NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2021 THAT COULD LEAD TO YOU BEING REMOVED FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER
NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2021 THAT COULD LEAD TO YOU BEING REMOVED FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER
NEW LAW TAKES EFFECT JANUARY 1, 2021 THAT COULD LEAD TO YOU BEING REMOVED FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER Being a registered sex offender can have devastating consequences to your chances of living a truly meaningful life. Since its enactment in 1947, California Penal Code 290 requires convicted sex offenders to register as a sex offender with the state for life. Every month our law firm…
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How Social Media Can Land You in Prison for Talking to a Minor
How Social Media Can Land You in Prison for Talking to a Minor The society we live in now is one built on a foundation of instant communication. We use our mobile phones and computers to instantly connect with our friends, family, colleagues, and coworkers, but also to reach out to complete strangers and meet new people. Applications like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are useful for advertising ourselves to those…
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Does California Have Romeo and Juliet Laws? (PC 261.5)
Does California Have Romeo and Juliet Laws? (PC 261.5) William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a literary classic. The tragic tale of two teenagers from warring families who fall in love is taught in many high schools throughout the country. Yet, the tale of underage love celebrated in Shakespeare’s play is one that is illegal in California. That is because statutory rape laws under California Penal Code Section 261.5 apply…
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Certificate of Rehabilitation and the New Sex Offender Registry Law
Lawmakers passed legislation in 2017 that will lead to a major overhaul of the California sex offender registration system, changing lifetime registration to a three-tiered system requiring registration for 10 years, 20 years or life depending on the crime committed. However, the new sex offender registration system will not become effective until 2021. So, is there anything you can you do to end your requirement to register as a sex…
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What You Need to Know About California’s Revenge Porn Law (PC 647(j)(4))
In 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 255, which made it a crime to create and distribute “revenge porn.” Taking effect Jan. 1, 2014, California's revenge porn law amended California Penal Code Section 647 to include PC 647(j)(4). The revenge porn laws in California are very important. In the current day and age, you should be aware of what these laws are and how you can avoid facing revenge…
Read MoreOverturning Jessica’s Law in San Diego Leaves California Confused
In a recent ruling, the California Supreme Court overturned Jessica’s Law, a law enacted in 2006 that prohibited convicted sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park, in San Diego County. In re Taylor (S206143), the court ruled that blanket residency restrictions imposed by the law were unconstitutional. However, because the decision involved a case in San Diego, the ruling only applied to San Diego. This…
Read MoreBuying a Home as a Registered Sex Offender
Buying a Home as a Registered Sex Offender If you have ever found yourself in the market for a new home in California, you know how difficult and stressful the process of buying a house can be. Finding the right home can take months, and even after you find it, there are a number of hurdles to jump over before you can finally call the home your own – insurance,…
Read MoreCalifornia Supreme Court Overturns ‘Jessica’s Law,’ Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
The California Supreme Court recently overturned blanket residency restrictions for registered sex offenders. The law, deemed ‘Jessica’s Law,’ prohibited sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of any school or park regardless of whether the offense involved a child victim. Four parolees challenged the law as unconstitutional, arguing that the law makes legal residence in San Diego nearly impossible for sex offenders and does nothing to promote public safety. The…
Read MoreFederal Appeal Court Rules Registered Sex Offenders Don’t Have to Report Internet Use
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a law that requires registered sex offenders to report their Internet use is unconstitutional. Under the Californians Against Sexual Exploitation (CASE) Act, registered sex offenders in California were required to disclose what Internet service providers (ISP) they had used and provide the login information and passwords for any websites or social networks they had joined. 1 The appeals court ruled that…
Read MoreIs Entrapment a Legal Defense When Sting Operations Were Used to Arrest Me?
Before knowing if you can use entrapment as a legal defense when a sting operation was used on you, you need to know the difference between sting operations and entrapment in the eyes of the law. Sting Operation A sting operation is a carefully constructed plan used by the authorities to catch a person who is believed to be committing crimes while they are in the act of committing the crime.…
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