Reason: Florida Cops Re-Arrest 26 Sex Offenders in ‘Operation Karma.’ Their Crime? Not Updating Their Car Info.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Department in Florida is touting its successful completion of “Operation Karma,” a three-day sting in which cops arrested 26 registered sex offenders for violating various legal obligations imposed on them.
“They are apparently up to no good and we are going to hold them accountable,” Sheriff Grady Judd promises The Miami Herald.
But there is no evidence that any of the arrested people were a danger to anyone. They were not re-arrested for approaching children, or committing sex acts. In most cases, they were arrested for failing to register their vehicles with the government. This is understandable: sex offenders in Florida are required to provide the government with up-to-date information regarding their name, age, sex, height, weight, tattoos, hair color, address, email address, telephone number, social media accounts, employment information, and vehicle information. It’s probably fairly easy for a sex offender to forget to constantly re-supply necessary information.
But it’s absurd to suggest that these un-registered cars posed some kind of danger to the community. And yet The Miami Herald happily entertained this fantasy, allowing Grady and his office to essentially take a victory lap in the pages of the newspaper. The Herald also printed the mugshots of all the offenders, listed their names, and provided not only the reason for their re-arrests but information on their initial arrests. In practice, this means that many of these offenders—who range in age from 57 all the way down to 19—are being shamed for crimes they committed years and decades ago.
A bunch of mugshots of middle-aged men convicted of sex offenses against minors makes for a frightening image. But I did the math, and most of these people were in their 20s, or teens themselves, when they were first convicted.
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Some people don’t even know they have to register other vehicles they don’t own or even on vehicles they only insure like kids in college. Thanks to FAC I know but when I go to register not many people know. It’s been a rountine for years basically you did what’s right stay out of trouble they leave you alone now they arrest you for confusing laws even judges and other sheriffs and even SO unit In Tallahasse gives me conflicting information. If you cant read the law yourself and depend on answers from law enforcement your screwed cause they don’t know. And even after reading the law and FAC post still too much is unclear. Regaurdless the sheriff has made it clear your gonna get what you have coming for what you done cause they are stalking you now coming by your place looking in your yard so update your shit and let others be aware.
So you live in Polk your a target for the sheriff to make profit to the court system. Is it legal for the police to know a known drinker and wait down the road for him to drive by. He’ll no it isn’t. I’m moving leaving my family behind to find something else I’ll be back to get them but leaving parents siblings after 20 plus years on this shit I loose sleep at night wondering what I forgot checking in and out when I leave town I’m mentally going crazy and lay around all day between having to work breathing sheriff has made his point need not speak twice! I identify my state given name.
This saddens and disgusts me on so many levels. The fact the state has to be notified when there is a change in vehicle status is absurd.Do you mean to tell me that the DMV doesn’t update their system when changes are made? If we get a new tag on the car, and the plate is run by law enforcement, it’s not going to show our information??(I had this very discussion with the so called detective that makes her unannounced visits twice a year to just find something to hang my husband on can’t stand that sanctimonious hefer) Also, by these poor guys just being arrested, it blows their chance of getting off the registry after the obscene waiting period. You can’t tell me that wasn’t done on purpose.
Of course this is done on purpose and the heifer that comes to check on your husband twice a year is also for the sole purpose to find something wrong. Law enforcement just like the majority of society and our dear government all believe that ALL sex offences and all registered citizens are monsters and portray them as such. If they had it their way they would just lock all offenders up and throw away the key. Out of sight out of mind. Things will get worse before it ever gets better. Even with the new evidence and research it all goes in one ear and out the other. People refuse to believe the facts. They already have a preconception of what an offender is and they use their ideology to justify their actions.
Exactly
Every driver in the state registers their vehicles, and law enforcement has access to this information. Former offenders must supplement their “regular driver” registration with special “offender vehicle registration.”
So, exactly.
Serious question everyone: Does anybody remember when offender vehicle registration became law? And at that time, was any justification given in committee hearings or on the floor? Or was all legislative discussion limited to, “muh protect the children, let’s vote!”
It became law in 2015 after little Cherish Perriwinkle was abducted in murdered from Walmart by a registered offender
Which is ludicrous. So, if Donald Smith’s van had been “updated” with the registry, the authorities would’ve found it faster?? Is that their reasoning?? I can’t deal with the level of stupid our lawmakers have.
How terrible. Cherish’s assailant had a history of aggressive sex crimes that is matched by very few registrants. Had these vehicle registration laws been in effect at the time, they would have done nothing to protect Cherish from getting into that van.
To my knowledge your husband is under no obligation to answer the door when that detective showes up. I’ve made it very clear to the officer assigned to do those visits that he is unwelcome on my property and any further attempts to illegally trespass will result in my filling a trespass warning against him and if that don’t work I’ll file for a restraining order. I’ve told him to call me when he needs to verify me and I’ll show up at the sheriff’s office.
Unfortunately, In Duval county, that’s not the case. They use the in around that it’s an address verification and if he’s not complcit, it’s a felony. I’ll have to re-look up the statute, but after she came around at Christmas time(to, conveniently inform my husband he was in violation for having Christmas lights on the house) she handed me a paper with the statute on it
You seriously can’t have Christmas lights up? I left Duvall after they hung me out to dry and glad I did, now I live in a small town where it’s mostly quiet for me.
Im lost on this. I go to the sheriff to update that im leaving. Yet the local pd (live in a city) comes a knocking and im not there. They give wife a hastle and ask a ton of questions. Yet i filed my travel plans in time with the sheriff. Doesnt anyone speak to the other? And is it true i dont need to open the door? I travel monthly so im there at sheriff every month. Im on no paper and no supervision etc. Just confused.
Funny i went to the sheriff to report a playe change and they had it already and told me i didnt need to update as its already updated
They apparently don’t exchange information. This happens a lot.
Yet the city threatens my family that i need to be there or else i can be arrested. Yet im under no probation nor doni have anuthing or anyone assigned to me
@jm
Florida statutes state that you have 3 weeks to reply to a written correspondence for address verification. Should you not be at home for one of these checks it is up to the leo to leave a card/flyer/etc with a contact number. That counts as written correspondence.
Should they not leave anything? That’s on them, not you.
Telling/harassing your family that you aren’t in compliance by not being present upon a residence verification is crap. Don’t be fooled.
Educate yourself. The more you know, you know?
Scary and totally ofd. Ive never gotten anything in the mail or left for me or anything. Its unnerving
The Sheriff’s Department just stopped by they remained in their car were very polite and professional and just said they were doing a resifency check. No problem, they were wuick and tespectful. I am glad I live in my county.
Good point Andrea and I agree. Every time I call registration for an update weather it’s a car, a new license plate or license card or anything related as such, the registry office always tells me ” yea we know, it’s been updated. An officer told me in the beginning that those agencies share the same system, as well does the Dept. of corrections with probation and parole. But knowing this myself and it still leaves me suspicious, I still call them to update and MAKE SURE it is updated and I even log in the day and time I called them for my own personal records, because of stuff like this that this is idiot sheriff pulls or some officer may have a bad day and screw me over by not updating it themselves. I hate it, but I don’t want to go to jail and ruin my chances of getting off the registry one day. I’ve been compliant as such for 12 years now.
This email was proudly sent over to the Sheriff’s department to their email “[email protected]”:
Subject: Disgusted by Your Violations of Human Rights
“Is your department responsible for this despicable “police work”?
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article228275874.html
“‘Karma’ caught up with these sex offenders and predators, Florida cops say”
Don’t you people have better things to do than waste Taxpayer money to violate people for forgetting to update their VIN numbers?? How can any normal person trying to live their lives remember the dozens of pieces of information they are FORCED to provide Unconstitutionally?
Jesus Christ, not only have you wasted thousands of Florida Taxpayer dollars, not found any Real crimes being commited, but you’ve wasted time when you could be solving REAL CRIME. Is this a plot to win over points with the local uninformed public?
There is NOTHING to be proud of here. These people have SERVED THEIR TIME. Leave them the hell alone! How Un-American do you have to be to not understand that?
Look at the comments section of that Miami Herald article! Nobody is proud of what you’re doing.
Thanks for your time. “
Gravy Jugg is a piece of $h1t. In fact, Puke County is one big $h1th0le. The “good” people keep electing this $cumb@g so they are no better than he is. Out of state registrants, AVOID FLORIDUH AT ALL COSTS! Out of county registrants, AVOID PUKE COUNTY AT ALL COSTS!
Sent this to the reporter this morning:
Dear Ms. Madan,
I became aware of a recent article you wrote on registry violations by some individuals in Polk County. Thank you for illustrating futility of the registry and how much it negatively impacts the citizens in our communities.
Your article made no mention of any criminal wrongdoing by any of the citizens whose mugshots you published. By criminal, of course, I meant actual crimes for which ordinary citizens would be subject to criminal liability. A technical violation of the registry is a manufactured offense, one which is of dubious value as a predictor for the commission of actual future sex crimes. In reality, these violations only serve to further disrupt and harm the lives of the registrants and the families that depend on them, making their living situations even less stable and tenable. I cannot stress enough that none of the registrants pictured were accused of any suspected sex crimes in connection with their technical violations.
By burdening registrants with a “slew” of regulatory reporting requirements, the law essentially creates a series of tripwires for registered citizens, ones which they must be vigilant in avoiding for the entirety of their lives without fail and without exception, regardless of the circumstances, lest they risk be selectively targeted by law enforcement for prosecution and having their likenesses posted in media outlets such as the one for which you report. I would argue that no human being would be able to successfully traverse a lifetime without falling prey to these laws that, essentially, are manufacturing crime where none exists. Would you take a “karma challenge” and see if you could make it even 30 days under the regulatory burden that these, and thousands of other individuals in Florida face?
By destabilizing and further ostracizing these persons – these free U.S. citizens – the net effect would not be in the interest of the public safety. That is probably why Sheriff Grady correctly surmised that the “Florida legislature has determined” tracking of former offenders as a public safety interest. The members of the Florida legislature clearly are not sex offense experts, because actual research has shown, and even some prominent child safety advocates believe, that the evidence supports just the opposite, that public registries provide no public safety benefit, but may, in fact, be detrimental to public safety due to its destabilizing effects on registrants and their families.
Your enthusiasm in reporting at length and in great detail about this operation shows that you have a passion for this subject. Perhaps when you are better educated on the subject matter, you will be able to provide reports that are of real value to your readers and the community, rather than running the risk of being pegged as a click-bait journalist in the mold of those who work for those seedier periodicals we see at the checkout counter.
This is great! Appreciate it.
Well said. Thank you. I liked “being pegged as a click-bait journalist”.
…and this follow up email to the newspaper’s executive editor:
Dear Ms. Gonzalez:
I wrote one of your reporters this morning to provide some feedback on the following article:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article228275874.html
If you would like to be copied on the correspondence, I would be happy to forward the original email. My thoughts and feedback were provided as sincere constructive criticism of the content and veracity of the assertions made by those quoted in the piece. I would be happy to direct you or anyone interested to some information that can help shed light on the disparity between popular notions concerning sex offense issues and real data showing that these public perceptions are overwhelmingly not the case.
To better understand why newspapers would resort to this kind of click-bait journalism, I did some further research and came across an eye-opening article from 2016 by PBS journalist Jeffrey Dvorkin (see below). Now I understand your predicament and almost (but not quite) feel sorry for your organization’s plight.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/what-you-dont-know-about-click-bait-journalism-could-kill-you
Despite the commercial interests that may drive your organization, as a media outlet, you still have a responsibility to your readers and the community to accurately inform and not manipulate your readership through the perpetuation of “moral panic.” If the Miami Herald is an organization worthy of surviving in the digital age, you’ll need to confront this duplicity in your reporting that you currently face. Then, and only then, might the phrase in your nameplate, “Journalism that makes a difference,” be a statement of fact.
Again….excellent. Thank you. Your calm and factual tone is just what is needed.
James, you are a great writer. I hope that you will continue using your talent and knowledge in this way.
Have you considered becoming a volunteer with FAC? I’m betting they could use someone who can write as well as you do.
AMEN! We can certainly use the help!!!
Thanks NTL and FAC. Being detached from the situation in FL, I feel I have more liberty to advocate without repercussions. When there is active repression such as there is in your state, the natural byproduct is that speech is chilled. It’s sad and an affront to the principles that we as Americans hold dear.
Regrettably, I cannot commit to formally volunteering at this time, if it were even appropriate for someone out of state such as myself. As I see it though, FL is ground zero in the war for our rights, and if we can prevail here, there is hope for a sea change across our nation. I will continue to do what I can to speak truth to the ignorance that is so deeply entrenched in the forum of public policy and opinion.
Be blessed and encouraged!
James
James if you don’t mind me asking what States have you discovered to be more liberal and livable in. My charge was 14 years ago. I am free of all probation and very well educated. I just can’t take living in Florida any longer. Any suggestions. I am wide open.
Frank,
I dissected all 50 state laws last November 2018 and posted here on the FAC website:
https://floridaactioncommittee.org/call-to-action-amendment-4-passed-now-what-about-us/
According to the “Summary of State and Territorial Registration Laws Concerning Visiting and Temporary Residence by Adults,” all states have a registry, but those that have possible relief in 10 years are:
Arizona
Connecticut
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maine
Minnesota
Montana
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Washington D.C.
West Virginia
and those with no residency restrictions are:
Alaska
Colorado
Connecticut
Hawaii
Indiana
Kansas
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Dakota
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Texas
Vermont
Washington D.C
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
So the states that meet both criterion are:
Connecticut
Hawaii
Indiana
Maine
Minnesota
Montana
New Hampshire
New Mexico
Texas
Vermont
Washington D.C
West Virginia
Source:
https://all4consolaws.org/us-sex-offender-registration-laws/
Frank,
JZ’s advice is on point if your long-term goal is to be registry-free, however you can also check with various ministries in other states that serve the transitional needs of those on the registry. Their personal experiences working with individuals trying to reestablish themselves in the community will also be valuable in learning what your experience might be somewhere else. So many factors come into play such as residency restrictions (RR), GPS laws, predator and civil commitment laws, etc. that are on a case by case basis that I would not be able to give you suggestions specific to your case.
My situation here in SC is a good fit for my background, with no RR or GPS in my case. I don’t get harassed by LE or neighbors and those in charge of administering the registry here are decent to work with. There are no exclusionary zone laws here to trip up residents or visitors. My family and I visit Myrtle Beach without any potential legal concerns. Employment and housing options that don’t screen out registrants are difficult to secure, as it is everywhere, but self-employment might be a viable option and home-rental/ownership are possibilities in order to secure a decent quality of life. SC is a lifetime registration state, but you can vote, so the more influence the better I say!