Allegheny Co. Sued Over Sex Offender RestrictionsAreas With Schools, Parks, Child Care Centers Off-LimitsPOSTED: 7:18 am EDT October 7,
2008 PITTSBURGH -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project are challenging Allegheny County's restrictions governing where registered sex offenders may live.The county's ordinance, passed last October, prohibits offenders from living within 2,500 feet of schools, licensed child care facilities, community centers and public parks.The ACLU says the ordinance is unconstitutional and amounts to after-the-fact punishment and offenders will have virtually no place to live in the county."In most cases it's really important to have them with or near family. Living close to the job, living close to mass transit, living close to counseling and drug and alcohol support kinds of services. And with Allegheny County's ordinance, virtually all of those locations where you've got that kind of access are off limits now, said Vic Walczak of the ACLU.The ACLU is also seeking a preliminary injunction in federal court to stop the ordinance from taking effect. It was supposed to take effect March 1.The county hasn't responded to the suit.
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