By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Officials in counties with state prisons say they are being burdened by an unexpected side effect of the law that requires sex offenders to give authorities a valid address 45 days before they are released from prison.
Under the act, failing to give a residential address that isn't at least 2,000 feet away from a school or childcare facility is a Class C felony. Offenders whose addresses don't comply must remain jailed in the county where the violation occurred until they have a valid address.
The assistant executive director for the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, Sonny Brasfield, says that usually means offenders are transferred to county jails. The counties then muse pay for the cost of keeping the offenders behind bars.
County officials say there needs to be some recourse for inmates who are homeless or unknowingly give an address that has become invalid while they were incarcerated. Inmates who are homeless are considered violators and charged with felonies because they don't have a valid address to give.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)