Thanks, Dave v

IL has residency restrictions for the entire state. Has longer than just about any other law - 2002 I think?

It's 500 feet which is more manageable than some but still a restriction.

The park restriction started in 2011. In 2013 it was a ban on celebrating holidays and in 2014 they restricted PRIVATELY owned but publicly accessed areas like McDonalds and Chuck E Cheese.

It's getting worse here and it's all the state. So the CA ruling can't be argued here.

I've talked to Janice about suing and she's offered copies of papers but I don't have the money. I've talked to Tonia who runs IL Voices as well.

We do need more victories. And we need more money to get them.

I want to add that they can't govern private playgrounds only accessed by a paying member - think fancy country club (private). But I can't think of many if those.

IL law also applies to all convicted - regardless of if they are on the registry or not.

(I'm no longer on the registry. My crime was 18 years ago and tier 1 but I cannot drop my kids off at school or take them to a 4th of July fireworks display at the park,etc)

Yeah Ivy Dog, I know IL is really bad on so legislation. I really felt for Tonia, who was battling the laws with little to work with in terms of money and people. She's taken a sabbatical, and IL Voices have Renate and Will at the helm. I took a look at the site recently, seems like they have some good plans going forward, the Legal Fund 2014 being one of them.

Dave in the Philippines

@IvyDog - that is wild! You had mentioned this earlier and I meant to find out more about this.... you are no longer required to register but still subject to all restrictions? Because the law reads ""is" convicted or "ever was" convicted"?

In California, one of the very few ways off the registry other than death is to get a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is a multi step process for very few who qualify. The first step is to dismiss the conviction or in other words, set aside the finding of guilty. Mind you, many registrants have been granted such a dismissal of conviction, but that alone has no bearing on the registration requirement. Is there no such avenue in Illinois?

I wonder if someone who received such a COR - had their conviction set aside (so they ARE not convicted but at some point WERE) AND was able to get their registration terminated would also be subject to these laws in Illinois?

What if you moved to a different state? Wouldn't you have a clean slate and no restrictions whatsoever?

You really should sue someone...

This ruling is strictly one of state law trumping local law. State law has a restriction for parks for certain offenders while on parole, so the State Appellate Court held that the state law is all the state intended and local laws over and above were out of whack with that.

A general ban was introduced in the State Legislature a few years back, but it was amended to include the version above. That is truly amazing that the general ban did not pass. Mind you, there was no Janice and CA RSOL back then (2010), and it was right after two high profile murders. I would not be shocked if someone introduced such a general ban at the state level in the near future, but I would also feel fairly confident that it will not get anywhere. It did not, without any pushback, 4 years ago, and now, with CA RSOL very active and successful (keeping things relative) beyond anything I ever thought possible I just do not see it.

I contribute to CA RSOL whenever I can. God helps those who help themselves.