You should only show your ID!
When law enforcement comes to your door to perform an address verification, you should only show them your ID. We suggest registrants do not speak with law enforcement without having an attorney present. Casual pleasantries, such as “how’s your day going?”, “it’s going fine” or “think we’ll get rain today?”, “sure looks like it” is totally fine, but if an officer asks to review your registry information or starts questioning you about compliance, we strongly suggest you tell them you will be happy to answer any questions they have but only with your attorney present.
In this week’s weekly update we reported about a sting operation in Volusia where 16 people were arrested. After cross referencing the names in the article with the charging affidavits filed with the Volusia County Clerk of Courts (https://app02.clerk.org/ccms/) we found the majority were arrested for registration violations after volunteering the information or stating they didn’t know they were supposed to register something (and thereby admitting). In several of these recent cases, attorneys have filed motions to suppress the confessions, statements or admissions that were obtained illegally, but that would have been unnecessary if they said nothing to begin with, which is a right you need to know that you have.
Naturally, we recommend everyone reading this familiarize yourselves with all registration requirements and comply. But we also remind you of your rights under the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article One Section 9 of the Florida Constitution, to not incriminate yourself. The best practice to avoid doing so is to say nothing and not allow yourself to be pressured into speaking! And above all do not let them inside your property without a warrant.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
If you need to, print out a copy of the ACLU’s Pocket Card on Police Encounters and keep it on yourself and by your front door.
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Fom Bob M.
Where is the Cash Flow?. We all know that police and sheriffs dont necessaily peform tasks, just to keep people safe.
Regading registation violations as such and a non registeed vehicles, fo example, I am wondeing how long it will take befoe they ask to see in my gaage or to have access to my gated and fenced ea yaRd.
Do sheiffs get gant money fo each person they arrest to incaceate? DO they sometimes have links to private prison systems where nefarious cash moved to those that povide the fodder to help a county sheiff to be re elected by boosting his arrest count.
I gew up living in Cook County Illinois (Chicago) i know from experience that anything that you can imagine can be the truth about how law enfocement behaves.
They are not all good guys tying to “Serve and Potect” as with any occupation, thee are always ways that a less than honest peson can self pomote his/her career.
What is the proper protocol, for those on probation. Any different from what’s described here? And does it sometimes vary between Federal & state?
Probation is a different Animal – you MUST speak to your PO and let them in.
If you are on probation, are you required to answer their questions?
YES – thanks to those who asked. YES, if you are on probation you need to answer to your PROBATION OFFICER.
I appreciate you trying to help here, FAC, but I feel you have changed the question around. County sheriffs deputies will conduct address checks regardless of what the PO does.
Besides showing ID, should the probationer provide additional information to sheriffs deputies during those deputies’ address checks?
Thanks for taking on my repetitions.
You should answer questions to Probation, you should not answer questions to law enforcement.
Awesome Great Advise!!!
I no longer answer the door thats how i deal with it
Well, we don’t recommend that either – they will keep coming back.
naaa they dont for me maybe i time more, i know when they did that same sting here a few months ago with the marshals i had knocking on the door at like 5:30-6 am and then a day or 2 later like 9 or 10 am didn’t answer either time then like 2 weeks later they announced they did that check with marshals office
Then why can’t we not speak when we register? Everything we say is used against us. Unlawfully we are suspect just because an old charge but the info is used to charge us with petty crap.
Because you are required to report certain things. You are required to report them at re-registration, not when the police come to your home to question you.
“You are required to report them at re-registration”
Sounds a lot like undue influence to me. Not to mention being subjugated to an imposition under threat of punitive penalties.
It doesn’t matter if the information is current, complete or accurate. They will never have or robust or dynamic registry that thwarts, curtails or combats ANYTHING.
Megan’s Law is a successful failure. They WILL admit wrongdoing and OWN this dumpster fire.
The problems most of us face, is the fact that the responsibilities listed are sometimes so vague and full of additional statutes not fully listed in completion, that it’s set up for failure on our part.