A judge has temporarily blocked a new law which would restrict the distance a sex offender may live from a park or school. According to a news report by The Associated Press, the Superior Court judge said he made the decision because the provision under Jessica’s Law would give convicted sex offenders too few housing options after they get out of prison. If Jessica’s Law survives the temporary block, convicted sex offenders would not be able to live within 2,000 feet of a public or private school or park.
Convicted sex offenders face severe social penalties in addition to any fines or time in jail they may have to serve. Many sex offenders are required to register annually with local police departments. This puts sex offenders on a public Internet database, where neighbors can view where these individuals live and their criminal history with regard to the sex crimes. Sex crime registration is a valuable tool for parents to keep their children safe. However, it can be extremely harsh on a person who has served their time and is trying to lead a life as a productive citizen.
Laws that enforce such harsh penalties on sex offenders make it all the more important for anyone facing sex crime charges to fight the allegations in court with an experienced criminal defense attorney. In many cases, the charges can be reduced or thrown out.
The Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan understand that our clients’ lives are on the line. In cases where we cannot work for dismissal, we fight for alternative sentencing options for our clients so that they may avoid jail time. If you are facing sex crime charges in southern California, please call our law offices at 1-866-430-8383 right away to discuss your legal options at no cost.