Before the legislative session starts in March of 2025, there will be state senators and representatives at the legislative delegation meetings in all 67 counties. It is a chance for our voices to be heard.
FAC has five prepared speeches:
- Solutions for helping elderly people on the registry receive long-term healthcare (Read Speech on Protecting the Elderly)
- Collateral damages for family members (Read speech on Florida Families)
- Help the homeless registrants by eliminating county residency restrictions above the state’s 1000 feet (Read speech on Endling Homelessness)
- Stop placing people on the registry whose offense occurred when they were juveniles (Read speech on Child Safety)
- Stop sending people to prison for paperwork errors (Read speech on Reducing Crime)
Some people have already committed to reading one of these speeches. Since we do not want to duplicate the reading of any one of these speeches at the same delegation meeting, it is important that you notify us at [email protected] or leave message at 833-273-7325 if you would like to read one of these speeches in your county. But you do not have to speak in your county but can instead speak in counties where you are not a resident.
We will NOT be speaking as an FAC representative but as an individual.
Regularly check this link for updates: Legislative Delegation Calendar for 2025 Session
How about “automatic” removal after 25 years after being released from sentence that was originally imposed and has not had any other legal violations, without having to ask a judge. Especially for those whose conviction or legal case was prior to 1993
Well there is a rule in Florida now that you can petition after 20 years off paper work. But, it is not automatic, you have to hire a lawyer and no guarantee to win. They give us a small victory then make us jump through hoops just to fail that victory dance we would have done.
Sadly, many have died on the registry and even that did not remove them from Florida’s registry. There are 100’s and 100’s of dead registrants on Florida’s registry. I spent hours searching them under the deceased category and was in tears these men and women who passed away on the registry still have their families being shamed. That for sure should be an automatic removal, so how do we expect as living registrants.
Voice’s to be heard are good and yes even a legislative round table action is good for many. Writing campaigns are just as good but nothing like in person presentations by individuals. I have even told FAC a few years that if any of my comments seem unworthy or not helpful don’t post them on here. While many are looking to get fair treatment, a pardon in some issues, having ones plea refreshed,or even law’s of the sex registry issue enactment in many ways, should we all say how many plead guilty or took some type of brazen plea deal?
Pleading guilty is not the end of the world. Sure I plead guilty but guilty of what. Guilt by persuade measures, unethical measures,or even harassment. That’s a new one I’m sure. Guilty of porno well I’m sure people have got back issues of Hustler or Playboys hidden in the closets. I’m sure those authorities have some skeletons also in their closets The main point is the persuasive measures that authorities induce to others for their greedy gain. Their gains can be looked at as promotion and other benefits or quotas.
Sure I wish everyone luck in Florida and yes standing up and fearing no evil by these unjust events or encounters is standing up to justice is the right factor to consider. Don’t be weak. Lets face it we are not in jail or prison but I do agree that it sometimes feels like it. So challenge this registry. You have nothing to lose and all the reason to gain one’s true justice.
I would personally like to say thank you to FAC and everyone involved for their time and effort.
The curse of the registry is going to be discovered by the supreme court soon.
I compare the registry to The Curse of Oak Island. A lot of buried secrets and perhaps treasure can be discovered. Years later and a mountain of red tape, they’re still at it.
Hats off to the people at FAC; NARSOL; and W.A.R.;
Have a great day Florida.
Maybe off topic (for this article but important) but as it gets colder (Yes even here in Florida) let’s pray for those who are homeless registrants who are sleeping in the woods or other outdoors places.
F.S. 943.0435
(11)Except as provided in s. 943.04354, a sexual offender shall maintain registration with the department for the duration of his or her life unless the sexual offender has received a full pardon or has had a conviction set aside in a postconviction proceeding for any offense that meets the criteria for classifying the person as a sexual offender for purposes of registration. However, a sexual offender SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR REMOVAL of the requirement to register as a sexual offender only if the person:
(a)1.Has been lawfully released from confinement, supervision, or sanction, whichever is later, for at least 25 YEARS and has not been arrested for any felony or misdemeanor offense since release, provided that the sexual offender’s requirement to register WAS NOT based upon an adult conviction:
a. For a violation of s. 787.01 or s. 787.02;
b. For a violation of s. 794.011, excluding s. 794.011(10);
c. For a violation of s. 800.04(4)(a)2. where the court finds the offense involved a victim under 12 years of age or sexual activity by the use of force or coercion;
d. For a violation of s. 800.04(5)(b);
e. For a violation of s. 800.04(5)(c)2. where the court finds the offense involved the use of force or coercion and unclothed genitals or genital area;
f. For a violation of s. 825.1025(2)(a);
g. For any attempt or conspiracy to commit any such offense;
h. For a violation of similar law of another jurisdiction; or
i. For a violation of a similar offense committed in this state which has been redesignated from a former statute number to one of those listed in this subparagraph.
2.If the sexual offender meets the criteria in subparagraph 1., the sexual offender may, for the purpose of removing the requirement for registration as a sexual offender, petition the criminal division of the circuit court…
3.The court may GRANT OR DENY relief if the offender demonstrates to the court that he or she has not been arrested for any crime since release…
I don’t want to get political, but when the democrats were in office, Joe and Kamala could have done some good by removing those from registries that were applied retroactively and for everyone who has been off sanctions for a period of time with no re-offenses.
Sadly, neither side wants to touch these subjects. In fact, most law makers, judges and even some lawyers do not want to take on sex offender issues. Before I found out there was a Florida action committee, I was calling around lawyers all over the state that had posts on their websites stating they took on sex offense cases. I called at least a dozen of them, and none wanted to go anywhere near registry law.
Thank God for the handful of lawyers in Florida who do take them on.
This is a can of worms nobody wants to touch out of fear of being associated with the controversy. When a law is deemed socially acceptable discrimination and openly fosters hate and division, something is inherently wrong with our society.
Tribalism has a stranglehold on our politics and is used to control the narrative and sway public opinion. We are the convenient go-to boogeyman. The media has devolved into a “clicks over truth” model just for ratings and profit.
We’re perpetually scapegoated as a “group” just because of a handful of idiot lawmakers actually thought at the time the best course of action is to vilify, register and demonize everyone with a sex offense. In their misguided reasoning, they felt it would be a preventative and protective measure.
They’ve had 30+ plus years to admit it will never work, much less provide any worthwhile public safety benefit, but instead they’ve tripled down on the lies and hate all in the name of profit (Offender Watch) and job security for LEOs to porch hop and harass us any time they see fit.
Are they post conviction attorney’s? And what are there names and numbers?
Look under “Resources for Registrants” above for attorneys.
Where can I get information on the legislative meeting in Brevard County? and Pasco County.
Contact me at [email protected] and I will reach out to you. We need all the speakers we can get. Thank you.
You can also call 833-273-7325 and leave a phone number for the Legislative Team.
How about a letter concerning a pathway off the registry?
Connie
In Florida there is a pathway off the registry. It is not automatic and not guaranteed. If you have been off of paperwork for 20 years or more you can petition the court to be removed. But a judge can still say no. Most of us believe that it should be automatic if you have done your time but the courts don’t see it that way.
If you have been off all sanctions snd have not been arrested for anything at all. Then you’re eligible. I had one technical violation for change of address over 48 hours over 20 years ago and they wouldn’t even hear it. They said i was not eligible because of the re arrest. It’s been 33 years yearsNo reoffence. Inwas a teenager at the time of the charges And I’m still unable to get the registry noose off my neck
You can surely speak on this topic, something we all want. We know that will not happen this year, so we are focusing on the low-hanging fruit that is more attainable.
In Florida there are 67 counties and it seems EVERY single one of them have different registry rules. I could say it should be consistent but actually glad it isn’t because the county I live in, we don’t have all the issues some have. Law enforcement is professional and never had any “Extra” checking on me. They come and are nice, ask a few questions and don’t have to see or hear from them again until the next registration.
they havnt been to my house in like 2 years! i been here for 20 years
Very odd. Where I use to live law enforcement came several times a week, but of course I was on probation when that happened. Guess there wasn’t much crime because sometimes they came more than once a day.
As soon as I got off probation, I got the hell out of the city I was in.
Shame because I liked living there, but apparently the sentiment wasn’t mutual.
You forgot: Stop putting people on the registry retro-actively.
In some instances, they have gone back decades on people. My crime was in 1991. There was not a registry in Florida until 1997. And I am sure I am not alone .
Well, it seems like pfr’s in your situation should be the first to come off of the registry. How can they say if you were convicted of an offense before 03 or whatever, you can be within so many feet of a school or playground, whereas if convicted after, you can’t be? How can they cherry pick what’s retroactive? They’ve thrown the constitution out the window in fl.
They get away with it by the courts continually calling the registry non-punitive and more of an administrative classification. I have repeatedly (And honestly) stated, how can it be non-punitive if you can be arrested for a paperwork error?
Being put on the registry seems more like additional sentencing. To back that up, I was not sentenced to the registry because it didn’t exist. People now get that mentioned in their sentencing.