Jacksonville's Sexual Offender Limits Challenged

Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:31 am

Jacksonville's Sexual Offender Limits Challenged

POSTED: 2:23 pm EDT September 22, 2006

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Three judges are hearing a challenge to Duval County's new ordinance restricting sexual predators from living within 2,500 feet of schools, playgrounds, parks, day-care facilities or libraries.

The public defender's office filed suit on behalf of a group of sexual offenders and predators, claiming the law is unconstitutional and unreasonable. The attorneys said the wording of Jacksonville's ordinance is vague and is double jeopardy, in that the convicted offenders and predators have already served time for their crimes and the law is like a second sentence.

On Friday, a psychologist and others testified the court that studies have shown residential restrictions do not have any affect on whether a sexual predator will commit the crime again.

Florida law restricts convicted sexual offenders from living within 1,000 feet of any school, day-care center, park or playground. In May, Jacksonville's City Council passed the ordinance with more restrictive standards.

The new law also requires the city to send a letter to residents living within 1,000 feet of a sexual predator when the convicted felon moves into their neighborhood.

Because several persons have challenged the law, three judges are hearing the case and will make separate rulings. There is no word on when they would rule.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/9912159/detail.html