Deltona considers tightening restrictions on where sex offenders can live within the city

DELTONA, Fla. — Deltona is considering tightening up restrictions on where convicted sex offenders can live within the city.

City officials are meeting Monday to discuss making alterations to the city’s current rules.

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The proposed changes would add churches, school bus stops and libraries to the list of places that convicted sex offenders cannot live nearby.

The new rules could affect some of the sex offenders living in the city, who number over 100.

“It’s cleaning up the language, tightening up the restrictions and making it more in-line with other municipalities in Volusia County,” Mayor Heidi Herzberg said.

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The American Civil Liberties Union opposes these changes. In a statement to Channel 9, the organization said, “Research shows that residency restrictions like this ordinance don’t work. They don’t reduce the likelihood of reoffending at all. What does work is treatment and stable employment.”

Convicted sex offenders found in violation of the new ordinance could be fined as much as $500 per day.