News From the States
Alain Levesque, alain360@fastmail.fm
Dear friends,
Christmas is the moment of the year when everyone should rejoice and cultivate loving-kindness and compassion. Certainly, this can be a difficult task for a registered person: how can one rejoice when one is faced with the injustice of the laws and registries that affect the life of so many people? How can one find the strenght to cultivate positive feelings towards humanity when one is himself the prime target of stigmatization, demonization, and scapegoating? For all those reasons, Christmas can sometimes be a difficult period for registered people and their families.
But even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow (to quote Martin Luther King), there is still a lot to rejoice about, and even more to hope for: after years of tergiversation and division, our community is finally well-organized. People who are not directly affected by the sex-offender laws are starting to realize the insanity of such legislation, and more and more of them are joining our fight. You doubt that there is such people who get involved in our movement? Stop doubting: I myself am one of those people, and so is Paul Shannon and many others! Finally, let us not forget that we are making slow but substantial progress in many states. Our voice is getting heard more than ever before, and as we continue to recruit new members and spread all across the country, our future looks brighter than ever!
So let us take this time to truly rejoice, and to appreciate the road that we have travelled thus far. Certainly, there is still a long way to go, but one step at a time, we are getting there!
I wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New year.
And now, here are your news from the states.
Alain Levesque
KEY: Blue indicates a Current Report in this Issue
Alabama - State Organizer: Anthony
Alaska - Neighboring State Contact: < href="mailto:alain360@fastmail.fm">Alain
Alain is a temporary contact for Alaska. We are seeking a permanent State Organizer for this State
Arizona - State Organizer: Tina
Arkansas - State Organizer: Austin
California - Sate Organizer: Linda Gallagher
Colorado - State Organizer: Bennie
The group continues their near daily stakeout of the SOMB. When the SOMB doesn't have a scheduled committee or subcommittee meeting the women mostly attend other agencies.
I am putting together a booklet of stories from some of the mother's and others who are suffering collateral damage. Purpose of the booklet is to be distributed to legislators in Colorado. When completed I will upload the booklet to the RSOL website for other's to use.
I have gotten an attorney to see if I can discontinue my registration. This is still in progress.
We have a Colorado-Cure member on the SOMB Board, an advocate. Her name will not be published, but she has a PHD in Education and is a member of an education consulting firm. Her husband is an RSO.
I have changed the appearance of my website and am updating and adding more information particularly related to Colorado.
Bennie Walton
Connecticut - Neighboring State Contact: Howard and Rita
Delaware/a> - Neighboring Sate Contact: Thomas
District of Columbia - Neighboring Sate Contact: Patricia
Florida - State Organizer: Colette
Georgia - State Organizer: Kelly R Piercy
Our letter campaign is producing results as is our flier.
We chose a simple letter to introduce ourselves and the format has brought calls and emails ranging from immediate to 'I let this sit around for a week before contacting you.' You can download a sample copy of the letter here. We tired this last year and have discovered this much more simple version brings better results.
Following the lead of other states and the suggestion of one of the regular contributors to the e-Magazine, (see the Theologians Corner in last months's edition,) we downloaded the registry and reformatted it into a workable database. Members are chipping away at the 17,707 addresses 50 at a time. Amazingly, we already have a return ratio of over 10%, many of these being family members of registered persons..
We play things close to the vest here in Georgia. For a clue about coming news out of Georgia, go to http://www.gasorr.org/flier. Remember, this is super secret squirrel stuff, so mum's the word.
Guam - Neighboring Sate Organizer: Kelly R Piercy
I am establishing email contact with our members in Guam.
Hawaii - Neighboring Sate Contact: Kelly R Piercy
Idaho - Neighboring State Contact: Shelley
Illinois - State Organizer: Renate and Tonia
This has been one of the most difficult months I have ever experienced since joining RSOL. Normally, I write about the progress that we have made, letters that we have sent out to other SO's on the registry, letters to politicians, etc., but this month is different. While I do not have a lot of information to show progress in our state, I have learned some things about Illinois that are extremely discouraging.
Let me start off by saying that my son was recently released from prison. He has been evicted from his apartment solely based on his sex offender status. The results of what I have found out while trying to find him appropriate housing and employment are shocking. Out of 12 management companies (in our county alone), only 4 will help someone with this terrible label. Of those 4 companies, and out of approximately 200 properties, I have it narrowed to 7. Of those 7, parole approved 2. This was a month long process. Out of almost 100 applications and resumes sent out for employment, we have 2 responses: 1 referring my son to college and the other a denial letter due to his record.
I have met 4 other young men who have been branded with the sex offender label for consensual sex. I have sat with them and heard of their tragic stories and the events that have happened since their release. I met another mother of a so-called sex offender who has become a bitter person and no longer has any faith in our legal system. I have met with a counselor who told me that counseling was not ordered unless the person actually needs it - clearly an irresponsible remark. I have met a young man recently released from jail only to find himself homeless. I have frantically searched every homeless shelter in our state to find only 1 that will help him. I have listened to SOMB (Sex Offender Management Board) members try to figure out how to comply with a law (the Adam Walsh Act) that will not only change our current sex offender laws, but will reclassify sex offenders (giving some longer sentences than originally plead to) and begin to put juveniles on a public registry. I have spent the majority of this month either online or on the phone "trying" to help so-called sex offenders re-enter into society - clearly not an easy task.
On a positive note, a group of us from Illinois have begun putting our thoughts and suggestions together to fight these laws. We had our first conference call and all agreed that 2010 will be the year that "Illi-noise" will begin. We can no longer sit back and casually write a letter and cross our fingers for positive results. We can no longer silently watch as our laws change before our eyes without any public comment or suggestion. We can no longer watch the lives of our family members ruined forever because our lawmakers refuse to see that the registry is NOT working. We can no longer watch as society continues to believe that a public registry (along with all the restrictions) is actually helping protect our children (which was the original intent of the registry). It's time to step up and get involved. It's time to put aside fears of being noticed (and humiliated) and get involved. The time for change is now and 2010 will be OUR YEAR!
Merry Christmas to everyone (especially those who are forced to stay away from family members because of our laws) and I truly wish you ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Tonia
Indiana - State Organizer: Kimberly
Hi Everyone!
Wishing you all wonderful holidays and the best that the New Year can bring!
In Indiana we have been busy writing to Congressmen, Senators and Representatives.
We are a small group, but I believe we are making an impact. I have had the privilege of corresponding with the LSA on several Indiana members court cases. We have yet to receive any good news, but are at least getting our word out to them about the need for reform of our laws.
I have personally met with Congressman Dan Burton and presented him with many articles that support our efforts with RSOL.
I look forward to growing Indiana’s membership in the near future and furthering our efforts to meet with State Representatives.
Have a wonderful New Year!
Kim Indiana RSOL leader
Kansas - State Organizer: Michael
Kentucky - State Organizer: Jennifer
Louisiana - State Organizer: Debra
Maryland - State Organizer: Thomas
Massachusetts - State Organizer: Joel
Michigan - State Organizer: Francie
Hi there,
Well it has been a very busy month for me in Michigan. I was asked to do a radio interview with Ed Brayton of AM RADIO 1680 Public Reality WPRR about my personal story about my sons situation and how I would like to see the sex offender registry and laws reformed. It was an awesome interview and he is totally on board with wanting this thing reformed and thinks it is just barbaric. We were on the air about 20 minutes and even my son got to hear it in prison. It was really encouraging.
The link to his radio station and program is
http://www.publicrealityradio.org/listen.php
He then has founded a online paper called the Michigan Messenger and he had is reporter contact me and we had a 2 hour interview. I got consent from many of my Michigan contacts who are either on the SO List or has family on it so this reporter can contact them and use their real stories to show what is actually happening out there. It was awesome. Not sure when that will post yet online but will keep you posted.
That link is
http://michiganmessenger.com/
Also, I have 142 signatures on my online petition and I hope to reach my goal of 200 to send to the legislature with my proposal. That link is http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/reformsolawmich/index.html
So far so good! Things are destined to change.
Sincerely,
Francie Baldino
Michigan RSOL
Minnesota - State Organizer: Fima
Visit RSOL Minnesota for a plethora or valuable insights and links at http://estrinyefim.newsvine.com/
One more victim of very bad sex offender register law
Fima Fimovich
It has happened again: another child is dead. This is a great tragedy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/26/AR2009122601674.html
I read all the news reports and it seems everybody blames registered sex offenders and call for cracking down on them even more.
Nevertheless, the state's child protection laws are inadequate. The problem is again that there are too many people declared monsters, and real monsters are impossible to find among them. There are more than 700,000 official monsters or sex offenders in US according to a recent report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC.) How can law enforecement hope to supervise them all?
Law enforcement agencies have no money and no resources, and unthinking, unimaginative politicians continue to pass new sex offender registration laws - it seems they just vote and go to sleep, or got to sleep and then vote.
They have no understanding of their job and responsibility. Too many people want to be career politicians, it is these who are responsible for so many failed laws and a failed economy.
You can read about this offender who is responsible for child murder:
"Leggs, 30, is listed in the Maryland registry because of a third-degree sex offense conviction in 1998.
In Delaware, he is listed as a "high-risk" sex offender in connection with the rape of a minor in 2001. "
He is regarded as high risk. Police and lawmakers should concentrate on high risk offenders, and not spend resources checking on those with public indencency charges, teenager lovers, or Internet viruses victims. These people should not be on registry.
The sex offenders registry is a growing monster. Each year we have more and more registrants. Just in a very few short years we will have millions on the registry. The American government is very interested in very big sex offenders registry. Some predict that in the near future the sex offender registry will include most of sexually active men in the US. In that case, Tha US government will be responsible for all future tragedies and their laws will have only served to destroy the heart of a nation.
Mississippi - State Organizer: Dave
Dave is the temporary contact for Mississippi. We are seeking a State Organizer for this State.
Missouri - State Organizer: Dennis and Donna
December was a good month in Missouri. We attended our first Sex Offender Management board meeting in Jefferson City. It was successful in that our voice for reform was heard. We also requested a seat on the board as advocates for reform of the current laws.
We have written an article with further details in this edition of the RSOL e-Magazine. (click here)
After the first of the year, we will actively start our lobbying campaign when the General Assembly resumes in January.
Merry Christmas to all of our RSOL family and let's all hope and pray that 2010 be the year for reform.
Montana - Neighboring State Contact: Shelley
Shelley is the temporary contact for this State. We are currently seeking a State Organizer for this state.
Nebraska - Neighboring State Contact: Kyle
Nevada - State Organizer: Ruth
New Hampshire - State Organizer: Laurie
New Jersey - State Organizer: Terry
New Mexico - State Organizer: Alice and Lloyd
Citizens for Change New Mexico worked on finalizing legal formation, from incorporation to a bank account, as well as registering our lobbyists. We also developed a road map forward through 2010 that includes litigation and legislation. The only retributive justice bill for 2010 was killed in committee before the session, for the first time in NM history. A family support group was formed. A booth for the next legislative session was acquired,(jointly with CURE) and we are looking at both radio and TV programs for education opportunities. We also continue to net work with other advocacy groups Our last major event of the month was a first annual Christmas Eve Dinner that Alice raised funds for, and all were welcome. We are ready for the challenges of our second year in 2010!
New York - State Organizer: Howard and Rita
We in New York have had our first Family Support Group meeting in our home to welcome those whose family members or friends have been charged with or are serving time for possession of child pornography. Our group offers moral support and provides education to enact changes to current legislation. I am attaching our first Family Support News letter. We have provided Family Support Flyers to be distributed by court appointed counselors to gain new members.
Locally, much attention has been paid to cases involving child pornography and "thought crimes" and the disparities between federal and state sentencing practices. We have contacted the reporter and he has asked to meet with the families involved. We are also scheduling a meeting with the Federal Public Defenders who oppose these guidelines to gain allies.
Our goal is to continue a national campaign beginning in January to address these guidelines with Federal Representatives.
We have contacted FAMM to work with them on any current legislation that affects mandatory minimum sentencing.
We continue to contact our legislatures to oppose the AWA.
Howard and I want to thank everyone in the RSOL family for your continued hard work and dedication to changing sex offender laws. We look forward to working with everyone to continue our efforts throughout 2010.
To everyone who has been a mentor and support system for us, thank you.
Seasons Best,
Howard and Rita
North Carolina - State Organizer: Linda and Chris
Linda in NC
North Dakota - Contact Mandi at: Reform Sex Offender Laws - North Dakota
Ohio - State Organizer: James and Dolly
Oklahoma - State Organizer: Mary
Oregon - State Organizer: Shelley
Oregon Voices has officially become an Oregon nonprofit corporation. We have members of our group who are situated near our capitol which affords easy access to and participation in anything regarding the registry and this fight. Members of OV have recently attended a county re-entry council meeting in Portland and were able to develop rapport and provide input. We are in contact with the national H.I.R.E. group regarding advocacy for employment and reintegration of felons and RSOs. A spokesperson for H.I.R.E. indicated when queried that work regarding RSOs is becoming increasingly important to them as they see the dire circumstances and needs of so many.
Oregon Voices is expanding in number and will continue our efforts to thwart SORNA/AWA in Oregon. We anticipate great things in 2010.
Pennsylvania - State Organizer; Frank
We need more volunteers and concerned ex-offenders involved! DO NOT let them scare you into thinking that nothing can be done. Advocating on these issues is the best way in pro-actively and legally battling these people that are slowly destroying our rights.
The residency restriction battle has continued this past month in Allegheny County. Stay tuned to the latest details concerning this saga; however, as you are all aware of here in Pennsylvania, the Allegheny County Residency Restriction Ban has been declared unconstitutional, courtesy of the ACLU. The township has appealed this ruling and is continuing their beliefs that restrictions are necessary. I recommend writing letters to the township indicating how misguided their beliefs are.
In other news, I have established contact with the Pennsylvania Prison Society and an organization entitled Justice and Mercy. These organizations are well grounded and have been around for some time now. I am looking forward to working together with these organizations to accomplish our goals.
If anybody out there has additional PA News that is relevant to the cause, email me.
If you are an offender or a family member in need of assistance, or want to join the fight, email me immediately.
Puerto Rico - Neighboring State Contact: Kelly R Piercy
Rhode Island - Neighboring State Contact: Joel
South Carolina - State Organizer: Sandra
South Dakota - Neighboring State Contact: Kyle
Tennessee - State Organizer: David and Andrea
Texas - State Organizer: Mary Sue
Texas Voices members continue to work hard for much needed change.
Texas adds approximately 100 people to the registry every single week, we have not been in short supply of new members/supporters.
A few short months ago, our brochure stated the fact there are over 56,000 people listed on the Texas registry. That number has quickly grown to over 59,000!
The new year brings new challenges our way and we are preparing to face those challenges. Our Texas members and supporters will be meeting in January to discuss many important issues which we will face in the coming months.
Educating ourselves and the public is our goal for 2010.
God's blessing to all state organizers who work so hard for common sense laws.
Mary Sue
Utah - State Organizer: Mary
In both states, Utah and Wyoming, our RSOL Affiliates are finnaly starting to gain some momentum.
Utah is still a bit slower. My biggest project in Utah is helping a young lady understand the wide net of this madness. Her husband is self reporting to Seagoville Texas in February. It is the same prison my husband is in. Both of our husband"s have mental health issues. She is still in the early stages where an average American cannot accept this is actually happening in America! She doesn't know what to do with her anger and her dismay. I've been spending alot of time just listening and offering my compasion. She will be a good help to me once I can direct her anger into productive energy. Alex gave me a good idea about contacting the mental health association. My sister happens to be a pyscologist in SLC and will be able to help us find the right contact people. So... in Utah, that is our next direction...
My progress seems slow compared to other states, but every month brings more support and more awareness.
Mary - RSOL Utah
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone ~ Audrey Hepburn
Vermont - Neighboring State Contact: Laurie
Virginia - State Organizer: Temporary Contact - Alain levesque
Washington - State Organizer: Avendora
West Virginia - Neighboring State Contact: Jennifer
Wisconsin - State Organizer: Nathan
In Wyoming this month I sent letters to the state officials. Thanks to Rita in New York, she gave me a lot of advice and letter examples. My support is still slow in Wyoming but I have a registered offender who is willing to mail letters to other offenders, I sent him a letter of introduction and he is currently working on that. I have gained another supporter who has some web knowledge. Realistically with the holidays coming we will probably have a website up sometime in January.
Wyoming - Contact Mary: rsolwyoming@yahoo.com
In both states, Utah and Wyoming, our RSOL Affiliates are finnaly starting to gain some momentum.
n Wyoming, I have gained a supporter who is keeping me very accountable for action! Jeff is great! Since he is on the register (re-troactive) he has a difficult time finding work. He does alot of research during the day and writes alot of letters. I also have a woman who is becoming less and less afraid of speaking up. We have written to the Ohio Supreme Court about the AWA. We have talked and written letters to the Wyoming ACLU, but have not been satisfied with their answers. Jeff has written a letter to the United Nations. We are currently working on the up-coming legislative session. Some of our priority projects include writing to Jerry Spense, a defense attorney in Jackson Hole who is known through out the country for his unconventional approach to winning cases. Mr. Spense wears an old buckskin jacket with fringe into the court room and a pair of cowboy boots. He never loses. He also teaches his own trial college.
Mary - RSOL Wyoming
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone ~ Audrey Hepburn
The RSOL Correspondence Committee, e-Magazine - The Editor, The RSOL e-Magazine
We are looking for a News Editor. The job entails identifying news stories and legal decisions, formatting them for upload to the server, and passing the formatted information to the developer for the e-Magazine. Apply to the Editor. html/php skills not required
Contributions for the Theologian's Corner is actively sought. Please send submissions to the Editor.
As always, if you have something to say, this is a place to say it. Use our links on the Letters page to submit your comments, articles and reflections.
The RSOL Correspondence Committee, Minute Men - Editor in Chief, Minute Men
In the previous RSOL e-Magazine, readers were introduced to the new RSOL Correspondence Committee: The Minutemen, a group of volunteer men and women whose purpose is to combat the abundant myth and misinformation regarding sex offender issues. On the surface, this task, while tedious, seems to be fairly straightforward: review relevant information presented in research, analysis, and legal opinion (Researcher), seek articles, news, and other commentary contrary to that research (Monitors); and create clear, precise and factual comments to refute the myths and misinformation (Responder). Simple, yet extremely complex. A Google search of the words "sex offender" alone results in 2.4 million hits. Narrowing this search for only news items slims the results to a mere 5,682 hits. This magnitude of available information, much of which is misguided, along with continual influx of news items, proposed legislation and court decisions can overwhelm even the most discerning searcher. The overriding question becomes how any searcher, whether a formal member of the Minutemen or a general RSOL supporter, decides what news or commentary is worthy of valuable time and attention? To answer this question, let’s apply several tests.
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1. Does the article or commentary present information regarding critical issues outlined in the stated goals of RSOL? It behooves us to revisit these goals http://www.reformsexoffenderlaws.org/statement.php and analyze the list of 8 immediate actions calling for reform to sex offender laws. Key words or phrases in these 8 actions provide direction regarding issues that have been identified as key for national RSOL. Clearly there are easily identifiable topics to narrow the field of possibilities for those seeking news or commentary that misrepresent the facts: public registration policies, registration of minors, criminalization of teenage consensual sex, residency restrictions, civil commitment laws, and recidivism rates.
Focusing on the target issues enables the searcher to be selective, weeding through the plethora of topics that abound regarding sex offenses that may or may not be specifically addressed by RSOL goals. This approach is not to downplay other issues as not important or less relevant but to keep the searcher focused and aligned with RSOL goals.
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2. Does the news or commentary have broad application across the wide spectrum of the class of people labeled as sex offenders? Our work in advocacy for sex offenders and SO law reform must take on a much broader perspective than one individual’s struggle or plight with any singular issue. For example, searchers who have been impacted by residency restrictions (or any other single issue) may be more inclined to see news and commentary dealing with that issue as paramount over all others. While driven by personal experience, we must remove emotion and bias from the process and understand that what we are tackling are much deeper issues involving civil and human rights, born out of sheer ignorance of the facts and misguidance from the media and politicians. At any given moment in any day, a Google search for news regarding sex offenders results in thousands of reports of men and women being charged with sexual offenses, but while we should not ignore these cases, we must search for those pieces that broaden the perspective from individual cases to those that focus on national issues.
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3. Is fear/moral panic the basis for the news or commentary? It has been suggested that our nation is now in a state of moral panic over sexual offenses. Moral panics are in essence controversies that involve arguments and social tension at the heart of which are matters considered to be taboo. Any disagreement with the issues themselves or policies governing those issues is difficult at best. In our current state, the facts themselves have become blurred both intentionally and unintentionally by media and politicians who capitalize on the widespread, perceived threat posed by the group in question, i.e. sex offenders. A searcher should seek articles, news or commentary that plays upon the public’s fears and uses untruths and misinformation to sensationalize issues surrounding sexual offenses.
- 4. Is the source a respected, reliable media source, one of primary import, or is it a small voice, unlikely to be heard on any large scale? In Cervantes' The Man from La Mancha, the main character, Don Quixote, inadvertently attacks windmills he perceives to be ferocious giants. We can use that analogy to drive our searches for noteworthy news and commentary regarding sex offender issues. Are we seeking out "windmills" for our information or "ferocious giants"? The readership for ferocious giants will be much larger in volume and will provide a greater audience for refuting myth, misinformation, and deliberate deception regarding sex offender characteristics and issues.
Contact the