State parole officials have broken up a cluster of homeless convicted sex offenders who were camping out near a parole office in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Times reported today.
In Orange County, where more than a third of the paroled sex offenders are homeless, police estimated that 30 or 40 had taken to camping on the streets in this industrial stretch.
The situation appeared to stem from Jessica’s Law, the 2006 statute that forbids sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools, parks or other places where children gather, severely limiting lodging options in densely populated cities.
“These people have difficulty finding residence, so they make do,” said Anaheim police Lt. Julian Harvey.
As Voice of OC reported last week, homeless sex offenders are a rising problem. Some say the situation is exacerbated by restrictions on where convicted sex offenders can live.