CONTACT:
California Reform Sex Offender Laws
Janice Bellucci, State Organizer
8721 Santa Monica Blvd., #855
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(805) 896-7854
FOR RELEASE ON MARCH 20, 2013:
California Reform Sex Offender Laws
Challenges Websites in Federal District Court
California Reform Sex Offender Laws (CA RSOL) filed a lawsuit in federal
district court today challenging websites which identify individuals as sex
offenders and include their personal information, including names, photos, and
home addresses as well as demand up to $500 for removal of that information
from the websites.
“It is time to stop the extortion of more than 750,000 individuals in this
country,” stated Janice Bellucci, President of CA RSOL. “Those who work for or
with these websites have engaged, and continue to engage, in a pattern of
racketeering activities.”
According to the lawsuit, individuals connected with three websites – Offendex,
Online Detective and SORarchives – have violated both federal and state laws.
The laws include the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (18
U.S.C. 1961 et seq.), the right of publicity (California Civil Code 3344) as
well as the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“We’ve heard so many stories of people who have completed their registration
period and yet are unable to move on with their lives,” stated Brenda Jones,
Executive Director of Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc. “The only way they can be
free is to submit to the extortion of profiteers like Offendex and that is
simply appalling.”
There are a total of 10 plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including residents from
five states (California, Washington, Oregon, Kentucky and Tennessee).
Plaintiffs include individuals convicted of sex-related offenses as well as one
wife and one mother who have never been convicted of a crime.
“For-profit companies that provide false information about a former offender
cause collateral damage to the families of offenders,” stated Vicki Henry,
Director of Women Against Registry. “The additional financial burdens placed on
the families by the companies that require a fee for removal from their website
and the misinterpretation of the individual significantly limit the employment
opportunities of a former offender.”
The lawsuit was filed today in U.S. District Court, Central District of
California, Western Division in Los Angeles, California. Organizations
providing support, including financial support, to this effort include Women
Against Registry, Reform Sex Offender Laws, Inc., and Families Against the
Registry.
A copy of the lawsuit is available upon request.
