I thought I’d seen and heard it all. However, a post from Perez Hilton revealed that a young woman’s sexual abuser just got out of jail — and has moved next door, that’s right, next door.

21-year-old Danyelle Dyer got the shocking news that her uncle, Harold English, would be her new next-door neighbor. English sexually abused Dyer when she was a child.  Now, according to Oklahoma law, he has carte blanche to live wherever he chooses. There are no restrictions in Oklahoma for how far a convicted sex offender must live from you. In fact, just 5 states have laws restricting criminals’ choice of residence in relation to their victims. What has happened to common sense and decency? So, a young woman who is a survivor of sexual abuse has to be re-victimized by seeing her 65-year-old uncle a few feet away when she leaves her house.

"I was coming back from class and he was out mowing in my grandmother's backyard, and it made me uneasy just being home. I go to school in Edmond so I'm only home half the time, and I think twice before going home now. I have a very close family, so it's hard for me to not constantly be with them,” the 21-year-old was quoted as saying.

Dyer’s parents were understandably outraged when they learned English moved into his mother’s home. Although they tried to block the move by researching Oklahoma state laws, there was nothing they could do to stop it. This is a glaring example of the failure of the system to protect victims.

State Rep. Kyle Hilbert is working with Dyer to introduce a new bill to change this. Rep. Hilbert expressed his sympathy and support for the 21-year-old kinesiology student who wants to work with veterans and amputees.

Dyer went onto her Facebook page and bravely posted an account of what her step-uncle, her father’s half-brother, subjected her to the summer she was 7. He was convicted of repeatedly molesting the child and sent to jail. Her parents did not know he had a prior conviction.

Dyer’s father has put a large sign on their front lawn alerting people a sex offender is next-door. Neighbors have been very supportive.

Hopefully, the laws will catch up to the times. Sexual abuse crimes against women are increasing, not just nationwide but worldwide as well. As traumatic as the experience must be, let’s make it a national policy not to re-victimize brave survivors like Danyelle Dyer. No one should have to relive the nightmare of having your abuser right next-door.