Illinoisans working to make changes in their registries
NARSOL previously questioned whether the public conviction registries in Illinois could be on the brink of collapse as there were so many people required to register under its bursting registries while lacking the resources to maintain these various registries.
The Chicago 400 and the Illinois Voices for Reform (with Adele Nicholas serving as its Executive Director) are working toward changes through SB 2158.
The current laws are pushing people into homelessness, police stations, and prison.
Among other changes, SB 2158 would reduce residential banishment zones down to 250 feet and remove home daycares from the list of zones around which banishment zones are imposed.
When an apple is rotten what good does it do to cut out just part of the rotten spot? But this is a step in the right direction.
The old saying the more they get away with, the more they get away with. With each new law (Punishment) tweeks are made to try and not be noticed by the public but is felt by those who register. An example, I had to register one time once I got out of prison then had to update any changes as they occur. Then I had to register once a year, then twice and now four times a year.
I did not do anything wrong to gain these “Extra bonus” requirements and had no say in the matter. Just a matter of time until I will have to register once a month like showing up at the probation office. And this is not a woe is me moment as I am not alone in this battle for freedom, justice, and a chance to show and prove I am not a threat to the community. (Been 33 years since my incident with no other occurrences).
As many have stated, this is not about safety at all. The registries have created new jobs and massive fundings from the government. Who wants to give up a sweet stack of free money? If the registries go away, the controllers would have to go to therapy.
Don’t know how much it will help, but called the senator for illinois, to ask him to vote yes on reducing the restrictions.
Thank you.
I was born in Illinois on a military base. Do not remember any of it as we moved so much from base to base. I do remember the base in San Diego though. Dad was sent off to Vietnam.
Illinois has one of the most hideous of all provisions of any sex offender registry in the nation. Any person with an out-of-state conviction who is required to register in Illinois due to working there, being a student there, or spending 3 or more days there is deemed to be a “sexual predator.” This provision was declared unconstitutional for a single registrant by a federal court judge in Chicago but the judge did not strike the provision generally as it was an “as applied” challenge and there might have been a consent decree as well for the individual in question. A similar provision in Pennsylvania was struck down by the PA Supreme Court several years ago. Illinois requires those with out-of-state convictions that require registration in another state to register in Illinois, even if the underlying offense is not a crime there.
So there is just this extremely bizarre situation where if I were to go to Illinois for three days, I would be declared a sexual predator under their laws even though what I did was not a crime there because the age of consent is 17 and I was convicted in Florida of F.S. 794.05(1) as a result of consensual activity with a 17-year old in 1997, when I was 25 years old (literally more than half my life ago). And under the laws of Florida, upon returning home I could be declared a sexual predator here because Florida law says that a registrant declared a sexual predator under the laws of another state is a sexual predator in Florida. I might end up winning in court but it would require litigation and expense. It’s just Kafkaeseque. I checked and this provision is not being changed in the proposed bill.
Well here we go again. Volusia county changing their distance from 1000 feet to 1500 and also all parks in the county will now ban anyone over 18 going to parks unless they are escorting their own child, (NOT just sex offenders on this one.)
I saw this on Channel nine news in central florida.
https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/10/17/volusia-commissioner-pushes-for-new-rules-to-crack-down-on-sex-offenders/#:~:text=In%20establishing%20a%20sex%20offender%20and%20predator%20section%2C,law%20currently%20sets%20that%20figure%20at%201%2C000%20feet.
***Update on last night’s Volusia county ordinance hearing.
#1 The proposal to not allow anyone over 18 into parks and playgrounds without having a child was tossed out as their Attorney said that would be challenged in court.
#2 The 1000 feet rule being expanded to 1500 was shelved for another time as someone spoke up stating that would send everyone to the woods where they couldn’t be tracked. They will re-evaluate that in a future meeting.
My opinion, I think groups like FAC and lawyers challenging and suing cities, counties and states over these ordinances is starting to make a difference. Keep up the good work.
https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2023/10/18/volusia-county-sexual-predators-could-get-tougher-distance-requirement/71170587007/
“Dempsey raised concerns about creating a more dangerous situation with the ordinance by causing sex offenders and predators to become homeless”
Dempsey said that before the meeting, he and an attorney for the county spoke with a probation officer who deals with sexual offenders and predators to get a better understanding of the situation. The officer told them that he knew of only three landlords that rent to sexual offenders and predators in the county, and two would be affected under the new restrictions, Dempsey said.
“Dempsey said it “would effectively wipe out” the availability of housing on the west side of the county by eliminating the ability of those landlords to rent to sexual offenders and predators.”
So now there will be only ONE potential landlord who will rent to a person on the registry. How is this legal.
That is why they said they would re-address the ordinance in another meeting after speaking with legal counsel.
Where I live, there are about 200 people living in the woods. They run them off then they just build another camp somewhere else. I am sure many are ex felons who had nothing or nobody to rely on once released. One guy I talked to said he gets a check every month from the military but he cannot find a place to let him rent because of his charges.
And your comment speaks to why we need to spend as much or more effort getting with the legal teams for each county. If the county finds there is a legal issue they have to vote in a manner that does not violate the law… even if if is not a popular answer. Lets make sure the county legal teams are aware of what is and is not allowed.
If Florida could just adopt the SB 2158 bill (See description above) being proposed in Illinois, what a difference that would make for so many here if it passed. Hey, I can dream.