It seemed simple enough. A law on the city of San Diego’s books to restrict where registered sex offenders can live has provisions deemed unconstitutional by the California Supreme Court. City Attorney Mara Elliott wanted the City Council to repeal the ordinance because San Diego could still be sued with it in place, even though the law hasn’t been enforced for years. But on Aug. 1, a majority of council members balked. It seems nothing is actually simple in politics when it comes to doing anything that could be distorted as going easy on…
Read MoreTag: Residency Restrictions
San Diego Sex Offender Residency Law Faces Uphill Legal Battle
[KPBS] An attorney filed a lawsuit in federal court on Monday challenging a San Diego law that restricts where registered sex offenders can live. The City Attorney’s Office may now face the difficult task of fighting a legal battle it is not confident it can win. San Diego’s “Child Protection Act,” passed by the City Council in 2008, bars registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of minor-oriented facilities, including arcades, schools, parks and libraries. The law has not been enforced since 2009 because of concerns over its legality.…
Read MoreJanice’s Journal: Shame On the San Diego City Council
The San Diego City Council took the wrong action for the wrong reason last week when they failed to repeal the city’s residency restrictions which, if enforced, would prohibit registrants from living in virtually all of that city. The wrong action was taken by five members of the City Council who voted against repeal of the city’s residency restrictions. The reason for their votes is beyond comprehension. In many votes taken by elected officials, the elected officials will vote against an issue because it is unpopular and could adversely affect…
Read MoreFL: Hundreds of Miami Sex Offenders Live in a Squalid Tent City Near Hialeah
Cradling a heavy box of Budweiser against his flour-dusted apron, Mario Medina clicks open the door and greets two waitresses behind the counter at La Cascada, a retro Cuban pizza parlor in Northwest Miami-Dade. Besides the voice of a sports commentator on the TV and sporadic blips from arcade games in the back, the restaurant is quiet, and all five tables are empty. It’s 30 minutes into the lunch rush hour, but only three weary patrons in construction boots sit hunched over glasses of cold beer at the bar.“Before, we…
Read MoreRegistrants Sue City of San Diego in Federal Court
Two registrants challenged in federal court today residency restrictions within the City of San Diego that prohibit registrants from living within virtually all of the city. The lawsuit was filed after the San Diego City Council refused to repeal the city’s residency restrictions despite a recommendation from the City Attorney because the restrictions are “likely not enforceable”. During the City Council’s meeting on August 1, Councilmembers defended the city’s residency restrictions and stated that they “don’t like them (registrants) living in our communities” as well as falsely stated that registrants cannot be rehabilitated. One Council member added that rejecting…
Read MoreWI: Family Says City’s Sex Offender Law Goes Way Too Far
MILWAUKEE (CN) — Prosecuted as an adult when he was 17 for having sex with another teenager, a married man with three children has been sleeping in his truck since a Milwaukee suburb forced him out of his house because he’s a sex offender, he says in a constitutional complaint. Full Article
Read MoreCity Council keeps sex offender ordinance intact despite attorney recommendation
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — The City Council declined to rescind an ordinance Tuesday restricting where registered sex offenders can live in San Diego, which could expose the city to a lawsuit. Full Article City Council Hearing, #51
Read MoreSex offenders who are homeless are the greater risk (Editorial)
The California Supreme Court made the right call in 2015 when it struck down the most onerous provisions of Proposition 83, known as Jessica’s Law, which prohibited registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a park or school — essentially banning them from finding housing in most cities and suburbs. Full Article
Read MoreSan Diego repealing sex offender laws that haven’t been enforced for years
San Diego is repealing city laws that restrict where paroled sex offenders can live, but the change won’t have any impact because the laws haven’t been enforced since at least 2009. Full Article
Read MoreCalifornia seeks to solutions to homeless sex offender rate
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has as many homeless sex offenders now as it did 2½ years ago, when a state Supreme Court ruling that overturned restrictions on where they could live was seen as a way to increase housing options and allow law enforcement to better track them. Full Article
Read MoreWI: Milwaukee may dramatically loosen sex offender residency restrictions
The City of Milwaukee may dramatically loosen its residency restrictions for sex offenders. The city’s current ordinance bans many sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of places like schools, parks, and day care centers. A measure set to be considered Monday by the Common Council would reduce that “buffer” to 500 feet. Full Article
Read MoreCity begins repeal of sex-offender residency rules
SAN MARCOS — The City Council has voted to start the process of repealing its sex-offender residency and loitering restrictions after receiving a letter threatening a lawsuit if it didn’t repeal the rules, which courts have ruled unconstitutional elsewhere. The San Marcos City Council’s July 25 vote for the first reading of the repeal was unanimous. Full Article
Read MoreOK: Closing sex offender loophole
Legislation has been filed seeking to close a loophole in Oklahoma statutes allowing sex offenders to live next door or near their victims. House Bill 1124, by Rep. Kyle Hilbert and Sen. James Leewright, seeks to change Oklahoma statutes to include the residency of the victim of a sex crime to the list of places that have a “zone of safety” around them. In Oklahoma law, the “zone of safety” is a 500-foot area around places that sex offenders are not allowed to loiter. However, the zone around a victim’s…
Read MoreWI: Why sex offenders suing southeast Wisconsin cities
Several southeast Wisconsin cities are now the target of federal lawsuits by registered sex offenders. The two civil rights attorneys representing them recently won a major verdict against Pleasant Prairie. Full Article
Read MoreOK: Lawmaker Seeks Change After Sex Offender Gets Out of Prison, Moves Next Door to Victim
When ____ ____ was 7 years old, her uncle ____ ____ sexually abused her, resulting in ____ being convicted in 2002. Now 21, ____ had hoped to put the ordeal behind her, but now she’s forced to deal with it every day, now that ____ is out of prison—and living in the house next door to her. Full Article
Read MoreTX: Gooden, Nichols pass sex offender legislation
Last weekend, legislation that allows smaller cities to enact the same regulations as larger cities on where sex offenders can reside, finally passed both houses of the Texas Legislature. Full Article
Read MoreWI: Sex offenders challenge Milwaukee residency restrictions
Six registered sex offenders are suing the City of Milwaukee over an ordinance that virtually bans them from living in the city, arguing the rules violate their constitutional rights. Full Article
Read MoreWI: Kenosha to loosen residency rules for sex offenders
Residency restrictions the city of Kenosha places on sex offenders could soon change. On Monday evening, the city’s Public Safety and Welfare Committee approved ordinance changes proposed by Mayor John Antaramian to repeal and recreate some of the city’s rules. The changes must still pass City Council later this month. The proposal would shorten from 2,500 to 1,000 feet the distance from a prohibited location where sex offenders could temporarily or permanently reside. Full Article
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