ACLU Sues Indianapolis Over Sex Offender Ban

[Woodmonkey]

ACLU Sues Indianapolis Over Sex Offender Ban

INDIANAPOLIS*—*Six sexual offenders, including convicted child molesters and rapists, sued the city Wednesday to block a new ordinance that bans them from coming within 1,000 feet of parks, pools, playgrounds and other sites when children are present.

The six, including a college student who has joint custody of his 7-year-old son and has completed probation for child exploitation, are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, which filed the complaint seeking class-action status in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis.

The six allege the new ordinance is unconstitutionally vague, violates their rights to vote and attend church, and prevents them from freely traveling on streets and highways that may pass within 1,000 feet of the affected sites. They are seeking temporary and permanent injunctions barring the city from enforcing the new law.

"It is virtually impossible to travel through the streets and interstate highways in Marion County without passing within 1,000 feet of a playground open to the public, recreation center, bathing beach, swimming pool or wading pool, sports field or facility," the complaint said. "Moreover, there is no way for a person to know if he or she is passing within 1,000 feet."

The ordinance cleared the City-County Council by a 25-2 vote on May 15 and took effect immediately. It carries fines of up to $2,500 for violations.

The law includes an exception that permits sex offenders to visit those sites as long as they are with another adult who is not a convicted sexual offender.

The plaintiffs are identified only as John Does in the complaint. The father of the 7-year-old boy attends Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis and said he cannot travel to classes without passing within 1,000 feet of a banned site. He also works in an office within 1,000 feet of a city park with a playground.

Another plaintiff, a convicted rapist, attends a church that recently opened a recreation center. Both he and a third plaintiff say the new law prevents them from attending their polling places on Election Day.

Tenley Drescher, a deputy corporation counsel for the city of Indianapolis, said the city planned to litigate the matter to the end.

"We plan to vigorously defend the constitutionality of the ordinance," Drescher said. "The important part is protecting kids."

The Source

[Snowden]

It sounds outrageous to oppose it, but really - this time they make sense. To walk briskly on the opposite side of the street should be allowed, depending on where they live and if they are going shopping or to work. I wouldn't know how far 1000 feet is, and the molesters sure can't be mensas or they would be thinking of other things than abusing kids.

Now if they start doing their shopping in the school yards again, or loiter at the edge - put them in jail and leave them there. 1000 feet or yards or miles from one school will put them near another.

Or cure them. I think that would call for a lobotomy, though. They would really be upset about that!

[Woodmonkey]

I wish they had given the records of these offenders. IMO, anyone who ever goes after a child sexually should never be allowed around them and I don't care if they are inconvenienced in getting around a city because of that. As for voting - get an absentee ballot. Even better would be to leave children alone and innocent and they wouldn't even have these problems.

As for rape, the only thing I have a problem with is the statutory rape that involves 18, 19 years olds and high school kids.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by Snowden

It sounds outrageous to oppose it, but really - this time they make sense. To walk briskly on the opposite side of the street should be allowed, depending on where they live and if they are going shopping or to work. I wouldn't know how far 1000 feet is, and the molesters sure can't be mensas or they would be thinking of other things than abusing kids.

I don't see that they do make sense with predators who go after children for their sexual thrills. Those people should be inconvenienced and, after being arrested a few times, they'll be able to figure out what 1000 feet is

Now if they start doing their shopping in the school yards again, or loiter at the edge - put them in jail and leave them there. 1000 feet or yards or miles from one school will put them near another.

Or cure them. I think that would call for a lobotomy, though. They would really be upset about that!

They should not be given another chance to see if they going to start going after children again. These people are incredibly sneaky and that is how they got victims before.

As for curing them, that is not possible. They can only be contained.

[SherryGrace]

Or we could just kill them. Then they don't have to worry about how to get around the city and stay 1000 feet from the "forbidden zones" and we don't have to worry about the safety of women and children.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by SherryGrace

Or we could just kill them. Then they don't have to w