SACRAMENTO - California will no longer bar all registered sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school or park, instead applying such restrictions on a case-by-case basis, state corrections officials announced Thursday.

The move comes after a state Supreme Court ruling this month affecting San Diego County, which found that “Jessica’s Law” was unconstitutional and did not protect the public. In 2006, California voters approved the law restricting where sex offenders could live.

Critics of the law said such restrictions lead many sex offenders to be transients because they can’t find housing more than 2,000 feet from schools and parks in urban counties, where jobs and rehabilitation services are easier to find.

The change is expected to leave the restrictions in place for offenders who sexually abused children, while relaxing the rules for some others.

California has 6,000 sex offender parolees living in communities across the state who are required to register for life with police and disclose their address on a publicly searchable database, established under “Megan’s Law.”. (The Chronicle)

Story Date: April 1, 2015