Brevard County Commissioners backtracking on rule prohibiting sex offenders on property
Brevard County Commissioners look set to soften a restriction prohibiting sex offenders from Commission meeting premises just months after a lawsuit was filed against them.
During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners voted to approve legislative intent and permission to advertise amending a section of the county code regarding restrictions the county imposed on people on the sex offender registry allowing them access into buildings and other property.
“This is just legislative intent,” County Attorney Abigail Jorandby said. “We will bring back a proposed draft ordinance. And this is in relation to providing for an exemption for county government buildings for the limited purposes of conducting county businesses and accessing government services.”
Even if they make the changes, the ordinance has already harmed people and continues to harm people as long as it remains in place. The commission should not get credit for making changes now, they should be held accountable for the harm they have done.
The county is working to tweak the ordinance enough that they can nullify the lawsuit. They’re hoping to kill the suit limiting the exposure whole ordinance could have if it progressed to a trial.
According to The US Constitution, it is Illegal to Prohibit a Citizen from “visiting City Hall, and the Like…”
I am Searching for The Case law…..I do not Have Access to LexisNexis…But There are Court Cases that Federal Appeals Courts That Have Ruled That Every Citizen Has the Right ….So….
Federal inmates have access to LexisNexis. Some of them ate very good paralegals. I used to be one and helped actual lawyers (not jailhouse) lawyers do legal research on a variety of both civil and criminal issues. If anyone has a relative or friend in federal prison who can access LexisNexis, it’s a way to get good case law.
The county attorney has stated another proposal is in the works, so registrants can attend government meetings; yet can’t go the store, get a haircut, or any other places near children. Seriously who goes to Publix and thinks I need milk, cookies, and while I’m at I could use those to lure kids.
Keep Donating!!! This is what it takes. Thank you Plantiffs! Thank you FAC!
This is good news, but very little if any value to 99% of us that don’t go to a meeting once every year or so.
A valuable opportunity to be rid of the entire proximity ordinance is now lost. We need to quit hoping for negligible “wins” and start out at least with higher goals. They can always be reduced if the suit is not progressing well.
I agree with a portion of what you said, and definitely feel the same frustration. We cannot look past small victories that benefit other people more than me or you. Any small step in the right direction is good.
I think the registry as a whole has gotten out of control with restrictions because of little steps. As more harsh laws get put in place it’s easy for others to follow along. We should not be apposed to doing the same thing.