Part of Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry Act ruled unconstitutional

DETROIT (WTVB) – A federal judge has ruled that the Michigan’s Sex Offender Registry Act’s requirement of a 1,000 foot buffer around schools is too vague to be constitutional. The ACLU’s Marian Auckerman says no one knows where the thousand feet begins or ends or how to measure it. Federal judge Robert Cleland in Detroit has also struck down requirements that sex offenders report any changes to email addresses, telephone numbers and their car registration and license numbers to police. The ACLU brought the suit, they say that less than 5% of all sex offenders repeat offend, and the other 95% are forced to live unconstitutionally restricted lives. Republican State Senator Rick Jones says he is working with the Michigan State Police to rewrite the law to safeguard children, it will mean defining new boundaries around schools. Attorney General Bill Schuette says he is also preparing an appeal but the legislative route may be the fastest.