CA: Janice Bellucci challenges Fresno SORR
The Fresno Bee reports that ACSOL Attorney Janice Bellucci is suing Fresno County over their sex offender residency restriction that prohibits certain people from living within 3,000 feet of places like parks and schools. Fresno County is apparently the 40th municipality that has faced legal challenge over their ordinance and we all know how that worked out for them!
Go Janice!
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“The board believes that the rise in homelessness among sex offenders needs attention because it is so closely associated with an increased level of threat to community safety,” the state report says.
Ok, I have a problem with this kind of language. To say what the quote above says is the same as fear mongering. Why? Because it tells people that registered citizens WILL offend again if they are homeless.
How about taking a look back at how things were PRIOR to both Megan’s Law and Jessica’s Law? Before the 1990’s where did people with sex offenses live AFTER prison? Back in their own homes or new homes most likely. There were no residency restrictions back then so how about a statistic of how many of those people re-offended?
That should be the argument against these fairly new restrictions. If there were no issues living near a park or school prior to these child named laws, then why all of a sudden start making these restrictions?
But please, lawyers and everyone else, STOP making it sound as if the public is in MORE danger if registered people are homeless.
I expect that comment (“The board …”) is accurate. Personally, I’d think just about anyone is more dangerous and apt to commit a crime if he or she is homeless. Further, if I became homeless and the Registries were to blame in any way, I absolutely would intentionally harm people. On purpose. As often as I could. Just because.
ANY problems that the Registries cause me are going to be repaid in magnitudes. Just because.
There are studies that have compared recidivism before and after the Registries. They’ve all shown that Registries have protected no one. Just as anyone with a brain can fairly easily figure out.
“Residency restrictions” could never have even the tiniest shred of credibility unless they also included people who have shot people with guns and 100+ other crimes. No one with any sense supports such restrictions.
Message to Registry Supporters/Terrorists: Sic semper tyrannis. “Let’s see how you like it when the fighting is brought to you.”
Thank God for leaders like Janice Bellucci.
Thank you. Unfortunately, I can’t get the full article without signing in (subscribing). I was hoping to send the article to several of the men detained in one of the twenty civil commitment centers, throughout the U.S. Maybe another newspaper will pick it up and I can get the article there. Appreciate you responding.