Sex Offender Registry is the Definition of Insanity

Member Update #241

Dear Members and Advocates,

Albert Einstein said, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” The theme to the last few posts on our website has been “The Sex Offender Registry Failed Them”. In those posts we point out how the registry failed minors who were sexually assaulted by a high school coach, military instructors or religious leaders, respectively, and ask how these tragic events could have possibly happened with the safeguard of the sex offender registry in place.

The point we are trying to make is that the registry was supposed to prevent sex offenses but it’s existence failed these victims and the victims of more than 95% of sex crimes, because almost all new sex offenses are committed by someone who was NOT on the registry. The registry did nothing to protect the over 100 victims described in these posts, much like the Adam Walsh Act would have done absolutely nothing to protect Adam Walsh had it existed at the time. Even for those who do re-offend, someone intent on committing a new sex crime is not going to be stopped by the registry, much like Donald Smith was not prevented from abducting Cherish Periwinkle.

More than 25 years of research into registries was summarized into a meta study which found that the registry is ineffective at reducing recidivism or preventing new sex crimes. That’s the fact! So keeping this charade going for another 30 years and expecting the results to magically kick in is insanity.

We also have to consider that some of what we have been trying, unsuccessfully, over and over is not going to yield different results. Expecting a legislator to commit political suicide by backing any measure that appears to benefit registrants is just not happening. So we need to switch it up a bit and present a viable justification that allows them to say, “it’s not me… it’s the lawsuit… my hands were tied.” We need to give them a scapegoat. Similarly expecting to chip away at the registry by meekly begging for “reform” is just not going to work. If we know the registry is a useless piece of cow manure, dressing it up with some ketchup and putting it on a bun isn’t going to make it any more palatable. It should be abolished in its entirety and the wasted resources should be reallocated to things that work.

If you’ve followed our posts and updates, you will notice that some of our advocacy measures have changed. Approaching the international community through our petition on Change.org (which if you have not signed, please do now), is just the start. We’ve also gone around some of the roadblocks we’ve been running into over the past years. If a municipality is not responsive to our advocacy for the homeless registrants in their communities, we’re not going to keep banging our heads into the same wall, we’ll go over it and contact HUD directly. If HUD is the one providing funding for their homeless initiatives, maybe HUD will care to know where the money is going?

The key here is optimizing our efforts. We are letting our winners run, but shifting gears when we need to. Our lawsuits are full steam ahead (absent being a couple grand short of our funding goal), we are preparing a significant public awareness push, and still doing our very best to be there for all of you when you need help. Over the coming weeks we are going to launch a public education campaign that we promise most of you will be very excited about! Please keep the faith, please keep supporting our efforts through donations and your time, and please get involved!

With this Thursday being Thanksgiving, we wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for helping support FAC over this past year. For those who are able to celebrate in a home, with a roof over your head and among loved ones, please enjoy the holiday but take a moment to think about the hundreds among us who are not able to enjoy even one of those things, and commit to doing something to advocate for change, whether through FAC or independently. With unity comes change, with change comes results and with results we will enjoy a happier Thanksgiving next year!

Sincerely,

The Florida Action Committee

ANNOUNCEMENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Next Monthly Membership Meeting – Thursday December 1 at 8pm ET.  Call 319-527-3487.  Topic: TBD. Trouble connecting? Text CALL ME to 319-527-3487 to received a call back and be connected to the meeting.

Next New Membership Orientation Meeting- Thursday December 8 at 8pm ET.  Call 319-527-3487.  No agenda.  Call in to ask about resources, the organization, volunteer opportunities,  or anything on your mind.  Trouble connecting? Text CALL ME to 319-527-3487 to received a call back and be connected to the meeting.

See Calendar of Events – Keep up with Meet-and-Greets in your area, Support groups, Membership Calls, and other events.  For questions and more information contact the Membership Team;   membership@floridaactioncommittee.org or call 833-273-7325,Option 1.

Click Here for Calendar and double click on the event to view details and RSVP instructions. Just some of the upcoming events below.

Sat Dec 3 – Holiday Party and Luncheon in Apopka from 11am-4pm.  Italian Buffet served from noon-3pm.  Come early and stay as long as you want to mingle, play music, and be entertained. Bring a guest.  For location RSVP to Anita at membership@floridaactioncommittee.org or text 904-452-8322.

Sat Dec 3 – Holiday Pot Luck in Sarasota from noon-4pm.  Join us for an open house holiday party. For location RSVP to jennifer.sarasotafac@gmail.com or call 941-500-4706

Sat Dec 10 – Holiday Party and Pot Luck in Fort Myers from noon-3pm. Join us for cheer and entertainment.  For details and location, RSVP to olivia1.fac@gmail.com or text/call 941-315-7914.  Family, friends and adult children are welcome.

Virtual Holiday Party – Dec 24 (4-10pm) & Dec 25 (noon-6pm) –  12 hours of Entertainment. Call in for fun, entertainment, holiday stories and music.  Spend an hour or more with various county coordinators as your hosts and DJs.  We guarantee to make you crack a smile and laugh aloud as we will bring the party to you!  Watch for more information.

Become a County Coordinator.  The only requirement is your desire to HELP us organize your county.  If you are interested in joining the County Coordinator Team, leave message at 833-273-7325, Option 1, or email membership@floridaactioncommittee.org

Letter-Writing Campaigns – If you would like to participate in sending educational information to specific decision makers in Florida, please  contact Media@floridaactioncommittee.org.  Volunteers must be willing to proudly identify themselves by using their own name and return address on the letters.

SOME HEADLINES FROM THIS WEEK

Scams Persist – now hitting the Northeast

From a member in New York: I am an SO on the Registry in NYS. I recently received a scam call from someone claiming to be from my local sheriff’s office (with a heavy southern accent). Fortunately, I was aware of such scams (I think from one of your emails) and did…

The Sex Offender Registry Failed Them: Coach Recorded Students in Locker Room

A coach at a Rancho Cucamonga, California high school plead guilty to secretly recording more than 48 minor victims in the girl’s locker room of the school he worked in. Parents should be asking California lawmakers how the California Sex Offender Registry failed…

Member Submission: My Last Wishes

Greetings lawmaker, I am writing to inform you of my last wishes.  You see, I am registered sex offender in the State of Florida.  I was convicted in 2005.  I was placed on the Florida Sex Offender Registry for the rest of my life at that time.  I am currently 66…

80% of unsheltered homeless in Ft. Lauderdale are on the sex offender registry

This is “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month” in the City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At the City’s Commission meeting held on November 1, 2022, Vice Mayor Ben Sorensen recognized the hard work of homeless outreach and services providers. Notably uninvited and…

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