The Missouri Supreme Court has sided with two sex offenders who challenged laws barring them from handing out Halloween candy and living within a thousand feet of schools and child care centers.
In a four-to-three decision, the court says the restrictions cannot be applied to people whose offenses came before the laws were enacted.
The constitution bars laws adding new punishments or responsibilities for past actions.
The state high court combined two cases argued last year. In one, a central Missouri sex offender was prosecuted after a police officer saw a woman handing out candy from his house.
In the other, an offender was barred from moving in with his fiancée because her home was too close to a child care center.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKRCG