By Roger Lancaster . . . The criminal justice reform bill, hopefully dubbed the First Step Act, represents a real accomplishment — a positive development in otherwise conservative times. It is all the more remarkable that a reactionary president, who ran a tough-on-crime campaign, is now poised to sign the bill. But let’s not overstate matters. The bill essentially tweaks an otherwise…
Read MoreMonth: December 2018
Successful SO re-entry program in Texas in jeopardy from TX Parole Board
By Sandy . . . New Name Ministries, a faith-based organization, is headquartered in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The past fifteen years have seen the community safe residential re-entry program for sex offenders grow from a fledgling pioneer in sex offender re-entry to a well-respected organization recognized as experts in sex offender residential re-entry. Having served hundreds of former sexual…
Read MoreIt’s not too late!
Please help continue the fight against sex offender registries by making a generous contribution to NARSOL’s foundation and legal fund right now. With gifts from hundreds of registered citizens, their families, supporters and friends, your gift to Vivante Espero will sustain our efforts to educate the general public, challenge seriously bad laws, and continue growing the nation’s most important civil rights movement.…
Read MoreFilm-maker/Registrant looking for stories
My name is Matt and I was convicted of a sex offense in 2006. Some of you may know me already. I got caught up in the “non-nude” underage modeling websites back then and was arrested and convicted of downloading and distributing CP (even though the photos were all non-nude). I take FULL responsibility of my crime and feel remorse…
Read MoreFrom NARSOL to all: Happy New Year!
We wish for everyone a year filled with peace and love, hope and encouragement, a year in which your dreams come true. May 2019 bring that and more to you and all whom you hold dear.
Read MoreThanks to NARSOL volunteers for manning our holiday helpline
The holiday season, which is so loaded with high expectations and wishes and memories, can be stressful for anybody. But it can be especially challenging for persons required to register and for their loved ones. Supervision rules, housing and proximity restrictions, stigma, rejection… all can be major stressors at this time of year. NARSOL offered, for the first time, a fully…
Read MoreRM56: Has America turned the corner on CJ reform?
The First Step Act passed the senate this week. As a Christmas bonus, we cover the bill and its passage. We have been covering its passage (or stalling really) for the past month to finally reach this point. First Step Act passed the senate 87-12 https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/115-2018/s271 https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senate-overwhelmingly-backs-overhaul-of-criminal-justice-system/2018/12/18/89efffb6-02e7-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/12/19/18148413/first-step-act-senate-criminal-justice-reform-sweeping-overhaul https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2018/12/18/18140973/first-step-act-criminal-justice-reform-senate-congress Helpline available Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Reroll of the quote: Quote:…
Read MoreAnnouncement from AZ RSOL
Arizonans For Rational Sex Offense Laws will be hosting 2 booths on January 14, 2019 for the opening day of the legislative session at the Arizona State Capitol. We invite you to attend, as they will be interviewing bystanders with multiple choice surveys about their understanding of sex offenses and then presenting them with the facts. Their reactions at learning…
Read MoreJudge says Dayton, MN sexual offender housing restrictions must go
By Chris Serres . . . A Hennepin County judge has struck down a far-reaching ordinance in Dayton, Minn., that restricts where sex offenders can live, ruling that the measure is trumped by state law. The decision concerns a city ordinance that effectively barred convicted sex offenders from living anywhere in the city of Dayton, a semirural community of about 5,000 residents…
Read MoreFirst Step Act passes Senate; Cotton amendments rejected
By Nicholas Fandos . . . The Senate overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday the most substantial changes in a generation to the tough-on-crime prison and sentencing laws that ballooned the federal prison population and created a criminal justice system that many conservatives and liberals view as costly and unfair. The First Step Act would expand job training and other programming aimed at reducing…
Read More