CALIFORNIA
KEYT
[with video]
Tracy Lehr, KEYT – KCOY – KKFX Reporter, tracy@keyt.com
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. –
Some registered sex offenders will be able to live by schools and parks under a new court ruling.
The California State Supreme Court ruled that the voter-approved Jessica’s law ban on all registered sex offenders goes too far.
The ruling stems from a San Diego County case, but will soon be applied statewide.
Corrections officers will determine on a case by case basis whether a parolee is allowed to live near schools and parks.
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley said, “The California sex offender management board has long recommended tailoring residency restrictions to fit the offender and the offense. The California Supreme Court noted that when applied to all offenders the restriction has created many problems and made it impossible for law-enforcement to track offenders when a new crime is committed because their whereabouts are unknown. Transient sex offenders are a bigger danger to public safety than the ones whose residence address is known to police. this change will be in the interest of Public Safety because it will allow law enforcement to keep closer track of offenders. High risk child molesters will still not be able to live near schools or parks.
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