New local law tries to prevent sex offenders from “clustering”

This local story from Florida, headlined “New law prohibits sex offenders from clustering,” reports on what appears to be another new type of regulation on where sex offenders may live.  Here are the details, along with an indication that some lawmakers are eager to create the equivalent of leper colonies for sex offender:

Hillsborough County leaders recently passed a new law that prohibits groups of sex offenders from clustering in one neighborhood.  County Commissioners passed a new law that prohibits sex offenders from living together or “clustering.”  And offenders can occupy no more than 10 percent of units in a mobile home park. Landlords will also be punished if they allow it….

Community activist Michelle Williams pushed for changes so sex offenders aren’t so closely concentrated, and county commissioners listened. “We needed to do whatever we had to do on the county level on the legislative side of it to keep our community and children safe,” said Commissioner Kevin White….

White says he would like to have sexual offenders housed in a designated commune-like facility in Hillsborough County. The facility would be gated, well marked and a good distance from churches and schools. “Along the perimeter of that facility you could have the postings and the markings that this is a certified sex offender location — please keep children so many feet away and children beware,” White said.