Sex offenders in particular are seldom given the nuance and rehabilitation we afford to other people with criminal histories. Their lives are forever affected by the convictions they carry, just like other people convicted of crimes. But unlike some others, they face additional punishment at the hands of the state, even after they’ve served their time. In North Carolina, residents who are registered sex offenders . . .  are not allowed to attend any agricultural fair, including the N.C. State Fair underway in Raleigh. . . . .

Laws like this come from an understandable desire to protect people, particularly children. The reality is that it’s a difficult law to enforce that does not differentiate between varying degrees of sex crimes, or take into consideration the everyday situations that are most responsible for childhood sexual abuse. Advocates for sex offenders see it as an extra burden that is not applied to other offenders with criminal records of violence. “It’s egregious and outrageous. It’s overkill,” Robin Vander Wall, president of North Carolina Association for Rational Sex Offense Law, said in a press release. “This is a matter of fundamental fairness and equal protection under both the state and federal constitutions.”   . . .

[U]nder the law, people convicted of crimes must serve their punishments. Once those punishments are fulfilled, they should be allowed to re-enter society. That’s how it works for other criminal offenses, and it’s the best way to reduce the number of people who re-offend. Even people convicted of manslaughter or assault are allowed to return to society and try to be better people. We don’t ban them from the fair.

Read the full  piece here at the News and Observer.

Anyone remember the old “Schoolhouse Rock” television bits that taught us all kinds of valuable lessons? Most memorable for me as a child was the “I’m Just a Bill” one. Now that I am an adult and have become more aware of how our state handles the creation of bills, my mind is blown. This is not what I imagined.

In simple terms, one would think a bill is drafted as an idea. It is sent to committees to evaluate the bill with regards to constitutionality and benefit to the community. One would think that the committee maintains the focus of that bill as stated, submits it to be voted on, then sends to the other side of legislature for the same process. Eventually, that vote for the bill occurs on both sides of the House and the Senate and it passes or fails. Wow – that sounds simple. But let’s talk this out in terms of what actually happens. Let’s use a very simple example that perhaps will help you see how bizarre and at times, quite unfair this entire process can be. How can the content of a bill change completely during its journey? Follow me on this –

1. Representative “Bob” comes up with the idea to allow Food Trucks to be available in school parking lots during lunch hour, since large schools don’t have enough cafeteria space for all the students. This will help reduce students leaving campus for lunch and will balance out the crowding problem. (Okay, there’s a purpose and benefit stated. Cool. Let’s call this “HB123: Food Truck Bill.”)

2. “HB123” goes into judicial committees for review. Representative “Sally” wants to change the wording and recommends that the bill include healthy options, such as fruits and vegetables become available for sale as well.

3. The bill gets added to the docket to be voted on TOMORROW and it is listed on the state website, but schools haven’t been notified of this recommendation. They are impacted, but they haven’t had time to weigh in on the impacts to budgets, government funding, parking lot crowding, or any other impacts to their schools. They want the ability to determine on a school-by-school basis if this will be allowed. Some parents call their representatives and try to voice their opinions, but they can’t get their representative to listen to them. The first question you are asked is, “What organization are you with?” Oh, no organization? You’re just a citizen. Hmmm. (In other words, you don’t have enough backing for us to really listen.)

4. So now a school board member (a person with a little more clout than a parent) shows up to a committee meeting and is granted their 2-3 minutes to speak against the bill, but they themselves get interrogated as to their qualifications to represent the school on food choices. Perhaps this speaker is overweight and doesn’t appear to exercise, so the lawmakers don’t consider this speaker a worthy, healthy person to represent the “children.” Basically, they are discredited to add valuable input.

5. You now have a bill that passed through committees quickly, without good feedback from those who will be impacted by the bill. The House votes this bill to pass.

6. The next big step – HB123 moves to the Senate side for vote.

7. Senate committees don’t like the wording of the bill, so they edit it. They really don’t like the food truck idea, but they like the idea of fruits and vegetables. The bill is rewritten to plant a vegetable garden and fruit trees on school campuses. The language about food trucks, the idea of reducing crowding in cafeterias, and reducing students leaving campuses for lunch are completely removed. (Wait, what? Our lawmakers just completely gutted this bill, even after it was voted on as originally written by the House?)

8. “HB123: Food Truck Bill” moves to the Senate floor for vote. Remember, this bill is no longer about food trucks at all. It’s about planting gardens. Completely different yet with the same title and reference number. (Mind blown….they didn’t talk about this in Schoolhouse Rock!)

9. The Senate passes the bill with the new wording.

10. The bill goes back to the House for vote – and remember, they’ve already voted on this once. Who knows, remembers, or cares that this bill is now completely different? They vote again. Bill passes. Guess you better find some dirt space on campuses for someone to plant gardens and maintain them now.

This is a simplified example, but this is exactly what happens time and time again. NCRSOL has seen this so many times. This is why this organization is so critical to the lawmaking process. They send advocates to these committees to try to correct the problematic language. They have legal experts weigh in. They work with non-profits who fight for fairness. So please, continue renewing your NCRSOL memberships. Continue your support of this organization. And spread the word.

And if there’s one last piece of advice I can give you, get to know who your Representatives and Senators are. Let them continually hear from you. Send emails frequently. Start reading up on the bills pertaining to SOs. Follow NCRSOL articles and updates.

What’s frustrating to ME as a taxpayer is knowing that we have given feedback to lawmakers that bills they are passing are NOT constitutional. We work with them to change the wording so that it is fair and makes sense. Yet, they pass them anyway. Ultimately, these elected officials are costing our state money because by passing bad laws, they are opening the state up for litigation. It is critical that we as individuals learn more about our elected officials, how they vote, and if they are really looking for fair and just laws that make sense.

I commend those in elected positions who are trying so diligently to do what’s right. Several have been open to listening to organizations like NCRSOL and educate themselves on other viewpoints. They use us to learn about things they didn’t previously know and to see how we can move forward together. We commend them for that and wish there were more like them. We need to be bold and be vocal to educate lawmakers on how these senseless laws are negatively impacting us.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Be a Change Agent.

– Phoebe

As I huddle down in the cold of winter and times of quarantine, I’ve been watching far more TV than I should.  I recently watched, for maybe the 15^th time, the movie “A Time to Kill” based on the book by John Grisham.  I remember reading this book back in the late 90s (and yes, the books are always better than the movies).  The concept of this movie is that a young black girl was raped and left for dead by two white men.  These men were arrested and taken to court, where the girl’s father shot and killed them.  The father chose a young passionate white lawyer to defend him.  There was a speech by the lawyer in the final scenes which resonated with me strongly.

“You see, in all this legal maneuvering something has gotten lost, and that something is the truth.  Now, it is incumbent upon us lawyers not to just talk about the truth, but to actually seek it, to find it, to live it…..”

“….What is it in us that seeks the truth? Is it our minds or is it our hearts?

I set out to prove a black man could receive a fair trial in the south, that we are all equal in the eyes of the law. That’s not the truth, because the eyes of the law are human eyes — yours and mine — and until we can see each other as equals, justice is never going to be evenhanded. It will remain nothing more than a reflection of our own prejudices, so until that day we have a duty under God to seek the truth, not with our eyes and not with our minds where fear and hate turn commonality into prejudice, but with our hearts — where we don’t know better.”

Now, reread that quote and replace “black man” with “registered person.”  Understand what a “prejudice” is.  Prejudice:  a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.  Isn’t that what happens more often than not – that those accused of a sexual crime have automatic prejudices when it is not based on reason or experience, but more what we think we know from the media?

I will again adhere to my beliefs that guilt carries punishment.  What I continue to struggle with are the automatic prejudices and beliefs of guilt for anyone accused of sexual misconduct in any form.

State and national statistics show us that most registered citizens are not violent predators.  The media wants us to believe that they are, but data proves differently.  Until I became knowledgeable about the registry laws and people impacted by them, I regrettably was one of those who believed what the media told me. Yes, I am ashamed.  Now I know there are real people and real stories behind every case.  So many examples of consensual young relationships, of young people making poor choices that will scar them the rest of their lives, of revenge accusations, of embarrassment, and many cases that are accusations and not truth.

So back to the quote from the movie – does our society seek the truth when it comes to sexual crimes?  Are we all equal in the eyes of the law – or are those accused of sexual crimes automatically assumed to be guilty?  Does our legal structure seek the truth or an easy plea?  Do we assume everyone is guilty or do we give them a fair chance?

We at NCRSOL are blessed to have found legal representation who believe in fairness, who believe in people, who believe in making laws that are both enforceable but that make sense.  As John Grisham portrayed in this book and movie, there are committed lawyers whose passion for their causes drive them.  Attend our conferences and you’ll meet them!

Many of you may wonder what NCRSOL does.  They hear stories from registered persons.  They work with lawyers and groups who believe in second chances.  They investigate housing restrictions.  They support fair treatment of people.

It continues to be a challenge for us, as members of society, to help one another…help one another find jobs, find housing, rehabilitate, support and encourage one another.  I encourage each reader to join NCRSOL and renew your membership yearly. It takes our members to support our leadership team in making change.

Let’s continue to work with our lawmakers, media, employers, and our society as a whole to leave behind the prejudices against those accused of a crime.  This is a call to action – tell your stories so people understand that many situations are mistakes for which people have paid the penalty and are looking for redemption.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.  Be a Change Agent.
-Phoebe

I occasionally write articles about things that are hitting me at the moment.  I found that as I made my daily commute to work, so many things would enter my mind.  I would literally hold my phone, hit the record button, and just talk out my thoughts.  These thoughts eventually became an article.  This was so therapeutic to me.  2020 is a year unlike any other.  I am no longer making my commute and have spent more time inside my house in the last ten months than I have in the last 15 years!

Does that mean the things of the world aren’t bothering me?  No.  Does that mean I am any less annoyed with the absurd laws and treatment of people on the registry?  Heck-to-the-NO!  Does that mean I have no complaints about the registry?  Absolutely not.  I have no idea why my thoughts aren’t stirring me up, getting me fired up to write and convince you to talk actions.  I have turned off the television far more than I used to.  I am sick to death of the news – and I’m pretty sure they are highly responsible for the reasons I get so wound up.  I just needed a break.

But as I sit here today thinking about the break I “needed,” I realize I can’t really afford to take that break.  If we stop pushing for positive change, if we all stop to take breaks, the lawmakers will continue making unconstitutional laws.  Those decisions usually have far more serious impacts than our lawmakers realize at the time they are clicking in their Yes /No votes before moving on to the next issue so they can close out their legislative session quickly.

Let’s be clear.  Supporting changes to the laws to help registrants and their families is NOT a popular campaign strategy.  It takes BOLDNESS to do what’s right rather than what gets you votes.  It takes BOLDNESS to slow down and learn the impacts of the registry.  It takes BOLDNESS to talk to colleagues and fellow lawmakers about taboo topics. It takes BOLDNESS to make common sense laws rather than quick-attention-getting laws.

What can you do right now, even a state of blah-ness like I am at the moment?  At a time when your motivation has waned?  At a time when you feel like all you can do is sit at home and wish 2020 away?  I’m starting my list….

1. Find the names of your Senator and House of Representative.
Email them – frequently.
Tell them stories.  Tell them what it is like to be on the Registry or a family member of the Registry.  Tell them your constitutional rights are impacted.  Tell them how this is double punishment (after serving time, after probation, and still on the registry).  Tell them the length of time on the registry.  Trust me – most have NO idea of these things.
2.  Join NCRSOL.  Read the newsletter.  Read the articles.
3.  Find 1 friend or family member to join NCRSOL and start reading the articles.  This isn’t just about membership drive – it’s about educating people with real-life examples of how the laws impact us.  We need people to stay current with the laws and the temperament of our legislators.
4.  Be bold!  Report situations to NCRSOL if you are being treated unfairly by employees, law enforcement, law makers, educators, etc.  We need to know about situations that are happening with people if they seem outside the boundaries of enforcement.  We need evidence of these situations.

You may be a registrant, but you are also a person.  You deserve fair treatment.  I will always, always, always say that if you are guilty of your charges, you must first focus on rehabilitation.  You CANNOT REOFFEND.  Period.  Make sure you’re working through treatment programs and dealing with that first.  Reoffending is the very issue any person in our society will latch on to.  If even ONE person is a recidivist (reoffender), then the assumption is that the thousands of registrants must be also.  That’s simply not the case.  Our lawmakers don’t know the statistics.  The public doesn’t know the statistics.  The media doesn’t know the statistics.  We do, and the recidivism rate is extremely low.  But it’s all about PERCEPTION.  The one reoffender WILL be published on the news and papers.  It will blow up into a big stink.  It will hurt every registrant and every family member by sheer perception of guilt.  So there’s my sermon, people.  DO. NOT. REOFFEND. EVER.

We must change the misconceptions about offenders.  We must educate people.  We must work towards fair treatment and reintegration into society.  The few volunteer leaders of NCRSOL cannot do it alone.  We need YOU.  We have seen so much growth in this organization in just a few years, but we can’t know what’s happening if you don’t share your stories with us.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. Be a Change Agent.  BE BOLD.
– Phoebe

Now they’re suing.

At least 11 men and the nonprofit group North Carolinians for Rational Sex Offender Laws accused Cherokee County and Sheriff Derrick Palmer of violating their constitutional rights in a lawsuit moved to federal court Wednesday. The case was originally filed in state court in early October but defense attorneys opted to change venues, citing issues related to federal case law.

Attorneys for the offenders, defense attorneys and a representative for Cherokee County and the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Thursday.

The lawsuit seeks $5 million in damages and a jury trial, according to court filings.

According to the website of the North Carolinians for Rational Sex Offender Laws, the group was created in 2016 as an affiliate of a national chapter and advocates for “legal reforms that will protect and restore (sex offenders’) fundamental rights to life and liberty.”

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Pending cases italicized are not the actual case name, but a description of the pending case that may be filed.

This webpage pending case or new legislation will be updated as needed.

Last update: 08/21/2020

This is NCRSOL’s monthly meeting for outreach and concerns affecting North Carolinians, families, and allies. All members and non-members are welcome. Legal advice is unavailable and highly discouraged from discussion topics because we are not licensed attorneys.

How to participate in the meeting:

Join by phone: (202) 860-2110 or (602) 666-0783

• Meeting number (access code): 216 986 915
• Meeting password: 1120

callers that dial by phone will be unable to see slides or visible presentations if presented. 

Join by internet/web (smartphone, tablet, computer): 

Click here to join by internet

• Meeting number (access code): 216 986 915
• Meeting password: 1120

Please mute your device when not actively participating in questions. Thank you. 

NARSOL Board of Directors member Richard Earl sent a message to conference planning teams, “the conference is going ahead as planned.” While some members of the planning groups appeared concerned with the growing uncertainty of how the pandemic could potentially alter the conference, NARSOL leadership is optimistic that the conference will be held.

A positive mention is that airfare could not be more of a bargain at this particular time. The cost of a roundtrip airfare ticket has significantly dropped because of struggling airlines and the plummeting price of jet fuel. As of the time of this reporting roundtrip airfare during the conference time frame from Houston, Texas, to Raleigh-Durham starts at $79. Additionally, other services such as rental cars and hotel rooms are attempting to pull out all the stops to capture any customer it can acquire.

For more information about the NARSOL 2020 Conference, please click here.

As a parent, I am appalled that our kids do not understand grammar.  Autocorrect and Spellcheck have taken over.  Anyone remember Mad Libs?  (Come on and comment, I know you do!).  I used to love these.  One person would ask you for different parts of speech. “Give me proper noun.  Give me a pronoun.  Give me an adjective.”  How about those adverbs? (Hint: My 8^th grade teacher taught me a trick about identifying adverbs.  She said they usually ended in -ly.  Examples: quickly, swiftly, aggressively, quietly.)  These random words would then be filled into a story that often made little sense and generated lots of laughs.  This is how we occupied ourselves on long car rides (yes, sometimes in the back of station wagons with pillows and blankets – and no seat belts).

I bring up Mad Libs because I recently tried these with a group of kids.  They struggled as a result of their lack of grammar proficiency.  So, here is my lesson to all my readers.  If there is one part of speech for you to understand, understand the VERB.

Verbs are action words.  They aren’t things you talk about.  They are things you DO.  We have grave concerns and frustrations about the registry, but will it ever change if we fail to put action to it?

We want change, but we want someone else to do the work.  We want someone else to be the voice.  Are you a noun or are you a verb?  I am a VERB and I am encouraging you to be a verb.

Now listen, I fully know we all have different skills, gifts, and resources.  It is time to find a way to put those to use.  Are you an influencer?  Can you convince people to join NCRSOL to help fund the group’s work?  Are you financially stable to a point where you can donate yourself?   Are you persuasive and good at talking with lawmakers?  Are you gifted at writing?  Maybe your call to action is to GO…go to the NC conference this summer.  There are so many ways to use your talents.  So do it.  Be a VERB.  Put action to it.

Be the change you wish to see in the world.  Be a Change Agent.  Be a Verb…
–Phoebe

Dear Mr./Ms. Lawmaker,

Thank you for your service to our state.  Thank you for the time and energy you put forth.  You ask to hear from your citizens, so I accept.  I want to support you.  I want to trust you to be fair and represent all citizens in the great state of NC.  It is with sadness that I express my disappointment at most of our lawmakers.  Not all, mind you, but most.  I work.  I pay taxes.  I help my fellow citizens in times of hardships.  My heart belongs to this state.  However, if I am being honest, I am frustrated at the lack of representation for ALL citizens.  As elected officials by voters, it is not your decision who you represent.  You represent each and every one of us.  And, each and every one of us has a voice.

I have been to many of your offices, only to have my voice fall upon deaf ears, but I keep going.  There is a distinct population of this state who are voters, but do not feel represented by you.  It is election year and the way I have seen things transpire, there are so few who move through this process with sincerity.  I ask you…be that person.  Represent everyone.  Do not forget the thousands which your laws have placed on the sex offender registry.  Understand the real statistics on the registry, not the hearsay.  You’d be shocked, I promise you.  People deserve second chances.  These people have voices.  These people vote.

I often sit and wonder if each of our NC lawmakers could abide by the very laws to which they make.  You make ‘em, but could you follow ‘em?  Take, for example, registry restrictions.  Could you, Mr./Ms. Lawmaker, walk through your day-to-day life for a month and abide by every stipulation?

1.  Do you know the restrictions?  ALL of them?
2.  Could you find someone in this state who clearly knows and can answer your questions regarding the restrictions?
3.  Would you miss attending your kids’ school, church, sporting events, dance and music recitals, teacher conferences?
4.  Could you handle parenting simply through pictures or stories of your kids’ events?
5.  Could you handle not participating in your kids’ birthday parties?
6.  Could you explain to your kids WHY you can’t go to their events…and could you deal with the emotional trauma to which it subjects them?
7.  Could you find fun, family entertainment week after week, given that there are few places you could actually go?
8.  Could you still work?  Would your employer allow you to?  Do the premise restrictions impact your ability to work?
9.  Could you pass up the best French fries at your favorite fast food restaurant because they have a playground and you are restricted from going there?
10.  Could you find new places to work out?  Not at a gym.  Not at a YMCA.  Not at a park.
11.  Could you miss church…or worse, continue sending your family there alone, without you?
12.  Could you do this for 30 years?  Yes, that’s the length of the registry here in NC, regardless of the severity of the charge.
13.  Could you emotionally survive this?  Would you empathize with the thousands of people living this out every day?  Would you rethink the laws you create and vote on and their implications?

Proof is in the pudding.  Elections are coming up.  Take a stand and live this out for a month.  Let NCRSOL know that you did.  Let’s start conversations so we learn to work together rather than continuing to pick apart a ridiculous set of laws that are nearly impossible by which to live.

Mr./Ms. Lawmaker, I remind my readers that you must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Be a change agent…
– Phoebe