Sex-offender laws are ineffective and unfair, critics say

____ ____, 62, is a father, small-business owner and avid surfer. He’s also one of 105,000 people in California — and 760,000 nationally — listed as a sex offender. In accordance with federal law, his name, photograph and home address appear in a public, online offender registry. In 1979, ____, then 27, was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14. “I thought I could do whatever I wanted,” ____ says. “Add on some alcohol, and I was a real asshole.” Today, ____ considers himself a…

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Don’t Water Down This Law [Editorial]

Along with big-time drug dealers and terrorists, registered sex offenders may constitute the most odious group of individuals with which society must contend. But despite the disdain most people feel for them, a movement is afoot to strike down local ordinances that go beyond the limits of California law, which restricts only those sex offenders who are on parole and whose victims were under age 14 from visiting public parks without their parole officer’s OK. Full Editorial

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