In cities across the United States neighbourhoods have figured out an ingenious way to keep sex offenders away. Yet by doing so they’re jeopardizing their own safety writes Ian Lovett:

• In certain cities laws prohibit registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or public park.
• Those who want to keep sex offenders away then lobby to have small “parks” built – some which are barely large enough to hold a swing set – to keep sex offenders away from the community.
• One playground installation company even advertises its service as a way to keep sex offenders out.
• Yet the increasing use of this practice is leaving sex offenders with nowhere to live. And studies indicate that homeless sex offenders are more likely to commit crimes since they’re difficult to track and have nothing to lose.

Read more about what neighbourhood groups have to say, the politicians who have built their career in part due to these ‘parks’, and why it’s against homeowners interest to do this over here.

Source: The New York Times

Via: Marginal Revolution