A subcommittee under the Broward County Reentry Coalition, which is comprised of representatives from the Sheriff’s Office, Florida State Department of Corrections, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, County Reentry programs, treatment providers, legal professionals and registrants, has issued a report and recommendations on how to deal with the County’s homeless sex offender population.
Approximately 27% of the registrant population in Broward is homeless. That percentage is higher than any other county in Florida, including Miami-Dade, which has become notorious for it’s homeless sex offender population.
Among the recommendations; preempt the patchwork of city ordinances in favor of a county-wide restriction mirroring the State Statute and create transitional housing to accommodate the hundreds of currently homeless who are excluded from shelters.
A copy of the full report can be found below:
Somehow children are at risk when a RSO lives 1 block from the school where watchful parents line up to pick their children up from school. They are also at risk when they are a block away playing at the nearby park. So everyone is protected when the children in the neighborhood live so far from a school or park their only place to play is the parking lot where all the sex offenders are living. Sex offenders should NEVER be allowed to live near a school with watchful parents around. Instead smart people like our legislatures have placed RSOs clumped together around the most remote school bus stops where they are farthest from city centers where police can easily patrol. Some communities have strict housing restrictions so RSOs can’t get their own place or live with their parents so move in with single moms they meet in bars and on Craigslist instead. Our lawmakers set up this system so it must be the best!
Don’t forget about the incompetent parent’s like John Walsh and his wife who could care less if their children are left alone and then blame others for their mistake’s that put them in the place that they are in. It is those irresponsible parents that are all for this banishment. Those types of parents are why we are in the predicament we are in.
I just looked their story up. The police report says she left him for 10 to 15 minutes. All this time I though she turned her back for a minute and was hanging up clothes or something and turned around and he was gone. Then the mall made 6 year olds leave, not knowing about where their parents are. I did not realize this. I am not blaming them of course but….so much went wrong. Of course nothing passed would have changed a thing.
Lack of parent supervision,Hand the child over to someone else, put video game in front of them. and if something bad happens Blame others, Perhaps some of these laws protecting children were directed at poor parenthood instead of Register Citizens. My point of view……there would be less crimes against children It not the stranger who does bad things to children… But who the child knows like uncles,other family members, nannies,coaches, and even police themselves and most of all lets not forgot who Congress is protecting
ex rep. Mark Foley
I was “caught up” in the Adam Walsh/Jimmy Rice and Howard Steven Ault hysteria/witch hunt. That era was when I was arrested– if you were accused, (guilty or not) you were guilty.
Adam Walsh was LEFT in the toy dept at Sears to “play with the toys” by his parents.
You can say “security guards” cleared the area, not knowing where the kids parents were, (why didnt the guards look for the parents, announce over PA?) the FACT is that the Walsh’s left their own kid in a toy dept and went elsewhere in the store, shopping. (what right-minded parent would do that???)
While tragic, it was their fault, plain & simple.
From what I can remember, John Walsh was a drinker, and just like Ron Book, turned his own lack of responsibility for guarding/protecting his kid into a money-making venture.
He is now under the false pretense of his so-called cop program— “On the Hunt with John Walsh”; where he brags and boasts about himself (John Walsh) making over 8,000 arrests ! ! !
Funny things called FACTS !!!!!!!!!
He is NOT certified as a LEO, therefore has NO arrest powers. He travels around with a film crew going to “staged sites” and looking at a bag of pot, then calling the people they are arresting “dirt bags”.
I am truly sorry that his kid got snatched and killed. BUT, IF they were RESPONSIBLE PARENTS and not dumped their kid off in a toy dept. he might still be alive.
There is no proof that Adam Walsh’s murder had any kind of sex crime component, as only the poor child’s head was recovered. No one was ever convicted of the crime, and the person / so who confessed to it was a dimwitted liar who admitted much more preposterous conduct.
Why the Adam Walsh Act addresses sexual offenses and does not specifically deal with kidnappers, murderers and those who neglect their parental duties is one of life’s great mysteries.
The plural of “mistake” is “mistakes” and it cannot be possessive. You erred; the parents did not.
And the point of enacting a county ordinance that mirrors the state law would be…?
Another dumb thought. Since this study basically proved the ineffectiveness of SORRs (as others have pointed out above), how about sending this study to Tallahassee?
Dustin.
A COUNTY can preempt CITY ordinances. A County cannot preempt a STATE statute. No matter what, registrants in Florida are stuck with the State SORR. No matter what they do, they cannot dictate that the State SORR does not apply in Broward.
I agree that the legislators in Tallahassee would benefit from their own state-wide study – which essentially is the OPPAGA report. It is now up to us to contact our State Legislators to make sure they are aware of it.
…so the point of a county ordinance that mirrors state law, would be to void the city ordinances and force the cities down to the state distance.
I would think they’re already aware and choose to ignore it in favor of the politics of the moment and Ron Book’s pockets.
And, unfortunately, the State cannot preempt a county ordinance.
Marion county,FLA passed an ordinance which states that there can’t be any homeless registered sex offenders.i have personally seen registered S O end up in jail for not having an address and being homeless.In other words,if a Registered S.O doesn’t have an address,he/she must leave Marion County.If we don’t do something about this, eventually,every county will apply the same ordinance,and before u know it,all registered S.O won’t b able to live in FLA,or must all live in a specific territory just for S.O’s
The most transparently dumb aspect of an otherwise good report is, of course, 1-2 pages after they practically PROVE that SORRs don’t work, where they recommend just that.
In the first recommendation, Broward county wants to mirror the state’s 1000 ft restriction of their statute F.S. 775.215. I thought the states’s restriction was only limited to those who are on probation or parole (as a sentence )
Get rid of the residency restrictions. I believe MY neighbors did the right thing. They came and talked to me— at great length. I had nothing to hide, yet as parents, they didnt FREAK OUT (as most parents do). They gave me a chance to integrate into the community; now 20+ years later, I can walk down the street, wave at the neighbors, converse…
If the kids are playing basketball and the ball bounces in my direction, I pick it up and pass it to them. They say “Thanks Sean” and I go about my way.
My neighbors are concerned about my health, so they ask me all the time how am I doing. THEY EVEN HAVE CALLED BSO TO GIVE ME 2-3 WEEK HEALTH/WELLNESS CHECKS (besides my monthly checks) They have even asked the Deputies if I need anything, let them know and they will pick it up for me.
There are always going to be questions about you/us. As long as we are visible, open with the “Hi Neighbor”, they will learn, over time we are not the “creep in the bushes”, just another guy who made a mistake; is not a threat and just want to get on with the rest of his life.
Sean, I agree with you completely! I came home from prison in January, 2013. I was able to find stable housing in August of that year. I was blessed to have family & friends that helped me get from January to August. I lived in the house until June of 2016 when I was able to buy a home. By the time I left the first home I was on speaking terms with all of my neighbors to the point that we’d have long chats out in the front yards. The 2 neighbors that had children simply told them to go play away from our conversation group, not out of sight, just not amongst the group. I have similar experiences with current neighbors. It’s taken time but they’ve learned that I’m not out stalking or trolling for children. I’ve even begun helping several of them with outdoor errands. I do have one neighbor that the only thing that will end the silent ignore is one of us being buried. I know that my experience is unfortunately not the norm for all of “us” but I had to remember that if I wanted to be approached I had to behave in a way that made me approachable.
Good Night…Some one like yourself is a TESTAMENT to many parts of the Bible….may you continue His Prophecy….Quite Splendid!
Peace Brother!
recommendations on how to deal with the County’s homeless sex offender population.
A Recommendation ?? hmm, Ok, I’ll try. How about this for a recommendation: You get rid of SORR all together for good and then you won’t have a sex offender homeless population. Bam! Mind blowing ! I know !!! …Don’t need to thank me, you’re welcome (free of charge)
Lol. You’re a genius Debbie. Thank you.
I hope these people come to their senses and finally realize that their decades old punitive methods are ineffective and strike down these ordinances.
Some of the subcommittee members privately have been aware of that, I suspect, and just needed to issue a study in order to give the notion legitimacy. No wonder the study was so brief!
I can’t wait for one of them to say, in a public hearing, “so, the ordinance is creating the problem? And we don’t need the ordinance anymore? Why can’t we just get rid of the ordinance, then?” Followed by a motion to vote on doing just that!
Be careful when you are talking about taking away Senator Lauren and daddy Book’s meal ticket!
They don’t take kindly to FACTS.
Issued No House, No Job, No Car, No Commimications, No Travel, No Vote, No Life
Good timing! Ron Book is off trying to save his own butt, maybe he wont be able to stick his nose in on this. But it does mention “homeless shelters” so he might be able to stick his nose into the Homeless Trust.
1) THEY ADMIT:
“There is no evidence suggesting that SORRs are effective in reducing sexual offending or
recidivism.’ This fact has been demonstrated across numerous studies, including the U.S.
Department of Justice, which concluded that SORRs should not be viewed as a viable strategy for
protecting communities. … On the contrary, SORRs create barriers to reentry by fostering housing instability, separation from
family and support systems and isolation, all of which are factors that increase recidivism. ”
2) AND YET THEY (IDIOTICALLY) RECOMMEND:
” Broward County should enact legislation to pre-empt the patchwork of city SORR
ordinances in favor of a uniform county-wide SORR that mirrors the State’s SORR Statute
(F.S. §775.215). ” (1000 foot law)
3) PLEASE REMEMBER that as our numbers grow, we gain political weight! ! They wish to divide us; to cool us down a bit.
4) DON’T ACCEPT HALF-ASSED MEASURES DESIGNED TO DIVIDE US FURTHER! WE MUST STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER!!
5) REMEMBER: ALL REGISTRIES ARE BAD! (not just a registry for the worst-of-the-worst) ALL SORRS ARE BAD!! (not just an “easy” sorr) ALL PUBLIC HUMILIATION IS BAD (not just for those over a certain age).
This is a very good, short and to the point report. Much of it we already know, but the public does not. I hope it persuades County Council that that can eliminate a substantial chunk of the registrant homeless problem AND enhance public safety simply by doing away with the county the residency restriction ordinance.