Letters to the editor: ‘Draconian’ laws

‘Draconian’ laws

Regarding “Sex offender’s home a parking lot” (front page, Feb. 14):

I was happy to see the article about the treatment of sex offenders in Florida. Antonio Rodriguez Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in prison because, as a sex offender, he couldn’t find a place to legally live where he felt safe, and so he was forced to live in his van in a parking lot. Was he a dangerous criminal who needed to be incarcerated to protect society? Apparently not. He was an adult with an underage girlfriend.

I did a little research, and it costs about $22,000 a year to incarcerate sex offenders, which means it will cost taxpayers over $200,000 to keep him in prison for 10 years.

Or he could live with his parents, not be a danger to anyone, and be a contributing member of society. Which option makes more sense?

The laws about sex offenders are draconian.

In Florida, they are required to register for life — and so it is never possible for an offender to live a normal life.

Many states are re-evaluating their laws to allow offenders who are not predators, and who have not committed additional crimes for a number of years, to be removed from the sex offender registry. This would benefit society in several ways, and an important one is that it gives the police time to focus on the small percentage of people who may be dangerous. Florida needs to do the same.