PLEASE COMMENT ON ARTICLE: Putnam County passes one of Florida’s toughest sex offender ordinances after ‘Predator Camp’ outcry
Months after a storm of community outrage over what neighbors called a “predator camp,” Putnam County has enacted one of the strictest sex offender ordinances in the state of Florida.
The controversial park at the center of it all — CCM Park on Balsam Street — once housed more than 22 registered sex offenders living in proximity. The situation sparked public concern, a series of investigative reports, and ultimately, sweeping legislative action.
Putnam County Sheriff Gator DeLoach said the situation at CCM Park was the turning point.
“Well, that was certainly the catalyst for the introduction of this ordinance,” Sheriff DeLoach said, “And it’s our hope and desire that this ordinance is an effective tool for us to help eliminate that problem from ever creeping up on us again.”
The ordinance, which was passed on August 26th and is now in effect, increases the residency buffer zone for registered sex offenders and predators. They are now prohibited from living within 2,500 feet of schools, childcare facilities, school bus stops, parks, or playgrounds — more than double the 1,000 feet required by Florida state law.
It also bans offenders from living within 500 feet of one another unless they are related by blood, marriage, or adoption.
Under the new rules, sex offenders and predators cannot live in multi-family dwellings, manufactured home parks, or condominiums if more than 10 percent of the occupied units are already housing registered sex offenders.
Leota Wilkinson, Chair of the Putnam County Commission, said the new rules send a strong message. “If you’ve offended, then you might not wanna come and live in Putnam County.”
[FAC NOTE: FAC IS ORGANIZING A LAWSUIT AGAINST PUTNAM FOR THIS RETALIATORY ORDINANCE. IF YOU ARE IMPACTED BY IT AND WANT TO BE A PLAINTIFF, PLEASE CONTACT [email protected].]
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Posted this:
Because teenagers are put on the sex offender registry for consensual sex, this mother may think again. Her child is not safe from the state. It could be her child. What the state of Florida does to it’s teenagers is horrible. They are put on the registry for the rest of their life for teenage sex. They give them a choice of 2 years in state prison, or probation and the sex offender registry. If they were 19 when they signed the papers for probation, that lasts 5 years, her child would be the age of 51, IMAGINE, 51, before he could even beg the state to be let off the registry. What would you have your child choose? Are you sure? This is ridiculous and must stop. What if this is your brother, your child?
According to the article, this new ordinance isn’t retroactive, so anyone now currently living in “violation” isn’t affected. Also, it seems this park was the real target and they just wanted it under new management, so this was an in around to make that happen. Someone definitely had friends in city council.
mAYBE A PERSON OR SEVERAL IN THAT COUNTY CAN ASSIST WITH CLEMINS opps caps. or however it is spelled. this could be the one that helps ends this Florida nightmare registry matters podcast i think 352 was just talking about this case. we all need to pray for this win and it looks like it may be a win in this case! it it is is a win it will effect every aspect of Florida’s hit list!
This is yet another attempt to keep people from trying to recreate themselves after a life altering event. Is there any other crime you can commit where shaming is a constant part of one’s life? No! Murders aren’t shamed for life. How about the people who poison our communities with fentanyl? They don’t get shamed for life. Florida needs to get rid of the entitled individuals who think they need to make certain people lives harder. If you want to make people suffer than everyone with a felony should be on a registry so the entire state will know everyone’s business.
Could you imagine? As much as I hate any government tracking list, one that would track those types of felonies, along with DUIs, known drug dealers and gang members would be entertaining.
please post this comment on the original article
Agree 100%
Once again the fear mongering strikes and seeks to punish. The sane person would think that registrants living in close proximity would be better because they would know where they are. But these people who write these ordinances are not sane. Now to throw this in a different light lets look at the Putnam County Jail. If they segregate offenders and Predators from the rest of the population they will be in violation of their own ordinance.
It’s past time for these absurd laws to be abolished. The homeless population will grow and the rate of sex offenses being committed will not be reduced since we all know that most offenders do not re-offend and that most victims know their attacker.
please post this comment on the original article
The headline of this story says “PLEASE COMMENT ON ARTICLE”
Appear me and others are commenting on this article. We all seemed to be very confused.
Comment on the original article that’s published on https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/putnam-county-passes-one-floridas-toughest-sex-offender-ordinances-after-predator-camp-outcry/WWEE6ZBJYVD4JDBHZUA4MEUHJM/
Putnam county needs ask Pahokee, if they are having any issues with Miracle Village, causing problems! I bet they’re not. This is just another nimby issue, and solved nothing.
please post this comment on the original article