Registered Sex Offenders in Tustin Now Able to Find Housing
If you are convicted of a sex crime, you will likely be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life. This will make it very difficult for you to find suitable housing, as most cities in California ban sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, park, or any place where children gather.
However, it will likely soon be easier for registered sex offenders to find housing in Tustin, California.
Sex Offender Restrictions in Tustin
In the city of Tustin, registered sex offenders are banned from living within 2,000 feet of schools, day cares, parks, and any place where children gather. Rather than trying to determine if a registered sex offender is a danger to the community, the state of California and city of Tustin simply placed residency restrictions on all registered sex offenders.
This ban also prevented sex offenders from becoming permanent or temporary residents in hotels or motels within Tustin. Additionally, two or more sex offenders couldn’t live in the same home or multifamily dwelling unless they were married or related to each other.
This left only about two square miles where registered sex offenders could live in Tustin, a problem sex offenders face in many cities. However, the Tustin City Council recently voted to repeal those restrictions.
Ending these residency restrictions would make it easier for registered sex offenders to find suitable housing. The city council will meet again on Sept. 6, where the residency restrictions are expected to be officially repealed.
Why Repeal Sex Offender Residency Restrictions?
So why is the city of Tustin all of a sudden changing its tone when it comes to sex offender housing? Well, higher courts recently held that individual cities can make their own laws for residency restrictions on sex offenders.
As a result, 10 lawsuits against cities have already been filed, with four cities repealing the restrictions and a fifth revising them. Many feel that these restrictions are unconstitutional and for registered sex offenders. Dictating where a person can live has the potential to separate families from each other or force registrants into homelessness.
The Tustin City Council cited low sex offender re-offense rates as the main reason for repealing the residency restrictions.
Want to End Your Requirement to Register as a Sex Offender?
The city of Tustin electing to repeal its residency restrictions against sex offenders is a sign that cities and the state overall are seeing the injustices they have caused sex offenders by forcing them to register. However, the best way to stop these injustices is by ending your obligation to register as a sex offender.
At Wallin & Klarich, our skilled sex crimes attorneys may be able to help you end your requirement to register as a sex offender. With offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino, Torrance, Victorville, and West Covina you can find a dedicated Wallin & Klarich attorney no matter where you are.
Call us now at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.
