Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Sex Offender Zoning and Workability

Sex Offender Zoning and Workability

The latest round in Iowa's attempt to make sex offenders literally go away by making it illegal for them to live anywhere. Des Moines seems to be following in Ely's footsteps here - and the whole state seems to be deliberately following in the steps of England circa 1800: banishment to some sort of Australia. The law flies in the face of the concept of rehabilitation, but on criminal justice issues in general more people are usually interested in vengeance anyway.

But the most fascinating part of this article is near the end:

The lawmaker who wrote the offender residency bill said he'd be open to revisit the legislation "if law enforcement comes back and says it's unworkable."


That's so important I need to say it again: "if law enforcement comes back and says it's unworkable."

Which is EXACTLY the role I think is appropriate and necessary for law enforcement, both the street cops and the prosecuting attorneys. The rebel in me wants "we're not going to enforce unworkable laws," I know better than to expect that, though it would be fun to hear a no-chance, Freak Power In The Rockies candidate say it. A perfectly legitimate version would be "I have to enforce this law but it's a really stupid law that needs to be changed." And with the county attorney's office open, it's the kind of talk that would be useful on the campaign trail. Of course, I'm talking more about drug and alcohol laws here. The same principle applies to city officials stuck dealing with unworkable state laws. What I wouldn't give for a city council candidate whose answer to the underage (sic) drinking "problem" is "The problem isn't the drinking, it's the age, and I'm going to go to Des Moines and lobby to get the law changed."

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