The purpose of this post is to serve as an advisory for those who are trying to comply with registration obligations during this period. On March 12, 2020, anticipating certain counties would close courthouses, jails and administrative offices where registration is performed, the Florida Action Committee contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to determine what procedures have been implemented to accommodate registration in counties where offices are closed.
While we wait for a reply, check the comments below to see if information about your county has been posted. If not, please call your county registration office to find out whether they are open, whether they anticipate closing, whether they are taking precautions to implement social distancing during this period and what accommodations have been made for registration should their office be closed or closing.
A list of all county registration offices, along with their telephone numbers are published here: https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/Documents/REREGISTRATIONLOCATIONS.pdf
For any questions, call the FDLE at: 1-888-357-7332 or e-mail [email protected].
ORANGE COUNTY, FL: I re-registered today. The sheriff’s office at West Colonial and John Young Pkwy is allowing two registrants at a time into the standard/traditional registration room inside the lobby on the west side of the sheriff’s office. Everyone else must wait outdoors in the line marked for registrants. It’s up to you to know when a fellow registrant has finished registering and is exiting the building. Look for the registration receipt in his/her hand, I guess. Then, the head of the outdoors line can enter the lobby, and then the registration room. I got a receipt for my appearance – the receipt uses less paper than before – they’ve streamlined the data on the report. They required me to place my right index finger on a pad. They also made me sign (without showing what I was signing for) a signature pad. I will compare the verbiage on my receipt to that of previous receipts to see if they are adding rules, etc. to the registration receipt that I signed.
You should always ask for a complete form and don’t blindly sign stuff.
It would be much easier to follow that advice if I were able to see a printed document and then sign at the bottom of that paper document. However, I’d have to ask the cop to print out the document that I’m asked to agree to, and then trust that he’s showing me the right one, since apparently, the only way to sign is by signing the electronic pad outside the window. I think the cop would just tell me to F off anyway. I wonder what would happen if I just simply refused to sign anything. I don’t know of any law that requires it, but I’d be nervous.
You have the option to not sign, literally.
Is Jacksonville-Duval-JSO still doing phone-in registration?
Has the “new” phone number (904-630-8633) changed?
In answer to my own questions, Jacksonville Duval JSO IS still doing phone-in registration (at least through October 2020). The phone number IS still 904-630-8633.
REVERSAL!
JACKSONVILLE DUVAL JSO NOW REQUIRING IN-PERSON REGISTRATION AS PER OFFICER KIRK.
HOURS ARE 8-11 AND 1-4.
APPOINTMENTS NOT MENTIONED.
Had my moment of registration not long ago in Manatee county. No contact, no entry, no photo taken, no fingerprint taken.
All, at this time in Manatee county, is being done by phone at the MSO registry door. When you pick up the phone outside the entry door a officer will ask who you are, will ask for the last four digits of your social security number for verification it is you, followed by a few questions..address, emails, vehicle, etc.
And that’s it, will tell you all’s done and when your next registration month is.
I would not stop there. Did the officer enter it in the PC correctly? Software can crash, sites hacked. Just as I would want a receipt for a new flat screen I would want, even more, a copy of proof I registered. They are required to give you a copy of your registration form. Politely Inform the officer you would like a copy of it. They should print one out as you wait and bring it to the door.
I get a copy emailed to me within minutes of finishing on the phone (from home no less). I am fortunate to have a very professional and decent registration office.
Update: Manatee county Registration is back to indoors and the office has been redesigned with two separate plexiglass booths..two at a time and more security then a tellers window.
This past Monday I went to do my quarterly re-registering at the sheriff’s office in Rockledge. Upon arrival I announced myself on the external squawkbox. The deputy asked my name. I gave it to her. A few minutes later she came to the door and asked if there had been any changes since the last time? I’m three months older…that’s all. She asked if I wanted a copy of my reporting document? I told her page one would be fine. She didn’t even check my drivers license. I sat down in a chair to read and before I got started she was back at the door with page one. She said have a good day and I was finished. I wish it was that way all the time. Something good from the virus!
so can any one tell me if Duval is doing walk ins or phone registration for Aug I cant seem to get a answer from JSO no body is answering the phone thanks for all your help
If they won’t answer the phone or otherwise make you guess, then you HAVE to walk in. Because in-person is what the law says. (It does NOT say you must call ahead, make an apt, etc).
If the office is closed when you get there, you might take a selfie there and copy down any special sign posted.
In at least one neighboring county, there are special safeguards, but that county’s office is open for in-person registration. So I wouldn’t automatically assume that Duval is different.
(Hopefully Duval registrants on this forum have better info than I do).
People are getting arrested for miscommunications so with one week left in the month, if you can’t get into Duval, drive to the next county. They ARE ARRESTING people, so find a way to register even if you need to drive 5 counties over.
UPDATE got in touch with JSO Duval County they are doing call ins for Aug and the fee is being waved at this time
So I had the unfortunate experience of forgetting to go to my biannual registration last month, June 2020. I’ve been on the registry in NY since 2009 and moved to Florida in 2013. I got a phone call on July 2nd, from Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, where the officer asked if I had forgot and told me to come in ASAP. I was arrested once I arrived at the registration site and taken to the county jail. Today I received a phone call from my attorney and was told they would not be filing charges and my case was closed!!! I thought I was screwed for sure, but very glad this worked out and figured I’d share my experience!
Thanks for sharing this Jeremy.
I have long ago given up on any of these registration requirements making any sense. It is such a ‘tangled web’ of opinions, paranoia, hate, fake news, false information, political aspirations, fear, etc. Even some in law enforcement can make no sense of it.
FAC Legal, what’s the best guidance for a registrant who is rushed to the hospital without knowing how many days they’ll be there? In other words, what are some good do’s and don’ts for purposes of compliance?
If it’s your second day and it looks like you’re not getting out the next day, call your registration office AND the FDLE.
Appreciate the feedback. For in-person registration of temporary and permanent residences, do we know whether they’ve ever just “let it go” regarding a registrant who alerted them that they were being hospitalized? Conversely, do we know whether anyone’s ever been arrested for failing to report in person that they were being hospitalized?
As you have correctly pointed out on multiple occasions, FAC, the statute makes no exceptions for hospitalization or other circumstances. So a phone call stating they may not be able to comply with the law, on the surface, would seem to pose a red flag.
In the meantime, here’s hoping that NO Florida registrants will need to be hospitalized > 3 days for Covid.
The statute specifically states that there must be an intent to establish a residence for out of state travel. It makes no such distinction for in-state travel.
943.0435
(7) A sexual offender who intends to establish a permanent, temporary, or transient residence in
another state or jurisdiction other than the State of Florida shall report in person to the sheriff of the
county of current residence within 48 hours before the date he or she intends to leave this state to
establish residence in another state or jurisdiction or at least 21 days before the date he or she intends
to travel if the intended residence of 5 days or more is outside of the United States.
Any change in the information required to be provided pursuant to paragraph (b), including, but not limited to, any change in the sexual offender’s permanent, temporary, or transient residence; name; electronic mail addresses; Internet identifiers and each Internet identifier’s corresponding website homepage or application software name; home telephone numbers and cellular telephone numbers; employment information; and any change in status at an institution of higher education after the sexual offender reports in person at the sheriff’s office must be reported in the manner provided in subsections (4), (7), and (8).
This statute (in its entirety) is antithetical to the core tenets of our democracy and is repugnant !
JJJJ – there is a distinction. Out of state travel needs to be reported BEFORE and in state change of residence needs to be reported AFTER. Reason being; if you leave the state there is no FL registration office or DHSMV location to report to.
There is a separate law for reporting intended travel (out of state) and not correcting it if you don’t leave.
If you’re awake you can call someone but what if you are immediately placed on a ventilator when you arrive at the hospital? If you have family that lives near you then maybe they would call for you but I wouldn’t count on them to think about that. Also, a lot of people are suffering from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) that gets worse over several days which is causing confusion and loss of short term memory. Even if you’re awake you may not have the whereabouts to call the registration office or FDLE.
My other concern is lets say you do call the registration office and FDLE that you are at the hospital then can they call the hospital to tell them you are there? And if the hospital knows you’re in their ICU will they move you to another hospital solely based on your criminal history, harrass you while you are there, or do the old patient dumping trick and let you die on the street?
JD,
Respectfully, is this an actual scenario or a hypothetical? If you’re placed on a ventilator worry about surviving and fighting a hypothetical case afterwards.
JD brings up another good point— do we know of anybody who’s had obstacles accessing hospital care due to their registration status, perhaps triggered by a notification?
With regard to JD’s first question, I don’t doubt there are those unfortunates who require ventilation upon arrival. I think FAC guidance in such an instance is, worry about survival over registration, if I’m reading correctly.
Seminole County is doing everything via webcams. I had to register a rental car and I also had my 6-month registration within the last 2 weeks. On both occasions, I did a Facetime check-in with them. If you call the number and leave a message, they will get back to you.
They said for people who cannot or don’t have the option for webcams, they have other means to complete the registrations remotely.
Thank you! I hope they get back with him soon because it sure makes a mom nervous
Does anyone have information on Seminole County? My son had an appointment and it’s for this Wednesday afternoon and now when he called in just to verify it says don’t show up but it doesn’t tell any other alternative— does anybody know?
Just looked on Seminole’s web site and it does not even mention the covid virus situation, this is all it says
Sex Offender Registration
If you are required to register as a Sexual Offender or Sexual Predator in the State of Florida, and this is your first time registering in Seminole County, please contact the Sexual Offender Registration Office at 407-665-6725 to make an appointment. If you have questions about what is required, please call 407-665-6725
At your appointment, you will be required to complete a registration form. To help expedite this process, you are welcome to complete the form in advance and bring it with you to your appointment. The form can be found by clicking here .
Florida law and Seminole County ordinances restrict residency and mobility for registered sexual predators and offenders. Restricted locations can be found by clicking here.
EXACT reason I moved away from Seminole county. Awful registration experience. I was one of the first to ever register in that county and left that day in tears. Takes a lot more than a cute puppy to make me cry.
Yeah there’s nothing on Seminole’s website about it When you call the number it says do not show up there’s no one here to help you and to leave your information on a voicemail. That someone will call you back but there’s no way of knowing whether they got the voicemail and you have no proof that you actually called and left your voicemail. And what I’m thinking is I wish I had a way to actually record their phone message saying don’t show up —it sucks
I am on probation and we are told to not go to the office for our monthly check in because of the virus safety concerns. Instead our officer calls us on our scheduled appt. time to see how we are doing, and this is probation which is a punishment and part of our sentence.
Yet, I am still having to drive to the sheriffs office to register twice a year in person. And this is NOT a punishment…. Makes a lot of sense.
Please do not try to make sense of registration policies since sense did not go into establishing them. There is no standard policy and each ‘fiefdom’ is left to make up its own policies. One day this ‘punishment’ will come to an end. Just hang in there with a positive attitude. That will frustrate your oppressors more than anything.
AND, to add to that, it is not just different from county to county, each time I go to register they have a different rule to follow depending on who you get.
It did get a lot better when a different employee took over the registration. Before it was taking 2-3 hours to be seen, now even if it is packed (Which it always is) you get seen in about 30 minutes.
Not sure what changes they may make in light of all this since I do not have to register again until June and hopefully things will be back on track.
Jed,
when you figure it out, let the rest of us know. I would say it is a laughable situation, but nothing about this is funny. I have said over and over again that when I was on probation I did not even have half the regulations we have now, of course then the registry had just started in 1997 and the Sheriff’s departments didn’t even really know what they were supposed to do.
Pinellas County having Registrants comply by Phone. Just did mine they dont want people coming in.
Pinellas making it impossible to comply with a law for which registrants are strictly liable.
FAC remind me what, if anything, is the guidance for situations in which counties simply refuse to allow people to register in person as required? (If it’s already in this discussion, I got lost).
All I can say is they have always been strait and Prof with me. I have date and time of calls and a recorded Message. Again I can only tell of my experience but I have been on for years and even the Home checks are done very Respectful and in a way not to bring attention. Many of my neighbors know and dont care but I appreciate how this county has so far handled my situation. I have much more respect now then ever before for my local law enforcement. I did mine on the Phone also but worry about the strict Liability
I called yesterday to find out about registration in Columbia county Florida.
I was told that all registration was being done by phone, and that I could do it right then.
This was told to me by a very pleasant woman named Tracy Hicks who said she was the Admin in charge. They offered no verifiable proof that you registered. She took all my info down and said my file would be updated. I understand with this covid-19 things change, but I am not too comfortable with not having proof I did indeed register. This give the cops way too much power to screw us over if they want.
I wrote down all info, and hope it does go good. But I am decided to post here as not only letting everyone know, but also as proof I did do it. Just in case!
Please everyone, stay safe, but stay aware, and keep good records.
Write down exact times and call from a verifiable number such as I did that if needed you can ask your phone carrier for proof call in a statement .
Just a piece of advice. I asked my officer to email me a copy of that 1st page of my re-reg papers so i could print it out and have that hard copy in case some cop wanted to be a jerk. She was happy to do so, and I got it in a matter of minutes.
I suggest that we all ask for that since they have your email address anyway and you can print it straight from that email which is especially easy to do from a Gmail account.
Stay safe everybody.
I 100% agree. When you got before a judge and it is your word against law enforcement that you registered, you will lose every time even with the best lawyer on the face of the Earth.
Even if the Sheriff’s employee meant well, they are not going to admit making a mistake and risk being fired just to save the skin of a sex offender.
I save a years worth of my registrations. I shred ones that are older than a year. I use to register one time a year, then 2 times a year and now 4 times a year. But hey, it is not punishment and soon will have to go in monthly just like on probation.
I know of at least one person who went back to jail on purpose because he said it was actually easier in there than on the street. Sad that someone has to choose between freedom and happiness.
Another possible option, if you don’t have email or the officer won’t email proof to you, would be to ask the officer if it’s ok to voice record him/her as proof. If he/she agrees (very important to avoid breaking the law), start a voice recorder and ask for permission again, while recording, so permission is given on the recording. Then ask them to ID themselves and the date and confirm that you registered. I was glad that they recently gave me the usual receipt when I registered, in person, in Orange County.
Osceola County is doing it by phone
The State of Florida FDLE has posted the following on the FDLE website in the area where registrants update internet identifiers and employment info:
During the current State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 virus, below is information provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) and Florida Sheriffs Offices regarding their temporary mechanisms and accommodations for registrants to report registration information as required under Florida laws. As updated information is made available during this time it will be updated here. Please contact and check the website of the Sheriffs Office in your county to determine any alternative registration reporting procedures they may have in place during this State of Emergency.
Registrants may request a Driver License/Identification Card Address Update Form by:
Calling the HSMV Customer Service Line: (850) 617-2000, OR
Downloading the Form from DHSMV at
Florida Registrant Address Update Request, OR
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/registrant_address_update_request.pdf
And What if Certain Registrants Do Not Have Access to The World Wide Web?
PALM BEACH COUNty –
P.S. On the sheriff’s web site https://www.pbso.org/spot-unit/
it says “Biohazard Please Note:
Due to COVID-19 ALL Criminal Registrations are currently being conducted via phone only.
Please call 561-688-4990, -4931, or -4932.”
Further on Palm Beach County. Today I was told on the phone that my registration was complete, signature not needed, just report again in six months. I’m hanging on to the log showing my conversations with the sheriff’s office, and also a message one deputy left me.
Au Contrair,
The web page (https://www.pbso.org/spot-unit/) now says
“Due to COVID-19 ALL Criminal Registrations are currently being conducted via phone.
Sex Offenders/Sexual Predators are still required to show up in person.
Please call 561-688-4990, -4931, or -4932.
These rules seem to be set by whoever is the shift supervisor.
PALM BEACH COUNTY Today 4/2/20 I went to Palm Beach County usual registration place, by the fairgrounds, for my semi-annual reporting. You no longer go in and report; it is closed to the public. Signs have changed. There was a new sign in the window saying to register call 561 688-4990, 688-4931, 688-4932. Those are the numbers of some of the deputies that handle SOs in the sheriff’s office. I eventually got someone (familiar voice, but I didn’t note the name) When I told him I had held my ID up in front of the door so the person on the other side could see it, so “someone saw my ID”, as he put it, he went over all my information and said I had fulfilled my registration requirement, but I still had to appear to sign my paperwork. but he said the office would be closed for the next 2 weeks and I should call then to see if they were open or would be closed longer. I got the impression there was some confusion, if you have to present an ID and sign paper, what is being done on the phone? My conclusion is that they want to eliminate as much face to face contact as possible. I also had occasion to deal with the county court today on an unrelated civil matter, and found out that they are on a 2 day a week schedule and things scheduled for April are being pushed back into May.
We are truly blessed to have FAC there for us to help us get organized. This is a ‘battle’ that we are going to win.