manner I thought would make it past the editor's desk, and it did. I hope I got the message across that this should never have happened to him or our family. Really, the people who are supporting us most are those of you reading this email and we love you for it.)

    --------------------------------------
    Letter to Shelley from Tom Brewer

    From: Tom Brewer
    Date: 19/04/2009 10:30:00
    To: Shelley Ledbetter
    Subject: austin

    In my mind Shelley the gloves come off!

    It is time to fight like hell. It is time to bring forward the travesty that happened to Austin.

    WHY were charges not brought against the mother of the young girl... When Austin was assaulted? How can this be overlooked, when (and have the facts in front of you) she was a felon already? Why was this overlooked by the authorities??? [ I gather this from what you told me]

    Shelley... You have to pose questions to the media that leaves the COPS having to reply. So not even hint at a response from you. Drop the question out there and so called walk away... Force the media to get a reply from the Police.

    Same thing with the girls and the boyfriend. Drop open questions (be careful not to put yourself at risk [legally] BUT leave the cops having to answer.

    In my mind Shelley you owe this to Austin. Did they print other pictures or just his? Embarrass the hell out of them Shelley, there are a host of others on the most wanted list as you can see if you go to the jail roster site.

    Make it as damning as you can without putting you at risk. If you have "proof" the girls lied, etc use it. Get affidavits where you can.

    Give the names of the DA/AG rep etcetera too. Let them bumble their explanation. Make the authorities answer for their action/inactions.

    This could be the opportunity to open Austin's case. IF they lied they should be charged and working backwards negate the charges on Austin.

    Remember what I advised some time ago..."put a rat in a corner and it will fight to its death". Shelley, Austin is not a rat however he has been treated like one. Talk to your lawyer friends ask them as best you can what they suggest.

    Like I say while what happened is demeaning as hell... This could be the opening needed to blow this matter wide open.

    Go for the jugular vein Shelley, you/Austin have nothing to loose. The woman who assaulted Austin does have something to loose along with the girls. PUT and keep the pressure on and watch the rats leave the sinking ship.

    Like I say this might well be the opening needed... Go for it big time... Honestly can anyone embarrass you any more? The authorities expect you to crawl into a hole and hide well Don't... Be their worst nemesis.

    Tom

    Tom Brewer is a supporter of another Oregon young man unfairly treated, Colton Calhoun. Here is the url for information about that case:
    http://www.onetruemedia.com/sharedp=48791a0838b78fb05ef904&large&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=embed
     

    S.O. Status Like the Tatoos for the Condemned
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 16.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0132]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0132 and send to me (Alex) at the above email address, and I´ll send them to the person who sent this.
    ---------------------
    How easy we let the Judicial condem and regulate.

    All people to be treated justly, fairly and according to law and principle. For all these principles apply to every AMERICAN,regardless of RACE religion, color, creed OR ANY OTHER CITERIA!

    How easily the law makers take upon themselves to destroy people´s lives, young and old. To classify everyone as the same.
    All criminals: Sex Offenders, Murderers, Drug Lords, are not the same.

    This is like when people where tattooed when they were condemned!
    The sex offender registry is the same type of thing. It is very painful to get a tatoo or a regsitry ¨brand¨ to be removed and very costly.

    From, The Professor Vietnam Veteran who believes in freedom, not condemnation.
     

    Untrue Statement on Today Show about ¨Sexting¨
    By Mary <resolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 16.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0131]
     
    Comments about this blog should refer to blog no. 0131 and be sent to Mary at the above email, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    Good for you, Mary!!!! (Alex) I urge all RSOL people who saw this program to send an email, too: today@nbcuni.com. (reference the Wed. morning program, April 15, 2009).
    --------------------------------
    We just sent the below to the Today Show. If anyone else watched this interview we are certain you were shocked with the incorrect comment made.
    Mary and John
    ----- Forwarded Message -----
    From: rsolvirginia@comcast.net
    To: today@nbcuni.com
    Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:50:02 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern

    Untrue Statement Made on this Mornings Today Show about Sexting and the SO Registry

    Dear Today Show,

    My husband and I were watching the Today show this morning as we normally do and had taken notice of the topic that covered “Sexting”. We were hoping to open a discussion with you or one of your staff in order to hopefully enlighten some of your viewers.

    The statement was made by Donna Rice Hughes from Washington that "prosecutorial discretion is allowed that would prevent these children from being placed on the registry". This statement is simply not true in almost every state. Unfortunately, she is as many Federal Politicians is referring to Federal guidelines but all states mandate their own restrictions and regulations that are imposed upon those convicted of a "sexual" offense. In fact the Legislator from Vermont replied to Donna Rice that he did not agree with her statement, but the interview was ending so he could not elaborate.

    In Virginia a recent discussion was held during the 2009 General Assembly on how to go about arresting persons who have been convicted of a sex offense, including misdemeanors, who had been ordered by the Judge to not register. The arrest is in fact for violating the rules of the registry and a failure to register charge, which is now a felony in Virginia. Once again these persons had been told by the court that they will not have to register as a sex offender. The discussion also included possible repercussions to any and all Judges making such an order.

    The fact is during our many meetings with State and Federal Lawmakers that they are not fully aware of just how out of control the Registry has become. Just a quick tidbit of information, our organization has crunched the numbers and found that in Virginia 1 out of every 210 adult males are currently listed as a “Sex Offender”. This statistic is echoed across the United States. One could argue that America has a severe problem with mental health and sexual deviants or perhaps the system is including too many offenses, which we believe to be the case. Interestingly enough, most Lawmakers we've spoken to agree that the increasing numbers on the State Registries have made them a “useless tool”. They also know its political suicide to try to fix this problem.

    The current Federal and State laws force most persons on the registry out of work and all too frequently out on the streets. If the person who is listed is truly trying to go on with his or her life and become a contributing member of society this is hopelessly cruel. If the person is truly a threat to society and might harm someone else, homeless and untraceable is the last thing we should want. The Registry has become so dilute with non-threats that it has become a completely useless tool, except for those who would exact random violence on anyone listed. The laws have become a perversion of what they were intended to do and America needs to know.

    Currently in Virginia a select few misdemeanor charges will result in a minimum of 15 years on the registry, all others are for a lifetime sentence on the registry. This is not debatable or something that can even be petitioned against. The court is legally bound to ignore any and all requests until the minimum is served.

    Please contact us if you think this is a topic that the Today Show would like to be educated on or to educate the public on.
    The RSOL is a National Organization with thousands of supporters who have been directly and indirectly affected by these ridiculous laws. Our goal is return the registry to what it was meant to do, to warn society of real potential harm and not just a stockpile of names.

    Thank you,
    Mary
    RSOL of Virginia
    Reform Sex Offender Laws
    PO Box 98
    Mechanicsville, VA 23111
    Virginia Web-site - www.rsolvirginia.org
    National Web-site - www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org
     

    Ricky & Mom on National Spanish TV!
    By Mary Duran <rickysmom@rickyslife.com>
    Posted on 13.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0130]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0130 and send to above name and email address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    WE SALUTE MARY - AND EVEN MORE SO RICKY - FOR THEIR COURAGE AND ARTICULATE STATEMENT ON NATIONAL TV!!!! Watch for an announcement of the details - Cristina Show, April 20, 10pm, EDT.
    -----------
    (We´ve edited this a bit, to cut to the chase - a description of Mary and Ricky´s experience on the program! Read about their earlier adventure as they visited homeless ¨sex offenders¨ under the Julia Tuttle Bridge on our website elsewhere. Mary also thanked RSOL folks for support!)

    (Ricky and I) were (at the TV station) on time and arrived at the studio around four p.m. There were several guests airing on this pre-recorded show titled, "Unjustly accused", and Ricky and I were put in a 'green room'. We were there for just a few minutes then the producer and others came in the room and sat and talked with us about our story, the fight I am in regarding the registry and our
    visit to the bridge and experience there. We discussed many topics regarding AWA, RSO laws, residency laws and the juveniles. They wrote down info regarding SOSEN and RSOL as well as CFCOklahoma and CFCIowa and then we were sent to make up.

    As we talked many were shocked at rickys story and many women of Hispanic origin kept repeating, "poor meho" and patting Ricky on his back. This is a Spanish speaking show, so the Producer and Cristina hired three interpreters and equipped us with ear pieces so a interpreter would tell us in English what was being said in Spanish during the other guests spots as well as when Cristina spoke to us. They had a young male there to interpret Rickys words to Spanish across the intercom for the audience and a woman
    there to interpret me.

    They were very friendly and the young male for Ricky was concerned ricky use "slang" and was a bit concerned he not know how to interpret in Spanish. We assured him ricky rarely used slang and would be ok.

    We had five or six guest before us and as it was interpreted in my ear piece I was horrified at the stories:

    Some were as follows:

    1) A man sat in a FL Prison 17 years for a murder he did not commit and DNA finally freed him and due to state law he was only paid 25,000 for seventeen years of his life being stolen.

    2) (This one shocked me) A gentlemen was found guilty of rape as a youth and served time and then DNA exonerated him and he was set free...However, he must still register as a sex offender under Illinois law.

    3) A family had been accused of child abuse even though there is a
    inheritable disease the mother has which a fall can cause a broken bone. Her daughter was taking from her and almost adopted out. They finally were exonerated and got their daughter back yet she is registered on a child abuse registry.

    Well Ricky was the last guest to air and we only had like ten or fifteen minutes. I worried over him as he was very nervous but we got out there and Cristina spoke to him in English and assured him he´d be ok...she was very motherly to him and told him his story broke her heart. She did tell me she wanted to focus on Rickys plight and story regarding age of consent which I understood.

    Well ricky, did me proud, and literally took charge of his life during this interview. He spoke clearly and told his story and had the audience attention. Cristina asked me "How long Ricky had to register"? and I simply answered in one word, "LIFE"!

    The audience reaction was that of shock and gasps and then I was asked how a parent knows their state of age of consent laws. I advised them to contact their Attorney Generals office and even a two year age difference could be registrable depending on your state laws.

    As we finished things Cristina put out a National plea on rickys behalf for a attorney to contact her if they were willing to take Rickys case pro-bono. We were not expecting that and the show ended.

    Once we were off camera Cristina gave Ricky a huge and told him he did not have to cry, which I did not realize he was, and told him she would find help for him and his case and expungment. As Ricky stood to leave the stage some mothers escaped from security, in the audience, and rushed towards ricky saying, "poor meho" and Ricky was almost embarrassed. immediately security whisked us away to the back and we sat there talking for a bit as Rickys young male interpreter came to him and told him he was "brave" and "courageous" and no one could of chose a better advocate for the romeo and Juliets across this country. They asked me why we went public, and I responded, "Generlo Wilson went public and he no longer sits in prison nor registers and someone has to lead the fight for the youths and adults. ricky and I were chosen in my belief."

    Before we left the studio Cristina and her producer took photos of Ricky and said they may bring us back at a later time to do updates and possibly more stories.

    I hope this will bring the registry more to light and show how its s bogus as a two dollar bill...

    We believe the show is on April 20, 2009 at 10 p.m. Eastern time. The show is in Spanish but hopefully we can get it translated to English.

    Since our arrival home I have been contacted by our state paper the
    Oklahoman and they are now running a story on our Julia Tuttle experience and Rickys story...

    I will never give up, folks, and even though we were asked to cover rickys story and age of consent you have my word we talked about the registry itself and the harm it does to families and former offenders.

    God Bless,
    Mary

     

    Differing Opinions on Chief Justice Decision on S.O. Commitment
    By Alex Marbury <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 08.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0129]
     
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 0129 and send to me at the above email.
    alex
    ----------------------

    To RSOL Participants -
    It is NOT clear that the recent appeal of the sex offenders facing commitment was due to specific Obama policy - but rather the result of an automatic appeal by the government of such federal decisions. What IS distressing, is the Chief Justice´s summary action without investigating the cases of those facing indefinate civil commitment.
    Here is the original RSOL post, with a disagreeing and clarifying note from one of our supporters, eadvcoate@yahoo.com.

    For more information, please contact him.
    Alex


    ----------------------------------------------------------
    Here´s the RSOL initial post:
    U.S. SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE BLOCKS SEX OFFENDER RELEASE
    Obama Administration Evidentlay Does Not Stand for Change on S.O. Issues
    (Please see RSOL News Item No. 00126 for the whole story.)

    Many RSOL participants had hoped that the new Administration would not simply maintain Bush policies on ¨sex offenders.¨ The Federal Court decision had been a promising sign that indefinate civil commitment laws might be struck down. Although such appeals are usually automatic, that Atty. General Holder and the Justice Department would take this active opposition to the decision, and urge the Supreme Court to block release of nearly 80 ¨sex offenders¨ who have completed long sentences, is disappointing. While some of them may indeed be dangerous, and possibly should be held, evaluated by actual risk they pose and the factual description of their actual actions (not merely the name of their ¨crime¨, such commitment could still be managed by the states. We urge all RSOL participants to write Atty. General Holder and the Obama Administration, urging them to reconsider their position on this urgent matter.
    -----------------------------------------------
    IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION from Eadvocate@yahoo.com

    In answer to a few reader questions here is a general rundown of what recently occurred.

    Background: State Civil commitment schemes were declared constitutional under the Clinton administration. see Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346 (1997). Now, the question today is, are federal civil commitment schemes constitutional (AWA enacted one)?

    Lets go back to the beginning in North Carolina:

    2007: North Carolina Federal District court declares AWA (portion about civil commitment) unconstitutional. i.e. Holding Congress did not have the power to enact FEDERAL civil commitment schemes. Note: NC Federal Dist. court is part of the Federal 4th Circuit.


    2008: Then the NC Dist court decision is appealed to the 4th Cir Federal Court of Appeals. However, the 4th cir agrees with the lower district court. i.e. Holding Congress did not have the power to enact FEDERAL civil commitment schemes.

    Note-1: So far the ONLY place this decision is VALID is in the 4th circuit (NC, VA, SC WV), no other circuit is required to follow it.

    Note-2: The next step is to the U.S. Supreme court, and because an act of Congress is involved, the lawyer who handles the case for the United States is the Solicitor General, also part of the Justice Department.

    Note-3: The job of the Solicitor General is to prove that any law previously enacted by Congress is valid, he is not allowed any personal opinion, he must follow what his job requires him to do. Under these circumstances he had NO DISCRETION, he cannot ignore that the lower decision INVALIDATED a congressional act, which are always presumed constitutional, and because of that decision (which also contained a HIDDEN question of public safety), HE MUST Appeal to the U.S. Supreme court and allow them the final say.

    Note-4:Can the public influence the SOlicitor General? No, no matter who says what, even if 10 million folks contacted him, he must ignore them because his job is to represent the U.S. and prove that previously enacted federal laws are constitutional; its his job even if his personal opinion is otherwise. However, there are additional special circumstances a constitutional Act is involved and a question of public safety. Where did the question of public safety come from? Read on.


    2009: So the Solicitor General appeals the 4th Cir decision to the U.S. Sup ct. Now so far we do not know exactly what he put in the appeal, as to the sex offenders which were being held, but we do know what the Judges of the 4th Circuit advised.... They wrote the following on the last two pages of their decision:


    "For these reasons, we can only conclude that the district court correctly held § 4248 unconstitutional. The challengers have made a "plain showing" that, in enacting § 4248, Congress exceeded its constitutional authority. Morrison, 529 U.S. at 607.

    Our holding, however, does not require that the Government’s legitimate policy concerns go unaddressed. If the federal government has serious concerns about the dangerousness of a person due to be released from federal prison, it can notify state authorities, who may use their wellsettled police and parens patriae powers to pursue civil commitment under state law. See generally Kansas v. Hendricks, 521 U.S. 346 (1997).

    Moreover, if the relevant state authorities prove reluctant to take charge of such persons, the Government is not without recourse. The federal government may, for example, wield its spending power to encourage state action, see U.S. Const. art. I, § 8, cl. 1 (granting Congress the power to allocate funds to promote the "general Welfare"), by providing funding to state institutions for this purpose. Cf. South Dakota v. Dole, 483 U.S. 203, 209-12 (1987). But Congress’s perceived need for the sort of civil commitment statute at issue here does not create constitutional power where none exists. See Morrison, 529 U.S. at 627. Congress must instead seek alternative, constitutional means of achieving what may well be commendable objectives.

    The power claimed by § 4248—forcible, indefinite civil commitment—is among the most severe wielded by any government. The Framers, distrustful of such authority, reposed such broad powers in the states, limiting the national government to specific and enumerated powers. "[T]hat those limits may not be mistaken, or forgotten, the constitution is written." Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137, 176 (1803). Section 4248 thus cannot be sustained as an exercise of Congress’s authority under the Commerce Clause or any other provision of the Constitution. For these reasons, we affirm the judgment of the district court. AFFIRMED"


    So, the question of public safety came from the judges of the 4th cir. Given they raised the issue, the Solicitor General cannot ignore that, which effectively kills any discretion he has at times. Now, when the appeal was filed in the U.S. Sup court, Chief Justice Roberts jumped in:


    "Robert's O R D E R

    UPON CONSIDERATION of the application of the Solicitor General,

    IT IS ORDERED that the mandate of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, case No. 07-7671, is hereby stayed pending the disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari. See Walters v. National Assn. of Radiation Survivors, 468 U. S. 1323 (1984) (Rehnquist, J., in chambers) (“The presumption of constitutionality which attaches to every Act of Congress is not merely a factor to be considered in evaluating success on the merits, but an equity to be considered in favor of applicants in balancing hardships”). Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court."

    This is tricky, But Roberts DID NOT order the sex offenders held (see above), he stayed the 4th cir decision, which means that decision cannot be carried out (a portion of it would have ultimately resulted in release of the sex offenders). Don't you just love how the law works?

    So everything that has occurred is nothing more than steps in the appellate process when a lower court declares an Act of Congress unconstitutional, and the belief of public safety issues.

    And now we wait................

    eAdvocate

    BTW: Another federal district court held AWA Civil Commitment unconstitutional. See
    MA- Massachusetts District Court Finds Civil Commitment Law Unconstitutional
     

    Seeking Sex Offenders Under a Miami Bridge
    By Mary Duran <rickysmom@rickyslife.com>
    Posted on 07.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0128]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0128 and be sent to Mary at the above email address, with a copy to Alex at alexm60@fastmail.fm
    RSOL is proud of this woman and her brave son - both of who have served as RSOL state contact people.
    ------------------------------------------------
    Photos of Mary and Ricky can be found at this url:
    http://sosen.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=11&Itemid=23
    -----------------------------

    THE LOST, THE FORGOTTEN, THE UNKNOWN
    A Visit to a Homeless ¨Sex Offender¨ Camp Under the Julia Tuttle Bridge in Miami
    by Mary Duran
    RSOL Oklahoma State Affiliated Group Contact
    (with her son Ricky)

    The day came in a glory of fire over the Caribbean waters as Miami began to bustle in the humid air. The sky lit up like a ray of rainbows as the sun began to rise and dawn broke.

    We - my son Ricky and I - watched the sun rise, and quietly discussed the Julia Tuttle Bridge and our determination to locate it and see for ourselves what we read in the National news. Part of it may be curiosity, but also a need as a human and civil rights advocate to proceed to locate those registered living under this famous causeway and to let them know there are advocates who truly care and find it horrifying how they are forced to live.

    As we stood quietly on a pier, overlooking the marina, filled with yachts and smaller vessels, one couldn’t help but notice a few yards away the homeless sleeping on their blankets as the warm breeze offered a small comfort as they slept peacefully in a world which seemed to be so brutal due to the economy.

    Ricky had been watching them, his young mind questioning why we have homeless living like this and were they “sex offenders”? I knew it was impossible and stated to him, as the sun continued to rise over the water, that they were simply homeless men since nearby was an elementary school and Miami law prohibited registered sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of a public school or park.

    We made our way back to our hotel room, in a area known to Miami as “Coconut Grove” and prepared for our mission, to locate the bridge and find those under it.

    0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

    As the hot and humid sun continued to rise over Miami we found ourselves inside a taxi cab with a Hispanic male who seemed quite brisk and even downright rude. We told him we wanted to be delivered to the Julia Tuttle Bridge and his reaction was, ‘why’? Ricky spoke up and explained to him we were looking for the homeless living there to do a story and the driver retorted, “We have no homeless under the bridge,” and then said, “I need address to bridge to take you.”

    We were by this time a couple blocks from the hotel and the hair on the back of my neck raised as a bit of alarm grasped me because of the man’s attitude. I, again, explained we had no address, just the name of the bridge and he seemed to get quite angry. Instantly realizing this may have been a mistake I told him to let us out of the cab and we would pay him what we owe, and find a police officer who could be of assistance. Shockingly, he refused and with a heavy Spanish accent told us, “You want to go to bridge, I take you to bridge,” and then proceeded to again repeat, “You want to go to bridge, I take you to bridge!”

    By this time, being from a small town, and a protective mother, due to the scarlet letter my own son wore, I drew a deep breath and calmed myself. I sensed Ricky’s confusion and anger at the cab driver and told him to stay calm. I then told him loud enough for the cab driver to hear me that we would find ourselves a police officer and file a report since it seemed we were being kidnapped after we asked to be let out of the cab.

    This drew the cab driver´s attention as he asked me what organization I represent and I told him one which advocates for human and civil rights which he seems to dislike as he continued to speed through traffic - toward the bridge, I hoped.

    Moments later, we began crossing a long bridge, bustling with traffic and he told us that this was the bridge. He continued to drive for a couple more miles then swerved towards the side. At this point Ricky said, “Let us out here.” The cab driver seemed perplexed as to why we wanted to be at the bridge but said nothing as his job would lead him to another tourist and we soon be forgotten. We paid the cab fare and found ourselves to the side of the Julia Tuttle Bridge which seemed to stretch on before us, like the abyss of the unknown.

    We found ourselves in a bagel shop moments later and asked an African American gentlemen if he could tell us how to get under the causeway. At first he didn’t answer and looked at us with curiosity and then asked Ricky, “Why do you want to go under the bridge?”

    Ricky explained to him we were looking for the homeless registered sex offenders who are reported to be living there and we were with an organization called ‘SOSEN’.
    (Alex´Note: And Reformsexoffenderlaws.org)

    The bagel shop worker informed us “if” there were any homeless under the bridge then it is back at the other end, not here where the cab driver delivered us. He said we could walk back across the bridge and find some street but warned us it was a long walk. We thanked him and stepped back outside to figure out our next move. Ricky commented to me:_it was a long walk back across and he worried we might be hit by traffic or harassed by police for walking along the Interstate.

    So we began to walk in the area and ask others who were busy walking or waiting at the public bus signs, how can we get under the bridge from this side? Many were unsure, some were curious why ‘we’ wanted to get under the bridge and others blatantly ignored us as some pesky tourists who had a fetish for a bridge.

    Finally, Ricky left me on the sidewalk and hopped onto a bus to ask a public transit driver. They told him to catch bus 120 back across the bridge. So we stood there and waited. Bus 120 came and the lady transit driver told us she indeed would go back to the other side and to come aboard. We did, thankful for the moment´s respite from the heavy humidity which seem to be so oppressive since our arrival on the plane the day before. The bus was full to capacity, so Ricky and I held onto a bar as the bus lurched forward, but then a gentleman moved and offered me his seat so I would not lose my balance easily.

    We, within minutes, were back on the other side of the bridge so we left the coolness of the bus and thanked the driver for her assistance. As we began to look around we found ourselves near a public park where many were walking their dogs. We proceeded to the park, and began walking towards the bridge which you could see before us. However, Ricky quickly realized due to a fence we had no access and so we trekked back to where the bus deposited us.

    Here, we ran into another gentleman and asked him how to get under the bridge to locate the homeless. He told us there were none. That Floridians do not put their people under bridges. We assured him there were homeless there but he wandered off with his dog continuing on their morning walk, unconcerned at the thought of homeless people living under a bridge within sight.

    We found ourselves frustrated at how no one seemed to be aware of the homeless under the bridge, sensing some knew and just didn’t seem to care as it had no effect on their lives in the busy bustle of Miami. We were hot, tired and thirsty at this point but we continued on, determined to find these men and see for ourselves this famous Julia Tuttle Causeway.

    Again, we continued to ask around on how to get under the bridge. Finally a British guy, who was walking his Great Dane, told us we have to walk along the bridge and climb over the guardrail and hike down the side. He warned us it was a couple of miles´ hike back, and he felt since I was a woman with a youthful son we should be careful. Finally, we had an idea of how to find the men and directions to get there. Excitement raced through me, as we turned and headed for the actual famous Julia Tuttle Bridge and the unknown.

    As we began the walk across the bridge, with traffic racing by us, almost like we were invisible, a feeling of unease settled over me, not because we were going to the bridge, but because we were hiking along the Interstate fearing Miami police would stop us in violation of some law.

    The Julia Tuttle Bridge seemed endless before us, as we walked along the hot pavement of the interstate, the sun beating down upon our heads, the humidity pressing in on us making us sweat. Time passed, seemingly as we continued to walk until finally we stopped at the guardrail, Ricky noting there was a path leading down below.

    After Ricky helped me over the rail, we began slowly to descend the side of the bridge. Ricky noted carpets and blankets as well as trash along the path. The ground was moist and muddy and a few times I lost my footing and slipped, but we continued on our mission to find the homeless offenders.

    At the bottom we saw a couple of men fishing from a little pond and they simply stared at us but said nothing. We said hello and continued on, unsure if they were part of the colony we sought out. As we kept on, we came to the bridge, we saw a sign painted in black on the bridge pillars which read, “We R not monsters.” We first happened upon a Hispanic male who could not speak English but his girlfriend interpreted for us. We did not want to offend anyone and made this clear to her and she told us the camp was empty as most of the men were gone. We were welcome to take pictures but obviously they asked us to respect others who were farther up the bridge and we promised to respect their privacy.

    As we moved farther back under the bridge, we came across many tents and carpets where these men were forced to live. We found a camper and wondered if the ‘woman’ offender we read about in a previous week’s news article was there. As we continued our photo shots, we came across another young offender who was sitting in his car with a young woman. We quickly learned his name is Bryan and the woman was his wife who also lived under the bridge. I remember thinking of the concern for the lone woman offender here and yet it appeared there were other women living here.

    As we talked, Bryan told us his story and how he at age 19 was falsely accused of rape and even the police stated they thought the woman lied. I asked him if the Prosecutor had DNA evidence and he said, ¨No!¨ They literally told him if he did not take a plea bargain of five years´ probation then he would lose a jury trial and be sentenced to fifteen years. He had a public defender.

    We took a photo with Bryan in front of the sign, “We R not monsters,” and again discussed the colony these men and their girlfriends and wives were being forced to live. I asked him about the woman offender and he was not aware of her and said if she had been there its possible she had been removed. We went to the camper where we were told a man named Marcos lived and knocked but he did not answer so we again moved back to Bryan’s car.

    He told us how “Rocky” was fighting to get them help and get them from under the bridge and how his wife and him prayed soon that they would be free from living like this. He then showed me his GPS monitor and I asked him how much it cost. He replied, “seven dollars a day.” How does one pay for this with no job? No home? Bryan said he feared being violated since he could not afford the costs of probation such as treatment, probation fees and GPS monitoring. He went on, along with his wife, to tell us how he used to work in construction and did well, but last year they lost their jobs. His wife had an apartment, but Bryan could not live there and she, bravely and courageously, chose to be with him in the colony.

    Bryan’s wife was quiet but there was a sweetness about her and I learned she was only 20. She had been dating Bryan when this happened and decided to stand by him in the name of love. I said nothing, but could sense tiredness about this young woman and how living under the bridge was taking its toll on her. Ricky, seemed to sense this too, as he told her he hoped he could find a woman to love him so unconditionally, to stand beside him even when his own country and people treat him like a pariah of society, and he was honored to have met her.

    Our words seemed to surprise Bryan’s wife and she thanked us in her quiet voice. She began to open up a bit to me as Ricky and Bryan again walked around looking at things and she mentioned how it seemed no one cared about them. She repeated what the sign says, “We R not monsters,” and I assured her there are thousands of people across this once great country who do care and we seek help for them. I would not give up on her and Bryan once I left the bridge and returned home. She had my word.

    Bryan and Ricky came back and he asked me if I knew who slept on the carpet next to him? I obviously had no clue and he then preceded to tell us that the piece of rug belonged to an 18 year old boy. I was shocked, stunned and horrified at this thought and it smacked me, like the humidity: this could easily be my Ricky. The mother in me questioned - where in the hell are these kids´ parents? Where are the families who should be outraged at how their loved ones are being treated worse than animals and forced to live under a hot, damp bridge with no running water or toilets available?

    I turned to Bryan and asked him, ¨What do you all do with your trash?¨ He told us it was piled over in a burn pile even though they were not to burn trash - just nother hardship on the men and women under the bridge which caused unsanitary conditions. This then led me to ask where they use the bathroom. Bryan pointed to some Palm Trees and said they go behind there and were careful not to be charged with a second sex crime of ‘indecent exposure’.

    As we spoke to Bryan the heat continued to be oppressive and I began to feel faint and ill. Bryan and his wife immediately started their car and turned on the air and placed me in the backseat. They offered to take us back to the hotel and we greatfully accepted.

    Within minutes we were on our way back to the hotel and Bryan and his wife were kind and considerate towards my son and me. The cool air was refreshing and by the time we were back in our room I was feeling much better.

    As we sat there preparing for the Cristina show I pondered over the events of the day and realized those registered offenders under the bridge are truly ostracized from the community and are the lost, the forgotten and the unknown to the world. We may read articles in National News about those being forced to live under the bridge but nothing compares to being there and experiencing the conditions these men and women deal with daily.

    The questions which reverberate through my mind are:

    *How can this be in a country called the United States?
    *Is this the catalyst for more violations of human and civil rights as more states pass legislation regarding residency laws?
    *Is this colony of registered sex offenders the future of all offenders across this once great land?

    Days have passed since our return home and one thing which remains is the desperation and tragedy of Bryans voice as his future is that of the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Is there anyway for me as a mother, a advocate and a human to help these men and women?

    Daily I work with many who suffer because of these laws and yet should my son and I be thankful we do not live under a bridge? Will this day come? We realize now as we are back home in our trailer with running water and food, a warm bed to sleep in that maybe, even though these laws are destroying our lives and my family is the collateral damage, that we should be thankful for the small blessings we have.

    These include: a group of advocates and friends who care, a home and, most of all, we have each other. Indeed it’s the small blessings we should be thankful for.

    Written by,
    Mary Duval
     

    Psychiatrist´s Letter to Digest Editor
    By Dr. Rick DeMasi <jodemas2@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 03.04.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0127]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0127 and be sent to the writer, Dr. Rick DeMasi, at the above email address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    NOTE FROM ALEX MARBURY: The Blog page is for opinions, sometimes divergent from RSOL views. What is written below is NOT the official view of RSOL. We do not publish extreme opinions, but we do publish a variety of points of view on topics related to sex offender laws. We believe this is in the interest of free exchange of ideas, and is important as we come to grips both with the hysteria against ¨sex offenders,¨ and with possibility for reform.
    -----------------------------------------

    Letter to the Editor of the RSOL Digest (March 2009)

    I want to commend Kelly Piercy for pointing out the importance of words and expressing oneself clearly.

    I must however take issue with some points in the discussion of
    pedophilia. For example, Piercy states: "No one supports the act of a person of sexual maturity engaging in sexual conduct with a person not of that maturity."

    What about the case of William Elliott who in 2007 was shot dead in his home by someone who found his name and address on Maine's sex offender registry? When he was 19 he had sex with his girlfriend who was only days away from that magical birthday known as the "age of consent." The murderer also shot another man on the registry before killing himself as police closed in on him.

    While there may be some RSOL members who support age of consent laws, none would condone such a senseless crime. Many of us who have also seen the grave injustices wrought by age of consent laws realize that the battle against registration laws is not an all-or-nothing one, but one which must be fought on multiple fronts. The fight against unjust age of consent laws is part and parcel of that against registration laws.

    Piercy also makes good points in distinguishing clinical pedophilia,
    i.e, the sexual attraction to prepubescent children, from violent
    predatory non-consensual sexual activity, and advocating for treatment. He then undoes a lot of that good by placing in the middle of his essay
    "Pedophile = active dangerous person."
    Someone who just skims the article is going to remember that. I think you could see what I mean if I were to write, apart from everything else:
    ¨Sex offender (registrant) = violent dangerous predator.¨
    While a small few are dangerous, we all know that the great majority are not.

    Furthermore, Piercy neglects to give the origin of the word "pedophilia" which comes from the Greek "paidos" = "love" and "philia" = "children," just about the farthest thing form an "active dangerous person" there can be.

    If some are uncomfortable getting into the "age of consent" debate, take heart from Piercy's point about dialog. The reasons they are a bad idea can be explained to anyone willing to listen with an open mind, but more importantly, as Piercy points out, we just need to keep talking to each other, especially when we disagree.

    Dr. Rick DeMasi
     

    A War on Sex Offenders
    By posted by Terrence <tjwhite1963@gmail.com>
    Posted on 28.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0126]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0126 and be sent to Terrence at the above email, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ------------------------------

    URL for the full blog:
    http://www.concurringopinions.com/movabletype/mt-tb.cgi/5239. 1361814130

    When Does Ordinary Law Enforcement Become a "War on Crime?"
    (A War on Sex Offenders?)
    posted by Corey Yung
    (Professor Corey Yung, John Marschall School of Law)

    In 1971, Richard Nixon declared the War on Drugs in America. However, the laws enabling that criminal war had been enacted years before Nixon’s speech officially recognized the new conflict. By 1968, Lyndon Johnson had established the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (the predecessor organization to the Drug Enforcement Agency) to lead the charge against domestic drug use and distribution. The next year, efforts to limit drug smuggling along the Mexican border culminated in Operation Intercept which nearly closed the border entirely. When Nixon took over the Presidency, he signed into law the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act which established the categorization system for regulating narcotics. Perhaps the clearest sign that something was afoot even before Nixon’s speech was that the anti-drug-war group, The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (“NORML”), was founded to counter the shifting policy priorities of the criminal justice system. By the time of the official declaration, the War on Drugs was already underway.

    So, when did the "war" actually start? In an era when foreign wars are not even truly "declared" anymore, perhaps it is not surprising to think that a criminal war might be underway without a specific statement from the federal government. In a paper I have been working on for a while that I will be presenting at the Law & Society Conference, I contend that a criminal war on sex offenders may have already begun. We are, thus, in a period like that in the late 60's and early 70's wherein the conflict has started even if the government has not yet acknowledged it.

    In reviewing America's history of criminal wars, I have identified three major characteristics of those conflicts. The first two are essential prerequisites for the war to begin and the third is a sign that it is underway. First, there must be a substantial campaign of myth creation. For the war on drugs, movies like Reefer Madness embodied the misinformation that was propagated to support government policy against drugs. In regards to the nascent war on sex offenders, there are already developed myths of the prevalence of stranger rape, of child molesters lurking in the bushes, that offenders cannot be "cured" based upon faulty recidivism statistics, and of the collective nature of the class "sex offenders." Second, there must be a significant marshalling of resources in proportion to the perceived threat. For sex offenders, policy innovation has created an environment at the federal, state, and local levels whereby offenders have a significant weight upon them. Lifetime registration, residency restrictions, civil commitment, lifetime real-time GPS monitoring, castration, community notification, and work restrictions are just a few of the policies that have targeted sex offenders. The treatment of offenders seems out of proportion given that previously convicted and released sex offenders are only responsible for a small portion of sex crimes. However, the marshalling of resources is still incomplete. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, the most significant piece of federal sex offender legislation, has not been fully funded to enforce its various provisions. Perhaps with the economic downturn and a new administration, the focus of criminal justice resources on sex offenders might yet dissipate.

    Third, and importantly for non-sex offenders, an inevitable result of criminal wars is exception-making to various protected rights. The drug war has arguably limited the rights protected under the First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Fourteenth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments. Further, federal authority has expanded well beyond the previous reaches of the Commerce Clause. These "exceptions" to prior doctrine have had long-term implications outside of the drug war. Similarly, the war on sex offenders through registration laws has limited due process rights, changed Ex Post Facto doctrine, and further expanded the federal reach under the Commerce Clause. Residency restrictions have revived banishment as punishment in a way that is detrimental to basic aspects of American democracy. Other punishments have already curtailed First, Fifth, Fourteenth and Sixth Amendment protections.

    So, based upon those criteria, I think a strong case that a war on sex offenders has already begun. There is a chance that through court decisions, state noncompliance with the Adam Walsh Act, or failure to fully fund the various sex offender laws, that the war could falter. However, based upon the politics of crime, it seems likely that America has started a new war on the criminal front.
     

    Victories in New Mexico!
    By posted by Lloyd <madalleyreport@aol.com>
    Posted on 23.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0125]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0125 and be sent to the above address with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Report by Lloyd of the New Mexico RSOL Affiliated State Group on their lobby effort and the results!
    VICTORIES IN NEW MEXICO!

    Folks, the (New Mexico legislative) session has ended and all 3 RSO bills are dead. 502 was on the House agenda today, but there was not enough time. I want to thank everyone for the help this session. As a completely new organization, it was a trial by fire, helping to stop 3 bills was an absurd proposition, but we did it. So if you participated, made calls, wrote letters, pat yourself on the back. If you are on the registry, you have not lost additional rights in 2009. These defeats are just the beginning, many legislators mentioned they craved reform, and evidence based "best practices" proposals from SOMB. Reform is happening in other states, and court cases have become exciting lately. We must build on this momentum and move forward with our next agenda, especially SOMB and legal. Without the demands in our first weeks of our organization working in Santa Fe, we can work on resources, prevention and other important things as well. The year of "the beginning of Justice Reform" has begun.
     

    US CONG HEARING:AWA-SORNA Violates Rights
    By eAdvocate <eAdvocate@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 22.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0124]
     
    Please refer in comments to Blog No. 124, and send to the above email address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ------------------------------------------
    SORNA - Sex Offender Law Violates Rights, Puts Kids at Risk
    3-19-2009 National:

    Last Tuesday, a U.S. House subcommittee held a hearing to evaluate states’ compliance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). That law requires that states scrap their sex offender monitoring programs and create online public registries of sex offenders according to strict new federal standards. Instead of basing the length of monitoring on an assessment of the chances that the person will reoffend, states must apply a three-tier system based solely on the person’s offense. The law covers all people convicted of crimes that involve a sexual act, including some minors and even covers people who had paid their debt to society decades ago. States that aren’t in compliance with this law by July 29, 2009, could lose a substantial piece of federal aid for state law enforcement.

    SORNA will not prevent sexual victimization. In 2007, Human Rights Watch released a comprehensive report, No Easy Answers, which found that if anything, these laws are counterproductive. They make it harder for law enforcement to focus its resources on the truly dangerous individuals. And unrestricted public access to the registries results in ostracism and diminishes the likelihood of reintegration into society. Our increasingly scarce resources would be better spent on counseling for victims, education for the community, and treatment for the offenders.

    We’ve gotten used to having few friends on this issue. We’re okay with this. We didn’t get into this business in order to make friends. With the exception of the criminal defense bar, there just aren’t a whole lot of people who want to stand up for the rights of sex offenders. So we were pleasantly surprised to hear the testimony of Emma J. Devillier, Assistant Attorney General of Louisiana, and Detective Bob Shilling, who works in the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit of the Seattle Police Department.

    Bob Shilling was molested as a child, and has dedicated his life to ending sexual abuse. He testified that SORNA’s three-tier system is making his job more difficult. He argued that it’s more effective to base sex offender monitoring decisions on the actuarial risk-based system that attempting to calculate the chances that the person will reoffend and is currently used in over 20 states. Simply looking at the crime a person was convicted of tells you very little about the chance that he or she will reoffend. By adopting SORNA’s rigid categories, states governments and police departments will divert valuable resources away from policing high- and moderate-risk sex offenders to people whose risk of reoffending is very low.

    Emma Devillier is a front-line prosecutor of sexual offenders in Louisiana, and was in charge of implementing SORNA’s requirements in the state. She also argued that SORNA will make it harder for her to do her job. Sex offenses can be very hard to try. Often there is no physical evidence and no witness besides the victim. If Devillier does not have the discretion to waive the sex offender registration requirements, her ability to get defendants to plead guilty will be compromised. She will have to bring more of these cases to trial, forcing the victims to publicly relive their personal trauma.

    Knowing that laws like SORNA have done nothing to make us safer makes me suspect that many of the politicians who support them are thinking more about their next re-election campaign than actually protecting kids. I have a low tolerance for politicians who use kids to score cheap political points. It’s not like there isn’t anything else going on that Congress could be spending its time on instead of forcing counterproductive legislation down states’ throats. ..News Source.. by ACLU John Hardenbergh, Washington Legislative Of
     

    Tips for Neighbors of ¨Sex Offenders¨
    By Bennie <lostjustice@comcast.net>
    Posted on 21.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0123]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0123 and be sent to the above email address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ---------------------------
    Tips for Neighbors
    By Bennie Walton, Colorado RSOL

    Sex Offender Living in the Neighborhood

    In using these tips remember these important points:

    1. Most sex offenders 85% are sex offenders of familial incest, relatives, or friends of the victim, family, or both.

    2. Sex offenders, the general population are low risk having a 5.3% probability of committing another sexual offense, meaning there is a 95.7% probability that you will have no trouble with your neighbor who is a registered no risk or low risk sex offender. You can think of these statistics as meaning the glass is more full than it is empty, meaning your risk of having problems with this neighbor caused by this neighbor is very negligible.

    3. Most registered sex offenders will live within the laws because they are living with great restraints upon them and this is good for you and your family.

    4. Most sex offenders are not habitual or repeat offenders as is noted by a 5.3% recidivism rate. Furthermore, this percentage has gone down over the years.

    Now here are the tips for you, your family, your friends, and your neighbors to live by.

    Tip 1: Leave your neighbor alone. He or she does not want you to bother him or her, and they don't want to bother you.
    Why? They are already deafly afraid that you are going to do something harmful to them and either cause, or have caused their death, re-incarceration, or something other that will make them and their family leave their home or place of residence.
    Sex offenders live amongst you each and everyday. You don't know them, but law enforcement does. The fact that they do live and work amongst you, should give you heart in the knowledge that if all sex offenders were dangerous there would be more problems than there are. This is another fact you should seriously keep in your mind before causing trouble when trouble is not necessary.

    Tip 2: If you have one or more children keep them off of his or her property. Respect his property as you hopefully respect the property of your other neighbors.

    Tip 3: Do not gather your family, friends, and neighbors outside of his or her place of residence to taunt this neighbor. Remember tip 1.

    Tip 4: Don't fantasize about that neighbor and create a situation for him or her. Fantasizing bad things will produce in you, your family, friends, and neighbors a paranoia that should not have been created.

    Tip 5: You don't have to hide your family inside the house. Your neighbor is not going to run out of his or her residence and grab your children.

    Tip 6: Calmly watch your neighbor as you would watch any neighbor that you really don't know.

    Tip 7: Watch your children as you ought to be doing anyway as a responsible parent. You should watch your children when you go anywhere, this is no different, it is the same normal action you should be doing all the time anywhere you and your children are at.

    Tip 8: Your sex offender neighbor will come and go just as you come and go from your residence. Don't read into it anything because your neighbor has to do many of the same things that you have to do, after all they are human.

    Tip 9: If you want to have security measures for your residence that is perfectly alright for there are thieves who try to break in and steal also.

    Tip 10: Your sex offender neighbor probably will do his or her best not to do anything in front of you and your family to give you cause to jump and call the authorities. Your neighbor will have a life style that may seem dissimilar to yours; you should accept that as you have accepted the ways of some of your other neighbors. He or she might see your lifestyle as strange as well. Don't create a cause for involving this person with the authorities just because you don't like his or her way of doing things.

    Tip 11: Be adult enough to approach your neighbor and calmly and respectfully speak to him or her with another person if you have a problem with their property or something on their property, but don't look for things to hurt this person, that is not a good neighbor.

    Tip 12: If you or your neighbors are notified that a high risk sex offender is living in your neighborhood, and might be a real danger, certainly you should be concerned, just as if you learn that a habitual criminal of any sort - a thief, for instance, has moved into your neighborhood.

    In time you may find that this person is not your enemy. You still don't have to like him or her just as you don't like some of your other neighbors. You don't have get friendly, you don't have to do anything except leave your neighbor alone as long he or she leaves you and your family alone.

    Remember this: This neighbor is already under considerable duress. He or she knows that the slightest illegal or wrongful event on their part might lead them to jail or prison. You just might find that he or she is more a model citizen than some of your other neighbors because these individuals are under heightened scrutiny, not only by you and your neighbors but also by the local authorities. In many cases this is simply because they by law have to be identified as sex offender.

    Example: You must realize that there are children, teens and other adolescents, and adults who are labeled as sex offender even when they did nothing warranting a label having a de facto meaning of child molester. Yes, even children in some states are forced to wear this label.

    You do not have to worry about your property value going down as long as you and your neighbors don't cause a big issue of this individual’s right to live where they want, just as you have that same right. When you make a big deal of a no risk or low risk individual living in your neighborhood it will be you who will have caused your property value to go down, so use good sense.

    How do I know these tips will work? Well it is because that is how I live amongst my neighbors and we have had no problems with each other, with the exception of that one neighbor who annoys everyone. You know the one; you have either seen or heard of inconsiderate neighbors before.

    When neighbors are not given to automatic paranoia and unwarranted fear, and you live and let live, and you don't create panic when it is not warranted, your neighborhood can be peaceful, and your property values won't go down unless you want to deliberately make an overwhelming issue of this person's right to live in peace.

    Bennie O Walton
    Sex Offender Liberties Advocate

     

    ¨Sex Offenders¨ Need Indiviual Housing, Not Group Homes
    By Alice <madalleyreport@aol.com>
    Posted on 21.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0122]
     
    Send comments to the above address and refer to Blog No. 0122.
    and copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.
    -----------------------
    After trial and error myself I found that a "house" for sex offenders was not a good idea. They need to individually find a place to live where they are not identified as such. The best plan I have found is to encourage, if possible, every sex offender to do his parole within prison. Then when he comes out he can rent a room or bunk with friends or relatives until he gets work, gets into a friendly church, etc. That has been our experience. A "house" for a group identifies them as people who are especially handicapped in one way or another. I am talking about half-way houses, transitional living houses etc. Neighbors always think of those people as not quite normal. As a Christian, I believe there are churches, when approached ahead of time and educated on recidivism will be welcoming and nurturing. That is our experience here in NM. I believe most of us now believe that the registry and special surveillance does not guarantee an absence of recidivism. As with any other crime, if a person wants to reoffend, he or she will. As with the sex offender in Oregon who had the ankle bracelet on, he was able to commit another crime. Alice
     

    An Alabama View of the Hearings: Mostly Bad
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 13.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0120]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog no. 0120 and be sent to me and I´ll send them along to the person who made the comments. Alex.
    -----------------------
    Another View of the Hearings: Mostly Bad
    by our Alabama affiliated state group contact

    I watched the video feed from the Legislative Committee on March 10th. Although this is the first such meeting I have seen and as such may not be able to see the positives that are beginning to appear, I was extremely disappointed and depressed with what I saw. It was clear to me that our legislatures and many of the experts still are looking through a straw and trying the see the entire sky. The main focus as usual was child sex crimes with little attention given to adult offenders against adult victims but with minor offenses or long ago offenses. Its clear the same mentality of Sex Offender means pedophile is just as strong as it ever was. Its very discouraging. Sometimes its hard for me to see this nightmare ever ending. A minor mistake 17 years ago and a life in ruins as the result.

    Sorry don't mean to be mello dramatic or depressing. Its just sometimes......its overwhelming....
     

    Lee Lee´s Notes on the Mar 10 Hearing
    By lee lee <saveoursonsva@gmail.com>
    Posted on 13.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0119]
     
    Please send comments to Lee Lee at the above address, and to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and refer to Blog No. 0119
    ----------------
    Notes on the Hearing from Lee Lee

    I'm excited about this hearing as it leaned toward the need for change in the AWA - while not always for the reasons and in the ways we believe. However, those testifying for the "majority" all indicated a need for task forces to examine the evidence (my favorite word ...). There was some excellent testimony, and I'm looking forward to seeing the additional written testimony.


    I was pleased to hear about the concern for "consensual offenders" that exceed the AWA 4-year allowable age span. I was also disgusted to listed to Laura Rogers response to that concern. It's not clear if she was actually lying or if she really didn't know the answer (both are scary thoughts).

    Although there was a great deal of concern over juvenile offenders, one area that I think needs a lot of thought (and more attention) is the issue of those in between - the young adults whose brains are also not fully developed and are more similar to juvenile offenders than to older adult offenders. There is also insufficient focus on other one-time and/or minor offenders. Most (obviously not all) people agree that juvenile offenders should not be on the list and chronic or violent predators should be on the registry (private or public) or incarcerated.. It's the people in between that are getting lost in the shuffle.these are the people who are REALLY getting the shaft with AWA.
    Another issue that wasn't fully addressed (although it was touched on) was the concept of AWA being a floor not a ceiling. If AWA is supposed to be as tough as it gets, states shouldn't be exceeding it! I know many of you have more examples, but the one near and dear to my heart is the "consensual" offender issue. Across the country, kids and young adults are on registries for life because of their state's definition of this offense. Even after AWA was passed, states didn't make those changes that would have gotten those people off the registry altogether. They can't have it both ways - uniformity, but each state can be as harsh as they want? The way it is currently structured,even if AWA is changed, states that have already passed laws to comply (or already had stricter offense definitions/penalites) will be unlikely to repeal those laws - even if the feds say they made a mistake requiring it the first time!
    I won't go into the misleading testimony of Ernie Allen and the pathetic posturing of Mark "hang 'em all" Lunsford. The NCMEC continues to misrepresent statistics in their effort to continue federal funding while Mark Lunsford has the audacity to go after all offenders despite his propensity for child porn and his son's narrow escape from the registry. We can only hope that the preponderance of other facts and testimony will outweigh their positions.

    Rep. Bobby Scott is clearly a strong advocate for changing SORNA. He made great points about the fact that if states were convinced that it would prevent sex offenses, then they would come up with the money. Clearly, they are not convinced and neither is he.

    We all need to stay updated on this and contact the committee (or your own representatives) about this issue. They need to hear support for the testimony provided.I would strongly urge you to read the testimony (even if you watched the live feed) and take notes so that you can cite specific points in your communications. Bobby Scott needs support for his position. He has power and a lot of courage to confront this problem.

    Bobby Scott's contact info:
    WASHINGTON OFFICE
    1201 Longworth HOB
    Washington, DC 20515
    (202) 225-8351 Phone
    (202) 225-8354 Fax

    You can also check out the Sub-committee on Crime or the full Judiciary Committee for contact information for others. Also, if you have a representative who has expressed any concerns about AWA or incarceration rates (Senator Jim Webb, for one), this may be a good time to contact them as well.

    Kudos and thanks to those who attended!

    Thanks,
    Lee-Lee



     

    Mary´s First Notes on March 10 AWA Hearing
    By mary <rsolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 11.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0118]
     
    Comments should be sent to the above address and refer to Blog No. 0118, and a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    WAY TO GO, MARY (and Laurie)!

    -----------------------------------------------------
    INITIAL REPORT FROM MARY OF RSOL-Virginia ON THE MARCH 10 CONGRESSIONAL HEARING

    All,

    Good morning,I'm getting ready for work but I wanted to send everyone an update on yesterday's hearing.

    Yesterday's hearing went rather well. I read in my e-mail's this morning that Alice and Shelley watched the live feed and I hope many more of you did as well.

    There were two supporters from Virginia sitting with myself, Laurie Peterson and her mother-in-law and a third Virginia supporter was in the back with a friend.

    There is no way to re-watch the hearing but the witness testimony can be read at, http://judiciary.house.gov/hearings/hear_090310_1.html click on the name of the witness on the right side.
    (Note - For now, you can see the hearing at the SDP123a site,
    the URL is in the Monthly Message on the RSOL Homepage)


    The six Congressmen/women that dropped down to three for the last hour (yes three) asked some very good questions near the end of the hearing. In fact if anyone was watching the live feed and heard Congressman Scott repeatedly ask witness Laura Rogers the same question regarding juvenile offenses and she answered only based on SORNA not based on what all the states have enacted, the Congressman said to her there is an entire row of people shaking their head's behind you, would you like to answer the question again (that row was us).

    I dropped off literature prior to the hearing to the Virginia Congressmen in the Rayburn building and also spoke to Congressman Scott and Poe afterwards. I also place "Are Americans Aware" (below) on every chair in the hearing room for all to read. Laurie visited as many offices she could prior to the hearing dropping off her information and also spoke to Mark Lunsford before and after the hearing as well as many others. I'm sure she will send a summary to everyone as well we all took very detailed notes.

    I plan on writing a follow up letter to every member of the Judiciary Committee and schedule appointments with the four Virginians on the committee when John can also attend.

    I also plan on writing to witnesses Robert Shilling, Amy Borror, Madaline Carter and Ernie Allen, once I locate their contact information tonight or tomorrow.

    The Congress members stated that there will be more hearings on the SORNA issues. Laurie and I hope to attend together again and if possible we will visit all the HOB's and leave our literature at every office.

    Well, I need to get ready for work, if anyone has any questions let me know and as I stated I'm sure Laurie will fill in the holes I have in this e-mail.

    Thanks.
    Mary
    ------------------------------------------------
    NOTE FROM RSOL: See important note in the text of this article about misuse of demonized terminology!

    Are Americans Aware?

    Are Americans aware that their teenagers are having consensual sex which could result in the older teen being convicted of sexual assault, battery or rape, a prison sentence and being listed on a Sex Offender Registry for 15 years, 20 years or for a lifetime?



    Are Americans aware that their teenagers are e-mailing and texting nude photos of themselves and others? This could result in both teens being charged with creating, distributing and possessing pornography with time in prison and being listed on a Sex Offender Registry.



    Are Americans aware that if they have knowledge that their juvenile child is having consensual sex with someone of 18 years or older, they (the parent) can be convicted of indecent liberties by person of supervision and listed on a Sex Offender Registry for 15 years, 20 years or for a lifetime?



    Are Americans aware that middle schoolers have been convicted and listed on Sex Offender Registries for pinching other middle schoolers on their rear-end?



    Are Americans aware that because of the “victim’s rights laws/ rape shield laws” an ACCUSATION ALONE is sufficient for a conviction, a prison term of 5 to 25 years or even life and then being listed as a Sex Offender most likely for life?



    Are Americans aware that NO evidence, NO witness, NO dates or times have to be given by an accuser?

    Are Americans aware that they CAN NOT defend themselves by supplying evidence or witnesses that can prove an accuser is lying and had motive to lie?



    Are Americans aware that some States (Virginia) allow an accuser only 21 DAYS to recant a lie? Any amount of time after 21 days, the wrongful conviction, the prison term and being labeled listed as a Sex Offender stands.



    Are Americans aware they are no longer innocent until proven guilty in America when there is a sexual claim; they are guilty and not allowed to prove their innocence?



    There is a huge difference between stealing a newspaper and robbing a bank, both crimes are considered theft but both are differentiated by law and society.
    Are Americans aware that the current laws that label someone as a Sex Offender in the U.S do not differentiate?

    Whether you are accused of teenage consensual sex, urinating in public, mooning or streaking, pinching or touching someone or being a serial rapist upon your return to society, conviction and sentence will be the same.



    Are Americans aware that a VERY large number of Registered Sex Offenders have never touched or raped anyone, let alone a child?

    But guilt by association on the Sex Offender Registry labels them all as a pervert, a ¨pedophile¨ and a ¨predator¨ for life.
    IMPORTANT NOTE FROM RSOL: We will not change this since it is a report by someone outside RSOL, but we must protest that the terminology is demonizing! Instead, one might use ¨violent rapists of children¨ for all three demonized terms. Only active ¨pedophiles¨ who offend against children are to be condemned - it is a condition that can be dealt with. The term ¨pervert¨ itself has a negative connotation connected with homosexuals of all kinds.



    Are Americans aware that their State’s General Assembly (Virginia 2006 & 2008) broadly re-classified Non-Violent Offenders to Violent Offenders? This includes many offenses that had NO physical contact.



    The situation that has been imposed upon the Registered is that; under the guise of protecting our children, the Legislators are in fact repeatedly trying, convicting and re-sentencing Citizens without even notifying them that this has occurred. To resentence a Citizen of the United States without giving them the opportunity to testify in their own behalf is clearly a violation of their Constitutional Rights.

    Our Legislators have taken a group of people and used them as a platform to win elections and instill fear into the parents of our country so that they look like heroes. People that are not child-molesters, ¨pedophiles¨ who have acted on their desires, or perverts have all been bucketed into one massive Registry and must endure a lifetime of shame.

    The Sex Offender Registries are extremely costly both financial and to the families of the registered.

    Contrary to popular belief among Legislators there is indeed hardship related to being listed on a Sex Offender Registry.
    The lives being destroyed are not just the Registered, but their spouse, their children and every family member sharing their name.

    When you are a Registered Sex Offender, you struggle to find and keep housing, employment and your family because of the stress and humiliation that the Registry creates within yourself, your neighbors, your co-workers and vigilantes looking for justice for a victim they don’t even know.

    The Sex Offender Registries are not protecting anyone, they are a means to humiliate, degrade, re-prosecute and destroy the lives of thousands of innocent Citizens.

    The Studies below have proven that the current Sex Offender Laws, the Registries and the Residency Restrictions are ineffective and damaging. There is also a study that proves the Internet is not as dangerous as our Legislators have convinced you to believe that it is.

    No Easy Answers: Human Rights Watch Study, September 11, 2007
    The Adam Walsh Act: Scarlet Letter, by Lara Geer Farley, April 17, 2008
    Fact Sheets Examine Impact of Sex Offender Registries: Justice Policy Institute, September 2, 2008
    Collateral Damage: Family Members of Registered Sex Offenders by Jill Levenson, Ph.D. January 2009
    Enhancing Child Safety and Online Technologies: Final Report of the Internet Safety Technical Task Force to the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking of State Attorneys General of the United States. December 31, 2008
    Residential Proximity to Schools and Daycare Centers: Influence on Sex Offense Recidivism, An empirical analysis by Jill Levenson, Ph.D. December 23, 2008
    New Jersey DOC Study on the Effectiveness of Sex Offender Registration, February 11, 2009
    Registering Harm: How Sex Offender Registries Fail Youth and Communities, Justice Policy Institute, November 21, 2008




    The fear and loathing against Registered Sex Offenders that is currently considered acceptable needs to stop before additional Citizens and communities are harmed.



    Our Legislators need to rectify this mess they have created by bucketing all sexual related acts into Sex Offender Crimes. The broad brush that the Legislators have been allowed to use across our population will continue to grow until it reaches into your home and labels you and your family.
     

    Laurie´s First Note on Mar 10 Hearings
    By Laurie Peterson <laurie.peterson@compucom.com>
    Posted on 11.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0117]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0117 and be sent to the above email, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    ------------------------------------------
    WE NEED A STRONGER DC PRESENCE!

    I was there today (the March 10 Washington, DC, Congressional Hearing on AWA. The meeting started approx 2:20pm and lasted till 4:48PM. The discussion started down the same old paths of save the children and slowly branched out from there. I took a TON of notes...and most importantly, for those who stayed till the end, we saw the discussion shift completely to getting rid of registration for those with consensual sex offenses... vs violent forced offenses. It's progress from where we were, but the discussion was at the end and out of the mouths of Congressman Poe and Congressman Gomhert... two Congressmen who were very much on the side of child safety to the exclusion of other (issues) when the meeting started. (both are former Judges). Congressman Scott definitely understands the futility and uselessness of the registry (he was the Chair). My testimony was recorded for the public record as written testimony only, but I have been added to a list of those who wish to be called to testify orally in the future before the committee. (I can't wait!) It was very encouraging and as I type this I see hope for
    the future change at least in some areas sooner rather than later (I
    just got home from my flight back from DC). I talked with Mark
    > > Lunsford twice... before and after the meeting and had discussions personally with Con. Poe, Con. Scott, Con Gomhert after the hearing. Also spoke with Nicole Pittman from the Philadelphia Juvenile defense attorney's association (she works with Alisa, from ATSA). I talked to AG from Louisiana who discussed at length the difficulties of complying with AWA's guidelines in particular, not so much the law as written. Laura Rodgers from SMART office (tasked with writing the guidelines for SORNA/AWA) enlightened me that until June of 2008, the SMART office was a 1 woman show... (it was she alone) implementing and writing the guidelines for final distribution to the states... get a load of that, eh? Anyway, if you have questions, let me know. Mary from RSOL VA was there and passed out fact flyers on every chair in the room before people showed up (which was awesome!) . I also have a copy of the
    written testimony John Walsh sent to the committee. More later... I'm wiped out after a long long day! But after today, I can see that we need to be a stronger force in D.C. regularly.
     

    To Revise AWA is not enough!
    By Laurie Peterson <laurie.peterson@compucom.com>
    Posted on 09.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0116]
     
    Refer comments to Blog No. 0116 and send to the above address, as well as to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    Message from Laurie Peterson, RSOL NH contact person, as she prepares to fly to Washington to the hearing on the Adam Walsh Act, set for March 10: (Please call your US Representative and Senator to urge them to support overall reform of ´sex offender´ laws.)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------

    Reviewing the AWA is Not Enough!

    Let's be clear. AWA isn´t the original problem, Wetterling is. And for many states that already signed up hook line and sinker under Wetterling, the problems in complying are less in that they are mostly registering all offenders for life anyways, with no thought of scaling back on duration requirements as recommended in AWA for several tiers of offenders. This is part of the problem... and for those states that never did reach full velocity over Wetterling and only required 10,15 and 20 year registration for most offenders, they are finding themselves on the opposite end of the scale with suddenly being elevated to lifers... So it's a mess from several different angles. My focus (at the March 10 Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington) will be that regardless of where registration duration stood before the Act, there was already a problem, in that nothing looked to the individuals behind the convictions. AWA has only reinforced that logic by continuing to look at nothing more than convictions to categorize offenders. We must bring the focus back onto the indivduals involved in order to balance the ability of a former offender's right to a productive and law-abiding life and that of justice and society.

    ¨Sex Offenders¨ - Apples, Oranges or Fruit?
    (They Are People First, and People Deserve To Be Treated as Individuals!)

    The name we give to something identifies for others what a particular person or item is. In the question above, it is clear that both apples and oranges are fruit, but it is also clear that an apple is not an orange. We would not be doing a person who is allergic to apples any favors if we told them it didn’t matter which one they picked from the bowl, “they’re all fruit”. In fact, we could cause them tragic and irreparable harm.

    And so it goes with the label “sex offender”. These words are no longer a descriptive label; they have become an active dirty noun. These two words are synonymous with evil, the enemy child molester: a person worthy of moral exclusion. They infer that someone labeled as such is, at present, offending sexually against a child. They infer that those who wear the label are less than human, vile outcasts who deserve no fairness or justice in America. The label ‘sex offender’ has become another notch on the timeline of dehumanization throughout history.

    It is easy to dehumanize a population that has been declared the enemy of all American parents. There is no need to view the individual behind the label; their status has already been decided. They are registered sex offenders. This label reflects their fundamental core as dangerous and monstrous. They are no longer people. And once a community has decided that some among them are no longer human, those labeled as such become expendable, worthless and set apart for special treatment.

    In order to stop the progression of history’s latest dehumanization project, we must begin to bring the focus of this group back to the individual. These people are not ‘sex offenders’. They are people first. They are a group of people required to register for a variety of reasons, circumstances and situations. They are people who deserve to be treated like individuals, not a dirty noun synonymous with evil. They are people who deserve the same basic principles of freedom, fairness, forgiveness and justice as any other American. They are people.
    Laurie Peterson
     

    URGENT CONG. HEARING MARCH 10
    By Alden Baker <aldenbaker@sdp123a.com>
    Posted on 08.03.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0115]
     
    Refer comments to Blog No. 0115 and send to the above email address and send a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    Alex´Comment: RSOL salutes Alden Baker and his website for their vigilance - we urge you to go to the Congressional Hearing if possible and to email and call your US Rep at once. See also Action Item No. 0036 and the Message of the Month.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    Please review the following post at your earliest convenience.
    from Alden Banker



    sdp123a - Congressional Hearing - March 10, 2009

    http://www.sdp123a.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=705&Itemid=1

     

    Megan's Law: Millions for Nothing
    By CFCOKLAHOMA <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 24.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0114]
     
    Comments should be sent to the above email, refer to Blog No. 0114, and Alex will send them on to CFCOKLAHOMA. This is from the blog on that website - an affiliate state group of RSOL.

    URL for CFCOKLAHOMA WEBSITE
    http://cfcoklahoma.org/New_Site/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itebmid=0&func=view&catid=85&id=810#810

    -----------------------------------------------------------

    You all know about "Megan's Laws." They are named after Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old girl from "America's favorite hometown" of Hamilton, New Jersey, who was raped and murdered by her neighbor, a released sex offender named Jesse Timmendequas, on July 29, 1994.

    Capitalizing on the fear this crime engendered, legislators proved themselves tough on crime by enacting Megan's Laws in all 50 U.S. states. The laws are designed to protect the public by mandating that convicted sex offenders register with local police and that police agencies keep the public informed about the whereabouts of these offenders.

    But do the laws really protect the public?

    Despite their enormous popularity, little research has been conducted into whether they work.

    Now, a federally funded study of New Jersey's law has found the following dramatic effects:

    * Effects on sex offender recidivism: NONE
    * Effects on time to first re-arrest: NONE
    * Effects on number of victims: NONE
    * Effects on state budget: $3.9 million-plus (as of 2007)

    The bottom-line conclusion?

    "Given the lack of demonstrated effect of Megan's Law on sexual offenses, the growing costs may not be justifiable."

    Other research has suggested that the laws may not only be ineffective at reducing sex offending, but they may paradoxically increase sex offenders' risk through the secondary effects of social stigmatization, loss of employment and housing, and even physical victimization, all of which increase stress and social isolation and make it harder for sex offenders to successfully reintegrate into society.

    Americans are standing in hours-long, Depression-style lines for a couple of free eggs at Denny's. Our schools cannot even afford pencils or electricity in the classrooms. Yet we are willing to pay millions for laws that only provide an illusion of safety. Something is wrong with this picture.

    The study, "Megan's Law: Assessing the Practical and Monetary Efficacy," by researchers Kristen Zgoba, Philip Witt, Melissa Dalessandro, and Bonita Veysey, is available on the CFCOKLAHOMA website.
     

    We need groundswell of civil disobedience
    By Alice Benson <madalleyreport@aol.com>
    Posted on 23.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0113]
     
    Refer comments to Blog No. 0113 and send to Alice at the above email address, as well as to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    SEE COMMENT BELOW THE BLOG!
    -------------------------------------------------------
    My opinion regarding the on-going attack on sex offenders is that it is time for a ground swell of civil disobedience, starting with the Christian rescue missions and overnight shelter programs. I think the freezing of the SO in Michigan is despicable and people can not call themselves Christian while these things are happening right in front of them. It is time for action. I called a shelter in Albuquerque when I learned about the freezing man. I asked the man who answered if he questioned the men on the street on freezing cold nights whether or not they were sex offenders. He answered that they did not. Let's stop fooling around with these issues and do something. I realize that people on the registry are running scared. It is time for people like myself who are not on the registry to stand up for what is right. Alice Benson, New Mexico

    ----------------
    comment: Referring to Blog #0113 from Alice in New Mexico. I agree sex offenders who have served their time should not be paying for their crime for the remainder of their lives. Also, many of the registered sex offenders have never sexually touched a child, but did have child porn on their personal computer. These people are considered violent sex offenders and must register right along with those who have had physical contact with a child. Does viewing a murder on a TV program make one a murderer? We do need to band together and stop this "witchhunt" for sex offenders.
     

    Proposed CT Law Impossible!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 22.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0112]
     
    Refer comments to Blog No. 0112 and send to Alex at the above email address. This was posted without an email address.
    PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS WHEN YOU POST A BLOG SO WE CAN SEND YOU COMMENTS.
    ----------------
    I just researched the ammended/proposed/existing statute concerning REGISTERED \"Sexual Offenders\" in the State of Connecticut (Governor\'s Bill #6384 at www.cga.ct.gov). It is over 43 pages long! In addition there are several proposed bills concerning residency restrictions, pedophilia, monitoring, prohibiting travel,plea agreements, and allowing municipalities authorization to banish RSO from parks,etc. This is what is in store for the RSO. These laws are so burdensom, complicated, and frankly almost IMPOSSIBLE to abide by that it is inevitable that there will be many RSO ensnared in this legal and punitive nightmare.

    For example, the RSO must \"provide to the Commissioner of Public Safety, in writing, not less than 48 hours prior to entering the state, such person\'s name, DOB and residence address, the state or system where such person is required to register as a sexual offender and the locations where such person is employed (in which state?)...\" So what does a RSO who resides in a border town in another state such as Massachuset do to fulfill his obligations? This legislation does not enhance public safety but rather is another hurdle for the RSO. Again, the RSO lives are disrupted and face a daily threat of liberty infrigement which is clarified in the ever acceptble forum of the criminal courts.

    Connecticut is one of the states that mandate email and AIM rergistration with law enforcement. Utah had made a ruling in Jan 2009 that this is unconstitutional correlating to anonymous free speech yet it applies only to a one John Doe. Rockland County, NY had their residency restriction invalidated in Jan. 2009; Cherry Hill and Galloway Townships in NJ was invalidated because it was premptive of NJ State Law. However, it seems that it is long overdue (7 years) for the US Supreme Court to hear a RSO case and declare ALL RSO laws unconstitutional. It would restore civil protections and mandate States to enact laws that are research-based and achieve their intended purpose.

    I cannot see how the Supreme Court can allow infringement of civil liberties of Americans who completed their court imposed sentence, pose no danger to society, and deperately desire a redeemed and peaceful life for themselves and thier families. The scope of Connecticut SO law is completely different than the \"regulatory\" scheme as it appeared on the books almost 10 years ago when the US Supreme Court ruled in \"Doe v. Connecticut Dept. of Public Safety.\" The judicial system can not keep their heads in the sand and declare that the registries are merely making \"already public information public\" and justifying these policies on the MYTHS of \"recividsm\" and \"protecting the public.\"

    None of the proposed bills in Connecticut provides a means for the RSO to be relieved of these now obviously harsh registration requirements or force the State to set up classifications for dangerousness. Not one legislator proposes reexamining the effectiveness and consequences of these laws, nor establishing a committee of specialists who can provide comprehensive,research-based guidance when crafting SO policies. Instead, they have declared open season on the RSO. They seem to forget about the collateral damage that involves the children and relatives of the RSO.

    I am hoping and praying for the paradigm shift when society realizes the inefficacy and harm done by these registries and laws. I pray that RSO will be afforded redemption like all others who have made mistakes in their lives. At least a decade has passed since these SO laws were implimented and the research is out there. Unfortunately it is purposefully ignored by the the ones that can make a difference- the courts and politicians. However, i can and will not ignore it any more. I am relieved at times to know that truth will always be told and eventually it will prevail.

    Again, thanks to those who are courageous to say enough is enough- David McGuire (CT ACLU), Lynda/Jackie at SOSEN, Laurie Peterson, Paul Logue, Paul Shannon, Civil Disobedience in GA, and the others.
     

    S,O.s Must Prove Innocence, Rather than DA prove Guilt
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 22.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0111]
     
    Comments should refer to blog no. 0111 and be sent to Alex at the above email.
    From Alex: This blog was sent without a return email. PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS even if you want to be anonymous - we will keep your anonymity but be able to keep in touch with you!


    --------------------------------------------------------------
    I understand what some people think about SOs. What I don't understand is how someone can talk out about certain ones when they don't know the case! What would most people say about this offense? You hire a babysitter because of her good references with the neighbors, and is 18, which normally makes her somewhat responssilbe. She babysits for you for a while and one time you hook up. Later you find another job so you can be home after school lets out, so you don't need her anymore. She gets up set and files against you, at that point you find out that she is only 16 years old.

    You are now screwed for life.

    Family life- You can no longer take or pick up your child from school, throw a birthday party, watch a child recital at school, nothing. You can not buy a home near a pool, bus stop, playground.

    Work life- You can not apply to jobs that have a play area, by a school, by a church. Most employers will not hire you for this reason. You can't find a good paying job to support your family.

    People should realize that there are programs out there to help. For some people, they have to jump through hoops just to stay above ground. In normal trials they have to prove you guilty, in these cases, you have to prove your innocent.
     

    Murders of S.O.s Escalate!
    By eAdvocate <eadvocate@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 19.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0110]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0110 and be sent to the above email address.
    Alex`s Note: This shocking report on murders of sex offenders, and the increase in 2008, should bring Americans to realize that this approach is nothing short of murder in itself! And ALREADY IN 2009, SIX SEX OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN MURDERED.
    In addition, eAdvocate has a second list of those who died under other circumstances - I have not included that list here.

    -------------------------------------------
    Here`s the URL to see the chart:
    http://sexoffenderresearch.blogspot.com/2009/02/murdered-in-united-states-2008.html
    MURDERS OF SEX OFFENDERS ESCALATE

    The 2008 year was the worst year ever for deaths of RSOs, Persons accused of sex offenses and others. This year brought so many new circumstances that we have had to restructure our statistical methods to be able to report what has happened.

    (Added note from Alex Marbury - The grand total of sex offenders murdered in any circumstance in 2008 was 45. To date, the total number is 184!)

    In 2008, of those murdered or killed not in jails, prisons or civil
    commitment centers, the total was the most dangerous state is Florida where 5 persons were murdered. PA and TX have 3, CA, MD, MA, NC, and TN each have 2. AZ, CO, DE, GA, IL, IN, IO, KS, KY, ME, MO, NM, NY, UT, WA each have 1.

    Sometimes a chart is better than words:
    (The categories in each list are
    Murdered in 2008
    Murdered Previously
    Grand Total to Date

    RSOs
    15
    40
    55
    Registered Sex Offenders (RSOs) who were murdered

    A-RSOs
    6
    11
    17
    Accused registered sex offenders

    FA-RSOs
    0
    3
    3
    RSOs falsely accused of a sex offense

    IB-RSOs
    1
    2
    3
    Innocent Bystander (RSO)

    DO-RSOs
    8
    10
    18
    RSOs who where killed in domestic situations.

    A
    4
    23
    27
    Persons murdered who were accused of a sex offense

    A-FA
    1
    14
    15
    Persons falsely accused of a sex offense and were murdered

    A-DO
    1
    0
    1
    Persons accused of a sex offense who were killed in a domestic situation

    Civil Commit
    1
    5
    6
    Persons killed, murdered, or were denied medical care and died in civil commitment

    Jails & Prisons
    8
    31
    39
    Persons murdered or killed in jails or prisons

    TOTALS:
    45
    139
    184
    Total persons killed or murdered

    eAdvocate
    PS: 2009 deaths are not included in the above, and so far, there are 6 more RSOs killed or murdered.
     

    There IS no Defense in These Cases!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 13.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0109]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0109 and be sent to the above email. I`ll send it along to the person who wrote this. Alex
    -------------
    These laws have allowed a new set of Americans to be outcast and considered social lepers. They have not allowed them freedom
    or access to justice because statute laws do not allow them to defend themselves: There is no defense even in consentual cases.
     

    Will EVERYONE Soon be `Sex Offenders`?
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 13.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0108]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0108 and be sent to me at the above email address. I`ll forward them to the courageous woman who wrote this! Alex

    SEE COMMENT AT THE END BY ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER

    ---------------------------------------------------------
    From the VERY PROUD aunt of so-called sex offenders,

    I have 2 nephews and a neice that are considered 'sex offenders' because our legislature cannot tell the difference between teenagers being normal and exploring their sexuality, and they do it rather parents like it or not and rather the parents are aware of it or not. Over half of our youth are considered 'sex offenders'. Their lives are ruined because there is no seperation between true sex offenders and teen sex.....what are our young men and womens futures going to be like when EVERYONE is eventually classified a 'sex offender'. I proudly sign this and I pray that the sex offender laws are reformed soon.....

    ----------------
    To my sister Shelia, thank you so much for posting this blog. As mother of one of your nephews who is currently in jail because of this law, i hope our prayers are answered. My son's life is ruined, and it makes me wonder how many of our law makers would be sex offenders if this law had been present when they were 17 and 18.
    Our governor Bobby Jindal is so wrong. These teenagers go to school with one another, and are not taught that the law will charge them as sex offenders. I am 46 years old, and i did not know. It makes me ashamed to say i am from Louisiana. My son would never hurt a child, yet he is considered a sexual predator.
     

    Letter to Dr. Phil
    By Kelly Piercy <gasoem@gmail.com>
    Posted on 08.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0107]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0107 and be sent to Kelly at the above email address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    WE URGE EVERYONE TO WRITE DR.PHIL. The url of the program concerned on Feb. 3 was
    http://drphil.com/shows/show/1217
    and the URL for the email to provide feedback to Dr. Phil is
    http://drphil.com/plugger/respond/2plugID=9164

    -------------------------------------------------------------
    Dr. Phil,

    I watched your program today, Tuesday, 3 February 2009, with interest and disappointment.

    I understand your intent and applaud your effort to keep children safe. I noted that you spoke directly to the need for parents to parent. That is excellent advice. I applaud your attempt to get the message out to the teens about how dangerous their behavior can be. I even understand the attempt to express this message with the horrible crime committed against a twelve year-old girl who did not understand her dangerous behavior and a mother who did not parent well enough to explain that danger to her daughter.

    My disappointment comes from your presentation of the danger these children face. It is irresponsible productions like yours and irresponsible journalism that have created an hysteria across America that is destroying individuals and families.

    Not once did you bother to mention that most people convicted of a 'sex offense' did not lure a twelve-year-old child into a car and rape her. You failed to mention that the hysteria around 'sex offenders' is driving people from their homes and making employment only a distant memory.

    I am done asking. I insist that you step up to the responsibility you claim. I demand that you take a serious look at what the over-broad sex offender registries have wrought. You must look at the monster that has been created. You must understand that the vast majority of persons on the registries are there for offenses that have no victim contact or attempt at contact. Far too many have no identifiable victim at all. There are people on 'sex offender' registries for 'crimes' that have no sexual component. There are far too many teens who had consensual sex with other teens whose life is ruined by the registry.

    This monster has been created by irresponsible portrayals on programs like yours and by irresponsible journalism. We cannot blame our legislators; they only react. They react to what they see on television and read in the newspapers. You, and other entertainers, are responsible for this monster. Will you take the time and have the courage to learn and tell the truth?

    Kelly R Piercy
    gasoem@gmail.com
    Georgians for Sex Offender Registry and Residency Restriction Reform
    http://www.gasorr.org
    Reform Sex Offender Laws
    http://www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org
    RSoL Correspondence Committee
    http://www.gasorr.org/rsolcc/index.html
    gasorr.org
    P.O. Box 180
    Hull, GA 30646
    (706) 955 2009

    Here is the link. Please help me get this tsumami rolling.
    http://www.drphil.com/plugger/respond/?plugID=9164
     

    All Pleas Are Fictions!
    By Ingrid <edh_advocates@live.com>
    Posted on 06.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0106]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0106, and be sent to the above email plus a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ----------------
    Fact is, all pleas are fictions jointly concocted by prosecutors and defense attorneys. The prosecution always overcharges--partly to intimidate the defendant, but mostly to give himself bargaining chips. The goal is a win at any cost. The defense is complicit in this game, because they get more money if they collect a retainer and don't have to go to trial. The system is frankly completely broken.
     

    Still More on Civil Disobedience
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 06.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0105]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0105 and be sent to me at the above address.

    From Alex: Unfortunately, this person did NOT give an email, so we cannot let him know the comments. PLEASE, when you send a comment, give us your email!

    -------------------------------------------------------
    thanks for posting "Civil Disobedience..." It was inspirational to me.

    I wanted to send information about sex offenders being banned from parks, playgrounds, lakes or practically any public recreational facility in the Town of Ridgefield, CT. They are voting to pass it into law (which of course it will) on Feb 18th, 2009 @ 7:30PM at the Ridgefield Town Hall at 400 Main Street, Ridgefield, CT.

    Can you please suggest some form of intervention to delay or change the minds of these "policy makers?" I sent about 200 pages of research to Selectman Marconi and the board as well as Kate Czaplinski at the Ridgefield Press at the beginning of Janurary 2009 in hopes that there could be some rational dialogue. However, if you read the press articles, it didn't do anything and it was business as usual.

    Their main justification for this ban is to enable the police to "question" a sex offender in a park. Read the article. Since when is the police unable to question ANYONE and ANYWHERE if they were suspicious? Garbage in, garbage out. So far Danbury, Windsor Locks and Bristol have this ban on the books. Greenwich is already in the drafting stage.

    I'm afraid of retribution but I'm more afraid of what other punitive laws these politicians can conjure up down the road under the pretenses of "public safety" if we do not draw the line in the sand and say, "Enough is enough!
     

    Let them know the real damage of the registry!
    By annonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 04.02.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0104]
     
    Comments about this blog should refer to Blog No. 0104, and be sent to me. I'll forward them to the person who wrote this.
    Alex
    ------------------------
    There is something that comes up over and over against in these SOR cases, particularly in the ex post facto challanges and that is the complete minimalization of the effects of sex offender registration. It is reffered to as "mere registration" or some similar denial of the massive impact that even the processes of going to the police station to register can have on a person. In my town the registration is done in the lobby with all the civilian workers right in front of you, you have to tell them what you are there for of course and then anyone in the lobby sees and hears everything too, they have the screen to take your picture there and you get finger printed etc...they also sent a registration receipt to your home in police envelopes and you can see through the paper to see the sex offender registration in bold black, they also come to your home often in teams and ask questions about you insinuating as they did in my case a few months ago that I had been in some kind of trouble involving kids, when I did not.

    If sex offenders are going to get anywhere with establishing SOR as a
    punishment for legal purposes it is up to us to show by the clearest
    proof that it is punitive in effect, so we need to document every
    little thing. If a police officer treats you like he has you in
    custody and abuses you verbally or physically you have have to file a
    complaint and keep it formal too, get the lawyer involved the whole 9
    yards to document it. They have to do this when you file a complaint, it may take a while for them to get around to it but they will. One thing that is repeated over and over is that the shame associated with SOR is due to the fact of your conviction, but I know that this is not the case in a very large number of cases. Remember, shame may be associated with rape by force, or child molestation but that is really about it.
     

    FIRST OPEN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE BY S.O.
    By Brian Rothery <br@rothery.com>
    Posted on 22.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0103]
     
    FIRST OPEN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE BY S.O. in the USA
    from Inquisition21 website, Brian Rothery, Web Organizer
    Updated Jan. 22, 2009
    --------------------
    From Alex: SEE ALSO COMMENTS BELOW THE ARTICLE ABOUT DEFINITION OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. We publish such comments in the interest of fostering debate and free speech! Meanwhile, I still congratulate the man in Georgia!
    --------------------
    Ray of hope! Courageous American man makes a start!

    A petitioner to a Georgia court, broke, evicted from his home, shamed and dispossessed, is taking a stand and challenging the draconian American SO residency laws. On his first attempt on Wednesday January 21 2009, his case was accepted by the court for filing.

    The purpose of the case is to challenge amended provisions of Georgia's 'sex offender statutes' relating to internet identifiers (e-mail addresses, passwords, etc.). Due to the fact that he has petitioned the court to proceed under pseudonym, neither the case docket number, nor the style (name) of the case can be published for now. The reason why he has requested anonymity in regard to this case is that publication of his name with regard to this case would destroy the very anonymity and privacy he is trying to get the court to protect. Hence, publication of his name with specific regard to this case would undermine his very argument itself.

    Conscious of this, we are also prepared to suspend reporting on his progress should he ask us to do so.

    However, a very important development to report is that the judge and the officials he dealt with treated him with courtesy and care and the judge in particular was very attentive to his application. This is the first good news from America concerning the draconian SO legislation.

    Remember as you read he is doing everything himself - some feat for a homeless man.

    The original story

    On January 2 2009, Petitioner (surname now removed as case is proceeding), a registered sex offender in Georgia USA decided that he would take a stand and resist the current legislation which has driven him and thousands of others into internal exile.

    Petitioner was already evicted from his home and facing shaming, shunning and further displacement from the draconian residency restrictions being placed on Americans who are on the sex offenders register. The event which triggered his decision to resist the law in an act of civil disobedience was when it was broadcast that Georgia had now joined the State of Utah in requiring all registered sex offenders to tender their internet and email user names and passwords to their local Sheriffs Departments. The penalty for this new law, which went into effect in Georgia on 1st January, 2009, is a felony, which means landing all those on the SOR who do not comply back in prison.

    Let us be clear about this. this Georgia petitioner is the first American to take a stand and say that he will no longer comply with the sex offender residency restriction laws. If you are in a position to influence the situation he now places himself and thousands of other Americans in, your life may be defined by what you now do or do not do. You can condemn him (and you will not be alone in that cowardly act), you can ignore him (as millions of Germans ignored the ever advancing fascism of the 1930s), or you can stand beside or behind him and support him, and have your life defined as one of value to humanity.

    This is what he wrote to Inquisition21 on the day he made his decision:

    “The thought that has been repeatedly running through my mind these last two days has been in the form of the famous quote from Patrick Henry:

    ’Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?’

    “I, for one, would rather fight this in court (even if it means temporarily giving up my physical freedom) in order that I not live the rest of my entire life as a slave and in chains, deprived by the state of all my freedoms. I cannot of course speak for everyone - only for myself - but, for me, the time has come to stand up and make a bold statement, and truly fight this battle once and for all. I think we are now at the point where public opinion (on average) is favourable enough for reform of these laws, so that it will not take much to tip public opinion in our favour. (Minus, of course, the opinions of those hate-filled, emotion-led fear-mongers whose opinions will probably never be changed.)

    “As Thomas Paine said, "These are the times that try men's souls."

    “We are about to find out what stuff we are all made of.”

    ¨... I am finished with hiding or pretending this doesn't exist. Ich bin die Welt abhanden gekommen.¨

    “As Whitman so beautifully said, ‘I am more resolute because all have denied me, than I could ever have been had all accepted me’.

    “None of us were prepared for this new development (the new law concerning passwords); it quite literally blindsided us all. I am strongly suspecting another instance of Republican 'midnight legislation', which (as I'm sure you know) is their favoured tactic for sneaking in highly questionable legislation, under cover of darkness.

    “As you will I'm sure realise, this is not only a violation of the right to privacy, but it is also an end-run around the need to obtain a legal search warrant. It thus directly and brazenly violates the United States Constitutional Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

    “This is what I specifically had in mind when I said that I would refuse to cooperate, and allow myself to be arrested and incarcerated before ever going along with such a nefarious scheme.

    “It is now clear that the mighty Behemoth State is intent upon annihilating not just all of our natural rights, but also our very identity, our sense of Self. Well, I refuse to consent to the annihilation of my inmost Self.

    “The State wants to literally hound and punish us to the ends of the Earth. But they do not want us dead: they want us alive, so that they can torment us the more, and so that we can suffer the more.

    “As I know you will realise, the only thing that will stop this is exposure: their evil deeds must be exposed, and brought to the light of day. Not until their evil deeds are decried from every housetop, not until the average and the ordinary people step up to demand that such evil cease, will we ever see any positive change.

    “As has been so truly said, the real evil is not the Hitlers of the world: it is the mass of simpering, terrified, ‘ordinary’ citizens who cow in their corners and refuse to speak out against the evil, and thus enable it--permit it to happen. Hitlers are never possible without such enablers.

    “Europeans should take note of this new development with horror, and beware: how long will it be before this is repeated in your land?

    “How can fascism rear its ugly head so soon after we thought we defeated it in the last century? Simply and sadly, by reason of the apathy of the populace. This is what allowed it in the first instance, and is what is allowing it again.”

    ----------------
    COMMENTS FROM eAdvocate

    2-2-2009 Georgia:

    Today a few sites are claiming "FIRST OPEN CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE BY S.O.," and citing a Georgia court case which is in progress today.

    Civil disobedience is a refusal to follow some law, going to court to seek an injunction against the state enforcing a law, is not civil disobedience, nor is this the first case of a former sex offender going to court seeking an injunction against a sex offender law.

    Black's law (6th Ed): "Civil disobedience: A form of lawbreaking employed to demonstrate the injustice or unfairness of a particular law and indulged in deliberately to focus attention on the allegedly undesirable law."

    Note: Since the gentleman (a Georgia RSO) is seeking to proceed in court anonymously (John Doe status) and at this point does not have a lawyer, the court giving him time to find one (and the court indicating it may appoint one if the gentleman cannot find one), I will not mention his name nor give links to my sources. With that said,

    The facts in essence: Georgia enacted a law requiring all of its RSOs to turn over certain information to the state as part of its registration scheme (namely passwords to all online e-mail accounts, and other things).

    Following enactment of that law a Georgia RSO (The gentleman mentioned above) has gone to federal court seeking an injunction to stop the state from enforcing that law against him on his next birthday (apparently that is when the state requires him to update his registration information including anything new required by the state, hence the passwords and e-mmail addresses).

    Because he presented a minimal but compelling argument and supported same with equally compelling facts, apparently the court issued a temporary injunction without objection from the state's attorney.

    Next, is this the first RSO who has gone to court seeking a declaration that this type of collateral registration law is unconstitutional, NO he is not the first.

    There are other similar cases (which should be presented) in different states: Passwords Registered Sex Offenders Must Comply with New Internet Rules. Ga. sex offenders must hand over online passwords

    In each of those links are other links to the current and past court cases on this and similar issues in a few states.

    Good Luck, Georgia RSO!

    -----
    Added by eAdvocate
    (Names taken out by Alex because the case is ongoing)

    In my first e-mail I mentioned that someone had misconstrued something to claim he committed an act of civil disobedience. OK, "words spoken" rarely can be claimed to be an act of civil disobedience, one example might be, telling a judge "no matter what you say I'm not going to follow your decision," no doubt the judge would say "contempt of court" and we could say it was an act of CD. But that is not what has happened with (this person), here is what is on the Inquisition21 website as to CD:

    "(Petitioner) was already evicted from his home and facing shaming, shunning and further displacement from the draconian residency restrictions being placed on Americans who are on the sex offenders register. The event which triggered his decision to resist the law in an act of civil disobedience was when it was broadcast that Georgia had now joined the State of Utah in requiring all registered sex offenders to tender their internet and email user names and passwords to their local Sheriffs Departments. The penalty for this new law, which went into effect in Georgia on 1st January, 2009, is a felony, which means landing all those on the SOR who do not comply back in prison. "

    Their comment "The event which triggered his decision to resist the law in an act of civil disobedience was ..." is in error, that is not CD, although -words spoken- it is not yet an act of CD. Inquisition21 was incorrect, possibly they do not fully understand when CD actually occurs.

    Thoughts are not CD, and at the point that (this man) decided to not follow the law, he had not yet failed to follow the law. CD does not happen UNTIL ONE FAILS TO FOLLOW THE LAW IN QUESTION. Thinking about it is not CD, even making a decision to refuse to follow a law is not CD, ACTUALLY FAILING TO FOLLOW the law, that is CD.

    While this may seem to be a mere technicality, it is how a court would construe it, one cannot be charged with failing to follow a law, until they actually fail to follow it. There are many who do not understand these seeming subtle points, and I always do my best to help folks understand them.

    Personally folks who pursue claims of civil disobedience, depending on how they present it, is dangerous for the RSO cause and most certainly will bring the eyes of law enforcement to them. CD is but one step from claims of rioting and LE would quickly quell such acts by whatever means they see fit at the time.

    Right now this man is following the prescribed court procedure and that is not civil disobedience.

    Should he -in the future- lose in court AND THEN ACTUALLY not follow the law, THEN and only THEN would his act constitute an act of CD, only time will tell if that may happen, but should it happen he would be arrested for violating the law.

    The law must be broken to be CD.

    FINAL CLARIFICATION from eAdvocate (after a query from Alex M.)

    "...I am speaking of how law enforcement looks at MASS CD, when they encounter it they immediately are prepared to quell riots should they occur. That's all I meant, how LE would view mass CD, they must be prepared, which is their motto. I did not mean to infer that rioting follows CD which I think is how you (Alex) interpreted my comments. On second thought I could have been clearer but thats in hindsight which is always 20-20. I meant no disrespect."


     

    To Obama: S.O. Laws are Hate Crimes
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 15.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0102]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0102, and be sent to the above email address. They will be sent on the person who wrote this.
    -----
    LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA FROM AN RSOL PARTICIPANTS
    (Sent as a comment under civil rights, on the change.gov site.)

    Regarding your promise and/or plan to: a) reintegrate ex-felons into society, and b) to more accurately categorize and more harshly deal with hate crimes, please consider the following.

    Due to recent unconstitutional and horrific sex offender laws and restrictions, all manner of productive life has been taken from those required to register. A case in point, in Portland, OR, a "sex offender" was recently released from prison and because he had nowhere to go, was dropped off by a police officer beneath a bridge with a tarp and a sleeping bag. When the person then went to AZ where his family was, he was again arrested and brought back to Oregon for a further jail sanction for leaving the state. As Americans living in the land of the free, we are so ashamed of this type treatment of human beings in our country. In spite of rhetoric indicating "help is available," it is simply not true. Consider the unmanageable size of the sex offender registry now, some states posting not only name and physical address but name and address of employers and shoe size of an offender on line (Texas), and most major employers implementing policies of no-hire for sex offenders, and further consider that many of those finding themselves on the registry are not predatory, not violent, and many, many, many are there due to Romeo and Juliet liasons, false accusations of vindictive teens (as no physical evidence or proof is required to convict in a sex crime), or teen indiscretion much the same as you and I likely experienced in our youth. American citizens are demanding that you hear us on this issue as we witness the lives of our young sons and daughters being destroyed in every imaginable way because of this. These cases are "easy wins" for the District Attorneys so they pursue them with a vengeance.

    This leads to the issue of hate crimes. The registrant, wrongly convicted or not, becomes a potential target of hate crimes. Many states further assist these vigilantes by providing online the address of the offender and mapping out the route to the offender's residence. Very recently, laws are being passed to force registrants to provide to law enforcement not only email address but password. I take offense to this as my right to privacy is most certainly violated when I write to friends who may be registrants. I am not, but they (law enforcement) can read every word I write to them if they have the password. I have nothing to hide, but I assume even President-Elect Obama wouldn't want me, for instance, opening and reading his mail. Another case in point regarding evidence that sex offenders are victims of hate crimes is a podiatrist who was recently assaulted by ignorant vigilantes who believed the word "podiatrist" to be "pedophile."

    We want to once again feel pride for our country. We abhor violent and predatory sex offenses, but so many who are not in this category in any way have been thrown to the wolves, and we are watching closely to see what action will be taken on the part of President-Elect Obama. Please do not ignore these issues. We are counting on this administration to make the changes promised
     

    Grand Jury Foreman Deplores Waste in S.O. Cases
    By an Oregon participant <attorneysonyourside@gmail.com>
    Posted on 15.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0101]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0101 and be sent to the above email address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm.

    NOTE: This is an important letter from a citizen, not an offender, who was an Oregon Grand Jury foreman! It was sent to major Oregon and Washington newspapers.

    Dear Editor,

    While we are all basking in the glow of Xmas and the New Year and intoxicated with the notion of "Change. I propose that this time we do something more meaningful than giving the idea of "Change" a few weeks of heart felt lip service. It has been along time since we as Americans ...with the shared common values that bind us together, have had this type of opportunity, or momentum to really bring about enduring and meaningful change. Let's not forget that due to the length of time since we all last felt this sense of collective oneness and before we start looking for new things to change, that we already have quite a backlog of wrongs on our plate desperately in search of being made right.

    At the top of that list should be to immedietly do something to correct the abhorrent and inhumane treatment we have suffered upon the people we refer to as "convicted sex offenders" in the name of "feel good" justice. Why is it that everytime our lawmakers pass legislation, with only the noblest intentions for the protection and well being of us all, there is always a group of people who take something good and make it ugly and shameful. Our progressively mean spirited, extra judicial, vindictive prosecution (and then life long persecution) of actual and alleged sex offenders is today's 'crimen exceptum", and our national shame.

    This last summer I saw these senseless human tragedies played out before me 2 full days every week, for 6 weeks as foreman of the Multnomah County Grand Jury. I was surprised and sickened by the resources and manpower that we as a society have apparently committed to the pursuit, prosecution and incarceration of what constitute a majority of what we refer to today as "registered sex offenders"....The crimes committed by this new breed of felons don't come the trappings you would normally
    expect ...namely, ...complaining victims.... and exist only in the minds of the men and women we have entrusted to enforce our laws fairly and responsibly.The makeup of our grand jury was so conservative that it had to be a rare statistical anomaly here in our fair city. Even so, after the second day of being asked to return multiple felony indictments against teenagers who were unlucky enough to be 3 yrs and 1 day older than their high school girlfriends for doing something that each and every one of us either thought about or did (or wish we had... to one degree or another) when we were teenagers, we told the DA not to bring us anymore "Rape 4 - Sex Abuse 3" cases or we would no true bill every one of them.

    I am not soft on crime, and at the time I supported the ideals these laws represented. After seeing what happens when the enforcement of some of our laws are left in the hands of bright, well meaning, overly aggressive and ego driven men and women, I can no longer support the actions being taken in my name and yours, nor am I willing to simply thank my lucky stars and sit back while 100's and 1000's of lives are ruined every single day in this country for no good reason. Does this mean there aren't bad people who deserve to receive the full measure of the law? Not at all.

    What I am saying is that there are good, innocent young people starting their adult lives burdened with the label of "felony sex offenders" ... the pariahs of society ...shunned, humiliated, beaten up, harassed, unable to find suitable employment or housing who were not the people the legislature was contemplating when they came up with the idea of passing out fliers, or posting pictures and addresses on the internet by way of our public registration requirements.

    During this time while we are all focused on change... let's not forget the duty we owe to our own citizens so that they may enjoy the same rights and protections they are entitled to and which are the ideals that guide us as a nation. The torture these laws inflict on the wrong people should cause us all to be outraged the way we were when we discovered the atrocities at Gitmo. The way I saw justice dispensed during my brief term of service left me with no doubt that we must tell our lawmakers to immediately correct these injustices that hurt us all. As it stands now, I would rather be waterboarded than branded a registered sex ofender in this country. It's time to change that.
     

    S.O.Case Mgr. Deplores S.O. Laws
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 11.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [0100]
     
    Comments should refer to blog no. 100 and be sent to alex at the above address. they will be sent on to the parole officer who wrote this.
    --------------------------
    I am a Case Manager at a cognitive behavioral program for parolees. We have a number of sex offenders in the program who possess offenses from child molestation to public urination. Some offenses make me cringe, others I find almost humorous. However the law's treatment of these individuals is in no way humorous. Forced transience, GPS, destruction of family units, forced to quit jobs...the injustice goes on and on. I do not condone their crimes, but they have already served their time; now they are imprisoned on the cold streets. Laws like Jessica's Law sound good at first and make great PR, but actually strip people of their dignity and civil liberties and comes dangerously close to Double Jeopardy. Please redraft or rescind these laws!
     

    Men who should never go to jail!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 11.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [099]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog no. 099 and be sent to Alex at the above email address. I´ll send them on to the person who sent this in.
    ------
    Observer of the Justice System.....
    I have watched 4 men go to prison for alleged allegations
    that should have never made it to court in (my) County alone.
     

    SUPPORT S.O. BILL IN TX LEGISLATURE
    By Helga Dill, CURE <dill.c@tx.rr.com>
    Posted on 11.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [098]
     
    Comments should be sent to Helga at the above email address, and copies to alexm60@fastmail.fm, and marysueintx@yahoo.com. Refer to Blog no. 098.
    ----------------
    Please observe that the Texas Legislature 2009 will be introducing SO bills. The first one has been introduced by State Rep Alonzo , HB190, pertaining to SO registration.

    Note from Alex: THIS BILL WOULD SHORTEN THE LENGTH OF TIME ON THE REGISTRY FOR LOW LEVEL OFFENDERS, AND ALLOW A PROCESS FOR SEEKING TO BE REMOVED FROM THE REGISTRY FOR SOME OFFENDERS.

    Please support the Representative, read the bill and add your part to it if you need to.

    Helga Dill, Chair, TX CURE
     

    DEMO AGAINST POISON PRISON WATER in SF,CA
    By Alex <one2vegas@sbcglobal.net>
    Posted on 05.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [097]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 097, and be sent to Alex at the above email - with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    ------------------------------------------------

    SF,CA DEMONSTRATION AGAINST POISONED PRISON WATER
    Feb. 4 - Federal Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco at 9 am.

    Dr. B. Cayenne Bird
    published January 04, 2009

    The media is banned from California´s prisons which is outrageous when a full blown humanitarian crisis is taking place out of public view, which I believe is the reason that journalists can´t interview specific inmates and often have their notes seized. There are four journalists in the UNION and hundreds of family members who refuse to cooperate with this unconstitutional media ban, even though there is severe retaliation against those who file lawsuits and report the news from inside. There is less retaliation against the family members, since there is no way for the wardens and guards to know the source of information. Every effort is made to cover up wrongdoing, which doesn´t work when people are educated and are dedicated patriots who know the difference between right and wrong.

    The UNION´s jailhouse lawyers are suffering increased and severe retaliation during the final phases of the Plata trial in a concerted effort to silence them. There is very little help coming from the State lawmakers and officials to do anything to stop the deliberate physical and psychological torture being inflicted. I will be writing more on this topic soon and have been invited to be a guest on a national talk show to discuss the fact that there is no one who will assist families or inmates with real intervention even in life and death emergencies, unless they are able to write big checks or have a friend in office, which is rare. Losing a loved one to Prison is emotionally and financially devastating, which is why there is no large public outcry ad campaigns.

    On February 4, 2009, we are going to rally outside the Federal Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco at 9 am. In order to get national media involved, at least 500 folks need to be there to stand up against medical neglect and continued abuse of the mentally ill in California's horrific prisons. While more than 100 family members attended our Nov 21 rally, we need five times more than that to make a stronger point that no one is addressing folks who are suffering and dying right now. Many are inmates who could be released right now to save the state billions and give some relief to the parents who are out of their minds with sick worry as a inmate dies daily. Many more will die before this gets resolved, but each of us must be the public outcry and fill up our cars for this historic day. Go here, hit print and mail 50 copies into an inmate to help spread the word, we are all unpaid volunteers in the UNION and cannot afford large mailings. This is a way everyone can help, we need crowds to bring in the national media so the lawmakers will do something to prevent more deaths which are highly visible right now.

    Here's the flyer for Feb 4, when closing arguments before Judges Thelton Henderson, Lawrence Karlton and Stephen Reinhardt will take place in the Plata case. The power of noisy numbers is the only solution, suffering in silence doesn't work.

    http://www.1union1.com/Feb4_rally_flyer_plata.html

     

    Land proposal out west for S.O.s
    By Jonathan <gor117@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 05.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [096]
     
    RSOL NOTICE: This is a proposal for ¨sex offenders¨ to pool money and move to a remote area in a western state, living in a community that would be far away from other people. RSOL does NOT endorse this idea, but we have agreed to allow this individual to propose it, in case some are interested. Also, anyone who responds to the above email does so at their own risk - we cannot vouch for the property or the deal. We do wish anyone involved the best, and hope to hear from you. Comments should refer to Blog No. 096 and be sent to Jonathan above, copies to me at alexm60@fastmail.fm
    Alex Marbury - for the Admin. Team
    COMMENTS and RESPONSES are also posted at the bottom of this page.

    -------------

    Dear Friends,
    There´s a nice piece of gated property for sale, 250 acres, paved road with cul de sac at the end. You can look at it by going to google earth and typing in Gloria Trail. The road that is labeled is the road on the property but in actuality the road up above that road with the houses on it is Gloria Trail. The road´s real name that is mis-labeled is Kara Lane.

    That is the land for sale. We need at least 100 interested offenders who can invest a couple of thousand dollars each to get this property as a settlement for offenders to set up homestead and raise the flag. I think they are asking around 250 thousand for the piece of land and it has a lake that you can see from the google map.
    Jonathan

    ------
    Anonymous comment:
    If this property was bought, will there be any \"background\" check of the people who are allowed to live there? I firmly and strongly believe the laws are far to broad which is the reason many of us end up here. But, I do believe there are a select few who should be on the registry. Would their be a plan in place to monitor this?
    What would be the requirements for living there?

    RESPONSE From Jonathan
    I am not sure what your question is. this is simply an idea more than a plan. anyone could live there registry or not but the purpose of buying such a tract of land would be for those who are on the registry who want to live somewhere where they call the shots. someone one recently purchased the doublewide and lot next to me.
    apparently its the high class suburbs where upper middle class (people) flee that sex offenders are not wanted and are kept out by city ordinances like lexington,cayce, and irmo sc. This only applies to the city limits.
     

    Not the Same Man I was 8 Yrs Ago!
    By anonymous - posted by Mary <rsolvirginia@comcast.net>
    Posted on 03.01.2009
    Link to this blog entry: [095]
     
    Comments should be sent to Mary at the above address, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm. They will be sent to Ted, the author of this painful letter, which was sent to the Virginia affiliated state group of RSOL, in response to a letter sent by Mary to all ´sex offenders´ on the Virginia registry.

    -----------------------------

    NOT THE SAME MAN I WAS 8 YEARS AGO
    Ted (named changed to protect privacy)

    Dear RSOL of Virginia,
    I received your letter, wherever did you get my address? HA!

    I must say I am glad to see that someone is speaking out about the as yet seemingly unchallenged disregard for the Constitution and the Bill of Rights when it comes to sex offender legislation. It has been a number of years since I committed my offense. I have been up and down and in and out on why I did what I did.

    I am increasingly fascinated by society’s generalizations and ignorance regarding sex offenders as it applies to human behavior. Despite our supposed advances as a society, our handling of the matter of sex offenses seems to be spiraling backwards faster than anyone can keep track of them. I wonder if any of these lawmakers can recite the requirements of a registered sex offender and the list of applicable offenses from memory. Since their decisions affect my fate, it would make me sleep at least a little better if I knew that they knew what they were doing and to whom they were doing it. It reminds me of an interview I saw recently in which a congressman was pressing hard for a sculpture of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in front of a federal courthouse. When asked by the interviewer to name all ten, he could only come up with about one and a half.

    I thought the piece written by Paul Shannon was well spoken, what caught my eye was his mention of the public outcry for the rights of people being incarcerated for alleged acts of terrorism and the lack of public outcry about the similar disappearance of rights for those charged with sex offenses. For the record I agree that those detained as suspected terrorists deserve all of the same constitutional rights as anyone. But I think there is a reasonable explanation for the comparative lack of outcry on behalf of sex offenders. People think of terrorists as people in a far off land, they don't think of their neighbor. Sex offenders are all around us. In general, it is easy for the public to keep a clear head about the constitutionality of someone far away, not doing anything near them.

    I think the subject of sex offenses forces people in society to take a long, hard look at themselves, their culture and their society that most don't want to think about or deal with. And what do we do when we don't want to understand or deal with something? We bury it. We hide it. Get it out of our sight. Just keep us safe from those perverts, whatever we have to do. Anytime this issue comes up, we punish it more. I believe people just don't like to think about the idea that they are capable of doing the same thing that a sex offender has done. They don't want to try and understand how that person may have come to the decision to do what they have done. While that doesn't excuse the offender, at least we can understand and address the problem in a way that helps everyone. Other people don't want to entertain the idea that “those people” are anything like them, so they distance themselves from “those people” as much as possible and dehumanize them in the process. When we're not human anymore, we don't have any right anymore.

    Anytime a “sex offender” is in the headlines, I cringe because whenever a story like that gets a lot of press I can expect some new legislation within a few months, so that I am reminded what the lobbyists and lawmakers think of me, even when they don't realize that people like me are lumped in with 10 or 20 actual predators that we do need to worry about and who will still offend if they really want to, no matter how many crazy flaming hoops the rest of us have to jump through.

    As Paul Shannon said, “the worst thing I have ever done becomes the only thing I have ever done”.

    Suffice it to say, I am not the same person I was when I committed my offense 8 years ago. I have worked extremely hard to become a better person and I like the person I am becoming. I am a year and a half away from graduating summa cum laude with a B.S in mechanical engineering.

    Reaching where I have has taken hard work, dedication and self-exploration and confrontation that would terrify most people to have to do. I think there should come a time when society should take it upon itself to get out of my way and leave my true penance for the things I have done between me and God.

    If there is anything I can do to help, volunteer or what not. If you need to reach me, look me up on the state police web-site. See, it’s good for something!

    Thanks again. Ted

     

    Opposed to RSOL Death Penalty Statement
    By Mark Keil <markinohio2004@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 28.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [094]
     
    Please refer comments to the above email address, refer to Blog No. 094.
    NOTE: RSOL does not take a position on the death penalty per se, but opposes the use of the death penalty for sex offenses which do not involve murder. The US Supreme Court has ruled similarly this year. We are revising our statement to reflect the new situation.
    Alex Marbury
    ------------------------
    IN RE: Pesky Number Five of the RSOL Statement

    While I was a relatively early signatory to RSOL's statement, I was then and still am bothered by the pesky number five statement: "Abolish all laws that provide the death penalty or life in prison without parole for sex offenders."

    I have a feeling this may be a stopper for many people with important and influential names and voices, who might otherwise be willing to sign the statement. One of the problems with the statement, in my view, is that it is exactly counter productive to at least one of the missions that RSOL is trying to accomplish: to bring people to the realization and recognition of the fact that all sex offenders are not the same - that all "sex offenders" are not John Couey, e.g.

    The fact of the matter is, truly, that some of even the most liberal voices, not to mention more centrist minds, realize that in certain cases, as with any other type of criminal, life without parole is sometimes the only rational and reasonable solution to protect society from certain sociopaths and psychopaths, some of which will undoubtedly happen to be sex offenders as well.

    The death penalty, and meting it out for sex crimes in particular, is a separate issue, in my opinion, and thus, in my estimation, deserves its own statement. I don't know what the consensus of the body of signatories on the matter would be, but I feel the death penalty, when and if used, ought be reserved for murderers, alone, regardless of whether a sex offense was a part and parcel of the crime. My reasoning for this is limited entirely to the rationale that if the death penalty is in the offing, then more sociopaths will simply kill their victims, rather than just stop at a sex offense, resulting, ironically, in the deaths of more victims and the elusion of law enforcement by more criminals.

    One of the largest barriers faced by any group seeking to challenge the status quo is that of being taken seriously by the mainstream. And, one of the greatest impediments to being taken seriously by the mainstream is the appearance of extremism, of irrationality. I submit, that for very many people, considering the quite limited alternatives for the protection of society from the likes of a John Couey, statement number five will appear on its face extremely irrational. No one, I don't think, wants John Couey to be their spokesperson, their poster child, and statement number five makes him exactly that for RSOL.

    While the John Couey's of the world may need and deserve the help and advocacy of some reform group, I think they neither need nor deserve the advocacy of one like RSOL, which endeavors to make a better future for hundreds of thousands of other people who are nothing like John Couey. Statement number five is the statement RSOL's opposition will leap upon, and use to proclaim to the world, "RSOL wants John Couey released to your neighborhood to prey upon your children!"

    Statement number five is the one statement that restrains me from a more robust support of RSOL and its objectives; the one objective that constrains me from seeking new signatories to the full statement and new supporters for the full RSOL mission. I am sure I am not the only one, signatories and not, for whom statement number five is a similar stopper to more action. Moreover, and conversely, I am confidant that the statement does very little to invite more signatories and more support, not to mention that its placement and wording is a real barrier to being taken seriously.

    Not to belabor the point, or resort to hyperbole, but really, who does RSOL need to be taken seriously by more than the politicians writing, and hopefully someday repealing certain sex offender laws? I ask, then, what politician in their right political and vote-earning mind, would ever consider to take RSOL seriously, much less sign the statement, when RSOL wants to "release John Coeuy to the neighborhoods of their constituents"?

    A moderation of statement number five could, I believe, both add to the credibility and seriousness of RSOL and remove a barrier to a more broad overall support of its objectives and mission. Think about it: while groups like the "fringe lunatic" stoptheaclu.com gather broad exposure, if not ouright support, on a variety of fronts, the relatively more moderate reformsexoffenderlaws enjoys no such parity. Google "reformsexoffenderlaws" and you get 1780 results, while Googling "stoptheaclu" yields up a hefty 76,000 results. If you're counting, that is 42 times the exposure that that group is enjoying over that of RSOL. In the information age, when dissemination of information, particularly information outside the mainstream, is accomplished in this way, via the Internet, this deficit between these groups, if it weren't so serious, would be laughable.

    Therefore, I have taken the time to write this letter and am strongly urging you, and RSOL, to consider a revamping of statement number five, and possibly a separation of it from the death penalty issue. I would encourage you to submit these considerations to the body of your signatories and email list for their feedback on the matter.

    It would not surprise me a bit, and nor should it surprise you a bit, either, if there is an overwhelming support among that body for these viewpoints on the matter. It just makes sense. It makes good, rational, and most importantly, serious sense for RSOL.

    Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to any action, which you and RSOL may contemplate or take. I am hoping things change in regard to statement number five so that I can more honestly and robustly support the important mission and objectives of RSOL. If not, I haven't a choice, no matter how serious, and ironically, because I am so serious about the issues, but to remain on the sidelines, so far as RSOL is concerned.

    Last, if you like, and think this issue deserves the exposure, you may publish at your website, perhaps for feedback, this letter, including my signature.

    Sincerely,

    Mark Keil
     

    Kelly´s New Year Message
    By Kelly Piercy <gasoem@gmail.com>
    Posted on 27.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [093]
     
    NOTE from Alex: Kelly Piercy is a disabled veteran who has become one of RSOL´s most valuable members and organizers. He is working on multiple fronts to try to change the unjust portions of ¨sex offender¨ laws. In my book, Kelly is a #1 hero! But then, so are ALL RSOL participants. Keep up the struggle in this New Year!
    Refer in comments to Blog No. 093, and send to Kelly at the email address above, with copies to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    ------------------------------

    A New Year´s Message

    I was sitting in Mass at Federal Corrections Institution (FCI) Three Rivers. Our Priest was called away by duties at the Diocese. An ancient Priest Emeritus filled in that Sunday.

    For the Homily, he came to the front of the Alter from the podium.
    Clasping his hands he looked out on the twenty or so of us seated in the chapel. He smiled softly at us and began.

    "I don't really have a prepared sermon for you. I am here because you are here....There is something I want you to understand. For whatever brought you here, God forgives you if you ask his forgiveness; I forgive you without being asked....There is something else I need you to understand. I know each of you prays, probably every day, to be let out of here."

    "For every one of you, who pray for this, there are a hundred and more that are praying that you are not let out."

    With that, he concluded the Mass.

    We all work and many of us pray every day to end the registry and inordinate sentences and to stop the shame of false accusation suffered by the 'justice' system.

    For all that work and hope and prayer, there are hundreds more working and hoping and praying that it continues and becomes ever more restrictive.

    We must each do the work, have the hope, and even say the prayers of those hundreds that oppose each one of us.

    It is hard, there are days I want to give up and worry about me and try to navigate the rules alone in hope for the day I can buy my boat and leave this all behind me. I cannot, I will not. We must all resist those times and days and do what we can. When it gets too hard, take a step back, rest and reflect. We cannot let others fight this battle for us, they will not. We must strive, even in the face of despair.

    We can try and fail, we must not fail to try.

    Kelly
     

    John Walsh Exploits Fear
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 21.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [092]
     
    Comments about this blog should refer to Blog No. 0092 and be sent to Alex at the above email address. I will forward them to the person who made the comment.
    --------------------------


    Concerning John Walsh and his continuing exploitation of fear among the public, against what he portrays on TV, as the bad guys. This is a despicable man, as he has not only profited from the death of his son, but he has also convinced a generation of Americans that child abductions from strangers is out of control. He continues his child abduction crusade despite government statistics that show stranger abductions to be virtually nonexistent. The fact is that the majority of child abductions come from a noncustodial parent, not a stranger as Walsh would have you believe.

    The man (Ottis Toole) that the Hollywood Police Department conveniently pinned the murder of Walsh\'s son on was a serial killer, and not a ¨pedophile,¨ as Walsh and the media describe him. Not only is Toole no longer around to defend himself against the Walsh murder, but all the evidence in the case was lost or destroyed by the Hollywood Police Department. His guilt has to be proven in a court of law, not the court of public opinion.

    This thing has stunk from the beginning! As far as I know the mother of Adam Walsh was never a suspect in the case, and if this tragedy had happened today, she would have been the first one on the suspect list, as she was the last one to have contact with the boy. As terrible as that statement sounds, that is exactly what a sex offender has to deal with on a daily basis due to John Walsh and his misguided crusade to save the children while lining his pockets.

    I don't think this case should be closed, and I am quite surprised that Walsh so easily accepts the Hollywood Police Department´s decision to announce that the case has been solved. This is a prime example of how law enforcement tramples on the rights of all, whether we're in the grave or still among the living.

     

    SEX PANIC KILLS SANTA
    By Alex Marbury posted this <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 19.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [091]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog. No. 0091 and be sent to me at the above email address, and you may also want to send them to Debbie at the email address, naess@gmail.com
    Note from Alex: Debbie Nathan is one of the most peristent critics of the ¨sex panic¨ that has spawned the ill-conceived ¨sex offender laws.¨ This is from her blog, already picked up by several websites.


    --------------------------------------------------------
    SEX PANIC DEATH OF OPERATION SANTA CLAUS
    by Debbie Nathan
    Dec. 19, 2008

    URL http://debbienathan.com

    Santa Claus is dead! At least, the charity Santa who was born during the first Gilded Age, and whose fantasies about the poor fueled an enormous, Victorian-mentality welfare program, run for decades from the giant Post Office at 33rd Street and 8th Avenue in New York City.

    Yesterday, three months after the death of the second Gilded Age, that Operation Santa came to a screeching halt, thanks to additional dark fanatasies: this time about pedophilia.

    It used to be that middle-class and rich people pored for hours over hand written letters from the indigent, then went to the houses of the underclass to give them Christmas gifts. To do that, the donors needed kids’ names and addresses. This year, a registered sex offender did his poring and got his address. The Post Office found out and summarily shut down the entire Op Santa program, even though, in its almost 100-year history, it has never received a complaint of child sexual assault or abuse. Officials told the media that in the future, donors will have no access to children’s identifiers, which means they be unable to make deliveries to the slums. Instead, they’ll donate to anonymous recipients, and mail their packages at the post office.

    The PO said this will save the program. That’s not true and they know it. The success of Operation Santa Claus was always based on complex class relations and conflict, complete with reticulated fantasies that could only be satisfied by the letter reading, the name gathering, and those noblesse oblige home visits. Without all this, the program is kaput.


    In New York City alone, over a million poor families came to depend on the Operation for entitlements — warm clothes, toys, even schooling — that used to be dispensed by machine politicians or New Deal agencies. Today, the old ho-ho-ho pols are long gone. And now the country talks of a new FDR. It took a black man to get that conversation going, and now, thanks to an anonymous, registered sex offender schlemiel with disposable Christmas income, the children and adults of America may be forced recognize that in this day and age, “No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus.”

    Debbie Nathan

     

    Mother & Wife Lives in Two Worlds
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 12.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [090]
     
    Refer comments to Blog No. 090 and send to Alex at the above email address, and I will forward them to this mother!


    MOTHER AND WIFE LIVES IN TWO CONFLICTING WORLDS - HER HUSBAND´S and HER SON´S:

    I am a mother with a son who is now serving time for child pornography which needless to say has brought me down to my knees. I truly thought my world had come to an end - even my husband would not comfort me when the news was given to us. Like many other mothers, I felt extremely alone with this. To this day, he won't talk to our son in any way or form, just keeps saying, "I warned him" and nothing else. He has even said he could care less if he was to die and never see him again or if something bad should happen to him while in prison.

    I'm a person who is living in two worlds and it's so very hard. I'm a believer that a person can turn the corner if the right support group is there. You will never know how surprised I was when I fell upon this website - I\'m not alone, not at all!

    My son knows he did something so very wrong and wants very much once released to become a productive citizen again. It tore my heart apart when he said to me that he was prepared to sleep under bridges and beg for whatever food he may get. No mother wants to hear that -not at all. All any mother can picture is those pictures taken when the son was a little boy doing little boy things. To think that may possibly be his residence (homelessness) for the rest of his life makes the heart just stop.

    He is just a few months into his sentence so I'm just starting now hoping I can make it better for him later. Thank you, thank you for each of you to come together as a group on an issue that many just want to lock away.

    As I told people in my family that has basically turned away from me, we used to avoid people with AIDS and people with mental disabilities only because we did not understand, now we do and we find that with the correct treatment the person afflicted can possibly lead somewhat a normal life.

    As my son said, registering is no different that when the Jewish people had to wear that yellow star - there is no difference. Yes my son did wrong and is now paying dearly for what he did and as so many have said, will be paying again once released due to the registering. He wants to move back to (his home state - from where he is incarcerated in another state) but I have no clue as to the "rules" that he will need to follow.

    Can anyone out there help me with this? Will he truly become a "wanderer" or is there something out there for him?

     

    Everybody contact all govt officials, demand change!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 12.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [089]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 089 and be sent to Alex at the above email address.
    ---------------------
    I am concerned for our country at this point. I would have thought after the Salem witchhunt days that our Country would know better than to punish people for lifetimes for mistakes. Not everyone is a predator, but many are being set up as ones with the sting operations and destroying lives that would never have been involved in these types of situations without the entrapment. The lifetime punishment for these individuals and their families goes against everything that our country stands for. I urge everyone signing this to contact their local, state and the federal government asking for change.
     

    IMPORTANT RIGHTS to disclosure & privacy
    By Sandy Kennedy <sdk5460@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 08.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [088]
     
    THE MARYLAND RSOL affiliate contact, Sandy Kennedy, provides this very important brief summary for ¨sex offender¨ who are in mandated therpay programs. PLEASE SHARE!
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 88, and be sent to Sandy, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm

    ------------------------------------

    The Right To Disclosure and Privacy
    (Summary by Sandra Kennedy, Maryland)

    HIPAA ( Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

    Protected health information (PHI) is individually identifiable health information that is maintained or transmitted . Medical records are confidential. Health practitioners must ensure that all your information is kept confidential . In a doctor’s offices they hand you a demographic sheet to look over. Your full social security number should not be identified, just the last 4 digits. If their sheet contains you full address, telephone numbers, and date of birth, request in writing that it be deleted. HIPAA stipulates that a patient has a right to their medical records: all medical records, counseling sessions, therapy notes, test answers, polygraph evaluations may be obtained despite who is paying the bill. They have 30 days to comply after submitting a written request. In psychological evaluations, they do not provide you with the test, just your raw answers. Look over your records closely. Ascertain the evaluations they allegedly gave to you, you actually took. In psychological evaluations, make sure the person they are physically describing is indeed you and make sure every sheet you have signed is your signature. If a therapist has signed an evaluation, who you do not recognize, search the internet for their licensure. If you find any discrepancies, file a formal complaint with your state’s Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene. Keep your records and ask for them periodically. Each session, request, in writing, a copy of your progress note.


     

    Frightened, Broke, Tired, Vulnerable, Defeated
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 04.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [087]
     
    Refer comments to Blog No. 0087, and send to Alex Marbury at the above email address. I´ll forward the comments to the author, who is the sister of the offender.
    ---------------------------------


    My brother was accused of misconduct by his ex-wife in an acrimonious custody battle--AFTER the custody battle began. He was innocent but after an expensive two-year legal battle, he ran out of money and spirit. He eventually agreed to a no contest plea when the DA threatened him with a guaranteed prison sentence. He was frightened, broke, tired, vulnerable, and defeated.

    My brother was scheduled to be off-paper after 10 years S.O. registration. That is, until Ohio decided to retroactively extend SO sentences to a minimum 25 years as Level IIs. He is now looking at another 15 years minimum (which in his fragile mental state may exceed his life) and now as a Level II versus a Level I. And this Level II designation is now what he must carry to a new state. In his case, for a crime he didn't even commit.

    How is this legal? Had this been the no contest plea in the beginning, he would not have agreed. How can this be right? The court system told him one thing and then said, "No, we lied." And that's okay?

    We don't brand drunk drivers, murderers, assault with injury, thieves...no one EXCEPT 'sex offenders' like this.

    It smacks of everything this country wasn't founded on and every dark period we've ever experienced. We don't even tell murderers that we think they need another 15 years...¨just because.¨ It's misguided zealotry, hysteria, and madness. It's not right.

    I'm not a bleeding heart. I have strong feelings about predators of any type and rapists and serial offenders. I also believe in punishment. I'm not even anti-registration. But there needs to be shades of gray and legal due diligence and sentencing that is fair and finite. This current trend is anything but that. It's plain scary, bad law.


     

    How Many Are We? Change these laws NOW!
    By Chris and Linda <rsolnc@gmail.com>
    Posted on 04.12.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [086]
     
    These are two comments from NC contacts about the fact that in Georgia and some other states, ¨sex offenders¨ cannot attend college. Chris, the second commenter, makes the point that we need change NOW - in 2009, so people like himself and his family can begin to live their lives again!
    TO COMMENT, refer to Blog No. 086, and send to Chris and Linda at the above email address

    -----------------
    That is TOTALLY ridiculous! what is happening to the USA? restrictions of all sorts are flooding in (nc had some new ones that went into effect 12/2 but nothing that drastic) and in the end all SOs are going to be restricted to the point that they would have it easier being in prison!

    What's happening here that i notice is that the "laws" are being interpreted incorrectly. For example: our local sheriff's office says that the law saying you cannot be within 300 feet of a place meant for minors means you cannot even DRIVE BY IT. Now, come on! If the ice skating rink is in the mall and you have to drive by the mall to get to wherever you are going they are saying you cannot drive by the mall! ha! asinine, yes?

    They are also saying that the new law that states a Sexual Offender cannot be on any internet site that is strictly designed for minors means ANYTHING ON THE INTERNET.

    It is WHO interprets the law we need to fear: be really really afraid of the local police/sheriff who does that interpretation! i am just now analyzing the new NC laws; i got the letter about 6 weeks ago from my son and it looked like to me nothing too major UNTIL the newspaper/media get ahold of it and splashed their own opinions of said new laws!

    Maybe not all think like we do, but no education? how do they (the gov't) expect lives to be changed, made better, etc. without the access to education? i would definitely say that is an issue to FIGHT!

    Linda

    ------------------
    These lawmakers ruling from their high towers believe their actions to be a game where the sub-human S.O.'s are the pawns. They try to see who can most offend the offenders. It's preposterous, unconstitutional, and I'm pissed.

    Viva la Revolution whatever that equates to.

    I don't have time for these "baby steps" as my 3 children grow older and become less interested in holding their dad's hand as we walk to the park to play on the swings. The heart-wrenching truth you all know is I can't take my kids to the park! It's a heinous crime according to these well-concocted laws. Preventing me from being a father is the sickest form of punishment that one could ever bestow upon me.

    How many of us are there? What does it take to pull off a singular, overarching legal action against these laws as a whole so we can live again? I'm not talking about 5, 3, or even 2 years from now. I'm talking 2009. I'm through being robbed of my children's youth. Who do these lawmakers believe they are to be able to keep it from me? We need a heavy hitter.
     

    Flabergasted by S.O. Laws Lack of Integrity
    By Marian Cab uto <mcabuto@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 30.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [085]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog No. 0085 and be sent to the above, with a copy to alexm60@fastmail.fm
    --------------------------------
    I am flabbergasted at the lack of integrity within our Federal Justice System concerning sex offender laws. Putting violent offenders in the same category as non violent offenders who would never and have never harmed a child makes my stomach turn. My stomach also turns at my finding that the system deems non violent offenders who chatted on the internet and never touched anyone a violent offender so they could instill fear in our society to get Federal Funding.

    My brother was taken to prison shortly after graduating with a degree in Psychology and was Cum Laude academically at the top of his class. He gave to the community and was an inspiring person to know. He has a heart of gold and would never harm a child. He never touched anyone inappropriately, nor would he ever. He was in a chat room sting and in the printed up chat was asked if he would ever meet anyone underage and he said NO.

    The fact that inappropriate material is even available on the internet disgusts me and my research shows me that, the availability of that is corrupt as well. Many are entrapped and fear is instilled in them that they must plea bargain with the government or they will get even more time. Right now, these deemed sex offenders (who are not) are being punished, but in the big picture, it is society who is being punished and we must reform these laws. In my brother's case, prosecution did all they could to convict a non violent, non threat to society young man who was an outstanding citizen with goals to greatly contribute to society.

    While I don't agree with him even going to prison, I could have maybe accepted such a sentence for his non violent mistake of viewing underage photos I believe he was coerced to view (not taking these type of pictures, but viewing what someone sent him on the internet),however, my eyes have been open to a lot of corruption and I am not so sure, I would even accept a prison sentence. I do not condone viewing such images, but circumstances on the internet for young men MUST be regulated and have warnings. But Sex offender for life for solely viewing pictures and having no other prior record or signs of being a predator is mind boggling to me.

    The other very disheartening issue is that the "hands on" sex offenders get a slap on the wrist in comparison to all of these non violent supposed sex offenders they are giving years of prison time to as well as the life sentence of sex offender for life. This site has allowed me to hear the stories of other family members who have endured such wrong doing by our justice system. I hope and pray we can reform these laws.

    Sincerely,
    A Concerned Sister, American Citizen and Human Rights Activist

     

    You Might Be a ¨Sex Offender,¨ If...
    By Derek Logue <derek@oncefallen.com>
    Posted on 27.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [084]
     
    NOTE: This copyrighted article appears on the creative website, oncefallen.com, which we hope soon to link to RSOL. Comments should be sent to Derek, the webmaster of that site, as well as to alexm60@fastmail.fm. Please contact Derek and check out his website.
    ------

    You Might Be a ¨Sex Offender¨ If…
    Derek “The Fallen One” Logue
    November 11, 2008 -- Last Update Nov. 25, 2008

    NOTE: IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO ADD TO THIS LIST PLEASE EMAIL ME THE LINK TO THE NEWS
    ARTICLE: derek@oncefallen.com [PS: Please read some of the articles, especially those featured on my front page announcements]

    One of the prevailing myths in society is that everyone on registries are all violent rapists or active ¨pedophiles¨who have had sex with children. However, landing on a sex offender registry (or even the prospect of landing on the registry) is a very real threat. Over the years, I have collected some very outlandish cases which have either landed someone on the registry or have at least made them potentially subject to placement on the registry. Some are sad, some are ludicrous, others leave you questioning the laws. However, it is important to keep in mind how easily one can be caught up in the registries. Think about that next time you look at a sex offender registry.

    Thus, in the tradition of another popular comedy skit, I present to you the following cases as “You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if…:” [Laugh Track NOT Included]


    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you ever paid for a prostitute in New York [unless, of course, your name is New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer]
    http://www.criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/sortab1.htm -- Penal Code 230.4-6

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you use a stolen credit card to hire a stripper in New York
    http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2007/12/13/was-legal-news-1/

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… You had sex with a teenager while you were a teen yourself [unless you happen to be Mark Lunsford's son] www.rickyslife.com
    http://sadlynormal.wordpress.com/2006/12/06/ut-teen-both-a-perpetrator-and-victim-of-sex-offense-presents-legal-puzzle/ (Pamela Mason, “Utah teen both a perpetrator and victim presents legal puzzle.” Salt Lake City Tribune, Dec. 12, 2006)

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you ever got drunk at a party and videotaped yourself having sex with your teenage girlfriend
    http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10972703

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you have ever given your kids too much information when giving “the birds and the bees” speech
    http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1112/smalley_ctv.html (Mallory Simon, “Woman prosecuted for giving her children too much information about sex.” Court TV, November 12, 2007)

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… a topless woman has ever talked you into "unwrapping your whopper" in a public park
    http://current.com/items/88801861_cops_use_topless_woman_to_lure_men_in_police_sting (original story taken down: Marcus Baram, “Topless Woman Lured Perverts in Sex Sting.” ABC News.com)

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… anyone has ever accused you of a sex crime in Ohio -- thanks to a “civil” registry, you don’t even need a criminal conviction, only a civil conviction [like O.J.]
    http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/109:5-4 - Ohio Chapter 109:5-4

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you ever participated in “slap butt day” in school
    http://www.590klbj.com/JeffWard/Story.aspx?ID=71743

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you allow your teenage daughter to have sex or don’t do enough to stop her from getting knocked up
    http://sexoffenderissues.blogspot.com/2007/11/ga-editorial-registry-without-reason.html

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you touched the knees of another man over 60 years ago
    http://www.reason.com/news/show/30272.html

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you have ever taken a picture of your child playing in the bathtub, or if you have bathed a baby in your tub
    http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2000/01/31/kincaid/index.html (James Kinkaid, “Is this child pornography?” salon.com, Jan. 30, 2000)

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you’ve ever simulated sex on the sidewalk
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/south_of_scotland/7079288.stm (“Man simulated sex act on pavement,” BBC News, Nov. 5, 2007)

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you had sex with a picnic table (note: why was the person who videotaped this person NOT charged with creating obscene material? Hm...)
    http://www.nbc24.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=150083

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if… you are a teen and you take pictures of yourself and send it to other teens
    http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=5995084&page=1 : Scott Michaels, “Teen Charged With Sending Nude Pics of Herself.” ABC News, Oct. 10, 2008
    http://sexoffenderresearch.blogspot.com/search/label/Sexting

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you have ever chatted with a teen online, even if you never planned to meet them [unless, of course, you're a senator and/or John Walsh's friend]
    www.changingthelaw.com

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you have oral sex with an intoxicated partner
    www.meganslaw.ca.gov/registration/offenses.aspx?lang=ENGLISH -- California Code 288A (I)

    -You might be ¨sex offender¨ if... you look at a child too long in Maine
    http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080406/NEWS/804060343/-
    1/NEWS01 -- Maine's "Visual Sexual Aggression" law

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you are caught urinating in public multiple times [courtesy of a blogger at Reddit]
    http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/14238442/detail.html

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you grab the arm of a 14 year old girl to chastise her for stepping in front of your moving car (assist to Ian for this gem)
    http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=45104

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you flirt with a girl in Egypt
    http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24684272-912,00.html?from=public_rs

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you had sex with a bicycle, bringing new meaning to the brand name "HUFFY" [thanks to Colin for the link]
    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/26/bike_incident/ or
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7098116.stm

    -You might be a ¨sex offender¨ if... you are a school teacher at a school that forgot to pay for anti-virus software [ironically enough, she'd have faced less time for sleeping with one of her students]
    http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/11/proof-porn-pop.html?cid=140574368#comment-
    140574368

    ----The Following is not an actual case, but the author poses a REALLY good point here:
    -You might be CONFUSED FOR a ¨sex offender¨ if... you leave your lights off and don't pass out candy at Halloween!
    http://freestudents.blogspot.com/2008/10/we-are-all-sex-offenders-now-happy.html -- One can’t ignore the damn holiday without possibly getting accused of being an offender. For years I’ve safely ignored the holiday. Now, what will the neighbors think? Will they assume
    that the light is off because a sex offender lives here?
     

    No Registries for ANY Class of People!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 24.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [083]
     
    Comments to this blog, specify the blog entry no. 0083, and send to Alex Marbury at the above email. I´ll forward to the person who wrote it.
    ---------
    I will not sugar coat my offense, or deny that it occurred, but I will say this, a one time lapse in judgement on my part with a promiscuous teenage girl does not make me a danger to society or some kind of monster, it makes me human and subject to all our frailties and indiscretions.

    After reading yet another story of a sex offender professing his innocence and complaining that he shouldn't have to register because he is not as bad as other sex offenders - this is about all I can take at this point!

    I am seriously considering giving up my efforts to help abolish these draconian laws, and make my hasty exit from this country. I
    have been considering this option for some time now, but thought I would stay and help to put out the fire. Well, as I see it, the fire is fear, and it is out of control, and the building it is consuming is our liberty, and at this point I believe it to be a lost cause unless we all stand together to abolish any type of registration, for any class of people.

    Without a united stand, I see no real future for myself in this country, and I strongly encourage others to follow my lead. It is only a matter of time before they come and drag us all off to special camps, innocent or not.

    I am amazed at how history repeats itself. I won't be a victim of another holocaust! Will you?
     

    Turn the Tables: Register Politicians!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 19.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [082]
     
    Refer in your comment to Blog No. 0082, and send to Alex Marbury at the above email, and I´ll forward it to the person who sent it in.
    ---------------------
    TURN THE TABLES ON THE POLITICIANS!

    In my opinion, perhaps it is time to turn the tables! How about a registry related to so called politicians?

    I'm sure they would love to see their name splashed all over hell´s half acre. Why, well let it be for or against the laws that decimate our kids by means of the so called sex laws. This site could detail what this or that politician is doing or has done good or bad. The site would allow and provide electors information that could determine if one votes for this or that person.

    In my opinion it is time to use their tactics to inform others of just how "great: they are.

    The registry could be set up...not by law, but rather by people with an interest in ensuring our laws are indeed there to help protect our kids. I'm appalled that even streaking people have been targeted! In our day we just laughed and wrote the matter off... Today we have politicians and so called well intentioned lawyers bent on one thing: to tarnish whomever they can, and at the same time pocket monies by ensuring that someone has to pay a lawyer to defend them. List DA's on the registry too! We have to ensure ourselves they are doing their job! Numbers play the game.. Number of convictions, number of charges... Something to impress us and let us assume they are doing the job they were elected to do.

    It´s time, in my opinion, to play their game: expose them and allow others to see its just a farce with good bucks. It has little or nothing to do with ensuring the safety of the public. It´s rather to protect their phoney-baloney jobs!
     

    FIGHTING THE FEAR FACTOR
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 17.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [081]
     
    Refer to Blog No. 0081 in your comments, and send to Alex at the above email address. I´ll send them on to the person who wrote this blog.
    -----------------

    FIGHTING THE FEAR FACTOR

    What we have discovered is that our media and government, especially local sheriffs etc, have put that FEAR syndrome in people. Basically, people fear the "unknown." I cannot tell you how many times I have discussed in a general conversation about this topic only to have changed peoples' thinking.

    It normally happens like this:

    person 1: wow! it's about time they put up this sign at the park that says that sex offenders are not legally allowed here. guess that's a GOOD thing. i don't want MY kids being messed with!

    person 2 (me): Oh? what exactly is a sex offender in your mind?

    person 1: i don't know. it's someone who messes with young children. they should all be kept in prison. (some even tell me they should be castrated or killed!)

    person 2 (me): what about murderers? are you ok with them being in the park?

    person 1: LONG PAUSE: hmmmm, well, NO NOT REALLY! (another long pause)

    person 2 (me): so why is it ok to ban the sex offender?

    person 1: because they hurt children.

    person 2 (me): don't murderers hurt children and adults? do we need to ban the park from everyone who has ever been arrested? do you know that there are degrees of EVERY crime. sometimes a sex offender is simply someone at a computer who has never met, talked with or hurt a child.

    person 1: OH! well in that case maybe they can limit the park to just those who hurt kids? i didn't know there were levels.

    the conversation usually continues on but it is SO easy to show someone what they failed to see before or were told NOT to see it due to the FEAR FACTOR. (they are not so blind as they who will not see?) we don't need to get on a defensive road or we look like fools. if we talk softly and carry a big stick.....
     

    Familes & Employers Learn to Respect upfront offenders
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 17.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [080]
     
    Comments to this blog should refer to blog no. 0080 and be sent to Alex Marbury at the above email address.


    Thinking of several recent letters from you let me address the family reaction: I have been helping an old friend who became a registered sex offender thanks to a hateful wife who made accusations. He spent 6 years in prison and I put him in my rental house, gave him an old truck and then found him another place to stay when I had to sell the house. My four adult kids reacted over the phone with things like: Mother are you crazy? Don't bring him around us. Maybe we should have you committed. etc. After two years they have modified their reactions a bit. Only one of them has ever met him since they all live out of state.

    This friend of mine went to look for a job. He saw a sign out in the front window of a veterinary clinic. He walked in, approached the owner, a middle aged woman, and almost the first thing he said was, "I am a registered sex offender." She replied, "I don't care, it doesn't matter to me." He got the job, has happily worked there for over two years, does extra work for some of the vets, etc. One day a new girl, just employed came in waving a copy of his registration around the work place. The boss fired her, told her to leave immediately. So I think if SO's are upfront about their registration, not sneaking around about it, they might be surprised that the employer would recognize an honest person they would like to employ. Worth a try.
     

    Not Every S.O. is a ¨Predator¨!
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 17.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [079]
     
    RESPONSE TO 0077, Not Every S.O. a Predator!
    This was sent by the brother of an rso who has seen up close how these laws are so harmful to so many who are indeed not predators at all. Please send comments to me, Alex Marbury, at the above email address and refer to Blogs 0077 and 0079.

    ---------------------------------------------------
    Thank you so much for fighting these ridiculous restrictions
    placed on low-level ¨sex offenders.¨ Society and our legal system has
    labeled each and every one of them "Pedators". Now society thinks
    every person convicted of a sex offense is a predator. I have a brother who was convicted of a sex offense (Incest), served 7 years in prison, has been out for seven years without any trouble, and each time a new law is enacted , it lessens his ability to make a living. He is retired military and a spent two tours in Viet Nam. If it wasn't for his retirement pay, he would be homeless. Society has just simpy been deceived to think every ¨sex offender¨ is a predator, (and seems just to) to wans to do like Htler and extinguish them off the face of the earth, using the law to take away their means of survival. Again, thank you for what you are doing.
     

    Media Sensationalize S.O. Hysteria to push product
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 16.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [078]
     
    Comments should refer to Blog. No. 0078 and be sent to the email address listed above.
    --------
    This is a much needed organization. I believe our media has
    used sex offender sensationalization to sell their product and created an hysteria that is rolling over offenders civil rights.
     

    ¨Don´t downplay abuse.¨
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 14.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [077]
     
    Comments about this blog should refer to Blog No. 0077 and be sent to Alex Marbury at the above email address.
    NOTE: This comment came anonymously, without even an email address for us to respond to. Normally we don´t post these, but we do want to air all views. RSOL does not, however, downplay abuse of any kind, certainly not against children. Unfortunately, while the clinical definition of a ¨pedophile¨ relates to pre-pubescent children, many people have been called by that name, and charged with crimes against ´children´ whose alleged acts were with older teens - and in some cases, even those in their 20s. This is the ¨confusion¨ in a term that has come literally to be demoized.
    Furthermore, ¨pedophiles¨ may or may not actually have sex with children. The term refers to an orientation, not to acts. Many ¨pedophiles¨ work hard NOT to offend. We have edited this accordingly.

    A comment has been posted at the bottom of this blog.

    --------------------------
    Don´t Downplay the Abuse:
    An assault does not have to be violent to be destructive. No-one is confused about pedophilia. (Some) ¨Pedophiles¨ molest children. How "gently" they do it does not change the horror and emotional trauma they cause. These people didn't accidentally sneeze on someone, they molested children, quite often children who trusted them.

    Do they need treatment? Yes. Should children be protected from them? Absolutely. Don't downplay the abuse.
    --------------------------
    Comment from Joe:
    I also do not want to downplay 'abuse'. However, a couple of thoughts:

    First, we have to clearly define the parameters of 'abuse' because it is currently being used to define soooo many activities - including ones that do not include physical assault or contact - that it is impossible to distinguish just how serious a matter under discussion actually is. And when that happens, and you're in the habit of applying the massive powers of the government's police power and the Criminal (and to a lesser extent Civil) Law, then we\'re all going to wind up playing with dynamite while we\'re sitting in the probable blast-zone.

    Second, we have to clearly and accurately understand the consequences of various types and levels of abuse. This is a tough one because the good-intention of 'advocacy' which has deformed journalism into repeating without care for truth the most egregious inaccuracies (because it's all 'in a good cause') has also infected the 'professional' communities of scholarship and research. And this is made worse by the explosion of cottage-industry \'experts\' who are little more than witch-doctors telling their customers what they want to hear.

    Third, what is good practice in one arena does not automatically translate into good practice in all other arenas. So where in a group-therapy or 12-step setting it is good to provide an accepting atmosphere for a confessant by 'accepting' and 'believing' his/her 'story'without an yskeptical or probing questioning, you canNOT thereby make such a principle a Rule of Evidence for Criminal and Civil courts.

    Fourth, a national legal commitment to eradicate all 'pain' and all 'damage' is going to wind up like a war abroad to eliminate all 'terrorism': it will get you only a militaristic police-state that cannot ever achieve its stated (and impossible to reach) objective. If we try to deploy the awesome police and criminal power of the government to eradicate 'pain' and 'danger' from the lives of any group, children included (bless them all!), then that will be like bringin a battleship into the small lagoon to protect the villagers: you will wreck the ship and the blast of its guns, even in the villagers' defense, will wreck the village and kill the villagers.

    A government police power, especially in a Republic, will and can only do just so much. Beyond that, to try to use it for an impossible objective, will simply get you a cowed citizenry and a police-state government.

    There has to be a balance or there can be no Constitutional Republic. That is not in any way to 'approve of' or 'support' those who bring danger and pain into the lives of others (and don't we all, in some way, at some time in our lives?), but simply to accept that governments cannot be trusted (as the Founders saw clearly) to 'do it all'. Indeed, with that much power, they will wind up turning on their own citizens (as the Founders saw).

    So in all these sex-offender-law matters, there is so much at stake, beyond the 'pain' and the 'danger' - there is a larger danger that we are letting the entire Constitutional ethos get chopped away, although what what seems to be and is a 'good' intent. These are the hard decisions that adult citizens (and adult and mature and responsible legislators and judges) must make.
     

    Texas Voices Radio - tune in!
    By Mary Sue Molnar <marysueintx@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 12.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [076]
     
    NOTE - THIS IS AN URGENT ITEM - posted as both blog and action item.

    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
     

    Son put in ¨the hole¨ for cashing paycheck
    By anonymous <alexm60@fastmail.fm>
    Posted on 12.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [075]
     
    Send comments, referring to Blog 0075, to the above email address and I will forward them to this mother and her son. Alex Marbury

    ---------------------------------
    This is actually addressed to all of the members of RSOL and concerning a little article I read from Margie Furlong. Basically saying that the PO's and/or officers really don't know what they are doing sometimes.

    My son is now on Work Release, but as I am sure all of you know there are so many restrictions that he has to follow to be allowed to do this. Anyway, where he is working right now, they direct deposit his pay checks directly into his checking account which he was allowed to open. He was not sure if he could even go into the bank to do anything he had to do. They do give you a form stating the things that you can and cannot do, but the form is not specific. Some of the things that he is not allowed to do, we all just take for granted. So he called his probation office and asked, "Am I allowed to go to my bank and do the transactions that I have to do?" The office response was, " Why are you calling and asking me that? My son's response, "Because I need to know what I can and cannot do". The office response was, "Yeah, go ahead and do what you have to do." End of conversation. My son took this as permission to go to the bank when he needed. How else would he get his money if his check is direct deposited? So about a week later, he went into the bank before going to work to withdraw some money for his daughter who is away at college. An off-duty officer saw him and reported him to the prison personnel.

    The next day, they came and got him and put him in what the call "the hole". Not knowing what was going on, my son was very upset. I had not heard from him in four days and he always calls me at least one time per day. So I called the prison. The only thing they would tell me was that he was somewhere he was not supposed to be and that was the end of the call. So I called his lawyer and asked him if he knew anything about this. He said "no", but would check into it. His lawyer did check into what was going on and the excuse was the probation office does not like inmates writing checks. But they don't mind getting their check from my son every week for $70 so he can have the priviledge of work release. Anyway, his lawyer took it to the judge, the judge immediately over-rode their decision and he was back to work the next day. Thank God the people at his work place liked him and held his job for him. But the kicker to this is that he got a huge write up in the prison and that may affect his parole. The prison told my son that if the probation office agreed that it was a miscommunication, then the write up would be dropped. However, the person that he talked to denied even having the conversation. I have dealt with this officer personally and he, just like the majority of them act like since they wear the uniform and the badge, it makes them God.

    My son is doing very well right now, but he is even afraid to stop and get gas now, wondering if the same thing won't happen. Anyway, I just wanted to share this with all of you. And also say that I am new to this group and I need any advice, any information that any of you can give me. Right now I am living in Maryland, but I will be moving to Pennsylvania within the next two months so my son will have an established place of residence when his parole comes up. I have been keeping up with all of the news, but when I get settled in PA, I will really start forming some kind of actions. Of course, that is if they don't make me give up my computer since my son will be living with me. SUCH A CROCK!!!!!!!!
    Peace to you all
    (name withheld - please send comments to alexm60@fastmail.fm, refer to Blog 0075)
     

    Thanks for signing the petition!
    By Renee Clevenger <reneeclevenger@yahoo.com>
    Posted on 12.11.2008
    Link to this blog entry: [