Author: FAC Contributor #1

About 2.7 million criminal records in Florida could soon be sealed to the public under legislation awaiting action from the governor. Defense attorneys love the idea, but public records advocates worry that it goes too far. People accused of a crime are considered innocent until proven guilty. But in this internet age, once someone is arrested, many have found themselves

An article, written by Social Science Analyst Thomas H. Cohen and Probation Administrator Michelle Spidell, came out yesterday on registrants on Federal Supervision. No surprise: those convicted of sex offenses in general scored lower on the Post Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA) and recidivated less frequently than those convicted of non-sex offenses. No surprise further:  not all sex offenders have the same

Words matter Ghastly. Abhorrent. Sick. Perverted. Despicable. Words any of us might use without a second thought when describing a person who sexually abuses children. But when a judge uses those words while sentencing a sex offender, it’s another matter altogether. That’s what a state appeals court ruled last week when it ordered a new sentencing hearing — and a

BLOOMINGTON — At the end of June, Brian Liska will mark the 20th anniversary of two life-changing milestones: the year he was convicted at 21 of sexually abusing a teenage girl, and two decades without an arrest for another sex offense. Liska spent 60 days in jail and served two years’ probation for aggravated criminal sexual abuse in 1997. His identity also was included

Marion County recently launched a campaign of posting warning signs at schools and visiting all the county’s registrants. The hysteria they are creating has prompted individuals to create their own signs. See the article below: ______ A Marion County woman wants everyone to know that a sexual predator lives in her neighborhood. Karin Ahrman put signs in her front lawn

When state officials finally released William Cubbage from the Iowa Mental Health Institute in 2010, they predicted he was too sick to hurt anyone again. But the octogenarian only became an even more notorious sex offender. Between 1987 and 2000, Cubbage was convicted in four separate cases of assault. Then, a year after his release, he molested a 95-year-old woman

As the U.S. and Australia regulate the passports of child sex offenders, critics say the measures violate rights. The days of overseas travel may soon be over for Australia’s convicted child sex offenders. On Tuesday, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she planned to introduce legislation that would cancel the passports of about 20,000 people on the national child sex offender

The Senate today, in a vote of 24 to 10, passed the Tiered Registry Bill (SB 421).  Prior to the vote, the bill’s author — Sen. Scott Wiener — explained why a tiered registry is necessary.  His views were supported by Sen. Nancy Skinner, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, as well as co-author Sen. Joel Anderson. During his presentation, Sen.

FAC will be co-sponsoring two screenings of the documentary, “Untouchable”. One in the Tampa area and One in Ft. Lauderdale. When the most powerful lobbyist in Florida discovers that the nanny has sexually abused his daughter, he harnesses his extraordinary political power to pass the toughest sex offender laws in the nation. UNTOUCHABLE chronicles his crusade, and its impact on

A U.S. Supreme Court win! Juan Esquivel-Quintana, a legal permanent resident of the U.S., was 20 when he had consensual sex with his 16-yearold girlfriend. For that he was convicted in California where the age of consent is 18; the same conduct would not be a crime in 43 other states. The feds considered the conviction a serious matter and