LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles is trying to force convicted sex offenders out of some neighborhoods by building parks near their homes.
The Los Angeles Times says LA is planning to spend millions of dollars to build three pocket parks in the Harbor Gateway and Wilmington areas.
State law prohibits sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a park or school. Officials say building the tiny parks in areas with large numbers of sex offenders will force dozens of them to move.
Officials and residents acknowledge that restrictions already make it hard for offenders released from prison to find places to live. But they argue children will be safer if high concentrations of sex offenders are reduced.
One critic says people are succumbing to hysteria.
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