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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I cant find a home to rent because whenever I disclose to the landlord about being on the registry, its always, Im sorry but I cant rent to you, or even more ruthless, your kind is not wanted around here.
I have lost a few jobs too from being listed on the Registry. One job was at Tampa Electric, better known as TECO. I had been working there for a year, when I came into the shop one afternoon and my supervisor, who did know about my past, told me that the Personnel Manager had gone through some of the background checks and came across mine and told him to immediately let me go. He tried to talk to her for me to keep my job, but she wouldnt budge on it.
Another job that I was let go from , I was a subcontractor for five years with U S Homes, Installing Interior Trim in new homes. Never once been questioned about anything, always done my work on time, and quality work, thats why I had been working there for five years. So one day I get a call from the President of Lennar Homes who owns U S Homes, He tells me out of the blue that my services were no longer needed, I was shocked and confused, I asked why? He told me that he was notified that my name and picture appeared in the Tampa Tribune with all the other sex offenders, and somebody from the company recognized me and told him about it.
It is ridiculous the things we have to go through, to live our life the best we can, but each year that goes by, there are more and more restrictions and or laws that are put in place to restrict us even further. I have been off of paper, Probation, since 1998, but yet 22 years later, now in 2020 I still have to watch everywhere I go and what I do because the Registry makes it harder and harder to live a normal life, and it gets more difficult each year due to the added restrictions of The Registry. I know this is alot to read, but thank you for letting me tell a small part of my story.
When or if we have to be hospitalized, we have to notify the Sheriff’s office we are at a hospital. They then notify the staff who can then abuse us as they see fit.
My personal story of this. I went in for kidney stones. When the nurse came in to check my catheter, she started pulling on it and causing me great pain. She kept telling me she “Knew all about me” and “Was going to make sure I never used my *ick again”. I started screaming for help and she ran out of the room.
When I made a formal complaint, they said she was a supervisor and that a manager in the morning would come take a report. No one ever came to take a report and I called a lawyer from my room and they stated, unless you have permanent damage, there is nothing I can do for you.
I have been denied housing, had property vandalized, I’ve had offers of employment rescinded after the background check comes back. I also am forced to live very far away from society including my fiancé who wants nothing more but to spend the rest of her life with me. My children have been teased about their father’s label (our last name is not very common) as well as I have not even attempted to attend any school function as I am fearful of being ousted in public further embarrassing my children or the children of my fiancé.
Good evening to all and I hope this finds everyone safe and in good health.i am writing this tonight because I feel as though I need this to be heard in the courts and brought to light for the many of us forced into the streets in Miami. I was convicted of a sex offense in 2009, was released in 2015 and forced into Miami because I had no address to go to in my home state of Colorado. Since my release from Federal prison I have come across many of the same nightmares that is being faced every day. We are forced to live in the streets, being moved around everytime someone complains and have to deal with the weather. At first I did not have a tent or any kind of shelter and no money to take care of myself. I thankfully now do get disability. One of my disabilities is that I have sleep apnea and have a CPAP machine in which I can not use because of the situation I am forced to live in. My health is no longer the best and I face the fact that with my sleep apnea I stop breathing at least 30 times within an hour. At times I fear going to sleep because of that fact. It’s a sad day when we as people, human beings get treated worse than an animal because of a poor decision that we had made. It’s also sad when the courts are not fully aware of the situation we face on a nightly basis. Where we are now, there is gun fire to be heard throughout the night. Myself and many others get tired of living like this and at times we want to give up. Since I have been out here I know at least 3 people who have died out here. Yet the one person who is in charge of fighting the homelessness is the same one who fights to keep us here. I yet have to find a place that I can move into unless I move to homestead. Yet with my court ordered sessions is here in Miami and is a travel that makes no sense in taking due to the fact it would be an all day thing. We are constantly being looked at, stared at and put on display like we are an attraction at the zoo. I agree that for once, maybe those that feel like we need to be put out here should walk in our shoes. Not for a day but a week at least. Let them feel, see and taste what it feels like to be an outcast. I don’t condone my actions but I paid me debts to society, why should we continue to do so. The judges need to actually listen to what people are saying and do some research before they look at how deep their pocket is and realize that they are causing a serious problem. They are making people want to either get violated so the have a place to lay their head or even worse. We messed up our lives with our actions and majority of us accept that fact. Why should we have the courts as well as a certain individual continue to ridicule us and keep us down? I understand that people want to protect their families but let the truth be told. I can honestly say this one thing, what I fought for as an army soldier is dragged down and burned by the greed that our courts and elected officials have. I would rather sleep in a combat zone than sleep in the conditions that we are forced into. At least there we had showers, restrooms and some kind of normalcy. I beg the courts to see what is actually being done to those that they force into homelessness. Hear our stories and the stories of our families. Let them see how they are further destroying families. Enough is enough.
My free speech is limited when I can’t show up at certain restricted locations to give my opinion at rallies or government meetings.
I’m not allowed in some churches.
I’m also compelled to disclose my status as a registered person on my driver’s license.
I’m prevented from voting.
Law enforcement will require me to come to my door to meet them at least twice annually. I’ve seen them snooping in my side yard before coming to my front door.
I am condemned to the registry, for life, based only on the fact that I was arrested – and not even convicted.
Just received this email from an investment bank
“I hope this finds you well.
Thank you for your e-mail. I have reviewed your request with local management.
After careful consideration, unfortunately, the decision is not to continue your relationship with the firm.
We wish you nothing but the best in your future dealings.
Your Financial Advisor will be contacting you to make the arrangements for your account transfer.
Sincerely,”
Note: my crime was a sex offense (not money related) in 2008. I was convicted in 2010. I completed probation in 2015. I came off the registry in 2020. I’ve been with this investment firm for 20 years. NOW, they’re firing me as a client because of my offense in 2008. The email I wrote was an appeal, asking them to unfreeze my account. I had the support of my financial advisor, who wrote a letter advocating for me.