AR: sex-offender housing laws raise hitch; with doors closed to them, many become homeless, difficult for state to track
Legislators have passed several laws over the past couple of decades that limit where sex offenders can live in hopes of keeping communities safe, but some state officials say such laws often impede registrants from successful rehabilitation.
Arkansas prison officials say they must figure out a better way of housing sex offenders released from prison because a growing number of them are homeless and tracking them has become a national concern.
“They have to go somewhere,” said Dina Tyler, a spokeswoman for Arkansas Community Correction. “The community reaction to sex offenders is usually what you expect, but it leads us back to what do we do with them?”
Arkansas has about 16,750 registered sex offenders, an increase from the 15,800 recorded in 2018. More than 3,236 registered sex offenders in Arkansas are incarcerated — another problem in an already overflowing prison system.
Over the past two decades, legislation has restricted housing for sex offenders and given local jurisdictions the power to implement restrictions as they see fit.
Tyler said such residency restrictions narrow offenders’ housing options. Sometimes, rules barring offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools, churches or day care centers rule out entire cities. The rules can also extend to many transitional houses that are available for former prisoners.
It has created a problem for the state because offenders’ parole plans, which offer support and increased monitoring of people formerly incarcerated, must include securing a place for the former prisoner to live.
SOURCE
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I was taught that when you commit or are alleged to have committed a crime it’s against the people of the state of ( what ever state it occured in ) so your sentence is ” payment ” to the people of that state. So how is it you have to register in another state ? That’s paying a price to another state who’s people you owe nothing since your crime or alleged crime did not occur in there state . nope not punitive nor double jeopardy……..laughs sarcasticly
My question is, someone is finally removed from the list, THEN move away??? Right into another states trap? THEN you stay there? Move back for Heavens sake. If they tell you, you got to register, say no thank you and move back to where they removed you. Why stay there and accept that?
I would move to mars to get off this registry. Not because I have anything to hide but because I want to be able to support my elderly parents and I just cannot do that on the registry. Every time someone takes a chance on me after I tell them the truth, eventually somehow the registry thing works its way into me being fired or forced to quit.
I earned my last paycheck in 2014 and am now on welfare which I hate, and living with my parents.
The “loophole” that politicians slither through in order to maintain the registration regime is the question of “punishment.” The Supreme Court’s Doe v Alaska decision (2003) held that the state’s registration requirements were non-punitive, but represented a legitimate “civil” regulatory measure. There is also the secondary question of whether a statute is “narrowly” tailored to meet valid public safety goals.
Many states have seen that case as carte blanche to enact any restrictions they choose. It is not punishment so constitutional challenges, e.g. ex post facto, have generally failed in the courts. This assumption is being challenged, with some success.
If the high court were to declare registration as punishment, even in an “as applied” case from a single state, registration will be open to multiple constitutional challenges. States could be flooded with expensive lawsuits, which may get their attention. I’m not a lawyer, so don’t take this as legal gospel, just one person’s opinion.
Gee why don’t we all just take over our own state seeing how nobody wants us around! Just give all of the nation’s sex offenders 1 state to live amongst themselves and problem solved.
I hope this is a sarcastic comment
Sort of like they did in Australia. Soon they built a thriving nation and had their own law enforcement, jobs and industry and own Government.
But sounds more like what they did to my ancestors people when they were all gathered up and sent to reservations. If my Great Grandmother had not escaped the “Round up” I probably would not exist today.
“tracking them has become a national concern.”
Here is an idea. Do the lawful and constitutional thing and like other people who did their time, leave them alone and let them go on with their lives.
Do you track any other group of people who have committed a crime? Maybe but no where near an extent as you do to us.
We are SOOOO sorry you have having such a hard time tracking us. Guess you need to raise our taxes to pay for more officers to come live with us and hold our hands 24/7.
some of us have not been arrested in over 3 decades but according to your ideas ( Those of the officials ) we just haven’t been caught again yet. We are broken goods for life………………
I was going to comment on the same thing but you beat me to it. Dang it! LOL
Actually I typed that THEN read the comments and someone had actually beat me to it as well lol
Just shows we are all on the same page of thinking
If you cannot reach the article through the “SOURCE” link, then go through:
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2019/dec/29/sex-offender-housing-laws-raise-hitch-2/
Here’s and idea Arkansas and the other 49 states. Stop requiring offenders to register if they have completed prison sentence and probation. You are not following the Constitution of the United States. Sex offenders have already been punished by prison and community control i.e. probation, ankle monitor etc. The Registry is double jeopardy because in imposed a 3rd lifetime punishment. Statistics so that a large percentage of sex offenders don’t reviolate. But it seems when the percentage is used by media and law enforcement the numbers get somehow flipped to show most sex offenders recommit a crime for which they end up back in prison making $$$$$ for the state with taxpayers money. But guess what a drug dealer or thief has a higher chance of recommitting a crime but somehow they do less time and have no restrictions placed on them by society. Let’s end the registry see what happens. It can always be reinstated. Thank you for your time if you read this.
ROM,
You make a very valid point, one that I have been trying to make in the hopes of such a valid point getting passed on to attorneys who can professionally argue it. That point is; The registry requirements should end at the same time probation and any attachment to the DOC ends (parole).
My registration ended after 10 years but my probation was also 10 years. I was in S.O. treatment group with guys who only had 5 or 7 years of probation but had to ride out the 10 years of registration (state of Connecticut). It’s certainly not fair play at all.
The other thing is this – when you’re registration comes to an end in whatever state you live in, you should NOT be forced to register yet again in another state that you move to or visit on vacation. When these punishments end (probation and registration) the idea in our minds is that we get our lives back and do what ever other person gets to do. But nooooooo! Each state with its own half assed laws will force you to register based on the crime and the registration that THEY require. So how is this a country of unity? It’s not. Period.
Most people don’t even know they’d have to re-register in another state and find out when they get there and get ‘discovered’ either from a traffic stop or getting a new drivers license in that state.
I’m living under the radar for as long as I can because I just found out about this nonsense.
If I have to, I’ll move back to my original state or a state that HONORS the ended punishment requirements from my original state.
But I am NOT going back on the registry. Come hell or high water, I am NOT going back on the registry. Period!
The fact that there IS a registry would be used as evidence WHY most don’t reoffend. Gl with it.
Rom you are preaching to the choir. Nobody cares but us, Our families, the F.A.C and a handful of attorneys.