KY State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, standing in front of a place she shouldn't be |
The Shiitake-Worthy Blog
Blogroll of nominees for the Annual Shiitake Awards, which spotlights the dumbest "sex offender-related stories of the year." The Shiitake Awards is a project of Once Fallen. For a full description of the Shiitake Awards and its mission, or to learn how to submit a nominee, click on the "About the Shiitake Awards" tab. Articles on this site fall under Fair Use Doctrine (Copyright Act of 1976, 17 USC 107) for purposes related to news, information, and social commentary.
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Extremist KY State Senator Lindsey Tichenor denies Registered Persons the right to anonymous speech
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Louisiana House Bill 166 will bring the Eugenics Program back to the US
This is obviously not about anything but causing blatant harm to Persons Forced to Register.
https://legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1346582
AN ACT
To enact R.S. 14:46.5, relative to sex offenses; to provide for a penalty; and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1. R.S. 14:46.5 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
§46.5. Vasectomy procedure after conviction of a sex offense; additional penalty
7 In addition to any other penalties provided by law, any person who is convicted of a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541 shall be subject to a vasectomy procedure.
Sunday, March 3, 2024
Missouri House Bill 2885 will make teachers register as "sex offenders" If they accept trans kids' pronouns
HB2885's sponsor |
https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/hlrbillspdf/5874H.01I.pdf
Adds new subsection 566.400.
1. A person commits the offense of contributing to social transition if the person is acting in his or her official capacity as a teacher or school counselor and the person provides support, regardless of whether the support is material, information, or other resources to a child regarding social transition.
2. The offense of contributing to social transition is a class E felony.
3. As used in this section, the following terms mean:
(1) "Child", a person under eighteen years of age;
(2) "Social transition", the process by which an individual adopts the name, pronouns, and gender expression, such as clothing or haircuts, that match the individual's gender identity and not the gender assumed by the individual's sex at birth;
(3) "Teacher", as that term is defined in subdivisions (4), (5), and (7) of section 168.104.
589.414., subsection 5. Tier I sexual offenders, in addition to the requirements of subsections 1 to 4 of this section, shall report in person to the chief law enforcement official annually in the month of their birth to verify the information contained in their statement made pursuant to section 589.407. Tier I sexual offenders include...
(p) Contributing to social transition under section 566.400;
Saturday, March 2, 2024
I-DUH-HO State Rep. Bruce Skaug says the quiet part out loud in admitting tough-on-crime sanctions are retribution
I intended to post this the day after the last post but I got sidetracked. The only silver lining here is that we have another quote that proves the intent of passing such legislation is perpetuating punishment.
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article285399932.html
Idaho bill to extend death penalty unconstitutional, aims for US Supreme Court review
BY KEVIN FIXLER
UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2024 4:30 PM
House Bill 515 is designed to challenge decades of U.S. Supreme Court precedent that limited death sentences to defendants who commit murder, said Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, who co-sponsored the bill with Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle. With the current supermajority of conservative-leaning justices on the nation’s highest court, the hope is that the U.S. Supreme Court will review the Idaho bill if it becomes law and issue a decision that expands the eligibility for the death penalty.
“There is a deep, dark, dark side in our culture, and it’s our job to protect the children,” Skaug said Tuesday on the House floor. “There are times when things are so wicked that retribution is appropriate.”
Sunday, February 18, 2024
I-DUH-Ho State Rep. Josh Tanner wants the state to "be like FloriDUH"
Potato-Headed I-DUH-HO State Rep. Josh Tanner |
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article285399932.html
Idaho bill to extend death penalty unconstitutional, aims for US Supreme Court review
BY KEVIN FIXLER
UPDATED FEBRUARY 13, 2024 4:30 PM
Sentencing a person to death for non-fatal sexual offenses against a child is “flatly unconstitutional” under existing interpretations of the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment, said Robert Dunham, a Philadelphia-based attorney with more than 30 years of experience studying the death penalty. Conservative lawmakers across the U.S. are beginning to promulgate such bills in a direct call for the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its past rulings, he said...
The Idaho bill mirrors a law that took effect in Florida last year, when the governor sought to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s prior precedent. The first defendant to face the prospect of the new law reached a plea deal in exchange for life in prison without the chance of parole.
“Idaho needs to be like Florida and lead out in this and go, ‘We’re here to protect these kids,’ ” (Idaho State Rep. Josh) Tanner said Tuesday from the House floor. “At some point in time, we have to be able to say, ‘No, enough is enough,’ with … the most severe ones.”
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Democratic Alabama Representative Juandalynn Givan uses castration of Registered Persons law as a prop for abortion battle
There to promote the bill was State Rep. Kurt Wallace, who sponsored the bill, and a prosecutor in his district named CJ Robinson. Robinson in particular spouted many distorted statistics. While claiming people on the registry have a 90% recidivism rate, he admitted the registrants in his county have not been accused of a new sex crime.
Note also Robinson received far too much time to speak, while I was cut off before the two minute mark. I was disrespected by the old white men on that committee. Rep. Givan met me out in the hallway after the meeting, hugged me, thanked me for speaking out, and told me that there needs to be more folks like me speaking out and that we need to change the status quo in Momtgomery.
Fast forward to today, and this a completely different message than what was told to me in person. And to make matters worse, her bill is simply a Lauren Book-esque pro-abortion political stunt. I'm not your prop, Givan.
Alabama Democratic state Rep. Juandalynn Givan made good on her promise to increase penalties for sex offenders by introducing a bill to punish child rapists with castration.
Givan was clear that her proposal was connected to Alabama’s near-total ban on abortion. In a statement to Newsweek, Givan called the bill “simple,” and said if a young girl has been the victim of rape or incest, then a man found guilty of the crime should be forced to have a vasectomy or another form of castration.
“In recent years, the Legislature has passed laws restricting reproduction rights in the state and the penalties have been imposed only on women. It’s time for that to change,” Givan said. “The last time I checked a biology textbook, it takes a woman and a man to make a baby. Men in Alabama need to be held to the same level of responsibility as women.”
Following the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Alabama made all abortions illegal, regardless of stage of pregnancy, and with no exceptions for rape or incest. The state also took steps to give “preborn children” constitutional rights and is considering legislation that would allow women who terminate their pregnancies to be prosecuted for murder.
House Bill 80, as amended to include Givan’s suggested text, expands on a portion of Alabama’s abortion law that requires a child’s father to pay medical expenses associated with a pregnancy or an abortion if an abortion is necessary to preserve the health of a pregnant woman, unless the woman waives her right to collect the funds.
Under the revised language, a father required to pay for pregnancy or abortion expenses can petition the court for relief if he undergoes a vasectomy and submits proof to the court.
Despite Givan’s demand that it is “time for [ ] change,” castration of sex offenders is nothing new in the Yellowhammer State. The practice has been legal in Alabama for several years.
In 2019, Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, signed HB 379 into law, which requires anyone convicted of a sex offense against a person under age 13 to start chemical castration treatment at least a month prior to being released on parole and continue “until the court determines the treatment is no longer necessary.”
The same year, Divan challenged her legislative colleagues to do more to protect women after the story of “Jessica,” an adolescent girl who was repeatedly raped and impregnated by her uncle, made headlines. Though the man did serve prison time for a drug conviction, he sued Jessica upon his release and won the right to visit with the children.
“I think the Legislature is failing the women of Alabama,” Divan said at the time. “The justice system can do no more than what we enact into law.”
Other states, including California, Florida, Louisiana, and Wisconsin also have castration provisions in their laws. Proponents of forced castration argue it is a public safety measure; opponents say it has little value in reducing recidivism and raises serious ethical and constitutional concerns. A recent study of forced chemical castrations conducted in Korea concluded that the practice was largely ineffective in reducing recidivism.
Law&Crime reached out directly to Divan to clarify how, if at all, her proposal differs from the 2019 castration law, but did not receive a response.
Just days ago, Alabama became the first state to execute a prisoner via use of nitrogen hypoxia on Jan. 25 when it put Kenneth Eugene Smith to death for the 1988 killing of Elizabeth Sennett. Smith’s final execution occurred the third time Alabama attempted to inflict the death penalty on the 58-year-old. The Supreme Court declined to halt the execution despite Smith’s claim that the never-used method of inflicting death violated the Eighth Amendment.
Monday, February 5, 2024
Del City, OK, Ward 1 Councilman Michael Dean writes headscratching OpEd
Oklahoma is trying too hard to compete with FloriDUH for stupidest state in the country.
https://freepressokc.com/lets-not-have-to-say-never-again-again/
Let’s not have to say NEVER AGAIN – AGAIN
Free Press Guest
This Community Voices opinion piece was submitted by Del City Ward 1 Councilman Michael Dean:
The new Oklahoma County jail should be located where it is legal to build. This is not a not-in-my-backyard problem, it is a legal problem that will cost the county millions of dollars if ignored.
Oklahoman’s have responded to violent crimes in our state by taking a stand against violent criminals. After children were violently attacked and kidnapped from parks, schools, and campgrounds, we were sickened and cried out “NEVER AGAIN”. Our state government passed laws to help prevent similar crimes.
One law is known as the “Sex Offenders Registration Act”. It was separately placed in Title 57 that deals with Prisons and Reformatories (jails). The Sex Offenders Act applies to jails.
Title 57 Section 590.1E states that it is unlawful for an entity (County) to knowingly operate a structure (jail) in violation of this section. Section 590A states that it is unlawful to temporarily reside within a 2000-foot radius of a School Site, Park, Playground, or a Childcare facility. Convictions of this section result in fines and imprisonments.
County Jails incarcerate people accused of committing any type of crimes. Most will be released on bail before they are tried. A potential violent and or sex offender will be released from the jail at all hours, without transportation, into our park. This sets the stage for a potentially dangerous situation to occur.
The County will be both Criminally and Civilly liable for incarcerating sex offenders on this site. Unfortunately, it will take a victim and a jury for the county to finally understand that they are accountable under this law. Then, we will be forced to potentially build another new jail in a correct site to resolve additional litigation. Let’s protect our children in Trosper Park that abuts this jail site, two daycares within 500 feet, and our school children in their ballfields 700 feet away. Let’s not have to say NEVER AGAIN – AGAIN.
/s/Michael Dean, Del City Councilman Ward 1
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Autumn Barber-Seaborn of Panama City FL should do what she does best and stay at home
Just who the hell is Autumn Barber-Seaborn? according to her own Facebook profile, she just a "Christian" disabled (presumed mentallly) stay-at-home mom. So she sits on her butt all day watching "true crime" trash TV and now thinks she's an expert on Persons Forced to Register. If I had to guess, she's probably a QTard as well.
What the news report mentioning that cow does not mention is that she implies on her FB page that the person she is trying to get fired was somehow involved in the child's disappearance.
She's apparently not disabled enough to stay-at-home so maybe she should be at her local Jenny Craig instead of doing shitty TikTok videos in another state.
An online petition calling for the removal of a volunteer fire chief who is a convicted sex offender is gaining traction after the search for a missing child sparked debate in Barbour County...
The online petition at Change.org questions whether he should be in charge of a volunteer fire department.
"This man runs into fires to save people, I get that, but he is also a known pedophile," the petition states. "Should he be allowed to be a firefighter chief? Should he be able to have functions at his address with children parties with children? Should this be OK?"...
Someone with the Texasville Volunteer Fire Department told 1819 News they did not want to be identified but said the department was one of many on the scene searching for the child and that the chief was not the decision-maker that night. They also said everything was done professionally to bring the child home.
The mother of the child, who desperately posted online for help during the days of the search, said she was thankful that her son, who has autism, was brought home safely. She believes it was a freak accident and that he accidentally got out of the camper and wandered off, unable to find his way back home.
The Organization for Autism Research reports that wandering off or "elopement" is not uncommon in children with autism. Those with cognitive challenges have higher instances of wandering off than their peers.
While many celebrate the child's safe return, some concerned community members want the volunteer fire chief in nearby Texasville to leave his post. Seaborn said she attended a firefighter association meeting but was not allowed to speak because it was an officer election meeting, not a regular meeting.
"This is personal," Seaborn told 1819 News. "Personally, something has to be done because it has become a pandemic in our society now that people like this are allowed to have these sorts of roles. That is unacceptable."
Here, Barber-Seabor is implying her target was somehow involved in the child's disappearance. That is slander and she could be sued. |
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Washington State Senator Dan Griffey has a hard time believing a Registered Person has something valuable to say
This clown used to be a firefighter. Well, next time I need a brush fire pissed out, maybe I'll consult this loser. Otherwise, with the real issues, I'll stick with people that have at least two brain cells to rub together.
Washington House Republican Whip and volunteer firefighter Dan Griffey appeared unconvinced. Griffey, who serves on the state legislature’s justice and reentry committee, commented that he “doesn’t understand” a group that would advocate on behalf of sex offenders.
“What could you learn from a sex offender?” Griffey asked.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Oklahoma SB 1890 would prevent ALL Registered Persons from having ANY contact with minors whatsoever, including their own children!
OK SB 1890 would prevent a conviction for ANY registerable offense from having any kind of contact with anyone under age 18. So if you peed behind a dumpster, you now have to make sure the cashier at the fast food joint is over age 18 before you order. (A federal judge just struck down a similar law in Alabama.)
There are also provisions in this bill that prevents people from taking plea deals that don't require registration or to be removed from the registry if their criminal records are sealed. But the last part of this bill is particularly onerous.
https://legiscan.com/OK/text/SB1890/id/2888625
SECTION 2. NEW LAW
A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 590.3 of Title 57, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A person required to register under the provisions of the Sex Offenders Registration Act shall not be allowed to have any contact with a person under the age of eighteen (18) years, including the child of such offender.
Monday, January 22, 2024
Jason Rantz (-id), Small-time Conservaturd talk radio host, is triggered by a bill
I sent the WA Legislative committee assigned that bill a letter of support, too. Thanks for making me aware of it, Rantz-id!
Rantz: Democrats change name ‘sex offender’ to protect rapists’ feelings
Jan 21, 2024, 5:45 PM | Updated: Jan 22, 2024, 11:14 am
BY JASON RANTZ
The Jason Rantz Show, 3pm-7pm on KTTH
Democrats prioritized a new bill that demands “person-first” language to address how violent sex offenders are labeled. The intent is to stop defining a sex offender by his or her crime, so they can destigmatize them. It may not even be the most offensive piece of the legislation.
Among the prescribed reforms, HB 2177 changes the name of the Sex Offender Policy Board (SOPB). If passed, it will now be called the Sex Offense Policy Board. It gives the dubious impression that the board reviews focuses on sex offenses, and not the criminals who commit them. HB 2177 also adds a convicted sex offender to the SOPB, with proponents arguing the felon’s “lived experiences” is “invaluable.” It does not restrict the membership to level 1 sex offenders, those who are least likely to recommit a sex offense. The bill allows the most dangerous felons, Level 3 sex offenders, to join. The sex offender will serve alongside another new representative to the board: victims of sex crimes.
The SOPB was intended to offer sex offender management to keep the community safe. But it’s strayed far from its intent, instead focused on how to advocate for sex offenders.
Fighting for sex offenders ‘people who have committed a sex offense’
The SOPB legislation is spearheaded by State Rep. Tarra Simmons, a Democrat who served time for three felony convictions for possession of controlled substances and retail theft in 2011. She pushed to have a sex offender serve alongside sex offense victims and their advocates on the board.
“I think that we all do better when we have a diverse legislature. That’s why I’m here,” Simmons said at a House Community Safety, Justice, & Reentry hearing for the bill. “And I’m proud to be here. I think I bring some lived experience that was missing from here. And while some people may have a stigma for people who have committed a sex offense, I think they have invaluable information to share that can really guide this board.”
Brad Meryhew, who leads the SOPB, testified in favor of the move.
“And I think it brings to the board, that sort of reality check that we always need in public policy. And I welcome the opportunity to have those voices at the table and to do everything I can to facilitate their active participation in our process,” he said.
Republican State Rep. Dan Griffey was not supportive, arguing he doesn’t understand why the board would “advocate” for a sex offender. It’s also unclear how comfortable a victim would feel serving on a board that includes a convicted sex offender. And you’re not even supposed to use that term. Instead, a sex offender on the board is labeled a “representative with lived experience with incarceration for a sex offense.” It’s part of a “person-first” approach that is even extended to the board’s title.
Sanitizing the sex offender
During public testimony at the committee hearing, advocates like Whitney Hunt, a staff member who for the SOPB, defended the legislation. She effectively argued that the change in how sex offenders are discussed treats them equally to their victims. We’re supposed to want that?
“This bill incorporates recommendations the board has previously indicated its support, for regarding the use of person-first language,” she said. “This change aligns with best practices and research, and encompasses all the individuals involved and impacted by the sex offense management system, including victims.”
Traditionally, “person-first language” has been used to described the disabled so they’re not being defined by a disability. The National Institutes of Health says it’s about being more “respectful” of people. But it has grown to become a wordy self-parody. For example, instead of saying addict, it’s recommended you say, “Person who is in recovery from a substance use disorder.”
If it’s not a parody of wokeness, person-first language, in the context of sex offenders, has been used to downplay or whitewash crimes. The Radical Left tried to normalize the phrase “Minor-Attracted Persons” as a replacement for child molester or pedophile.
An article in Psychology Today best notes the intent of using person-first language for sex offenders. Dr. Elizabeth Letourneau says the language is so you’re not defining sex offenders “by a single attribute” and labeling “them based on the worst thing they’ve ever done.” The author says the person-first language allows us to “communicate more clearly and respectfully,” but not dismiss their crimes. It simply allows the public “to more accurately describe characteristics or behaviors while first recognizing these individuals as people.”
Democrats care an awful lot about sex offenders
Washington Democrats are pushing a campaign to destigmatize sex offenders who deserve stigma. They’re even trying to release dangerous pedophiles into the community.
The long-term plan is to depopulate prisons and McNeil Island with a Less Restrictive Alternative (LRA), an outpatient treatment program in a community setting. In 2021, Democrats passed legislation to more easily distribute conditionally-released sexually violent predators across the state. It even encourages predators to pursue LRAs. At the time, the prime sponsor, State Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island), said it’s in part about “people who are potentially dangerous, but not necessarily dangerous, back into communities where they can live safely and with their constitutional liberties protected.” The state now refers to sex offenders on McNeil Island as “residents.” It’s person-first language.
Last year, Democrats were caught trying to place a child rapist in an unsecured house near a spot where children congregate in the small city of Tenino. Only after pressure did the state relent. But the work is done with the assistance of the SOPB. In 2022, the SOPB recommended the state end a rule prohibiting LRAs from being placed within 500 feet of a childcare facility. It said that “There is no particular increase in risk associated with proximity to the location where individuals who have committed sexual offenses are housed.”
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Kentucky wants to expand statewide residency restrictions to 3000 feet
That is why the 3000 foot restrictions proposed in KY HB 67 (204) will only apply to those convicted after the law passes, but 3000 feet will tie Mississippi for longest restrictions in the US.
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/24RS/HB67/bill.pdf
HB 67
Summary: Amend KRS 17.545 to prohibit a registrant from residing within 3,000 feet of a high school, middle school, elementary school, preschool, publicly owned or leased playground, or licensed daycare facility; provide that the 3,000 feet restriction applies to any person who becomes a registrant after the effective date of this Act.
Sponsors Kim Banta, John Hodgson
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:
Section 1. KRS 17.545 is amended to read as follows:
(1) (a) 1. No registrant, as defined in KRS 17.500, shall reside within one thousand (1,000) feet of a high school, middle school, elementary school, preschool, publicly owned or leased playground, or licensed day care facility.[ The measurement shall be taken in a straight line from the nearest property line to the nearest property line of the registrant's place of residence.]
2. This paragraph shall apply to any person who became a registrant before the effective date of this Act.
(b) 1. No registrant, as defined in KRS 17.500, shall reside within three thousand (3,000) feet of a high school, middle school, elementary school, preschool, publicly owned or leased playground, or licensed day care facility.
(b) 2. This paragraph shall apply to any person who becomes a registrant after the effective date of this Act.
(c) The measurement required under this subsection shall be taken in a straight line from the nearest property line to the nearest property line of the registrant's place of residence.
...
(3) For purposes of this section:
(a) The registrant shall have the duty to ascertain whether any property listed in subsection (1) of this section is within:
1. One thousand (1,000) feet of the registrant's residence, if the person became a registrant before the effective date of this Act;
2. Three thousand (3,000) feet of the registrant's resident, if the person becomes a registrant after the effective date of this Act; and
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Wisconsin SB 874 will reinstate lifetime GPS for cases stemming from a single event if it passes
The fight against lifetime GPS monitoring in Wisconsin has been an ongoing battle.
The 7th Circuit (upheld the lifetime GPS in Belleau v. Wall, 811 F.3d 929, 937 (7th Cir. 2016), declaring that the statute did not violate the Ex Post Facto Clause of the Constitution because the monitoring was considered “prevention,” not “punishment.” WI Attorney General Brad Schimel had broadened the class of those subjected to lifetime GPS monitoring to include not just “recidivists” (those with 2 separate convictions), but more than one count even on the same offense, thus subjecting more to lifetime GPS.
A challenge to the broader provisions also failed. The 7th Circuit reaffirmed lifetime GPS in WI in the June 2022 ruling Braam v. Carr, No. 20-1059 (7th Cir. 2022). Applying the 4th Amendment’s reasonableness standard, the government’s interest in deterring recidivism by dangerous offenders outweighs the offenders’ diminished expectation of privacy. Any differences between the 2016 plaintiff & these plaintiffs are too immaterial to make the earlier holding inapplicable.
In State of Wisconsin v Muldrow, 2018 WI 52 (WI Sup Ct, 5/18/18), the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a challenge to lifetime GPS on the grounds it is a punishment & that the consequences of a guilty plea should have included a warning that lifetime GPS would be a part of the sentencing. The state upheld lower court rulings, adding, “The Applying the intent-effects test (i.e., the Martinez-Mendoza factors), we hold that neither the intent nor effect of lifetime GPS tracking is punitive. Consequently, Muldrow is not entitled to withdraw his plea because the circuit court was not required to inform him that his guilty plea would subject him to lifetime GPS tracking.”
At least for some, there was some good news.
In State v. Corey T. Rector, 2023 WI 41, 5/23/23, Rector pleaded to 5 counts of CP in a single case, his only conviction. The sentencing judge placed him on the SOR for 15 yrs. The state appealed on the grounds any two or more convictions of registry-eligible sex offenses trigger mandatory lifetime registry. The WI Sup Ct ruled (4-3) that Rector is not required to register for life from multiple convictions stemming from a singular case. While this case did not involve someone on lifetime GPS, GPS had been issued to those with multiple convictions for the same offense. The Capital Times of Madison WI (Cap Times) reported on 8/8/23 that WIDOC began removing GPS from RPs convicted of multiple charges for the same offense; they had reported 625 RPs not under WIDOC supervision was on GPS but were unsure how many of them the new policy would impact.
But now, the Wisconsin legislature wants to override the courts by rewriting the law to place those who benefitted from the Rector decision back on debilitating lifetime GPS monitoring. This is a costly and stupid decision from the Wisconsin legislature.
*****************
2023-2024 WISCONSIN SENATE BILL 874 (Note: I made a few abbreviations to save on space but is fully spelled out in the bill, otherwise coped verbatim.) 1/52024 - Introduced by Sen. Wimberger, Felzkowski, Jacque, James, Nass & Tomczyk, cosponsored by Representatives Born, Behnke, Binsfeld, Dallman, Dittrich, Donovan, Duchow, Goeben, Gundrum, Gustafson, Hurd, Maxey, Michalski, Moses, Murphy, Mursau, Nedweski, O'Connor, Rettinger, Schmidt, Summerfield, VanderMeer, Shankland & Melotik. Referred to Committee on Judiciary & Public Safety.
An Act to amend 301.45 (5) (b) 1., 301.45 (5m) (b) 3. & 301.46 (2m) (am) 1. & 2. of the statutes; relating to: counting convictions & findings for the purpose of the SO registry & notifications.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill codifies the attorney general opinion, OAG-02-17, regarding the interpretation of the statutory phrase “two or more separate occasions” as it relates to the SO registry & notification requirements.
Under current law, a person must register with WIDOC as a SO if he or she has been convicted of certain sex offenses or found not guilty of certain sex offenses by reason of mental disease or defect. The length of time that the person must register varies depending on the offense or the number of convictions or findings. A person generally must register until he or she dies if the person has on two or more separate occasions been convicted of a sex offense or found not guilty of a sex offense by reason of mental disease or defect.
Under current law, if a person committed a sex offense in another state & is required to register in WI due to moving here, working here, or going to school here, the person must register in WI for as long as he or she lives, works, or attends school in WI if the person has on two or more separate occasions been convicted of a sex offense or found not guilty of a sex offense by reason of mental disease or defect.
Under current law, when a person who is required to register as a SO is released into the community from confinement or other care, DOC or the Dept. of Health Services, whichever agency has authority over the registrant, must notify the police chief of the community, & the sheriff of the county, in which the registrant will be residing, employed, or attending school or through which the registrant will be traveling if the registrant has been, on two or more separate occasions, convicted of a sex offense or found not guilty of a sex offense by reason of mental disease or defect. A person who is the subject of such a notification is subject to lifetime global positioning system tracking.
The phrase “on two or more separate occasions” is not defined in current law. In OAG-02-17, the attorney general concluded that the phrase referred to multiple convictions, regardless of whether they were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint. This bill codifies the attorney general opinion & also applies it to findings of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Under the bill, when counting convictions or such findings for the purposes described above, each conviction or finding is counted separately even if they were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same complaint.
The bill is retroactive. Under the bill, DOC must identify persons who were released from the registry requirement or were not subject to the lifetime tracking requirement before the bill took effect but who would have been subject to the pertinent requirement had the bill been in effect. No later than 60 days after the bill takes effect, DOC must notify these persons that they must register as SOs or be subject to lifetime tracking. Under the bill, persons who are notified that they must register have 30 days after being notified to register or they are guilty of a Class H felony.
The people of the state of WI, represented in senate & assembly, do enact as follows:
(Note: Underlined words are ADDITIONS to the law. Words within the strikethrough are words REMOVED from the bill.)
Section 1. 301.45 (5) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
301.45(5)(b) 1. The person has, on 2 or more separate occasions, been convicted or two or more times, including convictions that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, for a sex offense or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law, or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense; has been found two or more times, including findings that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense, or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, a military law, a tribal law, or a law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense; or has been convicted one time for a sex offense or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law, or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense & has been found one time not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense, or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, a military law, a tribal law, or a law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense. A conviction or finding of not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect that has been reversed, set aside, or vacated is not a conviction or finding for purposes of determining counting the number of convictions or findings under this subdivision whether a person has been convicted on 2 or more separate occasions.
Section 2. 301.45 (5m) (b) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
15301.45 (5m) (b) 3. The person has, on 2 or more separate occasions, been convicted or two or more times, including convictions that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, for a sex offense or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law, or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense; has been found two or more times, including findings that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law, or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense; or has been convicted one time for a sex offense or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law, or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense & has been found one time not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense, or for a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of a federal law, military law, tribal law, or law of any state that is comparable to a sex offense. A conviction or finding of not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect that has been reversed, set aside, or vacated is not a conviction or finding for purposes of determining counting the number of convictions or findings under this subdivision whether a person has been convicted on two or more separate occasions.
Section 3. 301.46 (2m) (am) 1. & 2. of the statutes are amended to read: 301.46 (2m) (am) 1. If an agency with jurisdiction confines a person under s.301.046, provides a person entering the intensive sanctions program under s.301.048 with a sanction other than a placement in a Type 1 prison or a jail, or releases a person from confinement in a state correctional institution or institutional care, and the agency with jurisdiction shall notify the police chief of any community & the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed, or attending school & through or to which the person will be regularly traveling if the person has been found to be a sexually violent person under ch. 980 or has, on two or more separate occasions, been convicted or two or more times, including convictions that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, for a sex offense or for a violation of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense; has been found two or more times, including findings that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense or for a violation of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense, the agency with jurisdiction shall notify the police chief of any community & the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed, or attending school & through or to which the person will be regularly traveling; or has been convicted one time for a sex offense or for a violation of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense & has been found one time not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a sex offense or for a violation of a law of this state that is comparable to a sex offense. Notification under this subdivision is in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) & to any other notification that an agency with jurisdiction is authorized to provide.
2. If a person described under s. 301.45 (1g) (dh), (dj), (f), or (g) becomes a resident of this state from another state under s. 304.16, becomes a student in this state, becomes employed or begins carrying on a vocation in this state, or becomes subject to a sanction in this state other than a placement in a Type 1 prison or a jail, and the Dept. shall notify the police chief of any community & the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed, carrying on a vocation, or attending school if the person has, on 2 or more separate occasions, been convicted or two or more times, including convictions that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, for a violation of the law of another jurisdiction that is comparable to a sex offense; has been found two or more times, including findings that were part of the same proceeding, occurred on the same date, or were included in the same criminal complaint, not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation of the law of another jurisdiction that is comparable to a sex offense , the Dept. shall notify the police chief of any community & the sheriff of any county in which the person will be residing, employed or carrying on a vocation, or attending school; or has been one time convicted for a violation of the law of another jurisdiction that is comparable to a sex offense & has been found one time not guilty or not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect for a violation of the law of another jurisdiction that is comparable to a sex offense. Notification under this subdivision is in addition to providing access to information under sub. (2) or to any other notification that the Dept. is authorized to provide.
Section 4. Nonstatutory provisions. (To save on space, I omitted this part, it just says WIDOC must notify every SO in 60 says on whether this applies to them or not.)
Section 5. Initial applicability. (1) The treatment of ss. 301.45 (5) (b) 1. & (5m) (b) 3. & 301.46 (2m) (am) 1. & 2. first applies to the counting of convictions or findings that occurred prior to the effective date of this subsection for the purposes of determining if a person has been convicted or found not guilty on 2 or more separate occasions.
Sunday, January 7, 2024
Nassau Co FL Sheriff Bill Leeper is the lead clown at the Fail Festival
Bill Leeper the Nassau Creeper is no stranger to the Shiitake Awards. Bill Leeper the Nassau Creeper already won a Keystone Kop of the Year in 2022 and almost won one back in 2015.
Operation Fail Festival nets unregistered sex offenders in Nassau County
By Julia Roberts on Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper announced Operation Fail Festival, which resulted in the arrest of several people in the county for their failure to register, or re-register, as a sexual offender.
“Several of these sick individuals … failed to comply with sexual offender requirements. Many of them were required to update their addresses and re-register, but failed to do so,” Leeper said. “Failure of a sexual offender or predator to register as required by law is a felony. Eight of the nine individuals were arrested.”
Leeper said federal and state laws require sexual offenders or predators to register in all jurisdictions in which they live, work or go to school. Sexual offenders or predators must complete a registration form at their county sheriff’s office either twice a year or four times a year, depending on their offense. The registration is required for the duration of their life. All qualifying sexual offenders and predators and juvenile sexual offenders will be listed on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s public registry website.
...
“It is important that we keep track of these individuals for the safety of our community. Whenever a child goes missing, the first thing we do is check the homes of any nearby predators,” Leeper said. “Most importantly, we want to know where these individuals live so we can keep our children safe.”
The sheriff went on to advise parents to keep tabs on their children’s contacts, both online and in person.
“I also want to remind parents to monitor what their child is doing on the internet, social media sites and especially who they may be talking to,” Leeper said. “There are evil people in this world who would like to do bad things to young children, so please do everything you can to keep these monsters away from yours.”
Monday, December 18, 2023
Democrat NJ Gov. Phil Murphy sides with Republicans in vetoing bill for mental health diversion programs because it may help a Person Forced to Register
Here is Phil(-led with BS) Murphy illustrating how much intelligence was used in this decision |
I think it is odd how people like to say everyone on the registry needs professional help but they make it an exclusion to a program that does just that.
"Governor, in veto, recommends barring sex offenders from mental health diversion programs"
BY: DANA DIFILIPPO - NOVEMBER 29, 2023 11:36 AM
Gov. Phil Murphy this week conditionally vetoed a bill that would expand an intervention program to divert some nonviolent criminal defendants to mental health programs, with Murphy recommending lawmakers bar people arrested for sex offenses subject to Megan’s Law.
Lawmakers narrowly passed the bill in June along party lines, with Republicans warning it would push violent offenders onto the street.
Murphy issued a statement on Monday supporting the spirit of the bill, saying: “Mental health issues should not be unnecessarily criminalized.”
“This bill ensures that individuals whose criminal behaviors are a result of mental disorders are provided therapeutic services while still being held accountable for their actions,” Murphy wrote.
But he objected to its language that excludes only first-degree crimes from the program, leaving second-degree and violent crimes, including offenses that trigger Megan’s Law, “presumptively ineligible, subject to prosecutor review.” He recommended lawmakers revise the bill to make Megan’s Law-triggering crimes “categorically ineligible.”
Murphy noted that bill sponsor Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) requested the change to the bill.
“If in fact there was any appearance of a loophole, this secures the intent of the bill,” Ruiz told the New Jersey Monitor.
The legislation would expand mental health diversion programs that exist in five New Jersey counties to three new court jurisdictions. The programs function like recovery court, allowing criminal offenders with mental health disorders to avoid jail time and, if they graduate from the program, have their charges expunged.
Monday, November 27, 2023
Republican California Congressman Darrell Issa (-Clown) wants to eliminate health benefits for some registrants and expand the AWA
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Need an private investigator with hilariously bad takes? Better call Bill Warner of Sarasota FloriDUH
The Shiitake Awards Nominees Blog is back and I have some catching up to do.
On Saturday, September 30, 2023, Charlotte Sena went missing from a New York State park. At some point in the search for the missing person, WNYT 13 reported that, “Investigators are now interviewing sex offenders in three counties.” Internet “sleuths” also joined in the fray, with a private investigator named Bill Warner took to Reddit (the subreddit "r/CharlotteSena") to push the theory that a person listed on the sex offense registry was responsible, without any evidence to the contrary. Guess which state he's from? Hint, the last syllable is -DUH.
On the Reddit post entitled, “18 Violent Sex Offenders Live Just 6 Miles from Moreau Lake State Park where Charlotte Sena went missing”, Warner posted, “Some of these sex offender goons living near Moreau State Park where Charlotte Sena was abducted are 'Risk level: 3 - High Risk of Re-offense' this NY State classification is equal to a Predator classification for sex offenders in Florida, bad news guys who did hard time in prison, worst of the worst!” Warner then proceeded to stir up an Internet mob:
After posting the names and the registry information of Registrants living within a few miles of the park on his (poorly designed) Google blog, Warner added, “THIS A BAD BUNCH OF DUDES LIVING RIGHT NEXT TO THE STATE PARK, YOU JUST KNOW THEY ARE OVER THERE TO THE PARK EVERY DAY THAT THEY CAN.” On Warner’s personal blog, he posts the names, personal information, and photos of Registrants in the area and includes statements like “Sex offenders never cured (sic).”
Charlotte Sena was found alive after police raided the home of a suspect. Despite early reports from the news media that the suspected kidnapper had a “sexual abuse criminal history,” the suspect was NOT on the sex offense registry and the media had to update their reporting. The Times-Union later reported that while the suspect had been questioned about a familial offense, he was never charged with a sex offense. The suspect had what was described as a “minor criminal history,” including a DWI, assault-related offense and harassment.
Some people seemed disappointed that a person on the registry. On Bill Warner’s aforementioned blog post, Warner noted, “Nine year old Charlotte Sena has been found safe but violent sex offenders are out there and your children are at risk.”
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Ryan Bullard the Crestview Dullard openly admits intent of ordinance is to harass & intimidate Persons Forced to Register
Monday, September 11, 2023
Colorado vigilante Ross Swirling busted for doing the very things he accused others of doing
The police aren't much better, actually, since they spend too much time entrapping folks on the Internet rather than solving real crimes.
There are no winners in this story, only losers.
I suppose if there's a moral to this story, it is that those who bark the loudest have the most to hide. ALL vigilantes should be investigated.
Activist Musician Ross Swirling Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Assault on a Minor
Benjamin Neufeld, Westworld, 9/6/2023
Ross Swirling, a political activist and onetime prominent member of the local punk music scene, has spent years using the internet to call out alleged perpetrators of sexual assault — and anyone who associates with them. But this summer, Swirling himself was convicted of attempted sexual assault on a minor, and a condition of his probation sentence had him kicked off the internet.
Swirling is the frontman for Denver-based punk band Allout Helter — which last released music in 2017 with the LP The Notion of Control; the band's social media accounts are currently offline. A 2018 Westword article outlined some of Swirling's efforts to cancel shows by artists he deemed politically problematic: He helped get an April 1, 2018, Globe Hall gig by the Norwegian band Taake shut down in protest of its anti-Muslim lyrics; later that year, he pushed for Lost Lake to cancel a show by Elite Fitrea because of the supposed similarity of the band's logo to a swastika. Other musicians and members of the local music scene also report being harassed by Swirling through the years.
On September 23, 2022, Swirling began sending messages to a person he thought was a fourteen-year-old girl named Izzy, according to a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office arrest affidavit. Izzy was actually undercover investigator Rachael Impson, who messaged back and forth with Swirling over the course of the next five days.
Earlier that day, Impson had created a profile on an internet chatroom that allows users to communicate anonymously. Her profile displayed her interests as "Denver" and "Colorado," but offered no further information. When Swirling initiated the conversation at approximately 6:16 p.m., he asked Izzy's age.
"She wrote, '14.' The user told her he was '39,'" according to the affidavit. Later that evening, Swirling messaged Izzy again: "Maybe we could link up and hang out." Izzy told him she was "down" and asked what Swirling liked to do. He replied, "Well, we'll smoke duh/Haha/We can listen to music and relax."
Over the next few days, Swirling sent several photos of himself. "Izzy commented that she liked Ross' tattoos and, he told her he has 'six.' He also wrote, 'If you ask nice, I'll show you my other tattoos,'" the affidavit states.
On September 27, "Ross asked Izzy what she was wearing that day," the affidavit continues. "She told him she was wearing layers since she does not like the cold. Ross told Izzy, 'You should just come here, I'll keep you warm (winky face emoji).' Ross further wrote Izzy would not need all her layers and he would help take them off and, 'Start rubbing my hands up and down your body to warm you up.' Ross told Izzy if she 'wiggl[ed] that butt back up against me youd feel me get hard.'"
Later that day, Swirling sent Izzy a photo and video that included "his naked penis," the affidavit notes.
On September 28, the pair made a plan to meet at the McDonald's at 7509 South Alkire Street in Littleton during Izzy's lunch break from school. "I know the age difference is, um, pretty big," Swirling wrote, "so im glad you didn't just tell me to fuck off lolol."
Instead of Izzy, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigators were waiting in the McDonald's parking lot, and they arrested Swirling at 11:06 a.m. that day. He was charged with internet luring of a child with intent to exploit, internet sexual exploitation of a child, and criminal attempt sexual assault on a child-victim under fifteen, according to Brionna Boatright, spokesperson for the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.
During the arrest, "Ross was visibly upset and made statements he was going to die and his life was over," the affidavit states. It adds that Swirling made comments about not wanting to be like his father, and the investigators later learned from a 2013 FBI press release that a man named Scott R. Swirling, Ross Swirling's possible father, had gone to prison after traveling to Washington, D.C., to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor.
A JCSO investigator subsequently obtained a search warrant for Swirling's cell phone. According to the case report, Swirling had been actively communicating with one other user on the social media app that he'd used to talk with Izzy.
"The user 'Ryan' sent Ross 12 photos of young females possibly between the ages of 10 to 14 years old. The pictures were not of child sex abuse material, however, some were sexual in nature. For example, one photo showed a young female wearing a fitted shirt and underwear," states the case report. "Ross wrote the following comments: Mmmm fuck yes/ Those puffy little nipples (heart eyes emoji) [//] Omg that last girl/ Lift up that dress and pound that pussy [//] Imagine those eyes looking up at you with your cock in her mouth [//] Omg that's so hot/ The ageplay is kinky af."
In June, Swirling pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit sexual assault on a child, and the other counts were dismissed. The judge sentenced Swirling to two years of sex offender intensive supervised probation; he is now on the Colorado Bureau of Investigation sex offender registry.
Over the past two decades, Jefferson County has earned a reputation for keeping an eye out for predators online. So far this year, JCSO has arrested 33 adults in connection with internet cases, according to Sergeant Mike Harris; 46 were arrested in 2022, including Swirling.
Since 2005, JCSO has run a unit called CHEEZO, aka the Child Sex Offender Internet Investigations unit. "The CHEEZO’s intent is keeping children safe," Harris says. "We do this by portraying ourselves as underage teens in various social media apps and sites. Our intent, if an adult is using these same apps and sites to lure a child for sexual purposes, [is to] identify them and arrest them before they actually get to a real child/teen. The CHEEZO team also educates and presents to numerous schools throughout the school year."
He continues, "We have learned and know from experience, adults who have a sexual deviance for underage children go to areas on the internet/social media where children/teens go. We frequent social media apps and sites which are frequented by children/teens. So many of these sites are not policed, and adults frequent these same sites. The majority of the time when a communication begins with our teen persona and the individual learns we are eleven, twelve, fourteen or under eighteen, they immediately cease communicating with our teen persona."
But not Swirling.
Although Swirling had been arrested twice before in Colorado, those charges both involved his political activism. In 2015, he was arrested for property damage and simple assault, but both charges were later dismissed. In 2021, he was arrested again for obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest — but the charges were never tried in court.
This time, though, he was convicted. And as people in the music community learned of Swirling's guilty plea, they began sharing a screenshot of his entry in the sex offender registry, along with concerns of how he had targeted some musicians.
One of Swirling's primary targets was Teenage Bottle Rocket, a punk band from Laramie, Wyoming. Swirling's wife at the time shared allegations about a high-profile punk band from Laramie on a July 21, 2021, edition of the podcast enough, which "aims to shine light into the darkened corners of the music industry," according to its Spotify description. At the time, she identified herself by her first name and said she was the leader of the Denver Chapter of Feed the Scene, a Baltimore-based nonprofit that provides food and a place to stay for touring bands.
That October, Teenage Bottle Rocket's show at the Turf Club, a venue in St. Paul, Minnesota, was canceled because of the podcast episode, according to an article on alt-news website Racket that drew a specific connection between the allegations made on the podcast episode and Teenage Bottle Rocket. Swirling often shared links to that article.
Swirling also went after the band's booking agent, Toby Jeg of Atomic Music Group, simply because he works with Teenage Bottle Rocket, according to Jeg. Swirling contacted the agency, "trying to get AMG to drop the band and specifically attacking me," Jeg says, adding that Swirling would sometimes contact venues directly and say that a bandmember was a "rapist."
"I would not be working with or booking anybody that was involved in any sort of criminal activity like that," Jeg says. "It's completely false."
Des Garcia, a former tour manager who worked with other bands targeted by Swirling, says that his actions were "abusive," and calls the charges leveled at her bands "absolutely false."
She and Jeg say that Swirling would even go after bands that refused to publicly denounce Teenage Bottle Rocket — including bands with which Garcia worked.
"I'm a sexual assault survivor myself," Garcia says. "I'm not trying to discount that someone who is a victim is going to see this and feel attacked. I would never want to do that to someone, because I'm that person, too; I'm a survivor. I was a person that was an internet Karen once; I definitely rallied behind some shit that I'm mostly ashamed of now. ... I was that person, so I understand that most people that are jumping on this bandwagon just want to help and give a voice to people who they feel have been abused. But what these people have done is weaponize that for their own benefit."
On August 14, as news of Swirling's conviction began circulating, the main Feed the Scene Facebook page put up this post: "Based on information disclosed yesterday, the rights of FTS Denver to use our name have been terminated — effective immediately. Even though he was never part of our organization, [Swirling] resided in a home shared by an FTS location and we neither support/condone his actions nor intend to cover them up by ignoring them. We’re currently working on taking all FTS Denver information/branding down."
Swirling's former wife declined to comment, as did Teenage Bottle Rocket's representatives. Feed the Scene did not respond to a request for comment. Swirling, who wrote a piece in 2015 for Westword's music section on the return of the band Tin Horn Prayer after the death of drummer Camden Trendler, did not respond to numerous phone messages or a letter dropped off at the address on his arrest documents, asking for an interview.
A Denver woman who was once involved with Swirling and asks to remain anonymous recalls that Swirling and his then-wife were "definitely very, very active online. Very active in trying to call out pedophilia, trying to call out sexual assault allegations and things like that."
In retrospect, "I'm sure that not every one of those was true," she says. "I know there's been a lot of people that have been torn apart by both of them."
After she learned of Swirling's conviction, she adds, "I was definitely feeling pretty gross for a couple of days."
After putting up with Swirling's harassment for years, Jeg was feeling relief. "I'm just glad that, for me, he's going to get off my fucking case," he says. "I hope so."
Friday, August 18, 2023
PA State Senator Wayne Langerholc wants to chemically castrate some Registered Persons
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
Posted: August 8, 2023 02:30 PM
From: Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.
To: All Senate members
Subject: Chemical Castration for Child Sex Offenders and Repeat Sex Offenders
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to require sex offenders convicted of abusing children under the age of 13 or sex offenders who are repeat offenders to be chemically castrated.
This legislation would mandate sex offenders to be injected with a testosterone-reducing drug before parole and until a judge believes the treatment is unnecessary as a means of attempting to deter future unconscionable behavior. Chemical castration does not cause sterilization and is not permanent. Using castration to control sex offenders' urges to commit these heinous acts again allows the convicted sex offender, if released on parole, to be released without endangering the public. This legislation would also allow first-time offenders who are not convicted of abusing children, as well as those sentenced prior to enactment of this legislation, to be chemically castrated voluntarily. In other states, offenders have opted to be chemically castrated to ensure they do not reoffend.
Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Texas, and Wisconsin have some form of a chemical castration law on the books for these offenders.
The General Assembly has approved many measures over previous sessions to reduce recidivism rates, this legislation is another tool in the toolbox to achieve this bi-partisan goal, as chemical castration has been proven to dramatically reduce recidivism rates.
Please consider co-sponsoring this legislation to better protect the public and support a proven, effective measure to reduce recidivism.