Victorville Repeals Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
If you are convicted of a sex crime in California, you will likely have to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life under California Penal Code Section 290. Being labeled as a sex offender can greatly impact your life. You may not be able to find employment or housing, and you will have to deal with a negative stigma that will follow you everywhere you go.
However, some cities are trying to make it easier for sex offenders to find adequate housing. The latest city to repeal residency restrictions for sex offenders is Victorville.
Victorville Eliminates Sex Offender Residency Restrictions
In California, “Jessica’s Law,” which was voted into law in 2006, prohibited registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park. After it passed, many cities passed their own stricter local ordinances with the same residency restrictions out of fear that Jessica’s Law would be difficult to enforce otherwise.
Municipal code in Victorville made it a misdemeanor crime for registered sex offenders to establish a permanent or temporary residence in the city within 2,000 feet of specified “protected locations.” These locations included schools, child care facilities, parks, arcades, homeless shelters and anywhere else children may gather.
However, the residency restriction provision of Jessica’s Law was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2015. Facing a potential lawsuit, the city of Victorville recently repealed its residency restrictions and will now defer to existing state regulations on where sex offenders can live.
California Residency Restrictions Slowly Being Eliminated
The repeal may not come as a surprise. The 2015 Supreme Court case ruled that “blanket” residency restrictions are unconstitutional. This ruling applied specifically to the city of San Diego, but many California cities had similar ordinances in place.
Since the Supreme Court ruling was handed down, several California cities have faced lawsuits challenging residency restrictions. Rather than paying expensive fees to take on lawsuits cities are likely to lose due to the 2015 precedent, most cities decide to repeal “blanket” residency restrictions.
According to attorney and executive director of the Alliance for Constitutional Sex Offense Laws Janice Bellucci, 26 lawsuits have been filed in California challenging local ordinances.
Speak to Sex Crimes Attorney in Victorville Today
If you are facing sex crime charges in Victorville, you are facing severe consequences. Not only do you face jail or prison time and expensive fines, but you also could be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of your life if you are convicted of the crime. That is why you should speak to an experienced Victorville criminal defense lawyer immediately.
At Wallin & Klarich, our skilled and knowledgeable sex crimes lawyers have been successfully defending clients in Victorville for more than 35 years. We have an office located in Victorville and we have extensive experience in the local courts. Our lawyers understand the processes, policies and staff in Victorville criminal courts.
Call our office today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.
