Martin County, FL passes new ordinance to separate sex offenders from others in emergency shelters
At a County Commission meeting held in Martin County, Florida last month, a new ordinance was adopted that separates persons required to register as sexual offenders or predators from others at emergency shelters and allows the sheriff to designate correctional institutions and jails to house them. The new law follows:
Chapter 51, Section 51.13 is hereby created as follows:
Section 51.13, Emergency Shelter designation for sexual predators and sexual
offenders
A. Any person who is required by Florida law, or the law of that person’s place of
residence, to register as a sexual predator or sexual offender and who utilizes or
intends to utilize a temporary emergency shelter provided by any public or private
entity and established as a result of any manmade or natural emergency or
incident, including a threatened emergency or incident shall, immediately upon
entering the temporary emergency shelter:
1. Notify the law enforcement officer(s) on duty or the individual(s) operating the
temporary emergency shelter that he or she is a registered sexual predator or
sexual offender;
2. Provide his or her name and date of birth, along with proof of identification if on
the person, to the law enforcement officer(s) on duty or the individual(s)
operating the temporary emergency shelter; and
3. Complete and sign emergency shelter registration documentation.
B. Law enforcement officer(s) on duty at the temporary emergency shelter, or the
individual(s) operating the temporary emergency shelter may, at any time, assign
the sexual predator or sexual offender to a separate temporary emergency shelter
designated by the sheriff for use by sexual predators and sexual offenders or to a
specific location within the temporary emergency shelter.
C. A sexual predator or sexual offender assigned to a specific location within a
temporary emergency shelter pursuant to subsection (B) shall not enter any other
area of the temporary emergency shelter.
D. A sexual predator or sexual offender shall leave the temporary emergency shelter
when instructed to leave by the law enforcement officer(s) on duty at the temporary
emergency shelter, or when instructed to leave by the individual(s) operating the
temporary emergency shelter.
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Added language is underlined; deleted language is struckthrough
E. The sheriff may designate all or part of one or more public buildings, jails, or other
correctional facilities as temporary emergency shelters to be utilized by sexual
predators and sexual offenders.
F. The law enforcement officer(s) on duty at a temporary emergency shelter, or the
individual(s) operating the temporary emergency shelter, shall place signs at the
entries and exits in use at the temporary emergency shelter and at conspicuous
locations within the temporary emergency shelter to give notice to sexual predators
and sexual offenders of the requirements of subsection (A) of this section.
G. Applicability: The provisions of this article shall apply to the incorporated and
unincorporated areas of Martin County.
H. Penalties: A sexual offender or sexual predator who violates this section, shall be
prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted, pursuant to
Section 125.69, Florida Statutes, as may from time to time be amended. Such
violations shall be prosecuted in the name of the state in a court having jurisdiction
of misdemeanors by the prosecuting attorney, and upon conviction shall be
punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail not
to exceed 60 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
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Not realy I had to go to the polk county jail during a hurricane. The land lord where i lived told us we had to leave the house during the storm ( she was an ex PO. ) And still worked closely with them anyway we were allowed to stay in our own clothes the doors were kept open so we could come and go as we wished we were allowed to keep our cell phones the only things we were not allowed were weapons and tobacco.
Someone needs to inspect these places to see what they consist of and the rules of engagement related to them, e.g., food, beverage, sleeping arrangements, safety, relief services, entertainment, coming and going as one pleased, etc. This is a lot of money possibly dedicated to a separate facility.
I believe the separation of PFRs is illegal and could be challenged where an injunction put into place would stop the madness to start. The tiering and registration of folks is not indication of potential harm that could happen in such a place. The state’s continued implementation of “separate but equal”, but for PFRs, is a shame and reflects poorly on them. Heck, in October 2018, a man was arrested in Okaloosa County for molesting a child at a school being used as a hurricane shelter during Hurricane Michael…just saying.
The county I live in, if you have to go to a shelter and you are on the registry, you have two choices. Stay at your home and ride out the storm or check yourself into the county jail until the crisis is over.
Personally, I would rather die in my own home than spend even one more night in the county jail. Not because I am scared of jail, I just do not want those memories of lock up back in my head.
Last year in Leon County, we were put on a mandatory evacuation for those living in a mobile home. I had plans to evacuate a half hour north to family in south Georgia. I was told by probation that I was no longer allowed to go up there and didn’t give me a reason. Then I was told my only option was to go to the jail, because all of the shelters in Leon County are conveniently at schools. I ended up staying in my home, surrounded by very large oak trees and defying the mandatory evacuation order. I was far more comfortable in my own home and thank god the hurricane missed us. I would much rather die on my own property that submit myself to the humiliation of checking into the jail and being treated like a criminal.
I’d sooner perish in a storm!
Yeah, most Counties have this ordinance. I would rather be washed away in a Hurricane than seek shelter at a jail. Imagine being locked up just because a storm is coming. Remember if you report to a jail you have to follow all of the rules of the Jail including the searches and attire. I say Hell no to that!