Why is the Registry Punishment?
I can’t believe that we are still having to answer this common sense question. Isn’t it obvious?
Apparently to the judges of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, who recently overturned a lower court’s decision that the registry was cruel and unusual punishment, it’s not so clear. Neither was it clear to the judge in the Southern District of Florida who felt that forcing people into homelessness due to Miami-Dade county’s harsh residency restrictions isn’t punishment either. Incredible given that two of the original defendants on that case had died homeless on the streets of Miami by the time the Court heard the case. How is this possible?
Well what is common sense to us isn’t necessarily common sense to a judge. We must remember that judges, like all of us, live in their own world, socialize with their own friends and exist in their own preconceived notions about society, crime and the law. In other words, they have no clue what’s it like to live one day in our shoes. If, just for a week, one judge could have his name, photo and information listed on the Florida Sex Offender Registry, make him go out and find a job, a place to live while raising two kids or try to find a partner to spend life with, then have him come back and make the decision as to whether or not the registry is punishment. Wouldn’t that be glorious?
Residency restrictions, going to our kid’s schools, having a shot at keeping a job, finding a place to live, going to church, all of these things can continue to be denied us because our presence on the registry isn’t punishment. This is hogwash. You know it but the Court’s don’t see it because apparently we have yet to make our case crystal clear.
In an effort to do that we want to compile a list describing in detail the punitive effects on a registrant, their family, friends, employers and others in their lives, experienced living a lawful everyday life. Please include your experience in the comments below. Be specific and we will compile your comments for a “master list” of the punitive effects of the registry. Also remember that this is specific to our presence on the registry, not the criminal conviction itself nor any hardships as a result of probation requirements. PLEASE only list events that happened to you, not commentary.
Judges don’t know what they don’t know, so we have to tell them. We look forward to your comments.
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Was recently harassed by 3 U.S. Marshalls banging on door and entering the backyard to peer through windows. Which is a violation of the 4th amendment by entering on to the curtilage of our property. Missed an opportunity to film the guy in the backyard. Thinking of contacting the ACLU.
LE in Central Florida use license plate scanners/readers that alert them whenever someone on the terrorist watch list or SO list is within range. LE has virtually stalked me in traffic because my registered tag alerts them to my presence. The average felon does not have this type of on going surveillance against them.
Denied ability to live with family. With my wife and children. Denied ability to reside in a safe place. Denied work. I have a Master’s Degree that is now useless. Have to live in fear that violating some technicality will land me in prison. Like failing to register someone else’s car. Denied the right to vote. To not be counted in the Census.
Paw Paw (me) is banned from taking his Grandson to any of the theme parks.
PawPaw is not allowed to take his Grandson to the Playgrounds to play
PawPaw is not allowed to bring his Grandson to school as I / we are not allowed on school properties
PawPaw is blocked from logging onto Nextdoor to see what they are saying about me / OR just seeing what is going on in my neighborhood in general because registered persons AND anyone who lives at their address is legally banned from making an account.
Have been offered jobs only to have the revoked when find I am publicly listed in a registry in at least 15 occasions
Have had my registry picture plastered by a disgruntled neighbor on all the doors of the gated community where I live
Have neighbors that do not returns hello since then
Have had to pass running for HOA Board member for fear of retribution and or being ostracized when opponents say I am on registry
Have had a same disgruntled neighbor call a police officer to a HOA board vote because I volunteered to do the counting. Officer left as there was nothing wrong with it.
Have had my vehicle vandalized inside my gated community on several occasions
Unable to attend family events at parks
Unable to attend political and non profit events held at parks
Unable to participate in political events held/seen thru Facebook
Unable to move as no availability to what I can afford due to residency laws
Unable to join certain business networks due to being on registry
Unable to do extended visits with out of town family as have to register the address which can cause them embarrassment and or retribution
Have had varios occasions of new acquaintances stop communicating with me once found out I am on the registry
Family disputes due to being publicly listed
Depression/Anxiety about meeting new people or networking for fear/embarrassment they will eventually find out due to the high visibility of being on the registry
Constant worry that any innocent or innocuous comment or glance by me at a child or woman may be misinterpreted by someone that knows I am on the registry.
I have been a member of Facebook for about 8 years…but two days ago I was removed from that social meeting place.
I feel I’m being punished for a crime that is 20 years in my past
I cant see how my friends feel about current affairs in regards to voting for a president. I cant read about issues that affect me and my future. I’m no longer a part of the conversation with my peers about issues that affect all of us.
It’s very sad and wrong that simply because of a title I’m no longer welcome on a social internet.
Thanks. Re FB were you convicted? Their policy seems to be if convicted. But if you had a withhold of adjudication then you may be deemed to not be a convicted felon. Note I am not an attorney.
Did FB inform you why they removed you?
I myself have withheld adjudication and FB did remove me many years ago. They do not give notice or explanation, they just remove
Your conviction is not what FB looks at. What they do is sneakingly match your face (if you post pics of yourself) to your photo on the registry. When signing up for FB if you’re still on the registry, DO NOT put your real birthdate in the sign up section. DO NOT post pics of your face (unless MAYBE you’re wearing sunglasses). And you DO NOT have to use your real name. I had an account under an artistic name I use for about 4 yrs, then Dick (and I mean that with all pun intended) Blumenthal demanded FB to use face recognition to kick off anyone who is on the registry. Because I had a crap ton of pics on there of my ex and I and all our fun outings, I got the boot in my 4th yr on FB.
When I came off the registry, I made a new account and everything is cool.
I was also kicked off of Match.com when on the registry within 3 days of paying for a membership. Since being off the registry, I have a new Match.com profile (because I am fresh out of another relationship). Fully paid membership with credit card and no issues.
These platforms check the sex offender registry, not your criminal record.
Maestro
You JUST made our point, it IS in fact punishment because it goes WELL beyond just our criminal history which 95% of people are not going to go pay for a background check to get.
But for free, anyone with an internet connection can look you up and in a small amount of time ruin your life.
90% of the people I get grief from are not even in my neighborhood
Unless you happen to be in Hendry County Florida and Sgt Bonnie Weaver goes out of her way to report all registrants to Facebook and then denies she did it.
@Edward Ruggles. No Facebook = No commenting on most news articles which host the most public, open & lively forum the word has ever had. But you can only participate in said medium if you have a Facebook account.
Add me to the list of “thanks for being on FB now get the eff off” list. I figure I was on there for around 12 years or so and just poof – or as I call it “Thanos-ed”
It totally sucks because I was an admin on a couple of active boards as well as member of several groups whereI have an active hobby. It was a great resource for keeping up on things.