Any Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney understands there is much more at stake for a defendant in a sex crime case than just jail time. There is a new "Scarlet Letter" that is painted on the record of anyone convicted of a sex crime in California, and it takes the most skilled lawyer to be able to clear a person's name. On Monday, the California Supreme Court upheld residency restrictions for sex offenders, ruling that thousands may be barred from living near schools and parks. The 5-2 decision permits California to continue enforcing residency restrictions on thousands of sex offenders who were paroled after Proposition 83 took effect in November 2006. The decision will also allow California to enforce the residency restrictions on those who were convicted years before the law took effect. Proposition 83, also known as “Jessica's Law", bans sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of schools or parks where there are children present. Four sex offenders on parole challenged the law, saying that there was no place in which to live and be in compliance of the law in the cities to which they had been paroled. Although the four parolees were convicted before Proposition 83 passed, the decision will require them to adhere to the residency rules that were put in place after Proposition 83 was passed. In densely populated cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, it is difficult for sex offenders to comply with the rules because of the proximity of schools and parks to housing. Offenders do have the right to challenge the residency rules before a judge if they have a legitimate claim of not having a place to live due to the residency restrictions. The main defense that an accused sex offender can have, however, is staying off of sex offender registry lists in the first place. A sex offense charge can have serious consequences, including the housing issues mentioned above, so avoiding a sex offender registry list altogether is the best defense against these consequences. If you have been charged of a Los Angeles sex crime, you need a Los Angeles sex crime attorney team on your side to protect your rights at all times. The proximity of schools and parks to housing in Los Angeles makes it difficult for sex offenders to comply with the residency rules placed upon them. Having a knowledgeable and professional team on your side will prove to be beneficial to you as housing becomes increasingly scarce for registered sex offenders. The team at Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP can help protect your rights as a parolee and will fight to keep you off of sex offender registry lists so that you can live your life as normally as possible. Contact us immediately at 1-877-781-1570 for more information on Los Angeles sex crimes and how our team can help you in your time of need. Tagged as: los angeles criminal defense attorney, los angeles sex crime defense attorney