The California Coalition on Sexual Offending has just released its 2010 Annual Conference Brochure. The training conference, which will take place in San Diego from May 12-14, focuses on the theme “Together we can end sexual abuse.”

Since 1986, CCOSO has provided expertise, training, education and legislative guidance in treatment, management and research related to sexual offending. Keynote speaker at the event is Dr. Daniel Siegel, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine where he is on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain and Development, and the co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. His presentation will focus on mindsight, which he says is “the ability for the human mind to see itself. It is a powerful lens through which we can understand our inner lives with more clarity, transform the brain and enhance our relationships with others.”

The conference will bring together a range of individuals, including representatives from law enforcement, criminal justice, mental health, probation, parole and community services dedicated to addressing the significant and complex issues related to sexual offending.

To register or for more information about the California Coalition on Sexual Offending’s 13th Annual Training Conference, download the brochure.

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By Paul Elias The Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO – The California Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the constitutionality of a “Jessica’s Law” provision that allows indefinite confinement of sexually violent predators.

It’s the first of two decisions the court is expected to issue over the legality of the law that was passed as Proposition 82 in 2006.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to rule Monday on a separate legal challenge to a provision prohibiting released predators from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park.

On Thursday, the court dealt with whether sexually violent predators can be treated differently from other violent felons, who can be held only for defined terms in mental health facilities after prison.

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The Legislative Analysts Office launched a page on its website to keep track of its writings on the 2010-11 budget and the 2009-10 budget revisions. You can refine your searches by policy area or department. The results can be downloaded into Excel spreadsheets.

Read recent publications by the LAO here.

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California inmate release plan begins

The state’s controversial plan to reduce its prison population by 6,500 inmates over the next year begins today, with victims and law enforcement groups once again warning it will increase crime.

“We are concerned for the public’s safety,” said Christine Ward, director of the Crime Victims Action Alliance in Sacramento.

State leaders lobby Congress for federal funds

California’s state leaders are in Washington today and Thursday for the first round of visits this year to press the federal government for billions of dollars to help the state’s beleaguered budget.

Stanislaus County victims center narrowly approved

The concept of a one-stop shop for abuse victims for all of Stanislaus County, which could open in a few months, nearly withered Tuesday in the heat of a philosophical argument between county supervisors.

None debated the need for a uniform response to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child and elder abuse. But they disagreed on the rationale behind charging a fee that some say has nothing to do with such a service.

Panel: Rethink lifetime supervision for sex offenders

Lawmakers should revise state law to limit the number of sex offenders subject to lifetime supervision, focusing the state’s scarce resources on the highest-risk offenders, a state panel recommended Tuesday.

The move comes after a Des Moines Register probe in July showed Iowa’s experiment with lifetime monitoring of sex offenders would cost at the very minimum about $168 million over the next 20 years.

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Week of January 18th

Below is a summary of what happened this week with bills that CALCASA is tracking through the state legislature. The list includes bills that CALCASA is sponsoring, supporting and watching. We included links to each bill, so that you can read the text.

ASSEMBLY – APPROPRIATIONS

AB 558 (Portantino) Sexual assault crimes.
CALCASA Position: Support
Status: 1/21/2010 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 21).
Current Location: 1/21/2010 A-SECOND READING

AB 633 (Ammiano) Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: inmates and wards: classification.
CALCASA Position: Support
Status: 1/21/2010 From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 2.) (January 21).
Current Location: 1/21/2010 A-SECOND READING

AB 505 (Furutani) Sex offenders: housing.
CALCASA Position: Questions
Status: Status: 1/21/2010 In committee: Set, second hearing. Held under submission.
Current Location: 1/21/2010 A-APPR.

SENATE – APPROPRIATIONS

SB 733 (Leno) Crime victims: trauma center grants.
CALCASA Position: Concerns
Status: 1/21/2010 Do pass as amended.
Current Location: 1/21/2010 S-APPR. SUSPENSE FILE

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High court rejects challenge to Calif. prison plan

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected California’s challenge to a preliminary court order forcing the state to reduce its prison population, setting up the state’s appeal of a final order issued last week.

Rise in sex offender parolees living on the street

John Simerman reported earlier this week that “less than a year after state corrections officials tightened a $22 million spigot of free apartments and motel rooms for paroled sex offenders, the number of parolees who say they are homeless has nearly doubled, adding fuel for critics who say the tight living restrictions under Jessica’s Law threaten public safety more than bolster it.”

LAO: Much of federal aid in Schwarzenegger’s budget ‘very unlikely’

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “plan to cobble together a budget with rosy projections and billions in presumed — but “very unlikely” — federal aid means California could face even deeper spending cuts than anticipated, according to a review released Tuesday by the state’s nonpartisan budget analyst.”

Editorial When Will the Clock Strike for the Next Women’s Movement?

…Rape and domestic violence have gotten a good deal of media attention over the last year. Chris Brown infamously attacked his then girlfriend Rihanna, reality television contestant Ryan Jenkins assaulted and ultimately gruesomely murdered his new wife Jasmine Fiore before killing himself, and Roman Polanski reemerged with his 30 year old statutory rape case in tow.

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Week of January 11th

Below is a summary of what happened this week with bills that CALCASA is tracking through the state legislature. The list includes bills that CALCASA is sponsoring, supporting and watching. We included links to each bill, so that you can read the text.

Assembly Public Safety

AB 588 (Portantino) Sexual assault crimes.
CALCASA Position: Support
Status:  1/13/2010 From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Re-referred. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (January 12).
Current Location: 1/13/2010 A-APPR.

AB 633 (Ammiano) Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: inmates and wards: classification.
CALCASA Position: Support
Status: 1/13/2010 From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Re-referred. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (January 12).
Current Location: 1/13/2010 A-APPR.

AB 984 (Nava) Crimes.
CALCASA Position: Support
Status: 1/12/2010 Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Current Location:  1/12/2010 A-APPR

AB 505  (Furutani) Sex offenders: housing.
CALCASA Position: Concerns/Watch
Status: 1/13/2010 From committee: Do pass, and re-refer to Com. on APPR. Re-referred. (Ayes 4. Noes 2.) (January 12).
Current Location: 1/13/2010 A-APPR.

Senate Public Safety

SB 46 (Alquist) Sex offenders: commencing trial: time.
CALCASA Position: Sponsor
Status: 1/13/2010 Set, second hearing. Failed passage in committee.
Current Location: 1/13/2010 S-PUB. S.

SB 677 (Yee) Human trafficking: property: seizure.
CALCASA Position: Support
Status: 1/13/2010 From committee: Do pass, but first be re-referred to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Current Location: 1/13/2010 S-APPR.

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John Simerman reported earlier this week that “less than a year after state corrections officials tightened a $22 million spigot of free apartments and motel rooms for paroled sex offenders, the number of parolees who say they are homeless has nearly doubled, adding fuel for critics who say the tight living restrictions under Jessica’s Law threaten public safety more than bolster it.”

Robert Coombs, the Director of Public Affairs, at CALCASA was interviewed for the story and said:

We’re finally at a point where we just have to acknowledge this is actually a problem, and it’s not one for lack of trying. It’s actually a public safety issue..

I don’t care if these guys have a nice lifestyle. But if you look at the research, it actually says if you reduce their stability you increase the risk of re-offense. I think we’ll start to see there really is that link. The way we find that out is through more victims.

A number of officials were interviewed for the story, including Senator George Runner and CDCR Undersecretary Scott Kernan.

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “plan to cobble together a budget with rosy projections and billions in presumed — but “very unlikely” — federal aid means California could face even deeper spending cuts than anticipated, according to a review released Tuesday by the state’s nonpartisan budget analyst.”

For more information, read the LAO’s latest report on the California budget.

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Schwarzenegger declares budget emergency, proposes deep cuts

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled an $82.9 billion state spending plan today that calls for no tax hikes but envisions pay cuts for state workers, reductions in services to California’s neediest residents – and on the benevolence of the federal government.

3 in 25 juveniles in detention are sexually abused, study finds

About 3 out of every 25 youths in state and privately run juvenile correctional facilities have experienced at least one incident of sexual victimization, according to a federal study released Thursday.

Will Trauma Recovery Center Fall Victim to Budget Nightmare?

Victims of violent crime in the city are about to be victimized again — by city budget cuts. Department of Public Health Director Mitch Katz included the city’s Trauma Recovery Center in the list of programs to be axed in mid-year budget cuts.

First Transgender Appointee Named

Amanda Simpson, the first known openly transgender presidential appointee in the United States, started work today at the US Department of Commerce. She is a senior technical advisor in the Bureau of Industry and Security. Prior to her appointment, Simpson was employed as the Deputy Director in Advanced Technology Development at Raytheon Missile Systems in Arizona. She is a certified flight instructor and test pilot and has degrees in physics, engineering, and business administration.

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