It’s a debate engulfed with concern and emotion in California, as a number of criminal justice leaders and lawmakers – including Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey – work to revamp the state’s sex offender registry system. As it stands, more than 105,000 people are listed as sex offenders in California; however, the state Senate recently approved a proposal that would allow the names of those who had committed non-violent or lower-level sex offenses to be expunged after one or two decades. California is one of just four states in the country that mandates lifetime enrollment for sex offenders, joining Florida, Alabama and South Carolina. The third tier would hold the most serious sex offenders, such as those considered “sexually violent predators.” Those in this tier would still require lifetime registration. Republican Sen. Jeff Stone of Murrieta stressed that it remains crucial for residents to know if sex offenders, irrespective of how long ago the crime was committed, live nearby.

Source: Fox News June 18, 2017 20:24 UTC