Kentucky governor restores voting rights of most felons

See Governor's Press Release

11-24-15 Kentucky:

FRANKFORT, Ky., Nov 24 (Reuters) - Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear on Tuesday signed an executive order restoring voting rights to most felons in state in an action that he said will affect some 180,000 people.

Once felons have completed their sentences, including any probation or parole, and have made court-mandated restitution, they will have their rights automatically restored as long as they have no additional cases pending, Beshear said.

Previously, felony offenders needed to apply to the governor's office to have their voting rights restored. Now, Beshear said, the Department of Corrections will make the determination.

"The old system is unfair," Beshear said. "It's counterproductive. We need to be smarter in our criminal justice system. Research shows that ex-felons who vote are less likely to commit new crime and return to prison. That's because if you vote, you tend to be more engaged in society."

The outgoing Democratic governor, speaking to reporters in the state capital, said the order does not cover those convicted of violent, sex-related, bribery or treason crimes.

Kentucky is one of four states that requires its governor to sign off on the restoration of a felon's voting rights.

The issue has long been debated in Kentucky as the state House of Representatives, controlled by the Democrats, has passed a restoration bill 10 times in the last nine years only for it to die in the Republican-controlled Senate. However, the issue does have broad support as U.S. Sen. Rand Paul urged the passage of a bill that would have restored the right to non-violent felons.

However, even Republican officials who support restoring rights criticized the governor's approach.

"My issue with today's action is not about the restoration of those rights, but the fact once again this governor has chosen to usurp the authority of the Kentucky General Assembly through executive order," state House minority leader Jeff Hoover said in a statement.

Hoover questioned the legality of the governor's action, saying that an amendment to the state constitution was required.

Beshear responded by saying the state constitution gives him the right to restore voting rights.

Beshear has served two terms as governor and was prohibited from running for a third straight time. Earlier this month, Republican Matt Bevin won election and will be inaugurated next month.

A call to Bevin's office has not yet been returned. ..Source.. by MSN News

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Changes to sex offender rules up for discussion at Rehoboth Town Meeting

UPDATE 11-3: Rehoboth Town Meeting approves bylaw restricting registered sex offenders

10-31-15 Massachusetts:

REHOBOTH — The laws regulating where a person convicted of being a sex offender can live or spend time will be strengthened within the town’s bylaws if voters approve Article 8 at Monday night’s special Town Meeting.

Article 8, one of 13 total articles up for discussion at the 7 p.m. meeting on Nov. 2, calls for adding Section 29 — a new section — to the town’s current general bylaws. Section 29 will be added to regulations under Chapter B, Article VI.

“We had become aware of several other communities that had adopted bylaws where registered sex offenders can and cannot be,” Rehoboth Police Chief James Trombetta said.

Somerset is one of those communities, he added.

The language of Rehoboth’s proposed bylaw is modeled after nearby towns. Trombetta and the police department worked with the attorney for the town to craft the article.

If voters approve the bylaw, Rehoboth will join the list of other southeastern Massachusetts towns updating and tightening regulations where a registered sex offender can, or cannot, be. Level 2 and 3 sex offenders are considered the most dangerous by authorities in terms of reoffending.

The article requires a two-thirds majority of registered voters at Town Meeting to pass.

A person convicted as a Level 2 or 3 sex offender under state law cannot live either permanently or temporarily “within 500 feet of any school, day care center, part of recreational facility, facility for the elderly, facility for the mentally impaired, or public library.”

According to the warrant article, children are defined as being any person under 18 years old. A day care center, whether public or private, is defined as being registered with the state by the Office of Child Care Services. An elder or elderly person is defined as someone who is 55 or over.

Further, a written list describing the areas where a registered sex offender cannot live, either permanently or temporarily, would be found at the town clerk’s office and police department. Updates to the list will be made by the police department. Schools and day care centers throughout Rehoboth also are kept on file by two state departments, the Department of Early Education and Care and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Monday night’s meeting will be held at the Dighton Rehoboth Regional High School. ..Source.. by Lisa D. Connell Taunton

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Bill Would Reinstate Michigan's Ban on Sex Offenders Near Schools

UPDATE: There are actually 3 Doe v Snyder decisions see HERE

10-26-15 Michigan:

(MPRN-Lansing) A state Senator wants to reinstate Michigan’s ban on sex offenders near schools.

In April, a federal judge struck down the law that said registered sex offenders must stay at least a thousand feet away from schools (Doe v Snyder see above). He said the rule was unconstitutionally vague because it’s too difficult for people to figure out where the zones begin and end.

Republican state Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) says he’ll introduce a bill on Monday to clarify those issues and put the law back in place. “It was an important law,” said Jones.

“I don’t care if it’s somebody that’s a flasher or somebody that’s a pedophile, I don’t want them in the school grounds.” “I want to make sure the sex offenders know schools are off-limits.”

The ACLU of Michigan argued against the original ban in court. It is concerned Jones’ bill still doesn’t do enough to clarify the issues identified in the judge’s opinion.

“It’s very very difficult for people to figure out where they can work, where they can live, and how they can follow the law if they can’t figure out where the zones are,”

said Mirium Aukerman, the ACLU attorney who argued the case.

“So I think this is an effort to address that problem, but it doesn’t really address the concerns that the court had.”

The legislation includes an exemption for parents of students who are attending school functions, transporting children to or from school, or meeting with teachers and staff about their children. ..Source.. by Jake Neher

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