Dear Members and Advocates,

Recently, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in registration compliance operations across Florida.

In just the past few weeks, FDLE and local law enforcement agencies have conducted multiple large-scale compliance sweeps targeting registrants all around Florida. In Jefferson County, “Operation Spring Cleaning” resulted in five arrests. In Hernando County, “Operation Black Horizon” targeted 52 registrants and resulted in 13 arrests. Jacksonville had 29 arrests in “Operation Checkmate” 24 in Alachua County. And the list goes on. The arrests are generally resulting from unreported internet identifier accounts and vehicle information.

It seems to us at FAC that these operations reflect a broader statewide enforcement initiative. Whether it’s coincidence or that Tallahassee has given a strong message to the Counties that they need to round up more registrants, the message in this week’s update is that law enforcement agencies are actively scrutinizing compliance, so we want to remind everyone to be especially vigilant.

Review all vehicles and confirm the tag information on file is accurate. Review all email accounts and internet identifiers. Review every app on your smartphone. Check social media accounts, gaming accounts, cloud storage accounts, and any other services that may require reporting. If you create a new account, report it immediately. Keep records of your registrations and updates. If you register something in person, review the paperwork before you leave the sheriff’s office to ensure everything is on there and accurate and if you register something through the cyber-communication portal, make sure you print out the pages or take screenshots of everything you’ve updated. Keep your paperwork somewhere accessible and give a copy to someone you trust for safekeeping.

As far as the violations, we’ve received reports from members about just how easy it is to become unintentionally non-compliant. One member renewed a vehicle registration online and was issued a new license plate number (every 10 years or so the state replaces the plate with a new one and issues a new tag number). Because the new plate was mailed by DHSMV via regular postal mail, he did not know the number had changed until it arrived. He immediately reported the new plate after receiving and putting it on his car, but was nevertheless arrested of violating the requirement to report the change within 48 hours – even though it took longer than 48 hours for the plate to be mailed to him.

We’ve also heard from members who were arrested for Google Drive, and other services that are automatically provisioned when a Gmail account is created, even if the person never intentionally signed up for or used those services. The registry has become so complex that compliance can hinge on details many people don’t even know exist. If they had that account for years without using it, they are charged with multiple violations for the same account, one for each re-registration they came in to report and failed to report it.

Please take this seriously! If you have any doubt whether something should be reported, consult with your registration office, with FDLE or an attorney familiar with registration requirements. Then make sure you get the response in writing or write down the name of the person you spoke with, and the date and time that you spoke with them. Use the template we provided to request a declaratory statement!

The consequences of an alleged registration violation can be severe, even when there was no intent to conceal information. These things may seem petty, but it’s a third-degree felony that comes with a mandatory minimum sentence. Even if you are ultimately acquitted of the violation, the mere arrest prevents you from ever being removed from the registry.

So stay informed. Stay vigilant. Stay compliant.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-06-23-Compliance Checks and Registration Enforcement Across Florida appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

One of the realities of living on the sex offender registry is that many registrants and their families exist in a perpetual state of heightened awareness. We know that the public registry does more than publish information. It creates opportunities for unknowing violation, harassment, intimidation, threats, and, in many cases, violence.

These concerns are not hypothetical. Just months ago, Florida witnessed another tragic example of registry-fueled vigilantism when a Central Florida man used information obtained from the public sex offender registry to locate and murder a registrant. Had he not been caught, he had a hit list to follow. The incident served as a stark reminder that public registries do not merely disseminate information, as lawmakers suggest. They function as roadmaps for individuals intent on harassment, intimidation, or violence. That case reinforced what advocates such as FAC, researchers, and even some law enforcement officials have warned for years: public registries can become tools for private citizens seeking to take the law into their own hands.

As troubling as traditional vigilantism is, a new and even more dangerous phenomenon has emerged. As highlighted in a recent investigation by the New Yor Times, across social media platforms, a growing number of self-styled “pedophile hunters” have turned vigilante confrontations into entertainment. These individuals pose as minors online, arrange meetings with targets, and then livestream or post videos of confrontations for audiences numbering in the hundreds of thousands. What makes this trend particularly alarming is that it has evolved from vigilantism into a business model.

The New York Times found that many of these online vigilantes are building substantial followings on social media platforms and monetizing their content through advertising revenue, subscriptions, donations, sponsorships, and platform payouts. The Times documented more than 170 reported violent attacks by self-described “pedophile hunters” since 2023, with some participants openly using increasingly aggressive and sensational tactics to attract viewers and grow their audiences. The investigation found that violence itself has become part of the content strategy, helping videos go viral and generate additional revenue.

This should concern everyone, regardless of their views on the registry. In a society governed by the rule of law, criminal investigations are supposed to be conducted by trained law enforcement officers operating within constitutional boundaries and subject to judicial oversight. Vigilantism bypasses those safeguards. It encourages public accusations, trial by social media, and punishment without due process. It creates incentives for mistakes, false accusations, and escalating violence.

Since when are private citizens allowed to manufacture criminal investigations for public consumption? Imagine applying the same logic to any other offense. We would never tolerate private citizens arranging their own drug buys, livestreaming confrontations with suspected drug dealers, conducting amateur raids on alleged crack houses, or pulling motorists over in their personal vehicles for speeding. We do not allow citizens to impersonate law enforcement, create their own criminal investigations, and then profit from the results. Yet somehow, when the allegation involves a sexual offense, people (and law enforcement officers) are willing to suspend these basic principles. The notion that private citizens should be allowed to manufacture alleged crimes, conduct vigilante investigations, and profit from them would be considered absurd in every other context. It should be no less absurd here.

When money enters the equation, the problem becomes even more severe. A private individual engaging in a law enforcement operation motivated by a belief that they are protecting the public is dangerous enough. A person motivated by clicks, subscribers, advertising revenue, and online fame is operating under an entirely different set of incentives. The more shocking the confrontation, the more views it receives. The more views it receives, the more money it generates. In that environment, the line between public safety and entertainment quickly disappears.

Yet today, social media platforms are allowing an ecosystem to develop in which private citizens can build audiences and generate income by publicly confronting, humiliating, and sometimes physically assaulting other human beings. That is not law enforcement. It is not justice. It is content creation.

FAC has long warned about the dangers created when public registries encourage citizens to take enforcement into their own hands. The rise of monetized vigilantism demonstrates how those dangers are evolving in the digital age. What was once an isolated act of harassment has become an online industry, complete with followers, influencers, revenue streams, and incentives for ever-more-extreme behavior. If public safety is truly the goal, we should be discouraging this behavior, not creating opportunities for people to profit from it.

Last week, we shared that the U.S. Sentencing Commission is seeking public comment on possible amendments to the federal sentencing guidelines. This presents a rare opportunity for members of the public to advocate for greater proportionality and fairness in federal sentencing. One area deserving particular attention is the treatment of online sting cases, which now represent a significant portion of federal sex offense prosecutions. While the law properly punishes those who engage in illegal conduct, the guidelines often fail to distinguish between an individual who was actively seeking out minors online and an individual who never sought contact with a minor but responded to a fictitious persona created by someone else. Whatever one’s views on these offenses, there is a meaningful difference in culpability and dangerousness between a person who is deliberately hunting for children online and a person who becomes involved only after the opportunity is affirmatively (and often aggressively) presented to them on an adult dating app. The sentencing guidelines should recognize that distinction.

Another guideline provision ripe for reconsideration is the ubiquitous two-level enhancement for “use of a computer” that is found in U.S.S.G. § 2G2.2(b)(6). When that enhancement was adopted decades ago, internet access was far less common than it is today. today, virtually every communication, transaction, and interaction occurs through a computer, smartphone, or internet-connected device. As a result, the enhancement applies in nearly every case and does little to distinguish between more and less serious conduct. In fact, one could reasonably argue that someone who travels to a secluded location to exchange contraband in person is engaging in conduct that is at least as deliberate and clandestine as someone who accesses material online. Yet the guidelines automatically increase punishment simply because a computer was used. Enhancements are supposed to identify aggravating factors that make an offense more serious than the ordinary case. When an enhancement applies to nearly every case, it ceases to serve that purpose.

As the Sentencing Commission considers reforms, we encourage our members to take this opportunity to encourage the Sentencing Commission to take a closer examination of these provisions and advocate for guidelines that better reflect actual culpability, risk, and proportionality.

And finally, we are still in desperate need to raise funds for our forthcoming challenge to the Florida Registry. We inadvertently omitted the link to donate from our last weekly update, so we are prominently including it here. CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR LAWSUIT CHALLENGING THE FLORIDA REGISTRY. This case is being fast-tracked and we absolutely need your help today, so please contribute what you can and let’s win this thing!

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS: New for 2026 Tax Return.  You can claim the Standard Deduction PLUS a tax-deductible donation of up to $1,000 for singles and $2,000 for married without itemizing.  For more information on Tax Deductible donations in any amount, contact membership@floridaactioncommittee.org or leave message at 833-273-7325 Option 1.

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-06-16-When Vigilantism Becomes a Business appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

For those of you who joined our monthly member call last Thursday, you learned more about our forthcoming legal challenge to Florida’s sex offender registry. This is a lawsuit that we sincerely believe has the potential to bring meaningful relief to registrants throughout the state and potentially nationwide. Registry issues that have affected our community for far too long and we’re doing something about it!

As many of you know, asking for money is not something that comes easily to us. Frankly, it’s uncomfortable. We would much rather spend our time advocating, educating, litigating, and supporting our members than pleading for donations. But the reality is that FAC is a nonprofit organization, and legal challenges of this magnitude simply cannot move forward without financial support.

The lawsuit we are preparing is not for the benefit of one individual. It is being brought on behalf of the entire registrant community in Florida. The issues at stake affect tens of thousands of people and families. At the same time, the costs associated with mounting a serious legal challenge are substantial. Six-figures substantial! No single person among us could reasonably be expected to shoulder that burden alone. That is why we are counting on the collective support of the community that stands to benefit from this effort. With unity comes change and with this weekly update we are calling on all of us to come together.

If everyone who will ultimately benefit from this challenge contributes what they can, together we can make this lawsuit successful. Whether your contribution is large or small, it sends a powerful message that our community is invested in fighting for meaningful change.

In recent weeks, we have also been reaching out to members whose recurring donations need to be updated in our system. Unfortunately, the response has been disappointing. Recurring donations provide the stable foundation that allows us to plan, budget, and commit to long-term advocacy and litigation efforts. If you have received an email from us regarding your recurring payment information and have not yet responded, please take a moment to do so. You can also contact Teresa at teresa@floridaactioncommittee.org to ensure the payment information we have on file is accurate and up to date.

However, if you wish to make a tax-deductible donation or a donation directly from a trust, DAF, or other 501c3-required fund, contact anita@floridaactioncommittee.org or leave message at 833-273-7325 Option 1 to receive instructions for tax-deductible donations.

We also recognize that not everyone is in a position to make a significant financial contribution, but still want to help advance this lawsuit in any way possible. There are many ways to help. If you have experience with fundraising, know potential donors, belong to organizations that may be willing to support our work, have participants in group who are not aware of FAC, or simply want to volunteer your time to help us raise funds for this challenge, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Teresa and let us know how you can assist.

For more than a decade, FAC has fought for fairness, truth, and constitutional protections on behalf of you and your family. Our volunteers keep you updated on the laws, organize support groups, meet with your lawmakers, show up to legislative meetings, dispel public misconceptions online and offline, support research and litigation, provide resources and referrals, and advocate tirelessly to end this unconstitutional and irrational nightmare. This upcoming challenge represents one of the most important efforts we have ever undertaken. Success will require all of us working together.

If you have not yet donated to our legal fund, please consider making a contribution today. Click here and select ‘General Legal Fund’. If you are already a donor, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! If you can increase your recurring support, now would be an excellent time to do so. And if you can help us raise funds, we invite you to join us in that effort.

Together, we can make this challenge possible.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-06-09-FAC Needs Your Help appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

The July 1st Changes Are Coming – What You Need to Know About the New Laws

Dear Members and Advocates,

Next month, one of the more significant expansions of Florida’s sex offender laws in recent years will take effect. On July 1, 2026, CS/CS/CS/SB 212 (formerly HB 45) becomes law, creating new residency restrictions, expanding exclusion zones, increasing law enforcement powers, and imposing additional restrictions on supervised individuals.

This week, we’re taking a deep dive into exactly what changes, who is affected, what the practical consequences may be, and what you should be doing now to prepare. We will also be discussing what FAC is doing in response.

New Places You May Not Be Allowed to Live

If your qualifying offense involved a victim under 16 and you are subject to Florida’s residency restrictions, you already know you cannot live within 1,000 feet of a school, park, playground, or daycare. Starting July 1, the list expands to include “public swimming pools”.

A “public swimming pool” can include: City and county pools, community pools in subdivisions and HOAs, apartment complex pools, condominium pools, Trailer park pools, or pools in churches, community centers, or public facilities. “Public Swimming Pools” are not just pools. The definition includes all water recreation facilities such as splash pads.

In practical terms, this means there will be fewer places available to live, particularly in densely populated areas where apartment complexes and subdivisions often have pools.

People who are currently living within the new exclusion zones will not be forced to move, but if you decide to move, you will become subject to the restriction. A big uncertainty remains – what about pre 2004 registrants? Previously, the statute did not apply to people who committed their offenses prior to 2004. Now, the statute says that if you change your residence, you become subject to it.

Enhanced “Proximity Ordinance”

The law also creates new restrictions on knowingly approaching or communicating with anyone under 18 within 500 feet of certain locations that include schools, parks, playgrounds, daycare centers, public swimming pools or places where children were congregating.  This does not mean you automatically commit a crime by walking past one of these locations. However, it creates new opportunities for misunderstandings and allegations if law enforcement believes prohibited contact occurred. This is not limited to communicating for a sexual purpose, this includes any communication. As always, avoid situations that could be misinterpreted.

Police Can Arrest First and Ask Questions Later

One of the biggest changes in the law may receive the least publicity. Beginning July 1, law enforcement officers can make a warrantless arrest if they have probable cause to believe someone violated these restrictions. In plain English, that means that prior to July 1, officers would investigate and seek a warrant. Now officers may be able to arrest immediately based on their subjective determination that a violation occurred. Whether that ultimately results in a conviction is a separate question, but the arrest itself can have serious consequences, including never being able to petition for removal from the registry.

Additional Probation Restrictions

For individuals sentenced after July 1 for qualifying offenses, courts may impose additional supervision restrictions related to these newly covered locations. If you are currently on probation, community control, or conditional release, you should discuss any questions with your supervising officer or attorney before assuming existing rules remain unchanged.

What Should You Do Before July 1?

Chances are, if you were in a home that complied with the statute, you won’t be asked to move but make sure you have the telephone number to an attorney who specializes in these matters handy (a list of referrals can be found on our resources page).  Regardless, you should still determine whether any “Public Swimming Pools” are located within 1,000 feet of your residence, especially if you live in an apartment complex, trailer park or community that has a pool. If you’re safe and comfortable where you are, now is the time to renew your lease for as long as you can.

You also need to be super vigilant whenever you are within 500 feet of a school, pool, park, etc. One of the biggest problems with this law is that there are no lines on the ground showing you what’s 499 feet away and what’s 501 feet away. Young adults also don’t wear tags that identify them as 17 or 19. Since communicating can include something as benign as ordering a meal at a restaurant, if your server is not clearly over 18, you might be best off changing tables. A best practice is avoiding any communication with someone who appears to be under 18 wherever you go and identifying a few places you frequent to ensure they are far outside the buffer zone. You may need to stop at a different gas station a bit further out, but peace of mind is worth it.

Document everything and make sure your paperwork is handy. Maps of places you frequent, copies of the statute, lease documents, utility bills with your name on it and other records may become important if questions arise. You want to make sure these are all readily available and someone you know has a copy. If you’re arrested and in jail, finding these documents will be a lot more difficult than if you have them ready to go.

Ask questions NOW before problems arise! The worst time to discover a misunderstanding is after an arrest. If you are uncertain whether a location qualifies under the statute, seek clarification from an attorney familiar with Florida registry laws. If you are on probation, ask your officer. If you are off probation, you can contact the FDLE or your local police department and try to get your answer in writing. If they refuse to put it in writing, section 120.565 of Florida’s Administrative Procedures Act (APA) authorizes any “substantially affected person” to request an agency’s opinion on how a statute, rule, or order applies in particular circumstances. Reference the APA in your request and be sure to save a copy of your request and their response. We have put a fill-in-the-blank template request on our website, which you can use.

What is FAC doing now?

Short answer: Suing. FAC has retained the law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP to bring a constitutional legal challenge. This challenge will be led by Michael Kimberly, one of the nation’s premier appellate advocates. He has extensive experience litigating constitutional challenges to state laws and regulations, he has built a reputation for handling complex cases involving fundamental constitutional rights. Mr. Kimberly is a Yale Law School graduate and longtime professor of Supreme Court advocacy at Yale.

Every victory FAC has achieved has been made possible by members and supporters who stepped up when it mattered most, and NOW is when it matters most. As a non-profit supported solely on member donations, one of the most uncomfortable things we have to do is ask for donations, especially from a population that doesn’t have much to give. But if you want to help create meaningful change, you need to pitch in. No donation is too small, and every dollar helps fund the fight. Until the case is resolved, 100% of all donations made to our General Legal Fund will go towards this case and you can donate here: https://floridaactioncommittee.org/donations/ (be sure to select ‘General Legal Fund’).

The challenge ahead is significant, but so is our determination. Together we can make it happen!

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-06-02-What You Need to Know About the New July 1 Laws appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

 2026 is shaping up to be a monumental year for FAC – and for all of you. We started a charitable (501(c)(3)) foundation to support our mission, we launched a couple lawsuits to challenge ordinances, we retained a powerhouse law firm to take on the registry, we had a successful effort in Tallahassee preventing what would have been a disastrous session, we expanded our outreach into social media, we’ve grown our membership, and we’re only 5 months into the year!

Every week, we hear from people who ask, “What can I do to help?” or we don’t hear from you because you don’t know where to begin. The truth is that real change can only happen when all elements come together; education, legislation and litigation and when all of us come together. Change happens when people stop sitting on the sidelines waiting for something to happen and do something to make it happen. Here are 10 meaningful things you can do right now to help push for reform.

1  Contact Your Legislators

One phone call or email may not seem like much, but legislators pay attention when constituents consistently speak up. Share your story, explain how registry laws impact families, housing, employment, and public safety, and ask for meaningful reform. The more lawmakers hear from real people, the harder it becomes to ignore the human consequences of these laws. Even if nothing is pending, stay in touch with your representatives in Tallahassee and Washington and keep reminding them the registry is harmful.

 2. Attend Local Government Meetings

City councils, county commissions, and even school boards often discuss ordinances and policies that directly impact registrants and their families. Showing up matters. Even if you do not say anything more than you oppose the ordinance, your presence demonstrates that affected families are watching and engaged. When people respectfully tell their stories in public meetings, perceptions begin to change.

 3. Support Litigation Efforts

Court challenges are one of the few ways harmful laws get overturned. FAC is actively involved in major legal challenges because rights are rarely restored voluntarily by politicians. Litigation is expensive, time-consuming, and necessary. Whether through personal donations or assisting with our fundraising efforts, every bit of support strengthens these efforts. You can donate to our General Legal Fund by clicking here or contact us to make a tax deductible contribution.

4. Share Your Story

For decades, fear and stigma have kept people silent. That silence allows lawmakers and media narratives to define who registrants are without hearing from actual people and families affected. Personal stories are powerful. They help the public understand that these laws impact parents, spouses, children, veterans, workers, and entire families – not just headlines or labels. When the public hears your stories, it humanizes the registry.

5. Help FAC Grow on Social Media

Public perception is shaped online more than ever before. Every time you share a FAC post, comment, or engage with content, you help expand our reach. Social media is one of the most effective tools we have to educate the public, counter misinformation, and bring new supporters into the movement. You can follow and share FAC on social media here.

6. Volunteer Your Skills

FAC needs more than just donations. We need people with professional experience and practical skills. Attorneys, accountants, writers, graphic designers, researchers, organizers, IT professionals, lobbyists, and volunteers of all kinds can make a major impact. Everyone has something valuable to contribute, and it costs you nothing but time. We are actively recruiting new members for our Board of Directors to help manage our growth. If you or someone you know would be a good fit, read more here.

7. Educate Friends and Family

Many people support registry laws simply because they have never been exposed to the facts. Calm, informed conversations can change minds. Explain how residency restrictions increase homelessness, how public registries fail to improve safety, and how endless punishment harms families and communities. Education is one of the strongest tools for reform and we can give you all the resources you need to brush up.

8. Support Others in our Population

Many people impacted by these laws feel isolated and hopeless. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is help another person stay encouraged and connected. Offer guidance, share resources, answer questions, and remind others they are not alone. FAC fields literally hundreds of calls, emails and letters each month from people who are lost and struggling like you once were. If you’re surviving, you’re better equipped to be of use to someone than ever. Strong communities are built through mutual support.

9. Stay Informed and Involved

New laws, court decisions, and enforcement actions happen constantly. Staying informed allows you to respond quickly and effectively. Read FAC updates, follow legislative developments, and pay attention to what is happening. An informed community is far harder to silence or ignore, and by staying on top of the laws and the research, it will make your outreach efforts more effective. If you are not receiving automated emails from us every time something new is posted, contact us and ask to be added to the mailing list.

10. Refuse to Give Up

Meaningful reform takes time. Many of the rights people enjoy today came only after years—or decades—of persistence. There will be setbacks, disappointments, and frustrations along the way. But progress only happens when people continue pushing forward, even when the process feels slow. Every conversation, every lawsuit, every meeting, and every voice contributes to long-term change. Even if you pick only one or two items on this list to accomplish today, take that first step. It’ll make the ones that follow easier.

FAC continues to grow because people like you are refusing to remain silent. Together, we are building a stronger movement, challenging harmful laws, and fighting for fairness, dignity, and constitutional rights. Thank you to everyone who continues standing with us.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-05-26-Ten Things You Can Do To Make a Difference appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

This week, FAC is proud to announce a major step forward in the fight against Florida’s Sex Offender Registry. FAC has retained the law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP to bring a constitutional legal challenge against the Florida Registry system, specifically in response to the recent passage of SB 212/HB 45.

For many in our community, this last amendment to the registry was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It represents yet another expansion of an already bloated and punitive registry system that has long abandoned any meaningful connection to public safety, rehabilitation, or constitutional fairness. Instead, Florida continues to double down on policies that isolate, destabilize, and punish people indefinitely – often decades after they have completed their sentences and rebuilt their lives. Enough!

This challenge will be led by attorney Michael Kimberly, one of the nation’s most respected appellate and Supreme Court advocates. Michael is widely recognized as a leader of the Supreme Court bar and was identified by Reuters as part of the “elite cadre of lawyers” who dominate Supreme Court advocacy. Over the years, he has earned national recognition for his appellate work.  Importantly for FAC and our mission, Michael has extensive experience designing and executing affirmative constitutional challenges against state regulations. His work has involved critical constitutional issues that go to the very heart of the registry debate. Michael is a graduate of Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of The Yale Law Journal and later taught Supreme Court advocacy on the Yale faculty from 2015 through 2026.

This is the kind of fight that many people have dreamed about for years!

But bringing a challenge of this magnitude against the State of Florida is an enormous undertaking. Quite frankly, it would be impossible for any one of us to carry this burden alone. That is why we are asking for your help. This litigation will require tremendous financial resources, expert support, research, filings, and long-term commitment. FAC is stepping up to make this happen, but we cannot do it without the registrant community standing together behind this effort. Please donate to our General Legal Fund today or contact info@floridaactioncommittee.org if you would like to arrange a tax deductible donation.

If you have ever said “someone needs to challenge this,” that time is now! If you’ve ever thought “we should do something,” this is something monumental! FAC, our Board, and all of our membership brought in the best and together, we are making this happen!

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-05-21-Together, We Fight Back: FAC Announces Historic Registry Challenge appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

Every day, headlines announce another “sex offender arrested,” but when you read beyond the headline, the majority of these arrests are not for a new sexual offense at all. They are for “registration violations” – technical infractions that would not even exist as crimes for anyone else in society.

Florida’s registry laws have created an entirely separate class of “crimes” that apply only to people on the registry. A person can be arrested and charged with a felony for failing to report a temporary address change quickly enough, misunderstanding complicated travel reporting requirements, failing to update internet identifiers, or missing one of the many mandatory registration deadlines. These are not crimes because they caused harm to another person. These are not crimes for anyone not on the registry. They are crimes only because Florida has built an expansive and ever-changing web of confusing regulatory requirements that applies to one group of people and one group only.

The sheer level of supervision imposed on registrants is unlike anything experienced by the general public or people who have been convicted of any other category of crime. People are required to report in person every six months, every three months, or even monthly. All are subjected to unannounced home visits for address verification and compliance checks at all hours of the day or night. Law enforcement agencies routinely conduct compliance sweeps targeting registrants. The identities of registrants are publicly promoted online, and law enforcement actively encourages the public to monitor them for possible violations. Anonymous tip hotlines and online reporting portals effectively deputize neighbors and strangers to scrutinize every aspect of a registrant’s life, searching for technical missteps that can result in prosecution.

No other population in society is subjected to this degree of perpetual surveillance after completing their sentence.

At the same time, the restrictions themselves are often so broad and so onerous that compliance can become nearly impossible. Residency restrictions, presence restrictions, employment restrictions, travel reporting requirements, internet reporting rules, and different sets of laws on the state, county and municipal levels create a constantly changing maze that many people struggle to navigate successfully. There are no circles on the ground letting you know where you can and cannot go. There’s no guidance from the FDLE letting you know which internet identifiers are reportable and which are not. And when the State, County or City passes a new rule, there’s no alert that goes out to the 90,000+ people on Florida’s registry letting them know there’s a new requirement they must follow. They are just expected to know about it.

In reality, registrants are frequently placed in impossible situations where ordinary life responsibilities conflict with rigid legal requirements. A person may have to choose between caring for an aging or terminally ill family member and risking a residency violation. Someone may need to accept temporary housing to avoid homelessness, even if it violates a local ordinance. Others face the impossible choice between supporting their family through employment or disclosing it and losing their job altogether. In some cases, compliance with one rule can inadvertently trigger violation of another. The public rarely hears about these realities. Instead, arrest announcements are often framed in ways that create the impression of imminent danger, even when the allegation involves an administrative violation rather than a new criminal offense against another person. The distinction matters. There is a profound difference between someone committing a new sexual offense and someone accused of failing to report information within a prescribed timeframe.

There is also an undeniable reality that bias influences enforcement. Conduct that might be ignored, corrected informally, or overlooked entirely for members of the general public can become grounds for arrest when the person involved is on the registry. Many registrants live with the constant feeling that authorities are not simply monitoring compliance, but actively looking for reasons to arrest them. When law enforcement, the media, and even members of the public are conditioned to view registrants through a lens of permanent suspicion, technical violations become almost inevitable.

And then there are the facts nobody wants to accept… The recidivism rate of registrants is very low. Period. The lowest among all classes of offenses other than murder. And when there is a new arrest, 9 times out of 10 it’s for a technical registration violation – meaning that if they were not on the registry, 90% of the arrests would have never happened. Florida’s registration laws have been amended repeatedly over the years, creating one of the most complicated and punitive registry systems in the country. Yet despite all of this supervision, scrutiny, and criminalization, there is little discussion about whether these policies are actually improving public safety or merely creating a perpetual cycle of surveillance and re-arrest.

This past week we asked you whether Florida is the “worst” state for registrants. We wanted to get a sense of whether the absurdity we see here is simply part of the broader “Florida Man” phenomenon – where extreme laws, overreach, and sensationalism seem to thrive – or whether conditions are truly this bad elsewhere in the country as well. The responses made one thing overwhelmingly clear: while many states impose harsh and often counterproductive restrictions, Florida consistently stands out for the sheer scope, complexity, and punitive nature of its registry laws. From ever-expanding reporting requirements and lifetime public shaming, to aggressive residency restrictions, constant law enforcement scrutiny, and felony penalties for technical violations, many respondents described Florida as operating less like a regulatory system and more like a permanent system of probation and cycle of punishment.

The public deserves honesty when reading these headlines. Many “sex offender arrests” are not new sex crimes at all. They are most often technical violations arising from an impossibly complex system that virtually guarantees failure for people on the registry, no matter how long they have lived offense-free or how hard they try to rebuild their lives. Changing public perception begins with changing the way these cases are discussed and reported. That is where FAC (and by virtue of your membership in FAC, you) can help. First, the media should distinguish between a new offense against another person and a technical registration violation. Headlines that simply announce “sex offender arrested” without context create fear and leave the public believing dangerous new crimes are constantly occurring, when most cases involve paperwork or reporting issues unique to registry laws. When you see such a story in the news, post a comment that says, “this is not a new sex offense, this is an arrest for a technical violation of something that would not even be criminal if this person were not on a registry.”

Second, we need to focus more of our efforts on public education about what registry compliance entails. Most people have no idea that registrants are subject to constant reporting requirements, surprise home checks, internet identifier disclosures, travel restrictions, residency restrictions, and felony penalties for administrative mistakes. Once people understand the sheer complexity of the system, many begin to recognize that technical violations are often a symptom of overregulation rather than evidence of new dangerous behavior. Our Educational team should circulate a list of the hundreds of requirements that appear in the State Statutes, County and City Ordinances. Once the public sees the list of rules and regulations, they will realize how impossible compliance actually is.

Third, conversations must include stories of rehabilitation and successful reintegration. The public rarely hears about the father supporting his family, the person caring for an elderly parent, the worker who has maintained steady employment for decades, or the individual who has remained offense-free for twenty or thirty years. Humanizing people who have rebuilt their lives helps shift the discussion away from permanent fear and toward evidence-based policies that prioritize actual public safety instead of perpetual punishment. We know that most people on the registry, especially those who’ve been lucky enough to not have been violated, try to keep their heads down to avoid becoming a target, but we need more of us who have been successful to become involved and to share your stories, so the public and lawmakers don’t only hear about the arrests, but also about the tens of thousands of people quietly living productive, law-abiding lives every single day. They need to hear about the parents raising children, the employees showing up to work, the business owners paying taxes, the volunteers helping their communities, and the people who have spent decades proving they are far more than the worst thing they have ever done. If you don’t want to put your name out there, have a friend, family or co-worker tell your story for you.

If the only stories the public hears are mugshots and arrest reports, then fear will continue to define the conversation. But when people hear real stories of accountability, stability, growth, and redemption, it becomes harder to justify policies built entirely around perpetual punishment and hopelessness. That is why we encourage members not to only reach out when something bad happens, but also when something good happens. Tell us when you graduate, get married, buy a home, start a business, reconnect with family, complete treatment, earn a promotion, or simply reach another decade offense-free. We need more examples of success because success is the strongest argument against the false narrative that people can never change.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-05-12-Creating a Separate Class of Citizens appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

A few days ago, we called out a wildly misleading headline published by The Black Chronicle claiming that “1,000 child sex offenders” had been arrested in the Tampa area in just four months. We broke it down, pointed to the original press release, and showed exactly how the claim was distorted. (See our analysis here: Misleading Headline: The Truth Behind the ‘1,000 Child Sex Offenders’ Claim in Tampa.)

Well, it didn’t stop there. That same headline has now been picked up and amplified by outlets like AOL News and Breitbart, spreading the same false headline to a much larger audience. Predictably, the story is gaining traction, drawing hundreds of comments, and fueling exactly the kind of reaction you’d expect when people are told that “1,000 child predators” have just been caught in their community. But here’s the problem: it isn’t true. Not at all.

As we already showed, the underlying press release did not say that 1,000 child sex offenders were arrested in 4 months. It referenced a cumulative CBP enforcement milestone where one individual who happened to be a registrant, happened to be the 1,000th person arrest, among arrests for lots of other crimes unrelated to children and unrelated to sexual offense. When you compare the claim to actual crime data in the Tampa area, the numbers simply don’t add up. It’s not just misleading, it’s statistically implausible, even if you added the Tampa PD and Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office to the Customs and Border Patrol Stats.

But once a headline like that spreads the damage is already done. Because people won’t see FAC calling them out (unless some of our Members comment on the source articles – which we would REALLY appreciate if you did) and they won’t go back to the documents to verify for themselves. They’ll see the headline, it aligns with the “high rate of recidivism” false stats they’ve heard for decades, react emotionally, and assume the worst. Public perception shifts. Fear increases. Phones start ringing in legislative offices. Concerned parents call their local representatives demanding action. And that’s how bad laws get made.

These viral headlines and unsupported stats spouted by politicians (“100% will reoffend”, “It’s not a matter of ‘if’, but ‘when’”) distort reality and inflame public opinion. This is exactly why it matters to push back on misinformation. When the narrative is exaggerated, the policy response often becomes exaggerated too. Last week we asked our members to bring their friends, family and trusted co-workers into the circle and I certainly hope many of you did, because it would have been incredibly useful this past week to have a few “unaffected” people out there, who hear this fake news repeated by one of their friends, and be able to say, “now wait a minute… I’m not going to minimize real issues, but let’s insist on the truth…”

Because when the facts are wrong, the solutions will be too. And as this story shows, it doesn’t take long for fake news to become widely accepted “fact”—especially when it confirms what people already fear.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-05-05-How Fake News Spreads and Why It Matters appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

This past week marked an important step in our ongoing fight against unconstitutional local ordinances: our first “Municipal Challenge” has officially been filed, which is a lawsuit challenging Putnam County’s recently amended residency restriction. This case, which is the first of what will hopefully be several, addresses a growing and deeply troubling trend – counties enacting residency restrictions and exclusion zones that render practically the entire area they cover off limits to people on the registry. These local ordinances often impose sweeping residency bans that make it nearly impossible for individuals on the registry to find compliant housing, forcing instability, displacement, and, in many cases, homelessness.

Putnam County’s ordinance is no exception. What Putnam did was not only create broad buffer zones around landmarks within the County, such as schools and parks, but it created exclusion zones around other registrants! People on the registry can no longer live within 500 feet of another person on the registry. Not only does that effectively shut off the few remaining housing options that are not within 2500 feet of a park, school, day care, playground, etc., but it shuts off the few landlords that were willing to make their transitional homes or trailer parks available for registrants.

The class action lawsuit challenges these restrictions on multiple constitutional grounds, but what makes this one a bit different is that it has as representative plaintiff who is on the registry, and also a non-registrant landlord. Under the ordinance, landlords can be fined, jailed or have their property taken from them just for housing someone on the registry.

This case is about more than just one county. Across Florida, we’ve seen a domino effect. One county passes a restrictive ordinance, and others quickly follow to prevent a perceived influx of registrants. They often copy language only making it even harsher to force people back across the county line, without considering legality or consequences. By taking legal action in Putnam County, persons forced to register in Florida are drawing a line in the sand. A successful outcome here has the potential to do more than invalidate one ordinance, it will send a clear message to counties statewide that these laws will not go unchallenged, and that constitutional protections apply to all people.

We will continue to keep you updated as this case progresses and, as always, thank you to all of you who’s support makes this work possible.

Over the past few weekly updates, we’ve talked a lot about the importance of expanding this conversation beyond our own circle. About breaking out of the echo chamber and raising awareness in the broader community. That starts with a difficult but necessary first step: refusing to hide in silence or shame, and choosing instead to speak, even if only in small ways. We’re not asking anyone to become a public spokesperson or put their face on a billboard. Change doesn’t begin that way; it begins with something far more manageable. A quiet, personal outreach to people who already know you. A friend. A family member. A coworker. Someone who would be willing to listen. We know it’s not easy, we know it might be embarrassing, but change will not come unless we make it happen.

To help make that first step easier, we’ve prepared a sample email (below this update) you can send to people in your life. By letting them know that a family they care about is directly impacted by these laws, you put a human face on an issue that is too often reduced to fear and misinformation. It’s much harder to dismiss, distort, or dehumanize when the reality is sitting in your inbox, connected to someone you know. If you share it with 10 people, and each of them share it with 10 people, and some share it with their religious congregations or social clubs, we’re no longer preaching to the choir, but opening up a dialogue that needs to take place.

This month, we’ve reflected on the familiar warning: when people stay silent as others are targeted, eventually there is no one left to speak. And right now, today is the time to take that first step and speak. Please consider sharing the message.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

SAMPLE EMAIL TO SEND TO PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE – Start the dialogue with them.

I’m reaching out about something personal that affects our family in a very real way. As you may or may not know, our family has been touched by the sex offender registry. It’s something we’ve had to navigate quietly and with much shame, but its impact is constant and has come to the point where we need to reach out for support. The laws have become so harsh that it impacts where our family can live, work, and simply exist as part of a community.

Over time, we’ve come to see that many of these laws are overly broad and don’t always reflect individual circumstances or actual risk. Instead, they often create barriers that make stability, rehabilitation, and family life much, much harder, without improving public safety at all.

We’ve been working to challenge laws that are ineffective and unnecessarily harsh, and to advocate for policies that are more thoughtful, evidence-based, and humane. I’m not asking you to take a position overnight, but I am humbly asking you to learn more, keep an open mind, and, if you feel comfortable, support us in our efforts to seek meaningful change. Even small gestures like reading, sharing, or having a conversation about this topic , can make a difference.

If you’d like to learn more, I’d be happy to talk with you or you can read more about an organization we are involved with, The Florida Action Committee (floridaactioncommittee.org).

Thank you for taking the time to read this. It truly means a lot to our family.

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-04-28-The Domino Effect appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).

Dear Members and Advocates,

In last week’s update, we reflected on the words of Niemöller: “Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.” It’s a warning about what happens when we believe injustice is someone else’s problem… until it isn’t. This week, we continue that same line of thought.

An article in the Winnipeg Free Press highlighted a situation involving Mark Nesbitt, a Canadian lawmaker who had previously supported legislation aimed at protecting students from predatory educators. When his own niece, a former teacher, was convicted and seeking bail pending appeal, he reportedly pledged over $1 million to help get her released. The reaction was swift and critical.

Yet amid the backlash, Tory Leader Obby Khan offered a different perspective, stating: “I think Nesbitt did whatever any loving uncle, aunt or relative would do for their niece.” And that’s the point. For all the certainty and strong opinions that often surround these issues, reality has a way of intruding. Eventually, for many, it becomes personal. It’s a family member. A friend. A colleague. Someone in your community. Someone you know. No one expects that moment. Most believe it will never happen to them. Until it does! And when it does, perspectives shift. Lines that once seemed clear become complicated. Certainty gives way to questions. And only then the human element, so often absent from public discourse, becomes impossible to ignore.

It’s something you see play out all the time, not just in this context. People have strong opinions about things like drug addiction or mental health until it hits close to home. It’s easy to speak in absolutes when it’s someone else’s daughter struggling with opioids or someone else son being diagnosed bipolar. But when it’s your kid, your partner, your brother or sister, everything feels very different. The issue stops being abstract and suddenly becomes very real, very human. And in those moments, certainty tends to give way to empathy, and people start to see just how complicated these situations really are.

None of us knows when life is going to take a turn or when something we once thought was “someone else’s issue” lands in our own circle. In those moments, support matters – having people who are willing to listen, to stand beside you, and to treat you with dignity instead of judgment. That’s what builds real community. Not distance, not labels, but the willingness to recognize each other’s humanity. It also means we can’t stay quiet or keep this conversation in the shadows. Stop thinking of this as your family’s problem or your personal shame. This is society’s problem. We need to share FAC’s message with all the people in our lives. Our friends, coworkers, neighbors, and communities, because awareness doesn’t grow on its own. As so many in politics recently learned through the Epstein case, these issues aren’t as distant as many believe, and the more people understand that, the more thoughtful the conversations become.

This is exactly why speaking up matters. Last week, we asked all of you and our sister organizations to engage with a public poll from a FoxNews affiliate asking whether people who have committed sexual offenses can be rehabilitated. With time still remaining in the voting, the results are already overwhelmingly in favor of the sentiment that they can! That matters. And because this is on a Fox-affiliated platform, that sentiment is being seen by thousands. It’s a reminder that when we step out of our bubble, participate, and bring our voices into the conversation, we help shift the narrative.

Always remember, if we want change, it starts with being willing to speak up, to engage, and to bring others into the conversation even when it’s uncomfortable or embarrassing. Because one day, this may not be just someone else’s issue. It may be theirs. The systems we tolerate, the policies we ignore, and the injustices we allow to persist do not remain confined to “others.” As Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

The challenge for everyone is recognizing that truth before it arrives at your own doorstep.

Sincerely,
Florida Action Committee

The post FAC Weekly Update 2026-04-21-Change Begins When You Speak Up appeared first on Florida Action Committee (FAC).