Politics & Government
Lake Forest Could Reverse Sex-Offender Law
The City Council will consider repealing its year-old parks law, which officials say could cost hundreds of thousands to defend and doesn't have much effect on public safety.
Lake Forest is reconsidering its ban on registered sex offenders in city parks.
The City Council will take up the matter tonight, when it gets a staff report saying the ban, which took effect in January, has done little to improve park safety.
Lake Forest was sued over the law in September on grounds that it violates free speech and assembly rights. The city attorney figures it will cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend the suit.
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The report under consideration by the City Council says the county has done a good job of tracking and monitoring the few sex offenders who live in Lake Forest -- and that the city's law could be found to conflict with state law.
Lake Forest's law is modeled after one passed by Orange County but is stricter. Whereas the county ban allows sex offenders to enter county parks if they have written permission from the Sheriff's Department, Lake Forest allows no exceptions.
Find out what's happening in Lake Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The council meets tonight at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
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