{"id":352133,"date":"2023-11-20T08:54:44","date_gmt":"2023-11-20T13:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/residency-restrictions-for-sex-offenders.html"},"modified":"2023-11-20T08:54:44","modified_gmt":"2023-11-20T13:54:44","slug":"residency-restrictions-for-sex-offenders","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/residency-restrictions-for-sex-offenders.html","title":{"rendered":"Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/samuel-strom-j-d\/\">Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/samuel-strom-j-d\/\">Samuel Strom, J.D.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            November 20, 2023\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>Residency restriction laws are an attempt to curb the actions of sex offenders. States have passed their own laws regarding residency restrictions.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, Alabama passed its first residency restriction law in 1996. It prohibited offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school.<\/p>\n<p>This article summarizes sex offenses and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sex-offenders-and-sex-offenses-overview.html\">sex offender<\/a>\u00a0registries. It also discusses the Iowa law that shaped the current state of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/sexual-assault-penalties-and-sentencing.html\">sex offender punishment and sentencing options.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>A conviction for a sex crime comes with life-altering consequences. If you have been charged with this type of crime, legal help from a skilled <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal defense attorney<\/a> is critical. An attorney can also help you understand sex offender registration rules.<\/p>\n<h2>What Are Sex Offenses?<\/h2>\n<p>Generally,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/assault.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sexual assault<\/a>\u00a0refers to sexual contact without the victim&#8217;s consent. In some cases, the victim is incapable of\u00a0consenting\u00a0to sexual contact.<\/p>\n<p>State and federal laws vary in terms of sex offenses. Regardless of the name given to a sexual assault, the law often severely punishes such crimes. Examples of sex-related crimes include the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/child-pornography.html\">Child pornography<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/statutory-rape.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statutory rape<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/sexual-abuse.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sexual abuse<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/sexual-battery.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sexual battery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/rape.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rape<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/indecent-exposure.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indecent exposure<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/solicitation.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Solicitation<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0minors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>An offender&#8217;s criminal history follows them throughout their life. Some sexual offenders, including sexually violent predators, are required to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/the-sex-offender-registry-what-you-need-to-know.html\">provide registration information<\/a> when they move into a community. Local laws also may affect where a sexual offender may live.<\/p>\n<h2>Sex Offender Registries<\/h2>\n<p>Convicted sex offenders released from confinement are recorded in\u00a0sex offender registries\u00a0(SOR).\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/smart.ojp.gov\/sites\/g\/files\/xyckuh231\/files\/media\/document\/final_sornaguidelines.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act<\/a>\u00a0(SORNA) provides minimum standards for SORs.<\/p>\n<p>Sex offender registration allows law enforcement to better protect public safety. The sex offender registry allows local law enforcement agencies to keep close tabs on people convicted of sexual offenses. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/the-sex-offender-registration-and-notification-act.html\">SORNA<\/a> also notes that the fact that convicted offenders know their information is in a public register may stop them from committing later sexual crimes.<\/p>\n<p>There are several registration requirements for registered sex offenders. These requirements may vary by state. Often,\u00a0law enforcement photographs the offenders at the initial registration. Some states require them to return to the police department or sheriff&#8217;s office on a regular basis\u00a0to keep an updated photograph on file.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, some states set deadlines for offenders to regularly update their information.<\/p>\n<h2>History of the Iowa Residency Restriction Law<\/h2>\n<p>Critics and supporters of residency restriction laws have watched\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/codes.findlaw.com\/ia\/title-xvi-criminal-law-and-procedure-chs-687-916\/ia-code-sect-692a-104\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Iowa&#8217;s law<\/a>\u00a0with interest since its passage in 2002. Iowa&#8217;s statute made it an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/misdemeanors.html\">aggravated misdemeanor<\/a>\u00a0for a sex offender convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor to reside within 2,000 feet of a school or childcare facility.<\/p>\n<p>The law did not apply if the person established residence before the law took effect or before there was a school or daycare center. The law also did not apply if:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The offender was a minor or a ward<\/li>\n<li>Resided in a healthcare facility<\/li>\n<li>Was serving a sentence\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/civil-commitment.html\">civil commitment<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Residency Restrictions Challenged in Federal Court<\/h2>\n<p>Three named sex offenders soon challenged the Iowa law in federal\u00a0district court. They claimed the law was unconstitutional. The case was certified as a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/class-action-cases.html\">class action<\/a>\u00a0on behalf of other sex offenders to whom the law would apply.<\/p>\n<p>At trial, the\u00a0plaintiffs\u00a0presented evidence that in some cities, the law would limit sex offenders to small areas of residency. In small towns, a single school or child care center could mean the entire town was off-limits.<\/p>\n<p>The district court ruled that the law was unconstitutional on several grounds:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The law was an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/ex-post-facto-law.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ex post facto law<\/a>, meaning\u00a0it would apply to people who had been convicted before the law went into effect.<\/li>\n<li>The law violated the plaintiffs&#8217; right to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/fifth-amendment-right-against-self-incrimination.html\">avoid self-incrimination<\/a>\u00a0as it required registrants to report their addresses, even those not in compliance with the law.<\/li>\n<li>The law violated the plaintiffs&#8217;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/due-process.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">due process rights<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The law infringed on their fundamental\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/traffic\/drivers-license-vehicle-info\/what-is-the-right-to-travel.html\">rights to travel<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The law infringed on how the plaintiffs could conduct their family affairs.<\/li>\n<li>Iowa did not narrowly tailor the law to serve a\u00a0compelling state interest.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The government\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/appealing-a-court-decision-or-judgment.html\">appealed<\/a>\u00a0the court&#8217;s ruling.<\/p>\n<h2>Reversal of Federal Court Ruling<\/h2>\n<p>On\u00a0April 29, 2005, the\u00a0U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals\u00a0reversed the district court&#8217;s decision. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-procedure\/appeals-appellate-courts-and-costs.html\">appellate court<\/a> ruled no constitutional right to &#8220;live where you want&#8221; exists.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Circuit Court ruled that the right against self-incrimination was premature, as no criminal\u00a0prosecution\u00a0for violating the residency rule had yet occurred.<\/li>\n<li>It found the constitutional right to travel is primarily a right to\u00a0interstate\u00a0travel. It determined the Iowa law was constitutional because it did not bar offenders from crossing state lines.<\/li>\n<li>The Circuit Court dispensed with the argument regarding family affairs because the law did not limit who could live with the sex offender.<\/li>\n<li>The U.S. Supreme Court addressed the ex post facto issue in a\u00a02003 decision, a challenge to a similar law in Alaska. Two judges agreed that the law didn&#8217;t amount to an\u00a0ex post facto punishment.<\/li>\n<li>What about due process? The Eighth Circuit ruled that the law did not deprive the plaintiffs of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment5\/annotation05.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">procedural due process<\/a>\u00a0because the law was not unconstitutionally vague. Most importantly, the court ruled that the plaintiffs were not entitled to individualized hearings or any opportunity to be heard concerning whether the restrictions should apply to each individual.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The plaintiffs acknowledged that Iowa enacted the law to promote the safety of children. They also recognized this was a legitimate legislative goal. But plaintiffs argued that the law was irrational. They asserted there was no evidence to suggest that residency restrictions would enhance child safety.<\/p>\n<p>The Circuit Court rejected the plaintiff&#8217;s argument. It noted that state policymakers were entitled to employ\u00a0common sense.\u00a0The Court noted that &#8220;limiting the frequency of contact between sex offenders and areas where children are located is likely to reduce the risk of an offense.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The judges ruled that plaintiffs did not establish that the law&#8217;s punitive effect would override the legislature&#8217;s &#8220;legitimate intent to enact a nonpunitive, civil regulatory measure that protects health and safety&#8221; of the state&#8217;s citizens.<\/p>\n<h2>The Iowa Statute After the Eighth Circuit&#8217;s Decision<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. Supreme Court refused to review the case after the Eighth Circuit&#8217;s ruling. In Des Moines, officials added parks, libraries, swimming pools, and recreational trails to the list of protected zones.<\/p>\n<p>By 2021, more than 30 states enacted residency restrictions. Moreover, some local governments\u00a0implemented their own limits. Courts have, in general,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/article3\/annotation03.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">found such laws constitutional<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Some court decisions have struck down laws more restrictive than the Iowa law. An example is a 2017 Wisconsin case.<\/p>\n<p>There, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/legal-system\/federal-vs-state-courts-key-differences.html\">federal court<\/a> struck down a community&#8217;s residency restrictions. It found the restrictions excluded sex offenders from over 90%\u00a0of the neighborhoods in that municipality.<\/p>\n<h2>Criticism of Residency Restrictions<\/h2>\n<p>While laws regarding sex offender residency restrictions are currently legal, researchers at the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers concluded that such laws provide a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mnatsa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/MnATSA-Residency-Restrictions-Feb-2019-Revised.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">false sense of security<\/a>\u00a0for community members. Furthermore, the study suggests these restrictions are counterproductive to reducing recidivism rates.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of residency restrictions argue that restricting where sex offenders may live deprives them of the ability to reintegrate into society successfully. They say living away from family, friends, social venues, and workplaces deprives offenders of support and employment and\u00a0prevents them from reintegrating into their community.<\/p>\n<h2>Learn More About Residency Restrictions for Sex Offenders From a Lawyer<\/h2>\n<p>What are the residency restrictions for people on the sex offender registry in your community? Have restrictions made it impossible to find housing and employment? Talk with a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/criminal-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">criminal defense attorney<\/a>\u00a0in your area. An experienced attorney can provide you with information regarding the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What restrictions your state&#8217;s Department of Corrections places on a registered offender&#8217;s residency<\/li>\n<li>The\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-law-basics\/how-does-the-criminal-justice-system-work.html\">criminal justice system<\/a>\u00a0and sex crimes\u00a0<\/li>\n<li>The effect of a subsequent\u00a0conviction\u00a0on your criminal history<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you are accused of a sexual offense, do not delay in contacting a criminal defense attorney. If you have experienced sexual assault, contact a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/sex-crime\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sex crime attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n               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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Residency restriction laws are a method some jurisdictions use to curb the actions of sex offenders, although research shows that they may not be that effective. Learn about residency restrictions for sex offenders and more at FindLaw&#8217;s Criminal Charges section.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":351991,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":[]},"categories":[2729],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-352133","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-criminal"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/352133","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=352133"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/352133\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/351991"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=352133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=352133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=352133"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=352133"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=352133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}