William Dobbs, Author at Just Future Project

Articles posted by William Dobbs (Page 2)

The Dobbs Wire: Registries are not feminist!

Amid rising anger over sexual wrongdoing, a feminist writer takes aim at the sex offense registry. Reina Gattuso’s powerful essay questions the existence of an official government blacklist that now ensnares hundreds of thousands of individuals, have a look! -Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire info@thedobbswire.com Femnisting | Dec. 21, 2018 Why Should Feminists Be Against the Sex Offender Registry? By Reina Gattuso Established in the ‘90s following several high-profile rapes and murders of children, the sex offender registry used parental grief to propagate “tough on crime” policies. But there’s a problem: sex offender registries don’t…

The Dobbs Wire: 4.8% increase in one year – latest blacklist stats

The Dobbs Wire: More than 912,000 on government blacklists – 4.8% INCREASE in the number of sex offense registry listings in the last year The Dobbs Wire has produced a new chart with the latest sex offense registry statistics for every state and Washington DC, along with figures from 2017. One key indicator continues to *increase* — the total number on blacklists is now 912,643. That’s a 4.8% climb in the last 12 months! 42,001 listings have been added since 2017. These government blacklists produce no benefit to public safety but they sure pack…

The Dobbs Wire: Enlightenment and a trigger warning in Connecticut

Enlightenment and a trigger warning in Connecticut: A day-long event in Connecticut featuring a series of presentations about the sex offense registry proved enlightening and remarkable! One highlight was the first speaker who gave an overview, taking some trouble to explain the important and little-discussed concept of “moral panic” and the big impact that phenomenon has had, and continues to have, on sex offense laws. Drawn from research and professional experience, the remarks were even more resonant because the speaker is a jurist, Judge Mary Huffman of Ohio. Complementing Huffman’s talk was the next presentation, by Eric Janus, a Minnesota…

New Bruce Norris play ‘Downstate’ argues that sex offenders are people, too

Downstate, the new play by Bruce Norris running in Chicago through Nov. 11th, is getting great reviews! The Chicago Tribune gave it four stars and Downstate is a New York Times Critic’s Pick. Here is the blurb by Steppenwolf Theatre Company: “In downstate Illinois, four men convicted of sex crimes against minors share a group home where they live out their lives in the shadow of the crimes they committed. A man shows up to confront his childhood abuser—but does he want closure or retribution? This gripping and provocative new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning ensemble member Bruce Norris zeroes in…

The Dobbs Wire: Law students!

Sent: Mon, Oct 15, 2018 4:11 pm Subject: The Dobbs Wire: Law students! The Dobbs Wire: Sexual wrongdoing requires accountability – due process and, if needed, fair punishment. Nearly all politicians believe ordinary measures are not enough and for sex cases they’ve enacted extra punishments, a massive pile of state and federal laws and red tape with only dubious benefit to public safety. The “sex offense legal regime” is draconian, convoluted, complicated and destructive: Official blacklists (sex offense registries, special scarlet letter passports and drivers licenses), gulags (sex offense civil commitment), banishment (residency and presence restrictions), electronic monitoring, surgical and…

Banished

Daily life is a titanic struggle for people who are homeless and listed on the sex offense registry in Miami-Dade County. They’re up against banishment laws (‘residency restrictions’) that make just about every place with a roof off-limits, fear-mongering politicians, police with guns, and Ron Book, Florida’s most powerful lobbyist, and his daughter Lauren who is a state senator. It’s plain that the mighty are intent on crushing those who have little. Good luck to all those fighting for their rights and dignity, and to their legal eagles, Val Jonas, Brandon Buskey, and Jeffrey Hearne. The Marshall Project has a…

For some sex offenders, their deal with the state wasn’t really a deal

Piling on more punishment–will they get away with it? Texas, like many states, has amended its sex offense registry law multiple times, making it harsher. When they made changes lawmakers took pains to include individuals with past offenses, those who have already been sentenced. Piling on more punishment after-the-fact (“ex post facto”) is a constitutional no-no so legislators claim the registry is NOT punishment, merely a tracking scheme. Unfortunately courts often go along with this fiction and uphold registration laws. The registry is no slight matter, many of those living with a scarlet letter have been driven into poverty and…

Housing Restrictions Keep Sex Offenders in Prison Beyond Release Dates

Last week the prestigious New York City Bar Association hosted an important live panel discussion, “Banished from New York City.” A packed house heard about New York’s draconian sex laws including one with the innocent sounding name of SARA that has people in prison held past their release dates. Kudos to Christina Wong and the panel organizers and everybody at the NYC Bar Association for bringing attention to this issue. Here’s more information about the event and a link to the archived audio – have a listen! Also below is a news story for background. –Bill Dobbs, The Dobbs Wire…

Human Rights Defense Center: We Oppose Amendment 4!

Voting rights: In Florida, individuals with a felony on their record lose the right to vote; that’s how a large number of people, many of color, have been disenfranchised. Change on the horizon? If a proposal (Amendment 4) on the November ballot passes, the Florida constitution will be amended to automatically restore their voting rights. This is big, an estimated 1.5 million people would be affected. Now comes the Human Rights Defense Center with critical questions about the proposal: “The restoration of voting rights for people with prior felony convictions is long overdue—but we must ask: why are some people…

Steppenwolf’s new drama ‘Downstate’ explores the lives of sex offenders

Redemption: Is redemption possible or are wrongdoers forever condemned? Chicago’s renowned Steppenwolf Theater Company tackles that issue with “Downstate,” a new play by Pulitzer and Tony Award-winner Bruce Norris premiering in Chicago on Sept. 20 and running through Nov. 11, 2018; the play is already slated for a London production in spring 2019. Downstate comes to the stage as the U.S. criminal justice system is under increasing scrutiny and questions grow louder about draconian laws for sexual wrongdoing—measures that create scarce benefit to public safety while making a human and constitutional rights nightmare for many. Over 900,0000 are listed on…