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Monday, July 12, 2004
Indiana Law - State laws on sex offenders
"Getting tougher on sex offenders: Region officials wonder if Indiana, Illinois laws are tough enough" is the headline to this story today in the Munster NWI Times. A quote:
Thirteen states and one city have adopted specific laws regulating where sex offenders can live or visit, The Times' research shows. Most of those laws keep sex offenders from living within certain distances of schools, day-care centers and other places where children gather. The remaining states leave such restrictions to the discretion of judges and probation officers on a case-by-case basis. * * *Lake and Porter County probation officials believe that keeping predatory sex offenders on parole or probation for life -- thus leaving the residency restriction in place forever -- is an idea worth exploring.
However, if lawmakers in Indiana, Illinois or elsewhere intend to toughen existing residency restrictions on sex offenders or adopt new ones, civil rights experts argue they should do so with caution.
Such laws in at least two states are embroiled in constitutional challenges that argue residency restrictions punish offenders beyond their jail or prison sentences, drive predators underground and provide only a false sense of safety. * * *
While the law has withstood scrutiny in Alabama, constitutional challenges in both Iowa and Arkansas have kept legal officials from enforcing the regulations. * * *
Indiana and Illinois are among the states that impose restrictions on where some sex offenders can live in relation to schools and day-care facilities.
But when considering tougher models in Arkansas and Alabama, legal officials in the region wonder whether Indiana and Illinois also should adopt more restrictive laws to keep offenders farther away from schools -- and other potential victims -- longer.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 12, 2004 02:54 PM
Posted to Indiana Law