PA Supreme Court Strikes Down Residency Restrictions

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously invalidated an Allegheny County ordinance that imposed residency restrictions on registered sex offenders

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,lawyers argued that the ordinance simply supplemented Megan's Law, but in a 7-0 opinion, Chief Justice Ronald Castille wrote that it conflicted with Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole policies and subverted state legislative goals, forcing sex offenders to live in "localized penal colonies of sorts."

"Isolating all sex offenders from their communities, support systems, employment and treatment is an approach contrary to that of the General Assembly, which requires individually tailored assessments and assistance with rehabilitation and reintegration for appropriate offenders," Justice Castille wrote.

To read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11147/1149501-454.stm#ixzz1NqGVBlSW