New Bill Introduced In California State Assembly Would Create Tiered Registration For Sex Offenders

Assemblyman Tom Ammiano of San Francisco has introduced a bill in the California State assembly dubbed “The Sex Offender Registration Act” that would create a tiered system of registration for sex offenders in California.  The bill is based on recommendations of the California Sex Offender Management Board which was created in 2006 by Governor Schwarzenegger and designed to improve policies and practices regarding the management o9f sex offenders. California is one of only four states in the country today that requires lifetime registration for all convicted sex offenders regardless of the crime for which they were convicted.  The new proposed tiered system would create three tiers of sex offenders and would require registration for 10 years for the low tier, 20 years for the middle tier, and lifetime registration for the high tier which would include the most serious and violent offenders.

The members of the California Sex Offender Management Board have recommended that California rethink its registration policies and move toward a smarter approach and this proposed bill is a reflection of that recommendation.  The Board’s Vice-Chair and Ph.D. Tom Tobin said “California needs to modify its current policy and start devoting our limited resources to those individuals who pose the greatest risk of re-offending.  Common sense and solid research both agree that not all offenders pose the same degree of risk of re-offending.  Many pose very little risk.  Unless one accepts the myth that “all sex offenders are alike,” there can be no defensible justification for treating them all the same and requiring lifetime registration for each and every convicted sex offender.  This puts an increasing burden on law enforcement and does not make our communities any safer.”  While the bill has been introduced it is far form a vote and we will keep it on our radar and keep you posted.

If you or a loved one is a registered sex offender or is facing charges that could require registration it is important that you contact an experienced sex crimes attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 40 years of experience in handling all types of sex crimes. Our attorneys are highly knowledgeable in sex crimes law. We will aggressively fight to defend your rights and get you the best possible result in your case. Call us today at (888) 749-0034 or contact us on our website at www.wklaw.com. We will be there when you call.