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A Delaware group home that assists ex-offenders in reentering the community may have to shut its doors when all of the residents are forced to leave in coming months. The reason for their evictions? A new school is moving into the neighborhood, one that will be just 7 feet too close to the home, making some of the residents, who happen to be convicted sex offenders, in violation of the rules that dictate where they can and cannot reside.

While this case happens to be in Wilmington Delaware, it’s a story that’s being repeated again and again across the country as convicted sex offenders are required to adhere to increasingly strict, and sometimes impossible restrictions.

The Harriet Tubmans Safe House is actually made up of two different homes, opened by their owner Earl W. Woodlen Jr. Woodlen isn’t a sex offender but he did do some prison time on drug convictions. He wanted to assist men coming out of prison by giving them a safe place to live. He says he didn’t judge the residents on what their convictions were because he wanted to provide a fresh start.

Under Delaware law, registered sex offenders cannot live within 500 feet of a school. And there are no exceptions in place—even if the school is built after the offender has moved into a particular neighborhood. One of the two houses is 493 feet from the new school, just seven feet short of being in a safe zone. Woodlen and the residents are filing suit in the U.S. District Court to hopefully gain an exception to this, the closer home.

Without the home opening their doors, these men may have had a difficult time finding somewhere else to live. And if they are evicted, there’s a chance some of them will be homeless. Homeless sex offender communities have popped up in several cities as these men cannot find suitable and affordable housing in areas that still comply with the many restrictions put upon them.

There’s a common misconception about sex offenders—that they always reoffend. This was the argument used by many lawmakers to get these restrictive laws passed in the first place. The truth is, however, that sex offenders are no more likely to reoffend than other offenders. But, like others with prior criminal convictions, the inability to find housing and employment can serious impact their recidivism rate.

While all states have some differences in their sex offender laws, many of the restrictions are similar, putting limits on where you can hang out, live, work, and how often you have to renew your registration. If anything, these restrictions add to the already heavy stigma associated with these sort of crimes.

When you are first charged with a sex offense, it can be difficult to hold your head up. You are likely ashamed and embarrassed and are probably going through one of the most difficult periods of your life. A criminal defense attorney can’t take away your shame, but they can be the one person in the system who is concerned with your rights.

If you are accused of rape, molestation, or another sexual offense, contact us for a legal defense consultation today.

Related posts:

1. When Sex Offender Laws Backfire