InJusticeToday: As Deadline Approaches for Homeless Ex-Offenders in Florida, County Threatens to Jail Them
A few miles from Miami International Airport, outside of Hialeah, sits a tent camp of about 280 homeless people. There’s no electricity or running water and no bathrooms. News reports describe the stench of human waste and garbage, tents that flood when it rains, and flies, mosquitoes, and rats infesting the area. “Animals live better than this,” one resident told a reporter.
He and the others there are on the state sex offender registry. Miami-Dade County laws make it almost impossible for them to find places to live and bar homeless shelters from taking them in. For many registrants, the encampment has been a last resort, but in January, county leaders passed a new rule that makes them subject to arrest if they don’t find housing by May 7.
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!!!ENTRAPMENT!!!
Unethical and inhumane.
This is sick that human beings can treat human being in such a way.
This kind of strongarming and cruel and unusual punishment has been seen in historical events such as the Holocaust.
I wonder how prepared the county is to jail all these people. I’d advise all those registrants to get copies of their prescriptions, establish a communication plan with their families and friends and declare indigent status at the jail house door.
What does the probation and parole department have to say about these people under their supervision?
I’d plan to make my arrest as long and expensive as possible if I didn’t have any other option.
What has always perplexed me about the people that live in these camps in these cruelest of cruel counties…why not go to another county where things are much easier? I understand things aren’t that simple for those on probation to pick up and move; but others not bound there by probation? Just notify and leave! Find a leg up! There’s a mobile home park near my home with a dozen RSO on site (near Ocala). Resources can be found elsewhere. I’d rather move than live under a bridge or something.
I totally agree with you. If you’re not bound there by anything and have the means to get out, then do it. But it truly is easier said than done. I really feel for those folks down there.
But, once Miami-Dade is completely successful at eliminating all of its registered residents, other counties try to follow suit. Then, it’s time for those same residents to run away again.
Well, first of all many have left Miami over the years. There was a time when temporary housing was also found for these guys. But temporary solutions and banishment are simply not acceptable. For many guys down there, they have family and kids in Miami but can’t live in the house (which some of them own!) because of the restrictions. So they are choosing homelessness by staying to see their family. Also many of them are working a job and are successfully feeding/clothing themselves, supporting their family that they can’t live with and getting to/from work everyday. It’s truly a horrible situation. These guys, along with the rest of us, are on the right side of the Law, not to mention common sense and decency. The city of Miami is not. So the answer can’t be, “just move.” I bet if you go down there and offer someone a ride to Ocala you’ll find someone that would be eternally grateful for such a leg up. Sometimes I think maybe we all need to pack up and go down there and make the Po-Po jail 500-1,000 people instead of a few dozen….
That is a very good idea
moving to another county or even another state does not help with a lot of issues an RSOs faces its simply a false dilemma argument.
I plead to avoid any jail time and to have zero restrictions (i can even own a firearm), unknowing at the time other states would not honor my plea agreement. Florida has basically banned me from the state and i HATE that.
Even moving to another country is not much of an option for most.
I am lucky enough to have been able to spend over 100k on immigration lawyers, something i should not have to do. Being on state and country arrest sucks and I had no idea that was part of my plea.
If you are homeless and under supervision, moving is not so easy.
@MJ
Please refrain from using the forum board to wish ill on others. No matter how much negative or non-preferential treatment we the RSO community and family / supportive members of such may endure; wishing ill on others would send a counter-productive message and may/can be used as ammunition in future battles.
Remember that life is a sea of ripples that result in the waves that move the sea in any given direction.
Anon for Now
@Anon I don’t see how it could be used as ammunition for one. I didn’t threaten him or little miss precious in any way shape or form. As long he WILLINGLY CHOOSES to make other people’s lives (and their families) miserable, I will always hope that his life is just as more miserable than the ones he victimizes. He uses his money and power to be as corrupt as possible and misuses his influence only to make RSO’s lives unlivable. He is piece of scum for a human being. And if you don’t like what I have to say, don’t read my comments then. But I am free to say whatever I want about that POS. Thanks.
@Mj
No one is questioning whether or not you have the right to do so. It is simply in poor taste to stoop low. Unfortunately, we have to try to remain above reproach and focusing your anger towards me for calling you out on a misguided comment is also counter-productive. Feel free to post whatever the moderators allow you to post but be mindful that all of our collective thoughts and actions can and will be used against us.
I did not disagree with your viewpoint only with how you chose to express it. If you want to be taken seriously then you (everyone) should always choose your words carefully.
Anyone who has ever been convicted of one of the Internet stings will tell you that words can and do cause havoc on your life.
Thanks.
We are already struck low. We don’t have to stoop.
Book isn’t convinced. “ You’re not going to get me to ever say that residency restrictions are not appropriate ,”
Oh, but we’re not trying to convince you Mr. Book. Oh no no no.
We’re trying to convince Federal courts and judges. Much more credible and much more effective. You’re just a pompous jerk who won bad father of the century by a landslide(and that bothers you- the truth). You will go down in history as such and future generations will look back be disgusted by your Un-American actions. Count on it. Nothing is forever – including you and everything you represent.
Yes, Ron Book is trying to atone for the sin of outsourcing his child rearing duties.
I’m praying that God will send a new powerful category 6 hurricane this fall that utterly destroys Ron and Lauren aka precious crooks houses and levels them and renders them homeless foe months. You reap what you sow.
Better watch out. She will get a restraining order on you and the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season.