Just updated our RSOL 2011 National Conference followup page with the response of the Arkansas Delegation to the conference. Please stop over and see what they have to say.
For now have a great day and a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate
Showing posts with label NARSOL 2011 National Conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NARSOL 2011 National Conference. Show all posts
September 2, 2011
UPDATE: RSOL 2011 National Conference
Just updated our RSOL 2011 National Conference followup page with the response of the Arkansas Delegation to the conference. Please stop over and see what they have to say.
For now have a great day and a better tomorrow.
eAdvocate
August 26, 2011
RSOL 2011 National Conference: Review by Wayne Bowers
A review of the RSOL 2011 National Conference by Wayne Bowers, President Sex Abuse Treatment Alliance, CURE-SORT Director
I attended the 3rd annual Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL) Conference the previous weekend in St. Louis and want to share my observations and report on the programs. I attended the first conference in 2009 in Boston, and did not get to attend the 2010 meeting in Washington, D.C. What I saw in the two years since that first meeting was a considerable increase in leadership, organization and expertise. And the continued growth in state participation and grasp of the issues is encouraging. The estimated total of attendees of 120 for the three days was impressive.
I know there have been some growing pains and mistakes, some disagreements with certain people and some who have moved on to something else. That is not uncommon for any growing organization. The key for me, having experienced activity on this issue with various groups and individuals for 17 years myself, and since CURE-SORT began 21 years ago, is that a large coalition of people are coming together to challenge sex offender and registry laws. And that coalition is growing.
My intent for attending, along with networking and meeting new people and share the work of SATA and CURE-SORT, was to see how the organization is coming together. Of course, I wanted to learn more about the organization and other ways to advocate. My desire is to see all organizations come together on our issue and make this a major, strong coalition. I heard that point mentioned considerably during the weekend. CLICK for the remainder of Mr. Bowers review:
August 23, 2011
RSOL 2011 National Conference
NEWS RELEASE: Arkansas Delegation Attends National Sex Offender Law Reform Conference
It's a task as thankless as the work of Mother Teresa, and as scorned as the lepers she in humility served. Advocating for 'sex offenders' can get you branded with the same scarlet letter borne by those who commit the most heinous crimes. Yet the facts, according to the wealth of experts at the 3rd Annual Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL) National Conference, held August 12-14, 2011, in St. Louis. Missouri, are more shocking than Mr. & Mrs. John Q. Public may realize.
One of the strongest advocates for the reform of a criminal justice system which, some say, has become completely out of touch with reality, Amy Borror, Legislative & Media Liaison, Office of the Ohio Public Defender, gave a detailed overview of the ramifications and status of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, signed into law by President Bush on July 27, 2006.
Borror explained the far-reaching and unintended ramifications of this legislation which had, she summarized, turned the Ohio sex-offender interdiction system “on its head.”
Resulting in legal challenges and confusion nationwide, Borror strongly asserted that it is time for the laws pertaining to sex-offenders to be closely reviewed and substantively changed.
One issue at the heart of the 'legalized injustice', according to Lloyd Swartz, head of the New Mexico affiliate of the national RSOL organization, is that former sex offenders who have paid their debt to society, regained health and stability through therapeutic treatments and are determined to be productive citizens, are prohibited from doing so because of regulations that mandate segregation and discrimination in housing and the workplace.
Still, Swartz emphasized, the overarching purpose and mission of his organization and all those he is affiliated with is to “improve public safety.”
“Most lawmakers are well-intentioned and think they are promoting community safety while in reality their bills are filled with unintended consequences and based on faulty assumptions,” said Robert 'Kim' Combs, Executive Director of Arkansas Time After Time. As a member of the conference's opening panel discussion, Combs addressed what have been described as 'draconian' consequences for 96% of the people now mandated by law to be classified as a sex-offender but who, according to statistics published by the U. S. Department of Justice, are unlikely to ever re-offend.
“If we can get factual information to our lawmakers, the press and the general public, our communities will become safer since our law enforcement resources can then concentrate on the truly dangerous predators,” Combs, who was one of six Arkansans attending the conference, summarized.
Lynn Gilmore, CEO of Sex Offender Solutions and Education Network and author of “Consensual Consequences: A true story of life with a registered sex offender,“ also serves as ATAT Lobbying Director and reflected on how remarkable it felt to be immersed in such a large group of people who 'get it' (ie: comprehend the complexity of the social and legal conundrum called 'sex crime'). Gilmore said that seeing so many people, from so many different walks of life, backgrounds and careers, all together in one place discussing important legal and human-rights issues “strengthened her hopes” for a just outcome for everyone.
Carla Swanson, who serves ATAT as Correspondence Director, credited the conference with delivering much excellent information and gave special kudos to Missouri State Representative David Day who, according to Swanson, “told it like it is” about how advocates should and must approach legislators in order to get their concerns about this public policy heard.
Swanson also announced that Arkansas Time After Time will host a Meet & Greet 'open house' during the group's October 16 meeting, scheduled for 2pm to 4pm in the West Room on the first floor of the Little Rock Public Library. Swanson encouraged all who have questions to attend, and to visit the group's website www.ArkansasTimeAfterTime.org to learn more about this complex issue. ~ ~ ~
PDF copy of this release on ATAT letterhead:
http://www.arkansastimeaftertime.org/pdf/atat_nwerls_ltrhd090111.pdf
A review of the RSOL 2011 National Conference by Wayne Bowers, President Sex Abuse Treatment Alliance, CURE-SORT Director
I attended the 3rd annual Reform Sex Offender Laws (RSOL) Conference the previous weekend in St. Louis and want to share my observations and report on the programs. I attended the first conference in 2009 in Boston, and did not get to attend the 2010 meeting in Washington, D.C. What I saw in the two years since that first meeting was a considerable increase in leadership, organization and expertise. And the continued growth in state participation and grasp of the issues is encouraging. The estimated total of attendees of 120 for the three days was impressive.
I know there have been some growing pains and mistakes, some disagreements with certain people and some who have moved on to something else. That is not uncommon for any growing organization. The key for me, having experienced activity on this issue with various groups and individuals for 17 years myself, and since CURE-SORT began 21 years ago, is that a large coalition of people are coming together to challenge sex offender and registry laws. And that coalition is growing.
My intent for attending, along with networking and meeting new people and share the work of SATA and CURE-SORT, was to see how the organization is coming together. Of course, I wanted to learn more about the organization and other ways to advocate. My desire is to see all organizations come together on our issue and make this a major, strong coalition. I heard that point mentioned considerably during the weekend. CLICK for the remainder of Mr. Bowers review:
April 21, 2011
RSOL 2011 National Conference - Aug 12-14
4-21-2011 National:
BASIC CONFERENCE INFORMATION:
DATE August 12-14, 2011 (Friday 6 pm - Sunday 1 pm)
LOCATION: Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel, 900 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, Missouri
THEME: This year's conference will be focused on leadership and how to build a strong, well-organized group working for reform. Although the focus is on leadership, everybody is welcome! We will soon announce who our speakers will be.
HOTEL RESERVATION: You can book your room at the Sheraton on our conference website (see Conference website below). IMPORTANT: We need a minimum of 20 rooms reserved at the Sheraton to have the conference room for free, so we greatly encourage people to book at the Sheraton. When making your reservation, make sure to mention Missouri Citizens for Reform (the reservation was not made under RSOL's name, but under MCFR's).
CONFERENCE COST: 30$ for members of a national or state group fighting for reform; 40$ for other people. IMPORTANT: Cost will be 10$ more after July 5th, so REGISTER TODAY!
FOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE SEND AN EMAIL TO:
nationalconferencestl@yahoo.com
ALSO SEE CONFERENCE WEBSITE:
www.sites.google.com/site/rsolnationalconference
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