Across America states, under increasing pressure to confront the issue of child sex abuse, have passed laws severely restricting the behavior of convicted sex offenders. One of these restrictions includes requiring felons to register with local law enforcement so they can keep tabs with them. As stories of brutal attacks on children have become more frequent states have gone even further.
The State of Georgia passed a highly restrictive law dictated where sex offenders could work or reside. Essentially they could not live or work anywhere near a school, daycare center, etc or anywhere children are likely to be…This law also applied even if the convicted felon lived in a location where there were no children in close proximity but at some point in the future such a child oriented facility became located.
This stipulation was challenged and in a decision handed down today, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled this restriction was unconstitutional, essentially sex offenders would always be at risk and required to move anytime a new school, church, etc opens. The decision by Georgia’s high court was the right one and has implications for other states wrestling with this very same issue, but it begs the question.
If as many have deduced that sex offenders are forever dangerous with a propensity for recidivism then why are we releasing these individuals from prison in the first place. If society is at such risk by the presence of these felons then why not leave them in prison for life and if they are no threat to society them leave them alone, abolish sex offender registries and any other restrictions on their actions, lifestyles or behavior.
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/11/21/offenders_1122.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
