According to an article posted today, Vernon, FL is considering an ordinance that would bar registered sex offenders from living inside the city limits.
Let’s set aside the effectiveness of these ordinances (we know they are ineffective can counter-productive).
Let’s set aside the constitutionality of these ordinances (they are currently being challenged in our State and we will have some good news to report shortly on a related matter).
Let’s focus on this line in the article, as quoted by Vernon Mayor Tina Sloan “When we call for public participation, there hasn’t been any objections.”
Really? If anyone cares to object to Vernon’s idea to banish individuals from it’s city, below is the information where you can express your “objections”
2808 Yellow Jacket Drive
Vernon, Florida 32462
Tina Slone, Mayor
UPDATE: Vernon, Florida is on the National Southern Justice League Registry of Hate Crime cities! That means known hate groups live and flourish there. The city also has a long History of bigotry and racism as well as segregation. So therefore Vernon, Florida is doing what it does best.. progress as a Hate First City! JEV
Below is my response that I emailed to the town. I hope those small-minded people there can understand the big words and ideas I used LOL:
I am writing you as a concerned citizen of the state of FL, and as an American living under the US Constitution, in reference to the following article posted below, and would like to voice my vehement opposition to the proposed ordinance in your town:
http://www.wjhg.com/content/news/Ordinance-would-keep-sex-offenders-from-living-in-Vernon-476051283.html
I was unaware of the fact that we are still living in the medieval times here in America where the leader of a city or town can just stand up and make a declaration to banish a particular group of citizens for seemingly no apparent reason. I have a few questions that I would like the mayor and the town council to answer for me.
1) Has the mayor and council members done their due diligence and researched this matter that would lead them to come to the conclusion to come up with such an ordinance?
2) And if they did do their research, what evidence are they sighting that would lead them to propose such an ordinance?
Study after study shows that sex offenses happen mostly by people who KNEW the victim personally, and not just some random stranger off the street (a.k.a “stranger danger”). Furthermore, sex offenders have one of the LOWEST recidivism rates of any category of criminal. Also, it is further shown that residency restrictions (and ORDINANCES such as the one you’re proposing) actually do more to INCREASE recidivism for sex offenders rather than decrease it. The evidence I am sighting was found in a section from Wikipedia. However, there are TONS of more evidence out there on this issue, should one do a simple Google search:
From Wikipedia: “The vast majority of sexual offense victims are known to the offender — including friends, family, or other trusted adults such as teachers. This is contrary to media depictions of stranger assaults or child molesters who kidnap children unknown to them.[59] Thus, despite the public awareness of the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders, there has been little evidence to back the claim that mandatory registration has made society safer. According to ATSA, only in the states that utilize empirically derived risk assessment procedures and publicly identify only high risk offenders, has community notification demonstrated some effectiveness.[38][60] The majority of U.S states do not utilize risk assessment tools when determining ones inclusion on the registry, although studies have shown that actuarial risk assessment instruments, which are created by putting together risk factors found by research to correlate with re-offending, consistently outperform the offense based systems.[61]
Studies almost always show that residency restrictions increase offender’s recidivism rates by increasing offender homelessness and increasing instability in a sex offender’s life. According to a Department of Justice study, 5.3% of sex offenders who were released from prison in 1994 were arrested for a new sex offense after 3 years.[62] Robbers, arsonists and property crime committers (all of which have a recidivism rate of 60–70 percent after 3 years) were the most likely to re-offend group. Despite the public perception of sex offenders as having high recidivism, sex offenders had the second lowest recidivism rate, after only murderers. A later study done by the Department of Justice showed an even lower sex offender recidivism rate of about 2.1 percent after 3 years. However, since sex crimes are the most under-reported crimes,[63] whether or not the Department of Justice’s 5.3% sex offender recidivism rate is deceptively low is unclear. Recidivism rates only measure how many people return to prison or are arrested for a new offense and do not measure how many people actually commit a new criminal offense (some criminals commit new offenses after release from prison but do not get caught.) In the late 2000s, a study showed that Indiana sex offenders have recidivism of about 1.03% after 3 years.[64] Studies consistently show sex offender recidivism rates of 1–4% after 3 years, recividism is usually at about 5–10% after a long follow up (such as a 10–25 year follow up).”
So as you and the council can see, ROBBERS, ARSONISTS, AND HOME INVADERS have a MUCH HIGHER chance of being more dangerous to your town, than the average sex offender.
3) So, with the evidence just presented to you, why then are you still proposing this ordinance? Is it because an “attorney advised you to do it?” Are you only proposing this ordinance because “Bonifay and Chipley” also have such an ordinance? Being a copycat is hardly a reason to pass a law.
4) Has there been an extraordinary amount of sex offenders in your town causing mischief or grabbing kids off the streets that would cause you to have the need to create this ordinance? Are the 7 currently registered offenders in your town making life for the citizens of Vernon that unbearable?
5) And with such Hitler and Nazi-esque thinking being perpetrated by your town, would the leaders of your town like us to refer to them as “Heil Mayor” or Heil Councilman”? I was just wondering.
Thank you for the time to re-consider your ridiculous and unconstitutional actions based on ACTUAL FACTS AND EVIDENCE rather than just because “a lawyer told me to do it.” If you and other towns keep this up, you’re just begging for lawsuits from the sex offender population and possible the ACLU.
Have a great day.
this is perfect. Thank you!
I just sent this E-mail to them:
Vernon City Hall
2808 Yellow Jacket Drive
Vernon, Florida 32462
Tina Slone, Mayor
I am writing to you regarding the “Ordinance”, regarding “Sex Offenders / Predators, that your city proposes to pass. I am of course a US citizen and a former Investigator for the State of Florida, I retired in 2008.
I am highly concerned that you would lump everyone together, just because they may appear on the Sex Offender Registry. You can appear on a registry for minor mistakes that one can make. For example, perhaps going behind a tree to re-leave oneself, getting an underage picture sent to you, without even knowing about it, and there’s a list of offences that can get one on the Sex Offender Registry. On the other hand there are really Sexual Predators out there and I understand how important it is to protect our children and the public.
With this being said and according to a number of studies, to pass an Ordinance to included everyone considered a sex offender would be wrong, and simply unconstitutional. I would say that if an individual is convicted of a contact offense and even an intention of a contact offense, then consideration for this ordinance would perhaps make more sense. But PLEASE do not pass something with out proper study and review, because of political laziness. Put the time and effort in to study and review and don’t just propose this ordinance to make your city “look like” it’s doing the right thing, Just do the right thing, by study and review and you will be amazed of what the results would be.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration and please consider these thoughts before you destroy lives, of individuals that just made a mistake in life and would like to try to move on.
Respectfully yours,
Don’t know … some o’ them Vernon folks aint the best readers … may not be time (or ability) to read that long message between the game of checkers and fishin’.
There’s a documentary called ‘Vernon, Florida’ that came out in 1981. It’s on Netflix streaming, presently. I watched it years ago. It’s a good representation of the one-dimensional thinking that actually goes on there.
interesting! I’ll look for it
Just noticed the free movie on YouTube as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxYik9RGEYo
Rebuttal sent !
Is there a comprehensive list of countries and cities/towns in Florida that have these post 2005 residency restrictions that go beyond the state restrictions?
Counties, not countries,
And please also encourage those registrants living in Vernon to show up at the next meeting, along with their families, and express their opposition.
There is only 8 registrants within a 3 mile radius of downtown Vernon. Seemingly makes this ordinance even more laughable, guess even in a small town this is good politics.
That is great advice. I think this may be effective at the local level. When officials see “sex offenders” as people they may know, maybe work with, live in the same neighborhood, or attend the same church, they may be less likely to pass these types of ordinances. At least, they will (hopefully) recognize that “sex offenders” are human beings. Most politicians know these types of laws and ordinances are ineffective, if not unconstitutional and counterproductive. Even one person showing up to remind them of that fact can have a great impact.
I just wrote them the email below:
TO WHOM IT MY CONCERN,
It has been brought to my attention that the “leaders” of Vernon have decided attack American citizens who have been labeled as so called “sex offenders.” Perhaps you are unaware the United States Constitution and how it applies to ALL American citizens. I would suggest that you find someone to read it to you and then explain it (in simple terms that even mayor Tina Sloan can understand).
Personally I can not image why anyone would voluntarily choose to live in Vernon considering the caliber of people who live there (also considering that only around 800 no surprise) but I am still an American, and as such I support the RIGHT of all Americans to live anywhere they wish in our great country!
It is clear that Tina is abusing those who can not fight for themselves with this proposed legislation to gain popularity with this blatantly un-American action. It sickens me that rather than address actual problems which are certainly plentiful in Florida and issues that she would go after the easy “low hanging fruit” that those labeled as “sex offenders” are in Florida…really gives the appearance of being tough on crime doesn’t it…no actually it doesn’t. You are just going to face one more lawsuit which will waste public funds but working in Florida government that is clearly your least concern.
So go ahead with your abusive, illegal, and clearly un-American legislation and hide behind the flag while you do it but don’t think you are fooling anyone – oh and by the way, how is that view from your glass house?
Administration
SexOffenderTruth.com
“As long as the world shall last there will be wrongs, and if no man objected and no man rebelled, those wrongs would last forever.”
Clarence Darrow
“The world is made up for the most part of morons and natural tyrants, sure of themselves, strong in their own opinions, never doubting anything” – Clarence Darrow
Well with only 7 rso citizens and all grandfathered: guess noone else cares as the 7 have no say. Marginalized, thats what an rso is to the mainstream
Here are some articles and information for talking points and inspiration! There are very few states that allow the practice and it is controversial, but one thing is clear! It is considered a PUNISHMENT given out by a JUDGE. In this case of a city banning a whole group of people because of a civil label they are on shaky ground.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2013/01/banishment_as_punishment_is_it_constitutional_for_states_to_exile_criminals.html
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2011/jul/18/georgia-courts-grapple-criminal-banishment/54246/
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2013/dec/24/and-stay-outgeorgia-man-is-banned-from-four/127363/
This is just some more BS. uneducated mayor thinking this will keep there town safe lol. maybe looking for another term as mayor needs the job. This will violate constitutional rights of Americans. i’am rso
and I and my family will be moving out of florida soon. this state is a piece of shit !!!!!. most of the other states are looking at discrimination facing rso. we know that florida will never give up that money and grants from gov. I and others rso are tired of paying for this the rest of our lives and not only our families too. wake up American and stop pointing your fingers at us so you can hide your skeletons from the world.
Apparently, other cities already have or are considering banishing registered citizens as well:
http://www.wjhg.com/content/news/Ordinance-would-keep-sex-offenders-from-living-in-Vernon-476051283.html
The continual passing of these types of unconstitutional laws exposes Floriduh for the backwoods, Jim Crow, sh*thole state that it truly is, led and ran by rednecks, bullies, and criminal “elected” mis-representatives.
I just wrote the major a nice email explaining my position and requesting that we discuss this issue more. Panama City Beach restricts RSO 2500 ft. Makes it almost impossible to live here.
please let us know if you get any response.
You are absolutely correct. Lets put city of Ocoee, Fla on the map. They too have banned rso’s some years ago. I cannot legally live at my home that i’ve owned for 20 years now. Me and my wife are financially stable now to where we are looking into selling our house and moving. Its a shame that both my kids have graduated and gone to college and I cant enjoy my own home now. When I go over there I feel like im looking over my shoulder all the time. When I was released from prison I couldnt believe I could not return to my home. I could see if you were moving to a different area but I’ve owned my home forever it seemed. For them to say i could not felt like there must be some constitutional law being broke.
P – people have challenged that and won. You may want to look into that.
I tried to list it as a temporary residence and was called by city of ocoee police dept and told i could not. Even if I beat it in court I would still be in violation of a park proximity ordinance. The park was there before I bought the house in 1997. I believe you had to be convicted before 2006 to be grad fathered in to be able to live there still.
Laws that have required people who already reside in a home to vacate have been pretty consistently struck down in multiple states like Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and I guess now the entire 6th Circuit. All of the Florida ordinances that I have seen previously also have that “grandfather” clause.
P,
Although I can’t find it in a statute, I know of registered citizens in Duval who were able to move back into their homes, provided they owned them prior to conviction, after they got off probation.
Yes – for a while, law enforcement was considering “incarceration” as a change of address. In other words, you would be grandfathered into your home that you own, but you “changed residences” when you went to jail and are now trying to move back.
That worked for a while against those who were too scared or broke to challenge it, but after enough people fought it, most law enforcement officials stopped playing that game.
If you lived someplace prior to the law and seek to keep that location as your residence, you have a good shot.
This is just another example of bias hatred for a group of people they don’t understand and have deemed open season on. A few days ago in a town nearby 3 Police Officers were shot ,one died just trying to do there job,perhaps just because of a mistake. These brave people’s lives are on the line .ls it ok that vindictive politicians pass feel good laws that don’t protect any one but waste these officers precious time and resources because of these laws. They have to register those on the registry,go by check on them try and deal with those who are homeless,follow up on omissions made because of confusing laws that are impossible to follow. I can understand that these politicians are selfish and career driven, but at least take into consideration the lives of those who have to enforce your stupid feel good laws.