Some sex offenders no longer required to register in Indiana
egistered sex offenders living in Indiana no longer will be subject to a lifetime registration requirement in the Hoosier State simply for vacationing in Florida, where all sex offenders are listed on the registry for life.
A new Indiana Supreme Court ruling clarifies a provision of state law that mandates sex offenders registered in another state, who subsequently relocate or return to Indiana, to also register in Indiana for the same duration as their out-of-state registration period. The Indiana high court said Florida’s lifetime registry listing, which applies after a sex offender “resides” in Florida for three days or more, does not trigger a parallel lifetime registration requirement in Indiana.
It’s not known how many registered sex offenders may come off the rolls in Indiana as a result of the Supreme Court decision.
Discover more from Florida Action Committee (FAC)
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Given that the Florida Action Committee is one of the most progressive and well-organized advocacy groups in the country pushing for reform of sex offense laws, why has there been so little progress in Florida? Governor DeSantis, while sharp in many areas, seems either ignorant of this issue—or willfully silent. His failure to lead here has cost him my vote for any future presidential run.
It feels like Florida’s policy on this matter is driven more by Sheriff Grady Judd and a handful of wealthy influencers than by facts or justice. Meanwhile, voters remain stuck in a mindset from the Dark Ages—clinging to fear-based, draconian policies. Academic research is completely ignored, even when it clearly shows that things like residency restrictions, signage, and lifetime punishment do nothing to increase public safety.
No value is placed on studies that show most sex crimes are committed by people the victim knows—family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances—not by those on the registry, whose identities are already well-known to law enforcement. Yet the public and politicians act as if the registry is their first line of defense.
How is it that Florida still punishes minor or non-violent offenses—like streaking, teen sexting, prostitution, consensual encounters, or even juvenile behavior—with the same severity as violent rape? The system makes no distinction. The registry nets both small and serious offenses alike, branding all for life as equal threats. It’s clear most of these individuals pose no danger, yet they’re treated like monsters.
Study after study confirms that sex offense recidivism rates are low—but no one in power seems to care. Families are shattered. Basic justice is disregarded. The registry is clearly a form of double punishment. It’s telling that we show more public outrage over the injustices faced by immigrants or Palestinians than we do over the destruction of American lives—fathers, sons, brothers, even veterans—trapped in this broken system.
And now Florida is considering the death penalty for certain sex crimes? That kind of punishment should be reserved for the most heinous crimes—those involving the deliberate and premeditated killing of innocents. Many offenses on the registry are victimless, consensual, or economic. How can anyone believe that’s worse than murder?
Where is the human decency? Where is respect for life, liberty, and due process? How can a state spend millions on law enforcement and emergency management, yet deny storm shelter to registrants during hurricanes—as if their lives no longer count? Isn’t Security present in storm shelters?
With so many families affected, where is the statewide strategy for change? Where is the national push for reform? Florida is failing badly—and it’s time people started paying attention.
@BO
I believe in my heart that Florida will never remove us, that is why we have to have a “Higher” court do it for us if it is to happen. Still irks me that all 50 states have 50 different rules. Why can one state decide registrants can get relief after a period of time, then other states say F-U, you are ours for life (Even after you are dead in Florida)
If I die on the registry, I will ask God for a day pass to come down and haunt all the judges in Florida who denied us LOL (Pretty sure God would not allow that but sounded good anyway)