SB 540: We now know what the “soliciting prostitution registry” will look like.
There’s been a modification in Senate Bill 540 to the proposed language that would create the soliciting prostitution registry.
First, it’s not called a “registry” anymore. It’s now called the “Soliciting for Prostitution Public Database” I guess too much comparison to the “sex offender” registry and people realizing how well that’s going (note the sarcasm) that they are calling it a “Public Database”.
Second, we now know it will be public. There was discussion as to whether it would be private or public, the latest version of the bill has it public.
Third, we now know it will contain the following information; (a) His or her full legal name. (b) His or her last known address.(c) A color photograph of him or her.(d) The offense for which he or she was convicted.
Fourth, the person will stay on the “public database” for 5 years and then will be removed.
Let’s see how many ACTUAL human traffickers wind up on this shaming list.
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sex offender registry
solicitation of prostitution registry
What is next ? Nobody can date now ? No more dating. People on match.com and Eharmony will be on a registry.
Why don’t they just ban ” intimacy ” all together in the state of Florida. Get it over with already. Geez.
This is just stupid. That is all I can say. I read this and I’m actually with no more words to describe this than just plain stupid. When you think Florida politicians can get any more stupid. Like the sex offender registry, once again this will do nothing but send ripples of harm and chaos.
More time, resources and money wasted by these morons.
The original (1997) version of the Florida sex offender registry was just about on par with this proposal. Once this prostitution “database” is established it almost certainly will, like the SO registry, morph into a monster.
I will also point out that the only nations in North and South America where prostitution is still illegal are the Guyanas and the United States. It is also legal in most of the Caribbean and almost all of Europe. Many sociologists who specialize in this area point out that making prostitution illegal drastically increases the dangers sex workers face as it forces them underground and pressures them to not report being abused, as they themselves face arrest.
And conflating human trafficking and prostitution does nothing to help those being unlawfully trafficked. If anything, it makes it harder to find and rescue trafficking victims, as police resources are diverted and diluted — just look at the Jupiter massage parlor sting for evidence of this.
FIVE YEARS!?!?! The maximum punishment in the State of Floriduh for a misdemeanor is 364 days. So, if they put someone on a public “database” that subjects them to forms of restrictions on liberty, them they change that maximum to five years. That’s exactly what they have done with sex offense. Lifetime punishments that exceed statutory maximums.
Correct – but the argument will be that it’s not punishment – it’s civil, and that the state’s interest in preventing human trafficking is furthered by having this stupid list.
Now we know several things; (a) being on this list will screw up people’s business life and personal life, not to mention shame and bring judgment on their spouses and children, (b) very few, if any, of the people that will be featured on this list will be actual human traffickers, and (c) this will do nothing to combat human trafficking.
I agree with that assessment. Once you are on a list in Florida you stay on a list. Considering the FBI was not able to charge anyone in their human trafficking sting, not a single person, after having the locations under surveillance and with video, should tell us exactly how many human traffickers they will put on the list.
Looks just like the original sex offender registry,,
Those were my thoughts as well.
Exactly. Trying to equate human trafficking with prostitution does nothing to help those being trafficked and only harms sex workers. That’s why prostitution is legal in most of the western world.
“soliciting prostitution registry” I wonder what restrictions those on this registry will endure. I can think of a few,, No driving on main st. night or day. No computer access. Not permitted in night clubs.
Can not reside 2500 feet from main st. or any road where prostitute’s gather. Some may be grandfathered in but will have to sleep in the woods or under a bridge. Can not get a message anywhere even in their own home by anyone even family members. Parks will be off limits at night. They mightn’t even be on curfews,, man it’s getting confusing. Think I am kidding? With the nit wit’s in charge now a days?
I wonder how many names will actually be removed after the proposed five years.
Florida not removing names from databases seems to be a thing.
The politicians seem to want everyone on a list. They are gung ho about putting people on a list for soliciting prostitution but there is no ‘public database’ for people who have assaulted, committed robbery, possessed or sold drugs, or murdered. As always, this just seems like a cheap political stunt that will not be effective and do more harm than good.
Give them some time..it could be in the works..knowing their track record, they seem to want everyone on a list.