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Abstract: 

Restrictions on sex offenders after they have been released from prison have significant implications for their daily life. Many localities have attempted to pass patchwork restrictions that minimize the free movement of sex offenders, and state laws, which have been enacted over decades and use regulatory structures with varying objectives, have become Byzantine. This article surveys and summarizes recent legislation at the state, county and municipal levels that impose or redefine the restrictions placed on offenders convicted of sex crimes. It includes a comprehensive table of bills and jurisdictions with summary data on enactment, scope, and the nature of the restrictions or prohibitions enforced.

Keywords: Elder safety zones; residence restrictions; registration and notification; stalking; polygraphs; tiered classification

Affiliations:  1: John Jay College of Criminal Justice.