Is it really worth it? What’s the cost of registration violations?
In Florida, registration is for life. We have people with 20, 30 year old convictions who are still on the list, have to comply with a long list of requirements, and if they don’t – it’s a felony.
Take, for example, the case of C.B. (no need to use his real name and have another harassing link up when he’s googled, but you can read the original report in yesterday’s Ocala News.)
He’s registered 30 times in Florida, last month reported he was moving to Georgia after his home was rendered uninhabitable and he couldn’t live with his mom and would have been homeless.
According to the mother, the family that was supposed to send him bus fare didn’t and he stayed in Ocala. Rather than live homeless, he stayed with his mom, but he couldn’t report that he was living with her, because there was a residency restriction. So he couldn’t go back to his home because it was condemned. He couldn’t go to Georgia until he could raise the money for bus fare. And if he reported he was staying, he wouldn’t have been able to stay with his mom and would have had to live homeless.
The problem is; reporting you’re leaving the state and not leaving within 48 hours is a third degree felony. C.B. is being held without bond in Marion County Jail, his first appearance is Oct. 22.
When he eventually gets out, he will have another felony, plus he will have incurred a bill from the Marion County Jail, which charges its inmates an intake and daily subsistence fee (that’s what it costs inmates – it costs taxpayers more than $50/day/inmate). He’ll be homeless and deeper in the hole when it comes to affording his bus ticket to Georgia. Is it worth it?
Incidentally, his conviction is from 22 years ago. A Statutory Rape from when he was 19 years old.
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I recently went in to add a rental vehicle to my dossier and was told by the officer taking my info that I could call in to have it removed. I tried that and was told by a different officer that I had to come in. When I mentioned the other officer by name, I was then allowed to do it over the phone, but the officer I was speaking to seemed upset that I wasn’t coming in to do it. Now I’m worried I put myself on their “radar.”
Also, when I re-registered I was asked if the 1,000 foot rule applied to me by an officer I had not previously interacted with. I have never been asked this before. The officer also had me take everything out of my pockets, lift my pant legs up to my knees, and lift my shirt up to my chest. Again, this was the first time for the shirt lift and pocket emptying. Strangely, no pat down search. They also were giving out “no candy” signs, emphasizing the letter size, and posting countries we could NOT travel to in the office.
Here’s what countries were listed: Scotland, England, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan, India, Jamaica, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Philippines.
Additionally, they didn’t have the license plate number for one of the vehicles that I am required to report although I had given it two times before. As others have noted, Duval registrants seem to fare better than many of the other counties, “holiday” ordinance aside, but it seems they are now actively trying to find a reason to violate registrants.
Anyone have any similar/strange experiences in Duval?
If they posted or gave out a list of countries you can’t travel to, please send an image of that list to [email protected] ASAP. A country can prevent you from entering but they cannot prevent you from traveling there.
I’m sorry, I misquoted. The hand-written whiteboard list actually says “Countries That Do Not Allow Sex Offenders Entry.”
Please send the picture
Sent!
Not sticking up for them but that is probably what they meant. It might be a helpful list because if the countries deny you entry, it might be good to know this.
I lost $7000 once on a trip for me and my then girlfriend , not covered by insurance for denial of entry. I was allowed to leave and visit England not knowing I would be denied entry. It was a nightmare trying to get back home and months of back and forth and never got any money back. When I tried to dispute the charges, my credit card company also had zero sympathy.
After that I did not renew my passport. Even if you are not on the registry, just the charges on the record will keep you for life from entering into any of the countries that deny felons. I found out the U.K is the worst followed by Canada. At least Canada has an appeals process.
Also I heard on here from another person on the registry that said one country that did allow them in, sent police to their hotel to notify them of his status as an offender.
RTAG’s website has a matrix of countries that allow or deny entry to registrants. It’s updated about every 1-2 months based upon reports from registered citizens trying to travel:
http://registranttag.org/resources/travel-matrix/
Heck I have visited countries where I wanted a passport stamp for my own pleasure to enjoy showing I had been there. They didn’t even want to see my passport and when I tried to push the issue, a lady who lived there pulled me to the side and pleaded with me to let it go.
I did a tour from Denmark in Sweden and they never checked our passports.
When I got off the train from Germany to Austria, there was not even a live human in the train depot and we walked right off the train into the countryside and visited the ” Sound of Music ” town of Salzburg. Never got the Austria stamp or several other countries with open borders. I have visited 9 countries but 3 of them I never got stamped.
That was my last trip before everything started getting tougher. I got detained on the way home and had family with me. I told them to not wait for me. I was taken in back room, they destroyed my luggage and cut off all my locks in front of me and when I said I had a key, the TSA officers told me to shut my *ucking mouth. Then I was made to strip naked. After all this they called the FDLE to see if I should be arrested for traveling without permission.
I finally made it on the plane with 25 seconds before they closed the doors. I kept that passport for the stamps and memories. The new one I ran through a shredder.
I do not want to put you in harms way but not sure how they are getting away with making you empty your pockets and lifting your clothing unless you are on probation. This is considered illegal search and seizure. I would talk to your attorney about this. Not telling you to not comply because then you might be in deep doo doo, just saying that sounds awfully illegal.
Although I use to work in law enforcement, there were no sex offender laws back then so I cannot keep up with all the stuff they make up from department to department. Things like this is actually why I left law enforcement, too many dirty cops who did not serve the people but rather terrorized people. Whenever I would speak up I paid dearly for it.
With all the crap going on in the World now I wouldn’t work in Law enforcement for a million dollars a year. ( Ok just for one year to get that money lol )
I can’t afford an attorney and I don’t think anyone would take the case based on recovery. This new guy seems like a real ja¢ka$$. We have had a decent group “tending” to us, with one exception, so I guess the tide is turning as the prisons are not full enough with the faux justice reform in progress. They need to fill those beds so they will go for the low-hanging fruit, us.
My son will have 6 months of community control, and be moved from a what would be a Tier two to a Tier three if Florida had Tiers. He will now register every 3 months. He has already lost his job, and is now working under the table for less than min. wage, he will lose his vehicle. He worked so hard since release from prison, he served 4 years. His crime was 10 years ago, and it was non-violent, but recently he forgot to register his new license plate, he had the temp. still on there. He thought he had done it, but was working 6 to 7 days a week at that time, and forgot. Also in the time he has been home every cop that came to our house to do compliance check knew I had a car, never said it had to be registered. Then after the Epstein fiasco suddenly they show up and say it had to be on there. So now everything we’ve been working for is gone. In effect, we are all registered for life now.
Welcome to Ocala. I reported before, my husband learned he had to register when we came back here 10 years ago, a case from over 25 years ago, I think, don’t have paper in front of me, listed as “grooming ” charge – his story is quite believable knowing the people involved, anyway- he has been diabetic on insulin for years, a vet who for 0ver 20 years could get no attention to his complaints of leg pain – which eventuallyturned out to be 100 blocked artery in one leg and 80% in other. Finally surgery for that. Eventually 3 years ago congestive heart surgery. special diet both for diabetes and heart problem. lucky I can cope with it living out of a motel. He has tremendous trouble walking and takes a lot of med, mostlyblood pressure meds. for the heart problem. nothing for pain as would interfere with blood thinners. Still the same pain in his knee that got me to take him to VA to start with – old injury problems – with hurricane anticipated called their onlyshelter space for him to be told he would have to bring his own food – hard to do with a no salt diet – I have to boil a lot of premade items out to remove salt to get a break – still a lot of work – have car no longer – last time he went to register as I reported earlier had to take cab and officer he met with wanted to know if I was in parking lot because I had called just after he left to see if office open for sure – $40 cab ride back and forth and didn’t want him to go for nothing – even tho all paper on file re: car gone, don’t think she believed him when he said he took cab, she said he could have taken a bus – it would have killed him to try to reach the closest bus stop and then walk to where they have to register from where bus lands out there – and then I had to hear that she said that reason they try to trick them with uestioning out there is that they want “them” all in jail. In meantime had our lives made hell here with attempts to get id and our soc. sec. which would leave us homeless. there is more but it is supposed to be a book that is not getting written. This man put his life on the line for me in dealing with a crazy ex-husband. all I can say and I wouldn’t be alive if he hadn’t showed up in my life when he did. Being made to live around the people I have been made to find housing around since I have been thru this regime in Ocala has not been the most pleasant experience and that is putting it lightly. All I can say right now –
I use to have my Mom go to the registration with me so they could not lie and say they did or did not do or say something to get me “Jacked” up. Now they have a closed off room you go into and only registered individuals are allowed back there.
On the one hand it is nice for privacy as before every Tom , Dick and Harry could hear out business, but on the other hand, it is your word against theirs ( law enforcement ) that you showed your ID, or any other thing they lie about.
The good news is, the Nazi who use to run the registration thing and was mean and bitter was moved to something else and we have a new person who treats us with respect and even smiles and laughs with those who have a friendly demeanor.
Maybe we should raise some money to help him with expenses. That’s the other side of this coin. Along with raising money for lawsuits, we should raise money to help people in dire situations.
good idea
We can all only hope and pray that southern poverty law center or perhaps a college or some other organization or law person picks this case up!
“Is it really worth it?”
So what this website is saying is: fall in line, keep your head down and “play their game.”
Are you people in Florida really that chicken shit?
Okay then.
This is why I will never, ever give one dime to this website. Why? You’re not militant and aggressive enough. What in the hell are you people afraid of? All of you are whipped cowards now wanting to lose what little you have left. You don’t know how to organize or mobilize anything substantial that has legs or teeth. All the defense attorneys in Fla appear dismissive and indifferent and are afraid of “going against children.” Cowards afraid they might set a precedent ruling and bring shame to their name. Finally, there’s nothing I’ve ever read here (both the sob stories and comments) that inspires, motivates or influences me personally enough to lift one finger to care.
Some of you will STILL be in here 10 years from now following local and national cases waiting for a magical landmark ruling all while telling yourselves’ that lie about how the “tide is shifting.” Right. You people are in denial and have Stockholm syndrome.
“Finally, there’s nothing I’ve ever read here (both the sob stories and comments) that inspires, motivates or influences me personally enough to lift one finger to care.”
I’d like to know about what fights you’ve put forward in all this. Please cite any victories you’ve had so us “cowards” may learn from your example. Thanks.
Thank you for your encouraging words…. Hmmm How is it that I haven’t heard or seen anything from your courage and leadership skills out front like several of these Advocated who fighting against the grain to give help and relief to harsh laws. I am kinda Confused here Scott what have you done or doing that these people haven’t? Are you mad because you can not get what you? Or maybe you just woke up on the wrong side of the rock? We all want relief, I petty sure you might need that dime some day. I struggle making ends meet as the others who have donated as well. Why not just keep that dime and use it for another purpose you see fit. I petty sure. F.A.C and others do not need to listen your abusive opinions, I for one support these people. They may not fight the way you want them to but at least These people got Bigger Ballz to stand and fight! Opps! Where are you in the front lines again?
So Scott, perhaps you can enlighten us on what you have accomplished in this struggle. What exactly have you personally achieved using the techniques that you claim will move mountains and change the minds of deaf politicians and citizens who don’t know people on the registry and have never been forced to look at it from our perspective.
Being militant and aggressive will lead to many things but genuine change for our benefit is very likely NOT one of those things. I can understand your anger at the slow pace of change — but change is happening. Hell yes I want to see a huge landmark ruling come down in our favor RIGHT NOW but, again, that’s not likely.
What we desperately need are more people who are level-headed and filled with composure to join in the fight. Disparaging the progress that we, as a collective family, have made is counterproductive and, I might add, you’re completely full of bulls**t if you think it helps!
Scott, a lot of bluster and criticism but you don’t offer or even mention any potential solutions. Please let us know, in detail, what’s worked for you and your fellow registrants. What state are you in?
It would be fantastic if you could provide us with the citations for the court cases that your groups have won. Contact info for the attorneys that handled the cases would be helpful also. All of this information would be a great weapon for us to make as much progress here in Florida as you have in your state.
So, what this website is saying is: fall in line, keep your head down and “play their game.”
Well, as a matter of fact yes. That would be exactly right. Yes, stay within and operate from the boundaries of law. I would strongly recommend that.
Perhaps you could enlighten me by articulating what exactly you mean by being more aggressive? Would that be like using “socially abhorrent, despicable and vulgar speech” while attempting to sway the public opinion on SORNA?
By militant are you advocating arm conflict and violent protests and confrontations with law makers or lobbyists?
Surely, burning tires and black smoke will sway public opinion on SORNA, SORR and the other 150 ordinances imposed.
I understand your frustration but not your meaning.
I would like to hear as well.
As I’ve said elsewhere, the Registries are a weapon of the criminal regimes. People should do whatever is necessary to neutralize their weapons. That means to ensure that the Registries are worse than just worthless but also to follow any of their related “laws” and jump through whatever hoops are necessary. The first step is to neutralize their weapon. If the criminal regime arrests you, they have won a battle. So don’t allow that. If doesn’t matter if you will retaliate worse later, don’t allow them any wins.
It is ironic that Registered People (RP) need to operate within the law though when obviously the criminal regimes don’t even operate within their own laws. In the state where I live, I don’t think I’ve seen a criminal regime yet that is CAPABLE of operating within the law. They certainly don’t. I’m not sure they can.
Beyond all that, I think we all know that acting like ISIS will not be productive. However, I do not think we should ever speak nicely to people who support Registries (Registry Terrorists (RTs)). If an RT is willing to talk sensibly, I don’t think people should be rude or impolite to them. But we should never speak to them as if they deserve any respect. Certainly no criminal legislator who supports Registries deserves respect. So they should be spoken to factually and politely, but never with deference or respect. Those little cretins needs constant affirmation and fake respect to survive. They don’t deserve it.
And we certainly should never allow RTs to speak about their Registries excrement as if it is legitimate in any way. Or to act like it is. RPs need to stop allowing “compliance checks”, for example. It is a minor thing but people simply should never allow Registries to operate as if they are legitimate. And NEVER speak to law enforcement. There is no point or reason. They need to understand that tens of millions of people in Amerika do not support them. Registries are certainly part of the reason.
Lastly, I live a law abiding life but I absolutely would love to see government buildings burn and RTs die. I think that is well deserved. The more chaos those criminals have, the better.