Sex Offenders Allowed To Live Closer To Schools, Parks Under New California Regulations
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- California will alter its 8-year-old ban preventing all registered sex offenders from living near schools or parks, instead imposing the restriction only on pedophiles and others whose sex crimes involved children.
The state corrections department said Thursday that it is changing its policy in response to a state Supreme Court ruling that found the blanket prohibition unconstitutional. The high court ruled this month that restrictions imposed by California voters in 2006 go too far to limit where sex offenders can live.
Parole agents can still force sex offenders to live more than 2,000 feet from schools and parks where children gather, but will have to make the decision for individual cases.
It will take corrections officials about 60 days to review the files of about 6,000 sex offender parolees.
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