An unintended effect of strict laws about where convicted sex offenders can live: Many of them have simply given up and gone homeless.

That's according to the Los Angeles Daily News, which found that homeless sex offenders in Los Angeles have increased more than 200 percent, from 191 in October, 2007 to 576 last month. Why?

Red indicates 2,000-foot buffer zones near schools and parks where sex offenders on parole or probation cannot live.

Red indicates 2,000-foot buffer zones near schools and parks where sex offenders on parole or probation cannot live.

Det. Diane Webb recently told the Police Commission that stricter rules on where they can live in neighboring cities have pushed sex offenders into L.A.

There are 5,100 registered sex offenders in the city, with one out of five of those banned from living within 2,000 feet of schools or parks because they're on parole or probation.

That, in turn, has pushed some toward the streets.

But having sex offenders roam the streets is not a good thing. It could actually bring darker consequences than what was intended by by the residency restrictions that include Jessica's Law.

Webb says, “If you're living under a bridge somewhere, you're not near your family support network, you're not near the services you need.”

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