Rights of ex-convicts and others with criminal records to enjoy citizenship rights on completion of their sentences, especially in voting (see Electoral Issues site), in job-holding and general social acceptance. For further information, see Criminal Justice site.

HEADLINES

6/14/08

Deltona FL re-considers its very restrictive laws on residence of sex offenders, as courts are indicating laws may deprive felons of right to a place of residence

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-sexlaw1408jun14,0,4965785.story  

INTERNATIONAL

Websites

Analysis & views:

Books:

Video/Film:

Other Media:

NATIONAL

Websites:

The Sentencing Project: Felony Disenfranchisment: http://www.sentencingproject.org/issues_03.cfm

Barriers to People With Felony Convictions:  http://www.soros.org/initiatives/justice/links/barriers

Voting Rights for Ex-Felons:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0301/p08s03-comv.html

Analysis & views:

5/12/08

Fear of sexual predatories is moving some U.S. cities to demand background checks before licensing operators of ice cream trucks.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-05-11-ice-cream-vendors_N.htm  

1/8/08

Maine is moving to revamp its sex offender registry in response to legal challenges to the constitutionality of the system

http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=158586&zoneid=500  

10/18/07

Washington's Governor is advocating for greatly extended laws to allow police to track sex offenders living in the state's communities.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335774_adhahn18.html

2/20/07

Push in on in Maryland legislature for immediate restoration of voting rights for those finishing jail sentences, as opposed to the current 3-year waiting period.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.rights20feb20,0,3730093.story?coll=bal-local-headlines  

2/10/07

New Mexico man, who served 19 years on rape charges in Michigan and moved to the state in 2002, was harassed by civilians and his name and picture are put back on the state offender's list after Governor Richardson "reviews" his case.

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/feb/09/state-restores-siebers-sex-offender-site/

11/24/06

Maryland officials report major improvement in keeping track of those in the state on sex offender registry.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/crime/bal-md.co.offender24nov24,0,6459630.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

11/16/06

In Maryland, sex offender registry doesn't work for the homeless, who have no residence address at which to register.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.homeless16nov16,0,5960463.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

4/25/06

If buffer zones prohibited sex offenders living near concentrations of children don't work in protecting the children, what does?  Experts suggest education and prevention, teaching parents and children to recognize abuse tendencies among adults with "ordinary access" to children:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02042506.htm

4/22/06

Assassination of two sex offenders by a man with a vitriolic hatred of pedaphiles and a propensity for firearms leads Maine to re-assess its policy of having a public sex offender registry with easy access to vigilantes:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/04/22/maine_to_debate_registry_changes/  

4/18/06

Vigilante murder of two Maine sex offenders re-ignites debate over public disclosure of sex offender registry:

 http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/04/18/sex_crime_disclosure_questioned/

3/31/06

In a small victory for felons' voting rights, Washington state court rules that restoration is not contingent on paying any accumulated fines: http://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/3018/continued/342#continued

3/15/06

Rules restricting residency for sex offenders may be driving the problem underground and less responsive to social control: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/15/national/15offenders.html?th&emc=th

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FLORIDA:

STATEWIDE

Websites:

Analysis & views:

5/12/08

Florida legislator continues to push for a uniform state law to replace those of localities in dealing with places that sex offenders can and cannot live.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/may/12/me-sex-offender-rule-effort-lingers/  

3/28/08

Florida Department of Law Enforcement launches a website which will allow users to keep track of location of specific persons listed on sex offender registry, and also to give them e-mail alerts when someone from the registry moves into their neighborhood.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/032808/met_262502196.shtml

1/6/08

Juvenile sex offenders get no breaks in Florida as their identities and pictures are required to be posted on websites alongside those of adult offenders for 25 years.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-sexoffender0608jan06,0,5115561.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout  

10/2/07

With implementation of new legislation on October 1, Florida now has some of the toughest laws in the nation for dealing with sex offenders, with increased sentences and widened definition of actionable crimes.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtSTAT01100207.htm

8/5/07

New Florida law attempts to separate "pedophiles" on sex offender registry list from teenage lovers who engage in consensual sex.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-romeo0507aug05,0,5789147.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout  

4/18/06

Sensing political pay-dirt, Florida legislators prepare to consider a rash of bills to restrict the civil rights of sex offenders, including residential limitations and inability to obtain erectile dysfunction drugs: 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14365127.htm  

3/22/06

State lawmaker: giving Viagra to sexual predators is like "giving alcohol to an alcoholic": 

3/16/06

Florida legislators move to try to reduce backlog of applications for felon voter restoration: 

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14109564.htm

Other information sources:

FLORIDA LOCALITIES

Websites:

Analysis and views:

Deltona:

6/14/08

Deltona FL re-considers its very restrictive laws on residence of sex offenders, as courts are indicating laws may deprive felons of right to a place of residence

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-sexlaw1408jun14,0,4965785.story  

Miami:

2/4/08

Sex offenders excluded from residential areas under Miami-Dade County ordinance, are now evicted from a bridge under which they have squatted as they fail to find legal residences in the community.

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/04/State/Sex_offender_squatter.shtml  

Flagler Co.:

12/19/07

Flagler County Sheriff's maintaining of a website with warrants for fathers delinquent in child care payments is criticized by national organization for fathers' rights.

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD02121907.htm  

Stuart:

11/23/07

Neighbors of a drug and alcohol rehab center in Stuart are pressuring Martin County to force the center to close.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/tcoast/epaper/2007/11/23/m1b_mcsober_1123.html

Delray Beach:

11/16/07

Delray Beach, on south Florida's Atlantic beach, provides a welcoming haven for some 5000 recovering drug addicts, in what the New York Times calls the most "vibrant" rehabilitation community in the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/16/us/16recovery.html?hp

Jacksonville:

10/20/07

Jacksonville's advocacy group for ex-convicts, Ready4Work, receives high praise in Bill Clinton's new book on volunteering in America.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/102007/met_210104196.shtml  

Tampa:

10/9/07

Tampa's "Hyde Park rapist" from the 1980s, after having been determined not to be dangerous is released and scheduled to live in a mobile park home for sex offenders; but agencies sponsoring park residences says he is not "suited" to that facility, and he is sent back to confinement after 6 hours of freedom.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/oct/08/hyde-park-rapist-released-treatment-center/

Jacksonville;

6/24/07

Seminar for ex-felons on the restoration of their voting and other rights is conducted in Jacksonville.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/062407/met_179681361.shtml

Tampa:

2/22/07

City of Tampa and Hillsborough County change their focus on protecting children from sexual predators: from residential restrictions to establishing protection zones in public places where children congregate.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBGVLRJGYE.html  

Broward Co.:

11/30/06

Most cities in south Florida have enacted ordinances severely restricting residences of convicted sex offenders, even those who may have had consensual sex between themselves and another minor.

http://www.newtimesbpb.com/issues/current/news_toc.html  

Tampa:

11/9/06

YIMBY (yes in my backyard): Tampa Tribune publishes map and analysis showing that proposed ordinance extending to 2500 feet from schools, day care centers and parks the area of restricted residence of sexual predators would bar them from virtually the whole city, with the ironic exception of some of the most "posh" sections of the city.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGB6WWDMAUE.html

Daytona Beach:

4/24/06

Volusia and Flagler Counties enact laws restricting residency of sex offenders near facilities for children.  Effectiveness of such laws is questioned, especially since the majority of sex abuse cases in these counties involve alleged perpetrators who are "caretakers" of children:

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/Headlines/frtHEAD01042406.htm

Other information sources

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