NC- Sex-offender law tougher

There has to be very ignorant people enacting and/or enforcing a law that prevents a person from freely exercising religious rights which are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. I find it hard to believe that a FULL legislature would not be aware of constitutional rights of every citizen, unless North Carolina is no longer a state of the United States. If such a law actually exists, there is a federal law (Title 42 sections: 1983 1985 1986) which permits persons so restricted to sue for damages and state employees have no immunity under such circumstances. This could make RSOs very rich, all NC RSOs should be visiting lawyers ASAP.

1st Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; ..."

12-1-2008 North Carolina:

Changes prohibit going to places kids might gather, raise questions about enforcement.

Neil Cagle was stocking shelves at his convenience-store job in Western North Carolina when a sheriff's deputy came by to tell him to quit going to church.

Cagle, 61, is a registered sex offender. Under his sheriff's interpretation of stricter rules on the state's 11,000-plus sex offenders, which take effect today, Cagle can no longer attend Sunday service because his church has a small nursery.

“I started going to that church when I was 12,” said Cagle, who did four years in prison for indecent liberties with a minor. Free three years, he said he tries to obey the law. “But every year they increase the things I can't do.”

To many, that's as it should be. But some experts warn the tougher law fails to distinguish between sex offenders most likely to reoffend and those determined to live clean lives.

Passed nearly unanimously and signed by the governor in July, the law aimed to bring the state into compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Act.

-Note: There is nothing in the Adam Walsh Act which prohibits RSOs from going to church. If this state legislature thinks so, then it is the most ignorant legislature in the nation..

The new law triples the time many offenders stay on the N.C. sex-offender registry to 30 years and requires they register in person within three business days of changing address. Starting today, it also makes them stay 300 feet from any place children might gather.

Depending on a sheriff's interpretation, that can mean not only day care centers, schools and youth camps – but also churches, malls and McDonald's Playlands.

Only 3.5 percent of sex offenders, according to one federal study, are sexual predators. Those need the closest monitoring, said Jill Rosenblum, a Chapel hill lawyer who has reviewed the issue. Under the new law, she worries, they may not draw enough attention because law enforcement will be so busy monitoring the others.

-I am quite sure the reporter has misquoted this, as the DOJ study says, 3.5% of sex offenders released from prison went on to be convicted of another sex crime within 3 years of release. The study says nothing about them being "sexual predators."

..News Source.. by Ruth Sheehan