I am writing in response to the June 20 article, “Florida’s sex offender population is aging. Where can they live out their silver years?” in which I was quoted.
While I appreciate the exposure the Herald has given this important topic, I wanted to correct a gross mis-characterization contained in the article that is contributing to the problem. In the article, I was referred to as “Gail Colleta, an advocate for sex offenders.” That is inaccurate. Neither I nor my organization advocate for sex offenses or people who are offending.
If we continue to refer to this population as “sex offenders” we are perpetuating the perception that this is what they do. It’s not a job title. It’s not like they wake up in the morning, get dressed and go out to sexually offend. This label is a completely inaccurate representation of who they are. They are fathers, sons, co-workers, friends and human beings.
The Florida Action Committee advocates for persons who might have committed a sexual offense years ago, have served their sentences, yet are being subjected to policies that are ineffective, inhumane and counter-productive. Most importantly, we advocate for public safety. Public safety is not achieved by legislating people into homelessness and depriving them of basic human needs.
Those practices go counter to public safety and the empirical evidence proves that. If we want to introduce any rational thought to this topic, we need to stop labeling these human beings as if they were current offenders.
Gail Colletta,
President, Florida Action Committee
I get sick and tired of hearing about how bad sex offenders our. I call them humans with names just like everyone else, they have feelings some have family’s, that they can’t be around because of there title that some people gave them.Most of these people that makes up the laws for these humans couldn’t walk a mile in their shoes. I would like to see all the men in White-house, Senate and the Congress , and the big money men that has been found out that they are sex offenders. I for got about all those priest. Do you think for a minute they can’t get a job, see there own kids, go to there events, not even be allowed at some church’s. That’s what is sick about titles,it’s all about who you are and how much money you have ,and who’s pocket you can pad .I could go on but i have to stop it just makes me so mad and upset .My son served 12 years when he went to court the judge didn’t tell him when you get out you will be labeled as a predator, and have to be checked on all the time .It was 7 years latter and they sent him a letter. about it .Sorry it’s so long but when i get started i would like to scream sometimes because i just can’t get the help i need for him and the story could go on but i will stop.
Once again, perfectly said. Thank you Gail!
In Navy terms…BRAVO ZULU…well done!
Just listened to one of the most popular songs of the 60s benny mardones ” into the night”. The first line goes ” she’s just 16 years old leave her alone they say ” If Lauren Book had her way she would have this song banned in the state of Florida and have Mardones added to the states sex offender registry. Just sayin.
I’m a convicted sex offender from more than 30 years ago. I was arrested in 2017 for having an “American Legion” sticker no bigger than the end of my little finger on my driver’s license during a residence check and sentenced a year later to a felony charge of “Possession of an altered driver’s license or government ID” in Clay County by Judge Michael Sherett. I served 8 1/2 months of a 12 month sentence and was released 3 weeks ago. The sticker could be peeled off because the police officer that checked it peeled it off and then stuck it back on my license oh, it was partially covering my offender status, there is nothing in our registration stipulations saying that we cannot do this, and my paid attorney had copies of the stipulations that we signed every time we register, but I was sentenced anyway. I take care of my 86 year-old mother and 55 year old medically disabled sister and asked for house arrest so I can take care of them but the State Attorney would not allow it because of Florida being a guidelines state. If I was still under the stipulations that I was sentenced under originally over 30 years ago I would have gotten off of registration in 10 years, but because of ex post facto laws I have to register for Lifetime and 65 years old now.
FAC should win an award for: ” the best responses to the uneducated misinterpretations ” …. Brilliant as always ! Love it!
As always i love it when people not only from FAC but other resources go out of their way to make a valid point to the uneducated when it comes to our plight. The only thing i would have changed in the letter where it says they are fathers and sons to they are are Fathers and mothers or sons and daughters. for some reason every time an RSO is mentioned it is in the male context. i know there are not hundreds of thousands of women on the registry but there are some here in Florida alone. The world in general feels more sympathy for women and children so i think when presenting a case on not labeling us or hurting us further that both genders be mentioned in hopes that the person we are trying to reach connects with one or both genders
Thank you Gail for your clear and concise rebuttal of the stigma we all bear.
Thank you Gail. Perfect response.
Excellent letter.
Here is a good quote that applies to this:
“A lie doesn’t become truth, wrong doesn’t become right, and evil doesn’t become good, just because it’s accepted by a majority.”
– Booker T. Washington
very well spoken Gail.
unfortunately your words of wisdom and intellect will fall on deaf ears and deliberately blind eyes. But thank you for your courageous words and spirit just the same.
thank you Gail. So very well stated!
Thank you Gail!
Thank you, Gail!
Thank you Gail. Well said as always.
Bravo…
I’m so sick of the way they label these humans. I have a son that did his time . He got out in 2012 but still haves a label sending post cards out with all his information on it. Label on his driver’s licences, can’t get a job . There’s a lot more I could talk about .The one thing I would like to know is if I have a murderer or big time drug dealer living around us. To me that’s just as bad.I sure wish I knew someone to talk to about the way they act, like these men or women have a disease .Thank you
In a way, a drug dealer is worse, way worse. They’ll go out and hurt many people just to make a quick buck. And the time they are in jail/prison, they aren’t scheming on how to do it again and get a bigger score and not get caught. How do I know this? Because I spent 5 years in DOC around these true criminals. Every day, every night, I always heard some sort of plans of how to do it better and get away with it.
Us who have committed a sex crime go through incarceration planning on ways to make sure it “doesn’t” happen again. 180 degree mindset.
Thank you Gail for responding to their misinterpretation. It is so important. I hope somehow they would print that and make it known to all in an effort to truly educate. Thank you for all you do! I and my family truly appreciate all the efforts of FAC, the staff and all the volunteers. It is encouraging that the membership numbers and participation are growing not only here but as stated in the recap articles about the attendance at the recent NARSOL and Acsol conferences.
They did print it.
I visited the John F Kennedy Museum a couple of days ago. I saw this and thought how apropos.
“The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie–deliberate, contrived and dishonest–but the myth–persistent, persuasive and unrealistic. Too often we hold fast to the cliches of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”