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Better off dead?

By Douglas A. Berman

The potential consequences of severe residency restrictions for sex offenders is highlighted by this news story out of Michigan, headlined "Man found dead in cold was turned away from shelters in past because he was sex offender."  Here are the basics: A man found dead on the streets Monday had tried in recent weeks to gain admittance to at least one of two Heartside missions, but was denied a bed because he is a registered sex offender. Officials say its possible Thomas Pauli might be alive today except for a state law prohibiting him from establishing a residence even for one night within 1,000 feet of a school, in this case, Catholic Central High, also located in the Heartside district. [Mission directors] decried a system where there are no exceptions to the so-called Megan's Law, which sets boundaries and restrictions for those on the list...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 29, 2009 (boomark / email).