Many states have set up boundaries as to where sex offenders can live, but now one state is telling them where they cannot spend their days.
In Florida, one of the leaders when it comes to sex offender legislation, recently passed a bill through the House that make it “a first degree misdemeanor if [registered sex offender] commits loitering or prowling within 300 feet of a place where children were congregating.” The Senate bill is still in committee at the present.
For Fort Lauderdale residents, the law could help solve a situation that has become known as the “Gary Kerpan Problem.” Kerpan was convicted of raping and killing a 12-year-old girl in Illinois in the 1970s. After serving 15 years in prison, Kerpan decided to move down to Florida and set up residence in Stranahan Park, which would violate his parole if he technically lived there. But since he is homeless, he can spend his days there or by any school bus stop in the area hassle-free, sort of.
This is just another example of Florida setting the stage for legislation that will, hopefully, see imitations in other states soon.
