Martin County Sheriff: to ask county leaders to require sex offenders to live farther from schools, parks, day cares
Martin County commissioners Tuesday will consider expanding the distance registered sex offenders in the county have to live from playgrounds, schools and day care centers.
Current registered sex offenders living in the county would be grandfathered into the new rule, if it is approved.
Sheriff William Snyder is asking the county to change the requirement from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet away.
It’s an idea that resonates well with many parents, but there are others who feel the expanded living restrictions could do some harm.
I see an election coming…
I agree. The state needs to stop the residency restrictions where the state says it should stop. The restrictions should be completely taken off the books but the first place to start would be not allowing individual municipalities to extend the restrictions up to 2,500. There is no evidence that any distance restrictions makes children safer. These laws are strictly emotion based and punitive.
WHO IS ATTENDING THE MEETING TONIGHT? Let’s support Yvette Gregory!
Try to resist the temptation to blame the Martin County sheriff for this. It’s partly the fault of neighboring counties, and of Florida home rule in general. The proposal is evidence-based, in a funny way: it doesn’t reduce crime, but it does address an unfair workload placed on Martin County by neighboring counties.
I see another lawsuit coming. To “grandfather” registered citizens into the new law is not only clearly an ex post facto violation, but now are attempting to force people from their homes.
Michigan had this same issue, and in our last lawsuit, the residency restrictions were tossed out for certain individuals who were convicted prior to the new laws.
I’m tired of the courts not seeing the registry as punishment. How is forcing someone out of their house against their will not punishment?
I believe you are misunderstanding the article. Those who are already there would be permitted to stay.
When they say “Grandfathered in” do they mean they can stay or grandfathered into the new law meaning “They got’s to go?”
The reason I ask, is they “Grandfathered” me onto the registry 6 years after I had already been sentenced. So grandfathering can go either way. Although forcing someone out of their house is harder to do, but not impossible.
The Sheriff needs to do some research to see if what he is requesting has any documented impact on reducing sexual. There is definitely research that indicates well intentioned but ineffective rules like this have a detrimental impact on previous offenders.
It does seem like an election is coming. Perhaps someone could point this out in an editorial. Maybe it’s time for a new Sheriff in town. One who will make decisions on research, not redneck reasoning.
DM
A storm is coming. With each new Bull*hit law they pass, another crack opens on the wall of the dam. Something has to give and someone is going to snap. It might be us, it might be a neighbor, it might be law enforcement. But eventually we are going to be backed into a corner and some with cower down and some with turn into Cujo and defend themselves and lash out.
These are scary times for anyone on the registry. We win one minor battle in the courts, then face 3 to 4 new laws that are ten times worse. That Mars mission program is starting to sound sweeter and sweeter, even though it’s a one way trip.
So the surrounding counties have already an inacted 2500 feet. Now this county is finding an issue were too many registry persons are coming there so they wanna in-act 2500 feet to push the registrant further and further away sounds a lot like a banishment, which is unconstitutional. Now the city meeting will probably start off with the same copy and paste preamble where it says all offenders have a high and frightening rate of recidivism, and the safety of the children is paramount, only for the next crime to happen where the person was not on the registry
Eugene
If just ONE registered person is re-arrested out of a million, they use that ONE case as an example of how disgusting, untrustworthy and sick we all are.
That is like, because one cop uses excessive force and kills someone, that all cops are bad. In neither case is that true. There are good and bad people in all walks of life. But one bad egg spoils the bunch they say. So when one of us gets arrested, even for a registry violation, the neighbors rejoice and yell “I knew he was a pervert and couldn’t resist doing it again”. Doing what? Forgetting an email address you forgot about 15 years ago?
Maybe someone should attend the meeting and ask the good sheriff to explain on the record the number of sexual assaults committed by registrants who reside between 1001 an 2500 feet of parks, schools, and day care centers over the past two or three years to make this requirement necessary.
Absolutely!! Make him cite actual occurrence/arrests!
And someone should check the local “crime mapping” to see if and when recent sexual assaults actually HAVE occurred in the past few years and by whom they were committed…. teachers, coaches, stepparent, uncle’s.. .all people NOT on any Registry.
That would be a wonderful idea if the commission meeting hadn’t already taken place and the ordinance already voted on this morning. All commissioners voted in favor and one said he was thrilled to vote in favor of the extended living restrictions while another suggested the commission add to their state legislation agenda to request the state have a more unified living restriction distance in all counties. In other words, they want to address with state lawmakers ensuring all counties have the same 2,500 foot restriction. I just watched the part of the commission recording at the 2:14:52 point the topic begins: https://martin.granicus.com/player/clip/4875?view_id=2&redirect=true
Legally cannot be applied retro-actively. 2500 feet is almost 1/2 a mile. 5280 feet in a mile. Unless you live in a rural county where you have to drive 1/2 an hour to the first traffic light, things are going to be tough.
Each year, session or meeting someone comes up with a brilliant new idea, law, ordinance. They have forced people into homelessness, then law enforcement tears down all the homeless camps and tells the residence to move on or be arrested.
They say being homeless is not a crime. Well I beg to differ, it is a crime against humanity and a crying shame. The “Not in my neighborhood” ideology just pushes people somewhere else where they face the same push back from the next neighborhood or community.
Dustin
We have to live 2500 feet from a school but when a young school shooter was taking out kids recently, the police refused to enter and stop the shooter. They were too busy enforcing registry laws I suppose.
My point is, how many registered on the sex offense registry has actually re-offended compared to other types of crimes that can be done over, and over and over without fear of being registered?
How many will be homeless now? With his public announcement he made it loud and clear that this will ease the minds of parents because their children will be in less danger. Only seems fair that he announce loud and clear the statistics on registrants in that county. He didnt make accusations only implications, so there is no legal route I dont think to keep this from happening. I wish there was someone who could work on this. So unfair.
“…. asking the county to change the requirement from 1,000 feet to 2,500 feet away.”
Why?? Has there been an actual problem??
(No, of course not. What was I possibly thinking! 🙄😒)
Another LEO who is a fool for false information…’feel good’ legislation.
Capt….
Once again, where is the empirical data? There is none!
‘Feel Good’ stuff with Zero Empirical Basis!
What do you see wrong with this picture??
“The reason we’re doing that is because we’ve interviewed predators and offenders coming in to register, which they’re required to by law, and they’ve told us unequivocally they’re here in Martin County because it’s easier to find a place to live,” Snyder said.
He feels it is one way to keep children safe in Martin County.
Basically folks that require to register has move to a place where they can actually work and live and prosper and not be homeless, and the sheriff assume he feels need to keep children safe?
People are telling you where they come from they will be homeless and see in your county where they are paying taxes that they can have at least a home and you basically want them out of your county. Now is that legal for the government openly says .. I dont want any of this folks in MY County and that is why im changing the law? can we sue the county because this type of policy? When we start suing all the cities and counties they will pay attention, we need to be able to bring more money to the cause !!
Johandy
We can sue God Himself if we want. But where is the money going to come from? Lawsuits can cost upwards of $100,000 give or take. And if we lost? All that money down the drain. We are focused on winning cases involving getting removed from the registry so we can once again become productive citizens who do not have to look over their shoulder, every time they leave the house.
PS: If we sued and won, they could simply turn around and refile and make the distance 2600 feet and it would all start all over again
Love and peace my friend
We haven’t even bothered to sue Miami-Dade, where the evidence against 2,500’ SORRs is most clear-cut.
Or we have, but there was never a ruling on the merits.
2,500’ SORRs WERE successfully challenged ‘as applied’ in Nassau County, but I don’t know whether we’re doing anything with that.
Since you mentioned Nassau County. I thought I would Google a little more about it. It looks like the only thing that was done to “help” registrants was allow people who committed their offense prior to the ordinance to not fall under the rules of the ordinance. That particular ordinance is so burdensome I can’t imagine any newly required registrant being able to live in that county. The case that challenged the ordinance even says registrants can only legally reside in 1% of the county. So there is no relief for those with a new requirement to register in that county. Am I understanding this correctly? Or is there something I am missing?
Well, at least there is that. Other counties have applied their 2500 ft rule “ex post facto” even though the state has acknowledge that they can’t even apply the post sanctions 1000 foot restrictions to persons convicted before the new law was passed circa 2005. That is because those folks had the 1000 ft rule imposed as a SPECIAL CONDITION OF PROBATION which, of course is punishment. Funny how the counties and cities seem to be able to violate the law.
https://www.wpbf.com/amp/article/martin-county-commissioners-pass-ordinance-expand-sex-offender-residential-restrictions/40221212
I seriously doubt a study was done to see with the new 2,500 foot rule how much of the county will now be off limits to live in. Modern day Jim Crow laws.
“The ordinance, modeled after one passed in Miami-Dade County, increases that distance to 2,500 feet.”
Ugh. They picked the worst example possible. Well I sincerely hope they end up with the same problems Miami-Dade has had with their ordinance as well.
What facts did the Sheriff provide that this change will reduce offenses by registrants? He should be able to point to multiple cases in his county where crimes were committed by registrants living between 1001 and 2500 from parks, schools, and daycares. Without even reading about it, I know he didn’t.
His remarks in the article tell you what its all about. Attempting to set a restriction that rules the majority of the county off limits and force these people on to other counties. Regardless of what he said, it is not about safety because if it was, he could provide the data showing the difference it would make.
This is punishment and an abuse of the constitutional rights of a segment of the US population supposedly for safety’s sake when no one can ever show how these laws make one bit of difference. Because they don’t.
“We found that there were some sex predators, sex offenders—when they move to Martin County they have to register and when they registered they said they specifically moved here because our distance from schools and other areas where children congregate was more liberal than other counties,” Snyder said.”
THIS is why we have to watch what we say and brag about. I hear guys all the time at the registry office bragging about where they live, what they get away with, or how easy things are. Someone is always listening or viewing what you say and it can come back to bite you.
The Deputy that comes to my house is always very friendly but I can tell it is not because he wants to be friends. He is asking targeted questions that “Seem” normal but the answers tell him a lot and can have detrimental consequences. For example he might ask, “have you ever accidentally missed a registration? If so I can make sure we can get that corrected”. Corrected like going to jail for admitting that?
CherokeeJ…
It is very hard to stay silent for People Like Us with this Status! I bite my tongue a lot and pinch myself a lot!
I would not brag about a thing,.,,,just do what you have to do to survive and never break the law; and always keep copies of your paper work both on real paper and save them electronically on your computer/smart phone etc!
PDF your files! date and time stamp them!
I am, in full compliance, 24/7 365 days per week! 366 on leap years!
Martin County Board of County Commissioners Passes Ordinances (Claiming that They Are) Protecting the
Community
https://onbasepav.martin.fl.us/PAV/custom/prod_info_release_default/
More Ex Post Facto crap…when does it stop?
I viewed the video and Mr. Potato Head and his mustache wants to send a recommendation to the State legislature (Book and company) to have all counties restrict at that level. Where is the evidence that 1000 feet hasn’t been effective. Is there a mass exodus to Martin County, I don’t think so, if so, show me the evidence. Another grandstand by a Sheriff, for election, to whip up on the Persons Forced to Register! No one from the public was there to oppose and that was very sad to see. Yes, present registered citizens are grandfathered in, all though I didn’t here them mention that. Another infringement of liberty folks!
So to until the next county follows suite! And than the next, and the next, etc.
To many people have lost critical thinking skills. Sick and tired of it.
I must virtue signal and that is more important, even when it may actually put children at risk, but that is ok, my feeling good is more important than potential harm to a child. I say this in the the sense that they put obstacles in the way for failure and yet, very few even fail. But they can’t get it thru their simple minds.
Any plans for a Call to Action? I personally wrote the Undersheriff. The Sheriff uses him as an email buffer. Martin County is too close for home. That’s all I need is for Glades to pull that stunt! Even though I am moving permanently to the EU. I am still fighting the good fight, even from there.
Greig
Wait what? Your last post you accused all of us of being scared wieners and here you post you are leaving the country. As a former cop, I can tell you why most stay in the shadows. Law enforcement is a Mafia like organization. I always tried to do the right thing and was constantly told “You are too soft, you are not going to make it as a cop”. After a few years of being passed over time and time again for a promotion, I resigned rather than ending up as a meter maid.
There are some high ranking elite law enforcement brass that can not only ruin our lives, but they can and will go after your families as well. When I got arrested, they read my rights and when I asked for a lawyer, I might as well have asked for the Queen of England to visit me. It just was NOT going to happen.
Agreed. I can honestly say that I have seen this happen while working in the school system to kids. Kids! Not people known as sex offenders or people that society takes great pleasure in ostracizing and banishing, just plain, ordinary, annoying kids. It is extremely difficult to voice legitimate concerns when you know people who go against the grain become targets, and those targets can be easily jailed for standing in the “wrong” place. This “freedom” we have comes with strings attached and even more so for those labeled and tracked by law enforcement as registered people and their families are. The registry is a great silencer.
I am a retired cop here in Florida and an Army vet. I have served and bled.
I am part of Just Facts not Fear. We are on the edge of getting Germany to declare the U S in violation of Human Rights! Janice, Gail, Sandy and all the others are putting up a good fight. I do every day, I call, I right letters and I put up the money.
I am going where it doesn’t matter to anyone! Why don’t you?
I just checked it out. There are 154 sex offenders/predators in Martin County. Not 1 objected to the ordinance. That’s right not 1! Why? Ostrich syndrome, fear, whew; I made it, the Hell with the next guy, girl, family! Hello people this is your life we are talking about!
Yes, I know I’m preaching to the choir. And that is truly sad! It’s the same ones as us.
I wrote all 51 registered citizens in Hendry County. I attempted to do the same in Glades, but I couldn’t get the material I needed to recruit, inform, and motivate!
1 man called me for help and we couldn’t give it. The dumb sheep, don’t care. They just want to go on with their lives, be it what it may. As long as it’s not happening to me right now, the heck with it!
So; I right letters, on my dime, repeatedly to Book and her cronies, Brevard County, Martin County, Glades County, and Hendry County to inform, educate, and maybe annoy. I can only hope, for the latter. But you know what, until it affects someone directly, They Don’t Care!
I understand this frustration. The thing is the article stating the Sheriff was bringing this to the board was posted online at 1:08am the morning of the board meeting to vote on the ordinance. Then FAC posted the online article here the same day, but after the vote was already done. How much of the general public actually knew this was being brought to the board let alone how many registered people knew? At this point, it seems registrants could come together during public comments at the next meeting to voice disapproval. It just seemed as though this vote by the board was done without much notice, and I believe that is done quite often.
@ Greig L: I completely sympathize. I am in California where we are extremely fortunate to have Janice Bellucci and ACSOL. I have, on my dime, sent hundreds of letters to Cali Registrants…. only to receive 3, maybe 4, responses. It’s insane! I have written when a crucial piece of legislation – that threatens THEM – is in the works. And yet, no response. 😒🤷🏻♂️🙄
Forgive my French, but WTF!!??? 😫
Do they have to be handcuffed with their face in the dirt to get their attention!!?? 😡 Why is it so hard to motivate them?? 😵💫
David
Excuse some of us of being Overly cautious but many, many on the registry have been scammed. There is zero proof of whoever sends us a letter is really that person on the registry.
In fact, last year FAC posted a survey from a so called expert in sex offenses who had ALL of our email addresses. I filled the survey out but to this day, wish I hadn’t. I did not really give any damning info but it just takes a slice of cheese to entice a mouse and WHAM, the cat has lunch.
We also have families to protect as well. Whatever happens to us, happens to our families. I promised mine I would protect them to the death and I meant it. We keep a low profile on purpose and my Mom constantly begs me to stay off this site. I have to get on here when she is not home or she has a fit. We are barely getting by and the thought of everything we do have being ripped away from us for a second time is unimaginable.
My letters had all the trappings, earmarks, and enclosures of FAC. No doubt as who I am or represented. Who are we afraid of? If we don’t stand up who will? The public won’t, law enforcement, legislative, judges? He’ll no! I lost everything, did 10 in hell and I came out fighting. Why, because guilty until proven innocent, I will never accept. Never again! That’s why I have a pitbull attorney who has my back and PoPo knows it. But, hey. To each his own, until they load us on the boxcar, right?
@ Cherokeejack: Interesting. 🤔. I have been on the registry for about 20 years and I have very rarely received any mail solicitation, etc. regarding my Registrant status. In fact, maybe 3 or 4 in the entire 20 years.
The letters I send have a return address and links to legitimate websites.
I’m sympathetic towards the shellshocked, but the circumstances won’t change unless we fight the oppression and harassment. I hope many others will, eventually, join the fight.
You got me. Like Pink Floyd says, “Comfortably Numb”.
Yes, when bracelets go on they will wake up, and then it is too late.
But you know David, we are truly woke. If we knew then, what we know now, I for one would never have gone down. Keep up the fight Brother 👍