Newsletter Issue #2 May 2023
Iowa Legislature Watch 2023
The Iowa state legislature meets during the first quarter of every year (January – March). In the past the legislature has been able to pass bills that are harmful to registered citizens and their families without hearing any objections.
For the last two legislative sessions Iowans Unafraid has worked to stop this backroom dealing. Last year we surprised legislators by speaking up at hearings for the first time, forcing them to weaken bills being considered.
This year registrants and loved attended a subcommittee hearing to speak up for our rights. A harmful bill that would have clawed former registrants back onto the Iowa registry and required lifetime registration for all of us looks dead now because lawmakers admitted it was “probably unconstitutional.”
Iowans Unafraid will be watching to ensure that this and other bad legislation doesn’t rear its ugly head again. If you would be interested in coming with us to Des Moines if our voices are needed at future hearings, contact Heather Wagner at prisonisntworking@gmail.com
Iowa Civil Commitment Unit patient claims state forced castration
A patient at Iowa’s Cherokee Civil Commitment Unit (CCUSO) has demanded $2.25 million from the state for damages including “forced castration” after an improperly close relationship with a psychologist. Jeff Goodwin’s attorney says his client suffered from “prolonged confinement and forced castration.” A spokesman for the Iowa Department of Human Services did not respond to requests for comment on Goodwin’s claims.
Goodwin alleges that the therapist committed malpractice and the state failed to take remedial action. The two allegedly watched pornography together and the therapist encouraged Goodwin to fondle himself in her presence and write sexually motivated fantasies about her. The state has denied those claims, but the therapist was terminated from her role at CCUSO in 2019 after an investigation of Goodwin’s complaints.
Goodwin was left at CCUSO to sort out how he was manipulated. Gus Elgers, a former facility psychologist there, asserts that CCUSO administration intentionally treated Goodwin in a way that would lead him to conclude physical castration was a viable option. “(They) planted the idea in his head,” said Elgers.
In his lawsuit against the state filed last May, Goodwin alleged the relationship with the therapist significantly reduced or eliminated his chances of graduating from CCUSO’s treatment program. Goodwin was actually close to completion at the time. But his treatment progress vanished completely because he also violated CCUSO rules in fostering the relationship with Sanders, which led to him being demoted to phase one.
Iowa sheriff misleads citizens about registry compliance checks
Compliance checks in October 2022 on Scott County (Davenport) registered sex offenders led to the arrest of 10 people for so-called “registration violations” and investigations into seven others, Sheriff Tim Lane said.
Of 418 home compliance checks were done on the current 507 registered sex offenders living in Scott County, only 17 (or 4%), were found to be non-compliant.
“The goal of the registry is to insure voluntary compliance,” Lane said. But instead of working with registrants to voluntarily correct registry information, ten were arrested and there are investigations going on with the other seven. “Our goal is to find violations,” he added.
“The ultimate goal of the registry is to eliminate recidivism. The recidivism rate for sex offenders is actually lower than it is for other crimes.” Lane said, showing that he actually is aware of the truth about recidivism rates. But then he added, “I attribute that to the hard work of the Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Department of Corrections,” which misrepresented the facts.
None of those arrested committed a new sexual offense. Instead they (probably mistakenly) failed to provide information that no other “free” person has to provide.
NARSOL National Conference coming June 22-25 in Houston TX
Mark your calendars: June 2023 – The National Association for Rational Sex Offender Laws (NARSOL) is the nation’s largest organization fighting the injustices of S.O. registries. Iowans Unafraid is a NARSOL affiliate. The annual NARSOL conference offers educational workshops, speakers with legal and advocacy expertise, and inspiring stories from the front lines of our fight for justice, all in a safe and welcoming environment.
This year’s national conference is in Houston, TX. To learn more and register for the conference go to https://narsol.org/
