VT- Editorial: Sex offender residency limits offer no security

2-13-2009 Vermont:

The challenge against the Barre City ordinance restricting where registered sex offenders may live was almost inevitable given the raft of questions about individual rights and due process involved.

The residency restrictions are a perfectly understandable attempt to keep the community safe from a truly heinous crime, yet deeply troubling in that it seeks to punish even people who have served their sentences and are meeting all conditions imposed by the court.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the suit on behalf of a man ordered to leave his apartment with his family or face a daily fine, also argues that there is no proof that keeping registered sex offenders from living in the neighborhood had any impact on the safety of that area.

A day after the suit was filed, Barre granted ____ a reprieve, allowing him to stay in the apartment without incurring the daily fine for up to 60 days while the court weighs the issue.

The idea that residency restrictions do little to reduce the threat from sex offenders is even included in Vermont's toughened sex offender law signed by Gov. Douglas this year. That calls into question the whole purpose of the Barre ordinance. An ineffective measure that only makes us feel safer against crime is worse than taking no measure at all.

The Barre ordinance prohibits sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school, park or day care center. That renders much of the city off limits to sex offenders. The message is clear: Send them packing.

So, where does ___ go?

Give him a bus ticket to St. Johnsbury, or Burlington? How about Calais? Certainly not Rutland which also restricts where registered sex offenders may live.

Unless we are ready to keep such individuals in government-maintained safe houses for life, we have no choice but to find a room for them in town somewhere.

The good officials of Barre are correct in wanting to protect their residents. This is not the way to do it. ..Editorial Source.. Burlington Free Press