Mary Ann McGivern  |  Feb. 2, 2016 NCR Today

 

I’ve been trying to help a sex offender I’ll call George to find a home plan in preparation for his release from prison in March. I’ve known this man for 10 years. His crimes are computer crimes and stupidity. Will he re-offend? Of course I don’t know. I do know it’s statistically unlikely that he would molest a child. But I don’t know.

What I also know is that if he can find housing and a job, he has a much better chance of not re-offending and public safety will be enhanced. But the state legislature has said in its wisdom that convicted sex offenders cannot live within a thousand feet of a day-care center. The two home addresses George has submitted have day-care centers exactly on the edge of that thousand-foot circle. Nope, say the parole officers who investigate home plans.

(Click link to read full story –  http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/sex-offenders-face-obstacles-well-intended-laws  )