Member Submission: Statement prior to registration
Recently I attended the Safe and Just Michigan You Tube conference. I wrote a suggestion in the comments section calling on all Floridians to read a brief (10-15 second long) statement to the registering officer every time, immediately prior to registration.
I was asked by Judith Levine (a national advocate who was on the panel) to please present this idea for consideration.
I feel that this must be a national mandate. For, if we are silent, then we give our tacit consent.
Here is the text of the statement, which I am recommending:
” Before we begin, it is my duty to read the following short statement: I fully intend to comply with Florida (or whatever state) law and to provide you with all of the information that you demand during this interrogation. However, I am both a Florida and US citizen who currently is under no criminal sanction whatsoever. As a representative of the government, you have no right to any of my personal information. You are about to violate several of my rights under the United States constitution. And I object .”
Thank You.
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I am not happy with having to register twice a year but I refuse to get even more on the radar of the VCSD. Once you do that, you can expect the address checks to be at 3 AM instead of during the day. Why make your life even more difficult? The one thing I haven’t heard out of this is:
Exactly what good will this do anyone to recite this diatribe at registration? Anyone have an answer to that question?
Ed
I agree. I have to register 4 times a year. The Deputy who comes by, oddly enough only comes to my house once a year. He is very kind, polite and professional. He says his spiel then tells me to make sure to do what I need to do to not get locked up.
Now if I went in to register and started acting the fool, I am sure the mister nice guy routine would turn into ” Oh we have a search warrant, the neighbors said you told them you have illegal porn”.
I have only been the subject of a search twice. On my initial arrest < They found NOTHING. ( I was not home on this one )
The second time I was on probation and a neighbor who didn’t like me living on the street called in a child porn tip. Again NOTHING found. ( I was home on this one )
Both times I had 1000s of dollars of damages to the property as they ripped open walls and flipped over computers etc. Like they got a kick out of it.
It will make it loud and clear (on a national level) that we object to having our rights violated.
As far as “getting more on the radar”, I understand your concern. But I think that the more we cower, the more they will try to bully us.
We must make it abundantly clear that we will not tolerate their abandonment of our civil rights.
We must stop cowering. The only way to take on a bully (a thug) is to confront them and let them know that you will not be victimized.
I believe that we must show courage.
Although I did like the idea of a million offender march, there are many issues with that.
#1 getting that many offenders to be brave enough to do it
#2 The news showing peoples faces and maybe their names making them targets putting their families at risk
#3 Everyone being arrested for the registry violation of protesting the registry (They would pass it real quick behind closed doors while we are marching)
But yeah there would be arrests for something and who wants to get violated?
#4 Would it make a difference or would the news twist it around and say ” look at all the rapist protesting for rights”
#5 could possibly lead to stiffer laws against us
No I am not hiding in the shadows but I am not falling on the sword. Things COULD get so bad for us that I would do it, but my parents are elderly and I am all they have.
But who is the bully that needs to be taken on?
Not the workers in my county registration office. They are simply administering the law.
If the law is the bully, then we can object to it somewhere where the objection counts— in the courts, if properly argued.
I agree that registrants’ rights are being violated. But case law says they are not. We need to force a change there.
Jacob
Although I may be delusional ,but you would think the courts would eventually get tired of hearing the same lawsuits come into the courts over and over again and finally say
“”oh maybe there are some rights being violated here”.
Or get a judge who is not afraid to actually do the right thing and apply the law equally not discriminately.
I think it is a great idea to always tell anyone that is doing anything related to Registration that it is not acceptable. Every time. I’ve done it for years. You don’t have to be mean about it, unless you know the person you are talking to is a jackass. And certainly often enough the people “simply administering the law” are serious bullies are who operating outside of the law and couldn’t care less that they are.
There is no reason to give anyone any kind of break. The outrage and complaints should be a constant, always and every time. People should hate to have to do any work related to Registration. That is the best case scenario. Where I live, I feel they punish officers by forcing them to work with Registrations. Everyone needs to suffer. Law enforcement needs to understand that Registries are harming them.
I understand that the officers are just doing their jobs. I also know that most of them are decent, respectable and kind people.
However, I also believe that we must make it absolutely clear that we protest the fact that our civil rights are being violated.
These officers would all talk around the water cooler. Sooner or later it would become known that registrants across the entire nation have registered a collective complaint.
We are one million strong, but only a few of us are doing the work.
If every one of us spoke up in a clear way, the results would be a greater amount of national respect.
When we are silent, we give our tacit (unspoken) consent to our rights being violated.
We must not be silent any longer!
JeffR, you are starting to sound like one of our founding fathers. Had they stayed silent we would today have a king instead of a president. Silence is sometimes the easy way out but it generally accomplishes nothing.
I tend to agree on the ” most are silent”. The lawsuits that are being filed all over the U.S are speaking volumes that we have had enough and we are not going to take it anymore.
Not all of them are successful but the more of them that hit, the better the chances that the great wall off silence will fall, LEGALLY. And some states and jurisdictions have had some really hopeful victories.
Not all of them may apply to us personally but like they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Although I do get a new grey hair every day from waiting.
Just my two cents worth.
JJJJ, I am by NO means cowering to anyone. But I do believe that there is a right path to justice and a wrong (dangerous) path as well. In my opinion, the right path is what the FAC is currently in the process of doing with the “John Doe” Case. The ONLY way we will EVER get anywhere, is through the Courts! You can jump on your soap box all you want to and scream about how we need to “stand up to them and not cower” but in the end, the only way we will collectively see any relief, is through the Judicial system. It stinks, I know but that is the way I will continue to believe!
(I believe that Silence = consent)
Here is a quote from https://prsay.prsa.org/2018/02/27/the-ethics-of-silence-and-of-speaking-up/
“…remaining silent also can be highly unethical.
We should be careful that our silence is not deceptive, allowing others to believe what we know for certain is not true.
We ought not remain silent when facing injustice and abuse but “speak truth to power.” We should not remain silent when witnessing wrongdoing. In those circumstances, silence is not morally acceptable; we have a duty to speak up.
Remaining silent also can represent a risk. James E. Lukaszewski, APR, Fellow PRSA, believes that in today’s world of overwhelming chatter and information overload, “silence is the most toxic strategy” to reputation and integrity. If we remain silent, someone else will fill the void with more made-up chatter and misinformation. He believes that, “Managing your destiny is up to you.” He advocates a very specific strategy to keep your own record straight.
I hear, and understand, both sides of this discussion. But, I have to lean towards “staying under the radar” at this point. If I could be guaranteed no retaliation, I’d be the first in line to fight this thing……!! However, our Sheriff in this county is a wanna-be TV star and I am positive he would go out of his way to “punish” us if we made waves. That is sad. Bless us all.
Bebe I agree. I was once at registration ( And most of the guys there ( never seen a girl registering yet ) are very friendly and polite to each other and to the check in staff.
One time about 6 months ago, this guy was screaming and throwing a fit, threw his papers on the floor, cussed the employee out and walked out slamming the door. I do not know what happened to him but I am sure they made his life Hell after that. None of us have seen him since but we all register at different times so who knows.
The point is, I am very polite and also say sir and Ma’am. I get my paperwork and never think about it again until next time and hope they feel the same. I am not a robot who does what there told, but I do not need any heat on me. I have made it almost 30 years with no violations and didn’t come this far to screw it up. In 2 1/2 more years I am told I can petition to get off the registry. Hopefully something good happens before then legally but not going out of my way to piss anyone off in the meantime. (Well at least not anyone who can send me back to prison)
In the past F.A.C. has wanted to censor this belief but – why does anyone allow law enforcement to visit them anywhere? Why allow “compliance checks”? If they ever showed up at my home at 3 AM, that would be the last time they’d be able to get near me there. There is no reason to cater to these criminals.
Agreed! We are a million strong across the nation!
I moved out of Florida almost a year ago. Best decision I ever made. Florida looks great on a map and in pictures; but reality is different there. However the county I lived wasn’t that bad; it was local police department that made life more difficult. If I can be born in Minnesota I can handle cold winters. I rather freeze my butt off than rotting away in a jail cell.
The registration office in Brevard County is pretty decent. I think I’ll save the commentary for when the office isn’t doing so well or when I feel like I want to spend extra time getting registered.
Then go meekly to your fate, sir. God bless you!
We need to wait for the right time to do the right thing. We must be more civil than those who are doing the bullying. Our character must rise above their character. It’s only when they start questioning themselves that things will start to change. Patience and persistence in honorable living is on our side.
Capt Charles
I registered today. Last time even with the pandemic, they had us all sit around each other. Today it was different. We had to wait outside in the hot sun and go in only when someone came out.
The second thing that was different, instead of the civilian employee registering us, there was an armed deputy registering us. I said “oh crap” to myself. But it was for nothing to worry as he was professional and got me out of there in like 2 minutes.
He even made me laugh. He asked how many people were still outside and when I said about 11, he said “Ah crap”. LOL
I think he would rather be doing anything but registering us.
CherokeeJack, I like the way you think. I do hope that we can meet for lunch sometime and have a good conversation. It is possible to be positively aggressive without pissing off those who we are trying to influence in our favor.
Well ask F.A.C if they can send you my email address. Take this as my permission. I live Somewhere between lake Mary and Winter Park lol
Jack
sent.
I’m still waiting for Jack’s email address.
I sent it to you.
Jack, I live in Port St. John.
I think you both have Munchhausen’s syndrome.
Just Kidding!!! 🙂 (Seriously, guys, I am ribbing you. Just trying to keep it light.)
I think the FAC Member verdict is in:
Some of us will speak up, quietly and respectfully (but firmly).
And some of us feel that it is too early and that we are better served to be in stealth mode.
I have decided that I will speak (respectfully but firmly). Every time. EVERY time!
Yours in second-class-citizenship,
(But not 2/3 of a person!)
JJJJ
I misspoke. (I’m embarrassed).
It is Stockholm Syndrome that I was teasing you guys about….not Muchhausen’s Syndrome.
MY bad!
I was wondering what Muchhausen Syndrome was. I didn’t know if I had to wear a mask or not.
I am not a Wuss by any means but you go right ahead and do that. Where I register, doing something like that gets you a visit to the room of which no one returns.
EVEN if you get charges thrown out , EVEN if charges are bogus, goodbye to any chance of getting off registry after 20/25 years.
I applaud those who fall on the sword for a cause, however sometimes it is like when a kid throws a spit ball at the teacher and won’t admit who did it. Then everyone in the class is punished because they caused problems. I try and stay off their radar and when I leave from registration, 60 seconds later they have forgotten my name.
Our fight is with the courts, not the guy/gal sitting behind the glass at the registration office. I am sure when they signed up to work at the sheriff’s office, their dream was not to be sitting around talking to registered ex offenders all day.
Just my 2 cents worth. Although the early bird gets the worm, the loud mosquito gets squashed.
I think you make a good point.
But maybe if they continue to think that they can get away with nonsense, maybe that is why they are so bold.
Maybe that would stop if we stood up for ourselves.
If I was still doing my sentence I wouldn’t have a beef. But when I got sentence almost 30 years ago, there was no such thing as the registry. I did my probation, my community service, my butt kissing etc
BUT we seem to have less freedom now then someone on probation. Yes I am fed up. And yes doing nothing sucks but eventually some lawyer or team of lawyers have got to come up with the gold ticket to at least those sentenced before the registry getting off. I cannot see myself as an 80 year old man on the registry. At least now I can still go toe to toe with anyone to protect myself, but my health is failing and am not allowed to own a gun. Guess I better get a couple of mean at Hell dogs and name them death and grim reaper
JJJJ, you have yet to explain exactly what it is that you believe they “think they are getting away with”? As far as I know, anything I am mandated to do is validated by the Laws of the State/County I live in. As much as I do not like it, what is it you believe you will accomplish by reading this to them at registration? I am not saying you are wrong. I am just asking what you think this will do, outside of po some people you really don’t want po’d at you?
If you are polite and circumspect and meek, you will not piss off anyone. But the message will get across that we will not be bullied any more.
I believe the words of Solomon, “An answer when mild turns away even rage.”
Sure you go right ahead and try that.
ANGRY POLICE JUST MURDERED SOMEONE, AGAIN. JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE ANGRY.
I was thrown out of a Sheriff’s office in a Metropolitan area because I was trying to follow the law about registering a rental vehicle within 48 hrs. Not physically but LOUDLY AND AGGRESSIVE SCREAMED AT and told to get out of the office and off his property because they saw no reason to register the vehicle I turned in even though the law makes NO SUCH KIND OF CONDITION, I was terrified and new that they could do whatever they wanted even if it meant having me break the law. I went more into debt to get a lawyer to go with me now anytime I go there and I experienced trauma literally the day this happened, I could not even drive I was so freaked out, shaking and crying cause I was afraid I would be arrested.
Sure buddy go ahead and teach people to risk their freedom today for a greater cause. Just make sure they know their words are subject to piss off cops and PISSED OFF COPS GET AWAY WITH MURDER, locking people up cause they do not like them is way more frequent then murder!!
CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES PEOPLE
I am fleeing the STATE OF FLORIDA (leaving everything and everyone I have known for the last 31 years) due to the insanity of these registration laws.
And just to start my whole life over in another state with less insane laws.
Eddie, What state(s) are you looking into? I want nothing more to get out of Florida myself and have looked at a couple of options. I’m still researching but I’ve actually been speaking to an attorney in Atlanta regarding the laws and the ability to request to be removed as soon as I get settled. Tennessee, you have to be on the registry for 5 years before requesting, 10 from the date of conviction but 5 actually registered in TN. Just wondering what you have found.
I received a felony 2.5 years ago for a failure to register, I thought I had and I have memory issues and blah blah blah on that. it is what it is. Another felony may or may not negate the ability to come off a registry at all. When I looked into coming off registries and conditions and found that moving in hopes that I could and the amount of time it would take to get off, IF I could get off, was not worth the effort (I am 51 and hope to be finished here early GOD WILLING, not a fan of the human journey). I decided to just find somewhere that had less insanity then FL laws. I ended up choosing AZ because there list of regulations is not very extensive at all. I skimmed a lot of the other states but I do not want to live in the north, California is too expensive and the changes they are making in their laws will take a while. Besides even lawyers have a very hard time understanding how these laws work let alone how they would work for a new resident.
And I did not do extensive and in depth research. I felt like Phoenix stuck in my heart after and searched some states who do NOT follow SORNA and do what they want themselves.
Eddie
Good for you but do not give up brother. When you give up, they win.
I am older than you and have health issues but determined one way or another to come off this foolishness before I am in a nursing home, which ironically, rarely accepts registered citizens.
I am interested as well. Not trying to flee per say but I’ve always moved a lot. I’m ready to try somewhere new but with the restrictions few places look appealing. Wife has said Tennessee but I have kids. Carolinas also but not sure of laws there.
I have moved several times and ALWAYS came back to what was familiar. All these people on here telling you how great the registration is where they live.
Well for one, you do not know their situations not if that applies to out of state people. I tried it a few times and for sure, the grass was NOT greener on the other side.
Having said that, I did get the Hell out of Seminole county many years ago. It was like registering with the Gestapo.
If you do decide to go somewhere, do LOTS of research. Online and with calls. Check with those who have to register there as well as check with the registration office and the state to see what the rules are that apply to YOUR situation.
Even here I have been Ex post facto’d 3 times. I use to register once a year, then twice and now 4 times. Nothing on my end changed. If they keep getting away with that, I guess soon I will have to go in every month.
Mike, research Tennessee laws. I believe they just passed an amendment to the ‘not living with minors’ that excludes own children. There are stipulations of course but in general, I think they realized how unjust it was. It was just passed very recently so take a look.
I also hope to flee Florida. I’m n Broward Country now and looking at Orlando as a temporary stop b4 i try 2 get back 2 TENNESSEE. I’m 30 plus years removed from the pen and to 20 off parole. No offense b4 or after.
If you’re off all sanctions for 20 years and have no subsequent arrests, you should be considering a petition for removal.
In Florida, a petition for removal? I’ve been under the impression it’s not a possibility or worth it. Am I wrong?
You are wrong.
I’m sorry, let me elaborate. YES, people have, in fact, been removed from the registry. It requires a petition for removal pursuant to F.S. 943.0435(11). If you have been off all sanctions (out of prison, probation, supervised release, etc) for more than 20 years and you have not been arrested for a felony or misdemeanor, you might be eligible.
Thank you for further info, that is quite helpful and useful information when our times come.
Theres that arrest thing. One poss FTR that was NOT PURSUED and state filed a NO information on. Never even got arraigned nothing they just filed a no info and stopped. Noone not even my laywers can say what would happen. I cannot even get the arrest exponged it was denied. Never on any list till i made the mistake of setting foot i. This state.
So never even made it to arraignment they decided not to pursue at all…. so i was never formally informed of my charges To answer to. How can that count???
Eddie,
I use to be a cop so can tell you, a crooked cop and make your life more miserable than a judge. And no, I did not act that way, but saw it so much first hand from dirty, control freak, power hungry cops that I had to carry tums with me on patrol. I finally got transferred to homicide just so I wouldn’t have to deal with live people.
Eddie, Let me know which State you wind up in, if it is better there. I would appreciate it.
Of course bad shit and angry cops can happen to me anywhere regardless.
I know my limits on sanity and I am taking a ridiculously huge leap of faith even thinking of uprooting and restarting my life, absolutely would not do anything like this without knowing it is just what I must do at this point.
God only knows if I will remember.
“Okay,” they’ll shrug.