With an election coming up, FAC wants to pose questions to the candidates for Governor of Florida. We plan to send a letter out this week.
Please contribute any questions you would like included in our letter in the comments below.
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Even though I live out of state.My question would be would you allow the homeless sex offenders to stay in shelters due to weather conditions like hurricanes or flood watches,and to escape other harsh elements?
Yes, we would.
How far are you up Ron and Laura Book’s asses are you? If anyone were to try kicking them there, would they hit the back of your head?
Phys Ed—-
BWhahahahaha !!!!!!!!!
You just made me snarf coffee out of my nose, all over my monitor and keyboard.
BEST POST ON THIS SITE YET !!!!
(and about the most truthful too)
I sent an email to all of the Democratic candidates for governor, almost 2 weeks ago, and have heard nothing back from any of them. I asked all of them whether they thought that registration laws were too harsh or too lenient or just right, and whether they had ideas for any changes, among other things. While my message made me sound like I was not a registrant (my intention), they may have looked up my email address at FDLE. Or, their email server may have immediately rejected my message if it decided that my email address was “dangerous”.
Some won’t agree with me but first I would like to see a tiered system with level 1&2 have a reasonable time frame for release from the registy level 3 only being reserved for recidivist and those who commit the most heinous and violent. Make restrictions crime specific. Base plans on actual data and actual risk assements. And once a person is done with their legal obligations restore their civil rights. If there is a conflict with the federal government are you willing to opt out.
I would not only ask if the new Governor is willing to return civil rights upon completion of sentence to ex-felons, but also to all felons after a certain time has passed for them?
Next I would ask if he/she is willing to appoint a team to seriously look at all of the research data on Sex Offense, and to instate common sense laws that are based on that research instead of on emotion or the media hype or those that have a vested interest in the passing of the laws ie the Book family? Would he/she be willing to take certain offenses like sexting between teens, juvenile offenders, public urination, and Romeo/Juliet crimes and make them all misdemeanor crimes that do not put persons on the list? Would the new Governor be willing to make sex crime case by case basis of a true risk assessment instead of the current AWA? Would he/she be willing to take all those that are not high risk (true assessment based) offenders and remove them from public registry? Would he/she be willing to remove from those that are lower to moderate risk from residency restrictions and from ban on places where children congregate? Also make the current 1000 foot residency ban for the higher risk offenders a state wide instead of 2500 foot bans on offenders? If nothing else if we must continue with the AWA then make Tiers so that persons can one day have a release from the registry. Would you take offenders who are no longer in the state off of the list?
This information is for all who are interested or affected by a criminal sentence, particularly JZ’s comment/question regarding probation and supervised release. The politicians are only part of the problem and to some extent their hands are tied by the state and federal courts. For example, it is binding precedent established by the Eleventh Circuit Court (federal), which mandates all lower case decisions in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, that incarcerating a person for rehabilitation purposes is prohibited, but the need for rehabilitation may be considered in prescribing supervised release. United States v. Burgos, 276 F.3d 1284, 1290 n.6 (11th Cir. 2001). This means prison equals punishment, probation and supervised release serve different ends…at least as the courts see it. We know the truth.
If it is shown that the registry is ineffective and the laws attached to them is a burden on the tax payers and the state. Would you be willing to opt out of AWA and abolish the registry and work with those who have done the research to provide education and prevention as an alternative ?
I like this one. opting out of the AWA and abolishing the registry for those very reasons. Also if they would consider expungement or sealing of record for those registered citizens who have 1 criminal conviction – no past history and have shown to be not a danger to anyone through an individualized risk assessment. Case by case when making the application for expungment or sealing of said record.
I want my full rights back if I have to pay taxes. I’m no longer serving a sentence. Been done for quite some time. Also, laws should be evidenced based….But once someone finishes their sentence they should be left alone and do as they please living a law abiding life.
Is there a question you would like asked?
Yes, I finished my sentence 5 years ago. Question: Can I get my full rights back as a full fledged law abiding citizen ? Or do I have to wait 8 years ( which is another sentence in itself ) To ask for clemency ? That’s my question.
Also, how about an automatic restoration of full rights once your sentence is done ? Skipping the clemency application and hearing.
Agreed here. 8 years feels like another sentence especially when people already finished their actual sentence. Agree as well with an automatic restoration instead of an application for a clemency hearing. If you’re done, then you’re done. You’re free and back to normal.
Will laws targeted at sex offenders be evidenced based and of sound mind ? That would be my question. Will ” former ” registered citizens have relief after their sentence is done and have the same freedoms as other former felons ? Considering all the evidence for the past 2 decades supporting it.
Restoring the full rights of former felons as soon as they finish their sentence would be my first question or concern to them. I think the 8 year period for clemency ( and it’s not guaranteed ) is very ridiculous.
Criminal justice reform in it’s entirety which includes sex offense laws across the board should be addressed.
I’m a Christian man, and I have a Christian question. What are you going to say when you face God one day for your personal judgment? Jesus says that you will Love God with all your heart and Love all people. Well, offenders are people too. Everyone that has ever been born has made numerous mistakes. God said to forgive all. Not just certain people. If you don’t forgive us, God will certainly not forgive you. God has forgiven those of us who has asked him. Why can’t you forgive? Is fame, money and your reputation worth losing your soul to make certain people happy and registered citizens lives miserable?
I would like to ask is it fair to keep people on the registry that no longer live in this state, that may have just visited, or have moved on to other states where they may no longer have to register; yet, they are forever indemnified into the Florida registry for jat registering once? Therefore, the broader question is: Is it time to update the the catergories of RSOs to something more multi-leveled and finally start really showing the public that the system cares about you knowing who is a “danger”, and who is just an old man who flashed the wrong girl at a bar when he was still under 21 some decades ago? I got more, but let’s see what we can brainstorm together..
My questions to the candidates would go something like this: Acknowledging the fact that sex crimes are a problem throughout the country do you agree that it is a bigger problem that ALL sex offenders are grouped together in Florida potentially posing the the same risk factor? Do you see this as watering down the registry list as making it not accurate for what people intended it to be? Would you follow suit as other states have such as California and Missouri who have recently followed the Federal law to have Florida’s S.O.Registry become a tier 3 state which would not only separate potential risk factors but allow attrition to the NEVER ending list?
My own comment is the entire list and system and the way we are treated is totally messed up and unconstitutional. I do believe the tier system is NOT the total solution but a start. The registry as it stands should be abolished…..but my questions above are open ended questions to at least get a feel for where these candidates stand and to see if any of them even have the guts to budge and begin the change that Florida so desperately needs.
Thank you FAC for allowing us to even give input. Thank you for ALL you are doing.
Hello Governor…
Do you foresee a tiered arrangement for sex offenders during your term in office?
1) If he/she supports rehabilitation in prison, not just punishment.
2) If he/she supports evidence based registration laws and requirements.
3) If he/she supports rolling back the three-day residence registration requirement.
4) If he/she supports a review of all state, county, and city laws on registration requirements and championing revocation of such laws which are punitive and or violate Florida’s own constitution on their face.
I have many more, but will allow others to chime in.
Why are we so poorly ranked among the 50 states . We are at the bottom or vert near the bottom in nearly every aspect of life. Somehow we have become the third most populated state in the country! Why?? My opinion is this is a tax shelter and water playground for the wealthy. What are you going to do for people who work for a living. Some working 2 jobs. Get hot !!
How important of an issue is the problem with Lake Okeechobee water runoff being routed to the east and west coast instead of it s natural southern path to support the Everglades?
How would you deal with Big Sugar money that is the cause.
Imminent domain should be invoked to return the land back to what it was created for. The tourist industry relies on the beautiful coastline or used to be.
Where do they stand on felons getting their rights back ?
The question that I would love to ask is it he/she (or course it will be a he but I have to be PC) has read the United States Constitution and if yes, do they intend on honoring it as the past few Florida governors clearly have not done either.
What a refreshing change that would be!
Whay is Loren Book allowed to use her victim status to keep harsher laws against sex offenders where other states actually look at statistics before making sexoffender laws? How is Ron Book still head of homeless trust when he has contradicting interests, using his power as homeless trust board member to keep the sex offenders far from their families and on the streets?
Thanks for the contributions – Ron Book is chair of the Miami-Dade homeless trust, not the state.
Would they support strictly evidence-based policy making towards registered citizens, including potentially turning back many laws if they are found to be ineffective and wasteful?
Something along these lines ^
Here is one question they all should answer: As Governor, will you officially recognize and publicy state that the sex offender registry is a punitive sanction with criminal penalties that violate constitutional protections prohibiting ex post facto legislation, cruel and unusual punishment, as well as compulsory self-incrimination?
When can I get my rights back? When will we get a tiered system here like other states are slowly going to?
Would you consider revising some of Florida’s harsh Sex Offender Laws, for low level non-contact offenders? Some of these laws include:
Residency Restrictions
In Person Notification if travel is more than 3 days
Being an SO there are no expectations of privacy and enjoyment of the natural freedoms given in the Constitution.
As governor what would be your position on adding further restrictions to an individual after the initial sentencing? I do believe that such acts are called “ex-post facto” and are unconstitutional…at least in the Constitution that I read. I cannot find that the states are granted the authority to over ride the “ex-post facto” restrictions in the federal constitution.
As governor what would be your position on making a way for ex-sex offenders to earn their way off of the registry? Do you believe that making a way to get off the registry would be an incentive for many to live a law abiding lifestyle? Do you believe that the registry is serving any positive purpose and making anyone safer? Do you believe that the public display of offender information is opening the door for vigilante actions? Do you believe that the registry should be for law enforcement use only?
I know these are not questions, but I think they should be asked into questions.
For “evidence based” law making to the criminal justice system. Criminal justice reform where all are treated equally regardless of the type of crime. Restoring full rights to all former offenders regardless of their charges. Registry and SO law reforms.
As governor what would be your position on restoring the voting rights of all ex-felons who have paid their debt to society? Keep in mind, these ex-felons are expected to pay taxes and one of the founding principles of this nation is “no taxation without representation”. Many are veterans and their service…less their offense…has earned them the right to have a say in how this country is operated.
when they gonna make a tier system for two or more sex crime? 19 year olds make foolish mistakes
Questions to the candidates for Governor of Florida.
. What are your plans forward concerning Prison Reform, mandatiry minimum, and prisoner’s quality of life?
. Where do you see Prison reform within the next year?
. How do you plan to use scientific data that shows true fact about recividism for sex offenses when writing policies?
. How are you planning to use the impacted families of registrants to level the Plainfield between policies for safety and policies to refirm, reintegrate, reconstruct our communities?
. Are you open-minded enough to objectively state your knowledge of the scientific data versus the conspiracy against it to effect voting numbers?
How do you propose to stop our mass incarceration and how do you propose to finally acknowledge that sex offenders who have completed their sentence, have not reoffended, still have to be punished a lifetime being on the registry for sex offenders. This has caused so many to be without housing and without a job. Not to mention placing their life in jeopardy with neighbors and other citizens in their community. How will you turn the tables so that sex offenders that are law abiding will not have to be highlighted among all the other crimes in our state that walk free after their sentencing obligation. Look at statistics please. Lastly please remember that all people are created equal and should have the same rights. Why is Florida so different? A lifetime of punishment and fear; no way to live!
When are you going to abolish the registry (not a tiered system–abolish) and restore the rights of sex offenders?
With the glaring evidence to the contrary for life sentences and retroactive restrictions being added almost daily, my question is: Is it necessary for life sentences with regard to restrictions and registration? Second, Does State law supersede local ordinances, such as visiting amusement parks, beaches, county parks etc.?
Are you willing to ignore any political ramifications and take an honest look at the statistical evidence showing how sex offender laws are doing more harm than good and the devastating unfairness of the sex offender label in a growing number of cases?
The Florida legislature has passed new sex offender laws in nearly every session for the past two decades.
How well are these laws working today, and what needs to be done to ensure that Florida children are protected from sexual abuse?
What should Florida expect of former sex offenders who are no longer required to be in custody and who have completed the terms of their court orders?
Do any of the candidates have an opinion on whether restricting the time a registered citizen can move freely within this state, will protect children. And if they do not believe this will help, would they be inclined to give us back the 5 day rule??