RSOs in Jacksonville – Be prepared to get new restrictions.

Members in Jacksonville have reported that on recent compliance checks, the Sheriffs office have been requiring registered citizens to sign the following notification:

https://floridaactioncommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Sexual_Offener-Predator_Prohibited_Activity_Notification.pdf

Among other restrictions are that registrants are not allowed to participate in holiday activities where children are present (other than their own family) and registrants are required to hang a sign outside their home on Halloween, visible to the street, that says “No candy or treats here”!

There is no exception to this restriction for people whose offense pre-date the ordinance. There is no exception to this restriction if the registrant is themself a child.

In California, a similar ordinance was knocked out because it violates the First Amendment right to be free from compelled speech (see: http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/court-ruling-is-mixed-bag-for-sex-offenders-on-halloween).

FAC is calling on groups or members in Jacksonville or Duval County who are interested in challenging this ordinance to contact us. Since we are only two months away from Halloween, we will likely not find a legal aid organization to take this one, but we will work on finding a private attorney to file a challenge. This will require money, so hopefully among the 2188 registrants in Duval, we will be able to raise enough to fight this law that would force registrants to publicly shame themselves.

If you are interested; please contact legal@floridaactioncommittee.org