Law barring sex offenders near schools temporarily blocked

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A federal judge has temporarily blocked Rhode Island from enforcing a law that bars certain sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school.

U.S. District Judge John McConnell on Friday issued a temporary restraining order for 10 days, granting a request by the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The law was enacted this year and applies to Level 3 sex offenders, considered the most likely to reoffend.

The ACLU filed a class action lawsuit against the state this week. It says the law is unconstitutionally vague, violates due process, retroactively punishes those who already completed their sentences and interferes with privacy interests without a legitimate purpose.

The state argued similar restrictions have been imposed elsewhere, and those affected can find other places to live.