FAC Weekly Update 2025-11-25-Florida Scores an “F” Grade

Weekly update for November 25, 2025. This is recording number 340.

Dear Members and Advocates,

Back in 2014, then-Florida Representative Matt Gaetz pledged to make Florida “scorched earth” for sexual predators. Ironically — given his own later involvement in a federal sex-trafficking investigation — his vision became reality. Over the last decade, Florida hasn’t just gotten tougher on past sexual offenders, it has become relentless.

Florida’s sex offender registration statute has been amended more than 20 times since its enactment in 1997 (it was amended in 1998, 1999, 2000 (twice), 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 (twice), 2007 (three times), 2009, 2010, 2012 (twice), 2013, 2014 (twice), 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 (twice), and 2024). Each time adding more and harsher restrictions and reporting requirements on those with a past conviction for a sex offense. For this year, they are proposing a law (HB 45/SB 212) to add “public swimming pools” and “public bathing areas” to its already draconian residency restrictions – the result of which would render 80% of the habitable land in the state off limits to registrants. Lots more of us that could be pushed into homelessness. Lots more punishment for people who have offended in the past! But punishment does not equal protection.

According to a report from World Childhood Foundation USA, Florida received an “F” when it comes to safeguarding its children from sexual abuse. But wait… how can a state known for being one of the most draconian when it comes to sex offender registration requirements, still fail in protecting it’s children from sex offenses? The answer is simple. Because Florida’s policies are misguided and its registration laws, while very effective at adding additional punishments for people who have offended at some point in the past, are totally ineffective at protecting children from sexual abuse.

Despite how they’re sold to the public, these are not prevention laws. Study after study shows that public registries and broad notification systems do not reduce sexual reoffending. In fact, they often make things worse. By making housing and employment nearly impossible, these laws destabilize people, increase homelessness, and push registrants into isolation and transience — conditions that make monitoring harder and risk higher. If we’re worried about the safety of women and children… Spouses and children of registrants often face harassment, housing instability, bullying, and social isolation. The registry provides a government-endorsed target list that encourages violence against registrants and their families. Not exactly prevention here… just more punishment.

Even worse, Florida’s registry is riddled with inaccuracies. Only 38.5% of people listed on Florida’s sex offender registry actually live in Florida. The rest are incarcerated, deceased, or living in other states or countries. Someone can visit Florida for just three days and wind up on its registry for life. Instead of providing useful information, the system floods the public with diluted data, inflates fear, and diverts law enforcement resources away from real threats and real investigations. All these arbitrary new restrictions that keep getting added just create more opportunities to unknowingly violate for some technical misstep and wind up back in prison, over and over again. And Law enforcement spends enormous time tracking petty technical violations instead of focusing on preventing real crimes.

Florida shouldn’t feel alone though. The rest of the United States, while not all failing (Washington, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey and Oregon, and the District of Columbia got a “D”) also completely sucks at protecting it’s children from sexual abuse. But how is that possible?!?!? The United States has SORNA, the US has the public registry, the US has International Megan’s law, the US is supposed to know it all when it comes to protecting children! Or so it would like you to think. The sex offender registry itself is a huge failure at protecting kids or preventing child sex abuse. Here’s why:

The registry isn’t protective legislation — it’s punitive legislation. Protective legislation looks different. Protective Legislation creates educational programs for children and parents to recognize signs of grooming or inappropriate behavior. Protective Legislation enacts victim support services. Protective Legislation creates support systems for those at risk of offending in order to prevent recidivism. Protective Legislation supervises the whole of society, including teachers, coaches, clergy and police, not just focus on people with past offenses who are unlikely to reoffend. Protective legislation focuses on preventing harm before it happens. The registry just punishes people long after it already has!

Even as we live in what has become a legislative “scorched earth” here in Florida — where punishment keeps expanding and reason keeps shrinking — we must still find room for gratitude. This Thanksgiving, we can’t forget the many brothers and sisters who will spend their Thanksgiving holiday separated from their families — because punitive (not protective) laws have pushed them into the shadows, into tents in the woods, or onto street corners. We give thanks to all of you reading this, not just those in Florida, but worldwide — for every call that you’ve made to Tallahassee, every email sent, every donation given to our legal challenges, and every moment you’ve stood beside your FAC family instead of looking away. Your support is more than help; it’s a reminder that none of us are fighting alone. In a “scorched earth” climate that has tried to harden hearts, you’ve helped us keep them open. And for that, we are deeply, truly thankful.

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee