CA: New Bill Could Change the Way Sex Offenders are Registered
Some sex offenders could soon lose their lifelong registration in the state of California. That’s if a new bill headed to the California Senate is signed into law.
“It really changes it drastically, which is not fair to us as parents and our community and keeping us safe,” said Mika Moulton, with Christopher’s Clubhouse.
As the law stands all sex offenders in the state are registered for life, no matter the severity of the crime. SB 421 seeks to establish a tiered registration system based on the type of offense a sex offender has committed. Moulton said this change will cost us.
“The sex offender registry began in 1947 but it went back to 1944. So now we have to go back to 1944 and see who is still around in California, what their crimes were, would they be in a tier 1 2 or 3. If they’re a tier 3 then they’re on for life but if they’re not where are they on that system. It’s an extensive process that’s going to have to happen,” Moulton said.
The three tiers are broken into years of registration, from 10 years to 20 and then a lifetime. But offenders may petition to request lower tiers.
“So if they’re on there for 10 years, after the first year of being on there they can petition to be taken off. They would go to the law enforcement and then they forward it to the district attorney’s office who writes it to be taken off. So someone who is a tier 1, which means possession of child porn or lewd acts with a child under the age of 14 or selling a minor for illegal acts, those are tier 1 offenses. That’s ridiculous,” Moulton said.
Parents we spoke with have mixed opinions on the bill.
“As a parent I lean toward the black ball them for life. But then as an adult and as a citizen, there are other things that they get labeled for where they aren’t a danger to society as a whole, maybe they got caught doing something they shouldn’t be doing,” said Julie Fleischman who lives in Rancho Mirage.
“I think that’s absolutely absurd. I think they should be on there for life, because once you do it once, you can do it again,” said Rochelle Martinez, a mother of two.
SB 421 is currently in the preliminary stages and Moulton wants to keep it that way.
“I felt it really important for me to travel up to Sacramento and try and speak to legislators. I’m trying really hard to get appointments and I’m having a difficult time with my own senator (Sen. Jeff Stone), as a constitute. He is on this Public Safety Committee and will vote on this on Tuesday, so I haven’t been able to talk to him yet,” Moulton said.
On Tuesday, the bill goes to the Public Safety Committee for a vote, but before then Moulton said she’s going to make her voice heard.
We reached out to Sen. Scott Weiner, the author of the bill, for comment but have not heard back.
SB 421 is a terrible bill in my opinion. It requires things like the Static 99 to be used. In the bill, it’s veiled under the name “SARATSO” tool. Other things terrible about this bill is that it might require a form of “CASOMB certified treatment,” even potentially for those who’ve lived many years successfully without committing any more crimes. “Treatment” will cost thousands.
Not incidentally, this bill was introduced by CASOMB (California Sex Offender Management Board). The co-chair of CASOMB is a man by the name of Tom Tobin. Tom Tobin happens to own the largest CASOMB certified treatment company: it is called Sharper Future. Sharper Future holds almost all Department of Corrections contracts, worth tens of millions.
I post this on ACSOL’s website, but it is conveniently censored. Obviously, the petition process of this bill is something that the attorneys want because it will mean more money for them.
Kind of sick of this whole tiered registry bill, especially when it’s loaded with pork and special interests. Tiered registry has not worked in other states, so why will it work in California?
This is also how SORNA pushed it’s way into existence. The story goes… Orrin Hatch (Senator from Utah) had a relationship with a company that made ankle bracelets for those on probation/parole. Needless to say that if SORNA became law (which it did), he would stand to benefit from the proceeds when it was used on SO’s, and there would be lots of them.
There is more to this story, but you have to take a look into the REAL reason a law is passed. There is ALWAYS some sort of benefit for the politician or lobbyist backing the bill.
Bottom line is that the whole sex offender registry has been a money maker and job saver from the very beginning. Sex offenders are no more risk to the public than is a drug dealer, armed home invader, murderer, DUI driver, etc., etc., etc. Recidivism rates prove that. It is easy to convince the public that a sex offender is an easy target because many of those ‘innocents’ who have committed sex offenses figure they will never get caught. It’s called the ‘thermodynamic effect’…’pass the heat’.
Thanks for replies Mike and Capt. Munsey. This bill reminds me a lot like Obamacare of Trumpcare. In theory they both might sound good to some folks; but behind their names lie (pun intended) many favors for special interests.
I have NOT lived in Florida since 2005 and YET they still USE me to PAD the numbers to increase the grand total of “sex offenders” to have a larger number to put fear into the heart of parents who rely (foolishly) in the state government to use actual FACTS and REAL numbers which they DO NOT DO!
I want off the list as I have not nor will I ever again live or even step foot in the conservative and backward state of Florida! I do NOT appreciate being USED for lining someone else’s pockets with money either.
Great real and sue the state. Use actual FACTS and real NUMBERS to FORCE change on those who use lies to justify this cruel and unusual punishment that has caused untold suffering to those subjected to this torture.