FAC Weekly Update 2025-09-02-Horrible Ordinance in Putnam
Weekly update for September 2, 2025. This is recording number 325.
Dear Members and Advocates,
On August 26, 2025, the Putnam County Commission adopted Sec. 28-3, the “Sexual Offender and Sexual Predator Act.” This is the same county where earlier this year, Sheriff “Gator” DeLoach vowed to “rid the county of sex offenders” and carried out a mass eviction at a Trailer Park, literally displacing dozens of people and forcing many into tents behind the sheriff’s office. Now, instead of working toward stable housing and reentry, Putnam has passed one of the most restrictive ordinances in Florida.
Here are some of the highlights (rather low points) of the new ordinance: No registrant may live within 2,500 feet of a school, park, childcare facility, playground, or even a school bus stop. Only two registrants may live at the same address (unless family). And registrants cannot live within 500 feet of each other, nor may more than 10% of a mobile home park, apartment complex, or condo building’s residents be registrants.
Additionally, Putnam will start charging registration fees from those forced to register. People in Putnam will now have to pay $50 at initial registration, $25 for every required re-registration, and $10 for every change of address.
There’s also a proximity ordinance, where registrants may not be present, loiter, or “prowl” within 500 feet of schools, parks, bus stops, or childcare facilities (with narrow exceptions like dropping off one’s own child, voting, or attending church). Also, registrants are banned from participating in Halloween or festivals, must keep porch lights off after 5:00 p.m., and may not decorate their homes. In the event of a hurricane or emergency, registrants must immediately self-identify and will be sent to separate, Sheriff-designated shelters (including correctional facilities if chosen).
And here’s another kick in the face to anyone who thinks about renting to someone on the registry… Landlords are prohibited from renting within 2,500 feet of restricted zones to registrants. They must check the National Sex Offender Registry before renting and violations may bring fines, jail time, and property liens (against the landlord).
The Putnam ordinance goes far beyond state law, creating an exclusion zone that makes it nearly impossible to secure lawful housing anywhere in Putnam County. The new ordinance is overly broad, punitive, and counterproductive. It continues the county’s recent pattern of displacement, rather than real solutions that protect children and strengthen public safety. If you’ve not already shared your experience with residency restrictions; now is the time to do so. It doesn’t matter if you don’t live in Putnam County (or in Lee County where the Clements case is focused on), this should be a wake up call to you that if nothing is done, what is happening in Putnam County can happen in your area. Also, if you are in Putnam County (or were considering moving to Putnam or were displaced from Putnam) and are interested in a potential lawsuit, please contact [email protected].
The passage of this new ordinance also underscores the importance of getting involved in advocacy. We need people to show up to Commission meetings to speak out against these ordinances. Last month we posted that a City in Broward is considering increasing their residency restrictions. That ordinance is coming up for a second reading and we need people to show up! We understand that it’s intimidating, we know that it’s embarrassing, but we also know that if people don’t speak out against these ordinances, they sail through. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
Friends, silence is not an option! If our own members and allies don’t raise their voices, then harmful laws will keep passing, not because of what our opponents say, but because of what we fail to say and do. Every voice matters. Every presence in the room matters. Your participation could be the difference between another destructive ordinance passing or it being stopped in its tracks. Let’s rise together, stay visible, and make our voices impossible to ignore.
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
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These restrictions are actually par for the course. Most FloriDUH comunities have similar ordinances. They are the same as most Broward County ordinances. There are similar municipal ordinances in Texas and Wisconsin.
The difference here is that Sheriff DeRoach made his intentions clear with his intent to chase Registered Persons out of the community and that he is the one that influenced the passage of this ordinance. Since it is clear this was the weaponization of the law out of malice, that should be helpful in attacking this ordinance.
Who has the money to fight an ordinance? We just spent alot of money last year to get off the registry, and it was DENIED. My BF was told by the DA, you did it in 1991, you will do it again. He was persecuted. It was like he was on trial. He did a plea agreement in 1991. SO registry was never mentioned in his plea agreement. So, yea, I am having feelings of negativity.
Connie
Same for me. My crime was in 1991 and no registry existed then. When I got out of prison in 1997, the registry came out 3 days before I was released and retro-actively applied. Having to register 4 times a year since 1997, I now have in my filing cabinet, 112 registration forms. If I ever get removed, my shredder is going to probably catch on fire from getting rid of them because each registration paperwork is 4 pages and front and back. That is 448 pieces of paper.
FAC. Is there a way to File an Injunction against this new Ordinance. If So how much would it cost?
Yes, we can file a 1983 (complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief). Depending on the attorney, the fees for such a case would likely be over $50,000. There’s also the cost for the GIS Mapping Expert to show the impact of SORRs in Putnam and how much available housing would be left. Budget $10,000 for that. Experts would need to testify to the lack of effectiveness of SORRs and proximity ordinances. Depending on how many and where they will travel from, budget $10,000. Keep in mind it’s not just preparation of the reports and declarations, but also appearances at depositions and trial prep. Costs like filing fees, transcripts, etc. would need to be covered too. $80-100K.
All of that just for a Temporary Injunction until a court date can be set? No wonder the Rogues keep passing these county ordinances. They know that the ordinary person cant fight it. Sad Sad state of affairs. Perhaps we could suggest our Federal government just deport us all to the EU.
No it is not just for a temporary injunction.
A permanent injunction
So PFR are basically screwed. Another day another ordinance.
Connie, you may be the first to conclude that we’re “basically screwed” here. What makes you say that?
Im at a crossroads too with my own case. Go to trial or accept what they gave me first time on the plate. I may take whats on the plate for gets me out of florida quicker and back to a RSO more friendly state
Cherokee, you don’t have to answer, but I was wondering, if you ever tried to get off the registry? Or has anyone else?
Connie
I was denied but I know several who have been removed. I guess it depends on the charges and the judge you go before. Same thing happened to me when I tried to get off probation and got denied. Went back a few years later and got removed from probation. Hopefully I can get another chance to be removed from the registry. It has been 28 years I have been on the registry which seems like a lifetime. I am not getting any younger for sure.
I urge anyone in Putnam County or Florida to sue to remove this unlawful act. Does Putnam hope to woo visitors, businesses, and residents by claiming, “Look, we have no registered sex offenders here”?
We all know this is nothing more than an attempt to use the law to run every PFR out of their county while hoping there is no one willing, or able, to bring a lawsuit against the county to have it overturned.
Why the federal government did not pass SORNA as a federal program restricting States from passing their own programs, is bad enougn but the State of Florida passing SORNA laws without preempting Counties and Cities from passing additional laws is rediculous because it has inevitably lead things to where things stand today; Local jurisdictions using the law to run PFR’s out of their counties.
There is no doubt this is unconstitutional at probably the Federal level and probably the State level as well. I hope whoever files suit can use this to show SORNA laws in Florida have gone beyond the reasonable to the extreme and are therefore, unconstitutional in their entirety.
Dear Grown Folks, not true. We all have a Constitution and it must be defended. FAC and individuals win cases on constitutional grounds frequently. Don’t ever lose hope.
Unfortunately I have been on the registry since the day it started. TBH I’m about as hopeless and given up alsmot completely. Im glad some can still do something to.foght this endless punishment. But I just dont have the mental strength or ability to do so. Im just beaten down by this system and dont have much hope left to give.
Grown folks
Stay in the fight my friend and never, ever give up hope. For if we give up, the bastards who are suppressing us automatically win. We all get down with the blues occasionally being on the registry but when we lose hope, it can also affect our families who stand by and support us. So put on your Armor and keep fighting until the end.
If a small country like Ukraine can stand up to giant bullies, why can’t we on the registry do the same for our battle for freedom?
It is Endless punishment. We are also beaten down. What can be done with these ordiances? BF plea deal 1991. Prison time with 10 years probation to follow. Off paper 2004 and still being held a prisoner under custody. Loosing our mental health and physical health. Not much hope left here either.
Connie – you can submit a declaration. You can speak out at Commission meetings, write to your lawmakers, you can do exactly what was suggested in the weekly update.