CORONAVIRUS AND REGISTRATION
The purpose of this post is to serve as an advisory for those who are trying to comply with registration obligations during this period. On March 12, 2020, anticipating certain counties would close courthouses, jails and administrative offices where registration is performed, the Florida Action Committee contacted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to determine what procedures have been implemented to accommodate registration in counties where offices are closed.
While we wait for a reply, check the comments below to see if information about your county has been posted. If not, please call your county registration office to find out whether they are open, whether they anticipate closing, whether they are taking precautions to implement social distancing during this period and what accommodations have been made for registration should their office be closed or closing.
A list of all county registration offices, along with their telephone numbers are published here: https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/Documents/REREGISTRATIONLOCATIONS.pdf
For any questions, call the FDLE at: 1-888-357-7332 or e-mail sexpred@fdle.state.fl.us.
PALM BEACH COUNTY – Registration office at the Stockade Jail remains open and they will accept registrants from other counties. Be sure to get there no later than 2:30PM because their offices close at 3:00PM. They open at 9:30PM M-F.
MIAMI-DADE – Registration office in Doral remains open and they will accept registrants from other counties. Offices are open 8:00AM – 4:00PM except for lunch between noon and 1:00PM
Miami – Dade As per Sargent Cheever open as normal call ahead for any issue of need.
BROWARD – Courthouse is CLOSED to the public. Report for registrations and transient check-ins to the Probation Office located at:
540 SE 3rd Ave # 1N, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (954) 357-5900. Mon to Fri 8-3:30
ALACHUA COUNTY – Registration at the Alachua County Jail remains open.
Alachua states they are currently open for normal hours of registration. Officer Corbin reccomended calling before you come . Should registrant have any issues with the virus that would require written documentation form a medical provider.
Florida Politics
Alachua County issues stay-at-home order
Alachua County is ordering all non-essential businesses to close and residents to stay at home. The order was announced in a Monday livestream. It goes into effect at 12 a.m. Tuesday. “Alachua County has the highest rate of infections per capita of any Florida county and it must end, starting now. While we appreciate the sacrifices that many have made so far, it is not enough,” Alachua County Commission Chair Robert Karl Hutchinson said.
WE HAVE CONTACTED ALACHUA CO AND ARE AWAITING A REPLY FROM OFFICER CORBIN CONCERNING IN PERSON REGISTRATION AND THE ABOVE ISSUE
I took my husband to registration in Alachua County to register at the jail. Absolutely nothing had changed, except that no one else was allowed in — only registrants were allowed to be exposed to the virus there. We wore masks, but the guy taking our information wore no mask, had on no gloves, and was not using sanitizer. My husband signed his paperwork with what appeared to be the same pen that everyone else had used that day. The three of us were all in a small, enclosed room.
Why am I not surprised? It’s bureaucracy’s ‘do as I say, not as I do policy’. Any wonder law enforcement is becoming less and less respected?
This sort of behavior is outrageous and unethical!
But only to be expected. Respect is a ‘two-way street’ except when it comes to RSO’s. We have to be prepared to demand it and not be intimidated.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
Open
Offender Registration Unit
Santa Rosa Co Sheriff’s Ofc
5755 East Milton Road Milton, FL 32583
Ofc: 850-983-1148 Fax: 850-981-2162
The correct address for Santa Rosa County registration is on Transition Road, which is just past the county jail, on the left.
Update: Received the following email from Santa Rosa County registration office. It went out at about 9am this morning.
We have decided to complete your registration by telephone so on the 1st at 7:30am call and we will complete it. J
Hayley Lee
Offender Registration Unit
Santa Rosa Co Sheriff’s Ofc
5755 East Milton Road Milton, FL 32583
Ofc: 850-983-1148 Fax: 850-981-2162
Email: hlee@srso.net or offenderregistration@srso.net
PINELLAS – Registration office is closed they are taking registrations in the Lobby or via phone.
Telephonic registration proves that in person reporting is not necessary.
The law mandates “in person” reporting. Period. No exceptions. The Pinellas county Sheriff and his deputies are entrapping registered citizens. This will not end well for us.
This is correct.
Baker Co Open for Normal hours. Registerer Bryant states illness will be dealt with on case by case as needed in how to accomplish registration
Bay Co awaiting reply from Joel Heep will post as soon as contact is made
BAY COUNTY is open for normal hours If you have issues with the virus contact Deputy Mary Hickman at 850 248-2174 head of that unit.
Bradford Co Open as normal as per registererer Millisa
please call if ill for alternative arrangements.
BREVARD COUNTY, Sheriff’s Office facilities will be closed to the public for the health and safety of county residents and county employees during the COVID-19 crisis… except for Sex Offender/Predator registration, which will take place in the lobby.
I went in to register at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office (SORT). I checked in through the squawk box on the exterior wall. I was asked my name and purpose of visit. I responded and was told to take an outdoor seat. It was a beautiful morning and I was the only one there at the time. In a while the officer who does the registration came to the door and asked me if there were any changes since my last registration? I told her no. She asked if I wanted a copy of my registration papers. I told her page one would be fine. She left for a while and then came back with page one. We greeted each other with a friendly farewell. I told her it would be nice if we did it this way all the time. She agreed. No problems at all. The Sheriff’s folks always seem to be courteous. Now it’s the probation people that are a different story. Thank God I’m no longer on probation.
One of the people who does registration told me once that even though they were happy to have a job, they personally felt the registries were a waste of tax payer money.
Glad you had a good experience. Not everyone in law enforcement is a jerk. There are two people I will never forget in my time on the force. The officer who treated me with the most respect and the person who treated me with the least respect. Some 33 years later I still remember both of their names.
Calhoun Co As per officer Garndy open as normal If you are experiencing issue please call ahead for directions
Charlotte Co awaiting call from Detective Ryan White will post as updated
I spoke with Detective John Sadler with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Intelligence Unit Sexual Offender/Predator Tracking and Registrations at 3:59pm today. As of right now his office is open, but has relocated to 3110 Loveland Blvd., Port Charlotte, Florida. His office hours and phone number remain the same. If his office closes, re/registration is possible at the Charlotte County jail. Located at 26601 Airport Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 33982; phone (941) 833-6300.
If you have the virus or have been quarantined because of the virus, email him directly, stating that you are UNABLE to APPEAR IN PERSON because you are under quarantine.
Citrus Co Awaiting reply from registrerer Ramos will update upon contact
CITRUS COUNTY Heather Ramos is on leave this week 3/23 and Sherrie Cook will take your calls at 352 249-2709 This office will only be open from 7am til 7pm Monday thru Friday. Please call ahead for arrangements if you are ill, but they cannot waive your registration if it is indeed your month. Citrus Co has 332 registrants and as of 3/23 has 8 confirmed cases as per FLDOH 4 travel related and 4 nontravel related.
Clay Co awaiting response
Clay Co returned our call they are open for normal hours. Should you have problems concerning the virus contact Registerer Cruz at 904 529-6677 and they will make alternative arrangements
Collier Co open as normal As per Detective Kopha they are open 24/7 for registration.
Columbia Co awaiting reply Jim Finnly will post when updated
COLUMBIA COUNTY – If you have issues in Columbia Co contact Ms Mayo at 386-758-1006.
Desoto Co as per Jim Palmer open as normal contact Registerer Combs with any issues.
Dixie co awaiting reply Sargent Minbus
Duval Co was contacted 3 times today at various times and there was no answers will investigate further Friday
CITRUS COUNTY Heather Ramos is on leave this week 3/23 and Sherrie Cook will take your calls at 352 249-2709 This office will only be open from 7am til 7pm Monday thru Friday. Please call ahead for arrangements if you are ill, but they cannot waive your registration if it is indeed your month. Citrus Co has 332 registrants and as of 3/23 has 8 confirmed cases as per FLDOH 4 travel related and 4 nontravel related.
DUVAL COUNTY (Jacksonville Sheriff) is open for normal hours as per Deputy Porter The fdle number is an old number for any contact needed please call 904 630 8633.
Flagler Co open as normal as per Edward for any issue with registration contact Patty Colisom
Hillsborough Co open as normal as per Sargent Hunter If medical issue with virus contact for offsite registration arrangement
ESCAMBIA COUNTY had no answer today will continue to followup until contact
Okaloosa County: FHN Radio/ Destin Log, 3/19/20 – “The OCSO is also suspending all elective fingerprinting, with the exception of statutorily mandated fingerprinting such as arrestees and sexual offender registrations, the release said.”
Orange Co will continue to be open normal hours but registration will have no exchange of documentations to the registerer as per Off Tanner Larson, they will view them thru the window. If you are ill or need to isolate you are to contact your assigned Detective. If you are unaware of who that is call in at 407 254-7044 .
Not getting a receipt for my re-reg visit will really piss me off. I guess I’ll record the exchange with the “officer” on my cell phone for proof. Among other things, law enforcement is entirely too casual re: giving me proof that I’ve made registration changes, including those on the internet. I guess they don’t believe (or maybe don’t care) that databases get screwed up sometimes and new data get lost. On the rare occasion that I make a change on their website, I save a new screenshot of all the personal info that I’ve provided. How ridiculous.
Re: Orange County, FL – I just registered today. The only con: had to wait outside in the heat in a social distancing line of about 8 folks, but the line moved kind of quickly. The pros: the officer gave me a receipt for my visit like I usually get, and I didn’t even have to sign for it; it only required 3 minutes to get re-registered once I started. The officer did not want to see my license and only asked for my SSN to identify me. I hope things are going as smoothly for my fellow Registered Citizens.
Franklin Co as per Major Summerhill registration is open for normal hours , please call ahead should you or your loved ones be health compromised for documentation and directions.
Gadsden Co awaiting response from Major Barkley will post upon receipt.
GADSDEN COUNTY We spoke with Major Barkley , Gadsden co is open for normal hours. They will screening temps of registrants prior to registration, so call ahead if you are ill If you need assistance call direct to Jolene Williams at 850-8758236 for directions.
Gilchrist Co will no longer register at sheriff office, you will be directed to the county Jail. ( 9239 US Hwy 129 Trenton Fl 32693 ) You may still use the dispatch number 352 463 3410 to call in for directions should you need to self isolate or are ill as per Tiffany in dispatch and Officer Lillard at the county jail
Glades Co awaiting call from Officer Taylor
Captain Pepitone Contacted us concerning Glades Co You should call first but currently they are under their normal operation place and hours for registration.
Gulf Co open for normal hours as per Registerer Venessa please call first for direction if issue with virus.
Hamilton Co is open for normal hours but if you are ill or need to self isolate please call in to 386 7921101
Hardee Co open for normal hours as per Samantha. Individuals are being prescreened in the Lobby . Should you have issues with virus please call in for directions.
Henry Co is open for normal hours Please Call Sargent Weaver should you need further direction as per Deputy Willis.
Hi. The Information in your contact sheet for Lee county is wrong. This is the correct information: (also, I just got off the phone with “Sylvia” at the Lee County Jail. She tells me that they are still conducting registrations and that nobody is excused from reporting in person regardless of their risk level.)
https://www.fox4now.com/news/local-news/lee-county-sheriff-announce-new-sex-offender-registration-location
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Lee County Sheriffs Office announced a new location for its sex offender registration site.
The current location is at their corporate headquarters office on Six Mile Cypress.
The new one will be located in the main jail on Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
Registration hours will be from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
I just got off the phone with “Adam” from FDLE who informed me that the decision of whether to suspend in-person reporting is being left up to each individual sheriff’s office.
When I mentioned that failure to report in-person is a 3rd degree strict liability felony, he stated that it would be up to each sheriff’s office whether to arrest or not. He also said that they were making decisions based on the risk to sheriff’s personnel. When asked about risk to registrants, he said that that was not being considered. And when I asked him if the health and safety of registrants was of lesser concern than for other citizens, he stated that that determination would be made by each sheriff’s office.
By the way, I did not represent myself as attached to FAC, nor did I introduce myself at all.
I can tell you from the experience I had with FDLE when my lawyer challenged them and won in court, they are vindictive towards offenders. After my win in court, they illegally added fake charges to my online registry which made me start having to register 4 times a year.
My lawyer said we could go to court again for another $1000.00. I said “Whose side are you on here?” I paid $1000 for the first win then they stick me in the arse and I have to pay again which in turn will just make them again fire back.
I figured 2 hours of my time four times a year is not worth $1000 which I do not just have lying around anyway.
Hernando Co As per Cindy Hours and place of registration are still the same. If you are ill or have issues concerning the virus ,You need to contact Detective Bredlove at 3527546830
Highlands Co as per Cindy registration is open for Normal hours, If you are Ill or need to isolate you need to contact Detective Ramos directly at 8634027226.
ORANGE COUNTY just did a live news conference and said Sheriff’s office lobby will be closed to the public and only open to employees and sex offender registration
Easily house verification could be done with a wave from the street and in person long could have been done by phone. Fact here in Polk the sheriff that does mine says he has all his done in 3 days so an officer by phone could do their part by phone in 1/8 of the time. Why it’s not done like this and we have to leave our home and actually go into booking with dangerous killers 20 years after sentence is beyond me. Why?
PUTNAM COUNTY Sheriffs office is making some changes until the end of the viral emergency: Per Lisa at the registry desk, they are seeing only one registrant at a time by appointment only. You can call 386-329-0821 to set the appt. When you show up at their front door you need to make sure to bring your phone and call the number posted there to get screened before they will let you in. It is otherwise business as usual.
JACKSON County has cancelled registration until April 6 as per Registerer Joyce McKennie . You are to call in to get a date after that for registration at 850 482 9624
Jefferson Co is open for normal hours call first but all will be expected to register .
According to Sheriff Wayne Ivey this afternoon, registration will be as usual in Brevard County Florida. I intend to re-register in May as I normally would. Up to this point, registration has been a pleasant enough experience.
Pleasant???
Pleasant?????
Any time several of my constitutional rights are violated, and my human rights under international standards are violated, I DO NOT call that pleasant no matter how well-meaning the officers involved.
The nazis used the excuse that they were “only following orders.”
I am reminded of a character in the Orwell novel “Animal Farm”. The character was a horse named Mollie. She was seen eating sugar from the hand of the humans. In the novel, the humans represented a repressive and brutal regime.
Sorry to sound negative, but please don’t call our oppression PLEASANT!!
Administering the law does not make someone a Nazi. That is NOT what the Nazis are remembered for. And they weren’t pleasant about it.
Can we tone it down people.
Most of what the Nazis did, at least in their own country, was fully supported by the law. Google Nuremberg laws.
As we’ve done in the past we are going to end discussion of the term Nazi. It’s offensive to most of us.
Yes. It is quite an unpleasant subject. So let us continue to bury our heads in the sand.
I agree. Nothing pleasant about it. Any time that big government orders me to be somewhere at the point of a gun, it is not pleasant.
It is an act of war though. And what is also not pleasant is what I have to do to retaliate because of the Registries, just about every day. Nothing pleasant about any of it.
Unless a law enforcement officer denounces Registries 100%, I don’t have to have any concern for them or their families. For anything. Why would anyone expect less?
I suppose that pleasant is as pleasant does. Some events in life are unavoidable so we have to look at them in the most positive light that we can. I look back at where I’ve been and look ahead at where I’m going…and pleasant is the best way to describe my current situation. I know that one day it will come to an end and I will be better off one way or the other. We can get through this bureaucratic challenge by keeping a positive attitude. It’s that positive attitude that will one day free us of the ‘chains’.
Life is what we make of it. My registration process has always been casual and professional. Unpleasant is a Capts Mast
CMC, you got that right!
Lake co is open for normal hours as per Officer Hickman: you will be screened in the lobby by medical staff and if you have issues will be ask too wear a mask. As per Deputy Hickman FDLE has instructed them to maintain normal hours and in person registration. He sighted the email from FDLE to the caller.
Not sure why my last comment was not posted/deleted. It didn’t violate policy. I usually screenshot the page my comment is on, but this time I didn’t. Let’s try it again:
There WAS a comment on the “Recent Comments” sidebar from Barbara Spragg about Duval registration office being open according to some “Deputy Porter.”
I have called them several times at 904-301-2410 and they don’t answer. If Barbara or anyone else has more information about JREC on Superior Street, please share it here.
When a subsequent comment updates information from the prior, the prior update is removed. Barb and volunteers are calling the offices for latest info and updating as appropriate.
Duval co is administered thru the Jacksonville sheriff the correct contact number currently is 904 630 8633. for any questions contact Deputy Porter in Felony registration
The same numbers are listed on fdle for both and have not answered our calls since Thursday of last week
I received an e-mail in reference to you attempting to make an appointment for your 6 month check in. Due to the state of emergency and safety precautions, our office is temporarily physically closed. No new appointments are being made due to uncertainty when we will reopen. We are however still functioning and conducting scheduled registrations and making any necessary changes to registrations via phone. If you contact our office at 904-630-8633 we can assist you with any changes to your registration. Once the State of Emergency is lifted our office will resume normal operations and we can accommodate you as usual and set an appointment. Det. Calderon attempted to contact you at your listed phone number to discuss things and it is not accepting incoming calls (might want to update that if it is not correct). Should you need any additional assistance please let us know.
Respectfully,
Title: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office logo – Description: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office logo
Police Sergeant C.R.Bear #5728
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office | Offender Tracking Unit
Office: 904. 630.8633 | Desk: 904.630.4755 | Fax: 904.630.8652
Chester.Bear@jaxsheriff.org
Connect with us: jaxsheriff.org or on social media
The Mission of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office: “To Serve and Protect in Partnership with Our Community”
this is from a direct email i got from them
Attachments area
I called this number several times 904-630-8633 and just get a recording and tells me the operator is not available so dose any one know whats up in Duval are they back open or still taking registration over the phone thanks
I understand, but the comment referencing the call with “Deputy Porter” is not on this page. Where is it? There is no newer information on Duval from Barbara.
JZ please feel free to contact me directly at this email should I be able to be of assistance. Barbara
justicetransition@gmail.com
@Barbara Spragg,
So is 904-630-8633 the correct number to make an appointment to come in to re-register in Jacksonville? Has the location moved from Superior Street? Thank you.
Yes that is correct number and they are in same place.
@Barbara, Thank you!
SARASOTA COUNTY
Sex offenders and sexual predators are no longer required to report to the county’s correctional facility and are instead asked to report to 6010 Cattleridge Blvd. Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for registration.
“Asked to report”? lol
Dustin, I see what you did there. “Asked to report” could be understood as voluntary where they should have written “Required to report” if they want it to not sound like it is optional.
I emailed Governor Ron DeSantis (governorron.desantis@eog.myflorida.com). I attached the pdf of the lawsuit by ACSOL (just to see what would happen). – No response.
Please blitz his office with emails.
https://all4consolaws.org/2020/03/acsol-challenges-in-person-registration-during-covid-19-pandemic/
https://all4consolaws.org/2020/03/acsol-files-second-challenge-to-in-person-registration-requirement-during-covid-19-pandemic/
I live in Ft Lauderdale/Broward County where my 61 year old brother has to adhere to Draconian policies set by BC which require him to be essentially homeless from 10 pm – 6 am. He wears a monitor and has to stay in a Walgreens parking lot during these hours. There is NO ACCESS to water (to wash hands) or bathrooms . Additionally, he has no car so he is forced to rely on public transportation which has been seriously running off schedule and further forces him to be in cramped areas for extended periods of time which further puts him at risk of contamination.
Why cant he stay at my house the entire time instead of 6a -10p? He wears a GPS monitor which goes off if he leaves the Walgreens parking lot. It would be easy enough to change that to my address.
This is clear violation of his human rights. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Those GPS monitors are nothing more than a waste of taxpayer money and a fear mongering tactic for LE to say “Don’t worry, we’re tracking those nasty offenders”.
There is absolutely NO GOOD REASON why your brother can’t stay with you.
I’m gonna keep asking everyone to remember the days BEFORE the SOR when offenders did their time, got out of prison, finished a standard probation and carried on with their lives. No living restrictions, no restrictions on where you can or cannot be and the world kept revolving around the sun. Enter the age of Megan’s Law and all of a sudden EVERYONE with an offense of a sexual nature gets LUMPED into a category of “cant do this, can’t do that.”
You should try to find a decent attorney (or maybe even the same attorney or public defender who had his original case) and take this to court. This type of treatment of human beings needs to stop. But it won’t if we all don’t start stepping up. FAC and NARSOL can only do so much. The rest of us should probably get in touch with each other and put our funds together for a separate class action. The more lawsuits the registry brings upon itself, the more seriously the courts will look at this obvious problem.
GPS monitors don’t cost the taxpayers anything. All costs are paid by the offender. Mine is $229 per month for the standard ten year probation for nearly any offense no matter it was non contact.
Wow. when I was on probation back in the 90s, $229 was more than I made in a week.
So in addition to the the $229 a month
A probationer needs to
Pay rent
Buy food
Pay utilities and other bills possibly adding up to more than $1200 a month an add $229 to that.
That is $17148 a year you would need to make just to break even
I know what Maestro is saying about the GPS monitors. I had one on me for 9 years. It was on my right ankle to begin with and then when I fractured my right ankle it was moved to my left ankle. By the time it was removed at the termination of my probation, it had done damage to the nerves in both of my ankles. I have no feeling in either. And all it did was catch me going to a restaurant one evening that was within 1000 feet of a closed, empty childcare center. What a savior of the public that turned out to be!
The ghost children must be protected. You awful man for even of thinking of going near an abandoned building. The Queen has made her ruling, “Off with your head”.
If all these things we are put through were not so heart breaking, we could all star in a soap opera.
I would be very interested in a class action lawsuit
Maestro, the problem is getting someone to initiate the class action. I dont think any of us would decline to participate, but you need a currently bar approved attorney to take this case, possibly even a pro bono term unless we could all muster a few dollars. Maybe a class action that requires $5 or $10 to join into, since i think most of us arent looking to get rich off this, just want to be left alone.
This is being challenged in Federal court as we speak. Defendant is Miami-Dade, but if successful will presumably become binding legal precedent in Broward and elsewhere. If others file separate motions, they run the risk of creating bad precedent for themselves and others similarly situated.
Unfortunately the wheels of justice turn slowly, and this is a crisis for your brother and others. FAC, do we know whether the Miami-Dade SORR attorneys are filing any sort of emergency motion? I have no idea how the law works when SORRs are putting people at this sort of risk in real time.
Be advised that no one can register or report in orange county sheriff’s office, becausethey closed the office to the public. Channel 9 news on 3/29/2020, on their 10:00 clock broadcas
WRONG!!!!! Check before you report that . Just before you sent this I called the Orange county sheriffs office and they verified the entrance is still open on the side of the building for offenders. In person registration is still active for Orange county florida.
In case you need to verify that 407-254-7000 option 7
Orange county sheriff’s department offender registration unit
Didn’t mean to jump on you, we are all rattled about now
So here’s the real deal on registration in Jacksonville-Duval:
904-630-8633 is the correct NEW number. I did not want to leave a message so I persisted and called several times before a human picked up. The detective took my name and last four of my SSN and told me my detective would call back. My detective called back and I did my registration over the phone. Took about 5 minutes. The $25 fee is being waived.
Thanks JZ did they state they are now doing this by phone for all registrants ?
Barbara, I did not ask that question directly, so I can only assume they are. Others have commented that they have also re-registered by phone in Jacksonville-Duval.
Also, during my quest, I stumbled across a JSO (Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office) information phone number that is very helpful: 904-630-7600.
All the discussions about in person reporting is really unbelievable, (figure of speech), when as has been so many times pointed out there are other alternatives. When I read and listen to discussions about in person reporting I think about two sayings. First, “do onto others as you would have others do onto you”. Next, “am I my brothers keeper”. The answers are obvious.
My heart and prayers go out to all those who are subjected to the excessive rules and restrictions placed upon them who are under Florida’s jurisdiction.
Along with all those who recognize, respect and appreciate Florida Action Committee, (FAC), I am so thankful for the services they render. Keep up the “fight of good faith”!
We are truly blessed to have FAC there for us to help us get organized. This is a ‘battle’ that we are going to win.
PALM BEACH COUNTY Today 4/2/20 I went to Palm Beach County usual registration place, by the fairgrounds, for my semi-annual reporting. You no longer go in and report; it is closed to the public. Signs have changed. There was a new sign in the window saying to register call 561 688-4990, 688-4931, 688-4932. Those are the numbers of some of the deputies that handle SOs in the sheriff’s office. I eventually got someone (familiar voice, but I didn’t note the name) When I told him I had held my ID up in front of the door so the person on the other side could see it, so “someone saw my ID”, as he put it, he went over all my information and said I had fulfilled my registration requirement, but I still had to appear to sign my paperwork. but he said the office would be closed for the next 2 weeks and I should call then to see if they were open or would be closed longer. I got the impression there was some confusion, if you have to present an ID and sign paper, what is being done on the phone? My conclusion is that they want to eliminate as much face to face contact as possible. I also had occasion to deal with the county court today on an unrelated civil matter, and found out that they are on a 2 day a week schedule and things scheduled for April are being pushed back into May.
PALM BEACH COUNty –
P.S. On the sheriff’s web site https://www.pbso.org/spot-unit/
it says “Biohazard Please Note:
Due to COVID-19 ALL Criminal Registrations are currently being conducted via phone only.
Please call 561-688-4990, -4931, or -4932.”
Further on Palm Beach County. Today I was told on the phone that my registration was complete, signature not needed, just report again in six months. I’m hanging on to the log showing my conversations with the sheriff’s office, and also a message one deputy left me.
Au Contrair,
The web page (https://www.pbso.org/spot-unit/) now says
“Due to COVID-19 ALL Criminal Registrations are currently being conducted via phone.
Sex Offenders/Sexual Predators are still required to show up in person.
Please call 561-688-4990, -4931, or -4932.
These rules seem to be set by whoever is the shift supervisor.
The State of Florida FDLE has posted the following on the FDLE website in the area where registrants update internet identifiers and employment info:
During the current State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 virus, below is information provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (HSMV) and Florida Sheriffs Offices regarding their temporary mechanisms and accommodations for registrants to report registration information as required under Florida laws. As updated information is made available during this time it will be updated here. Please contact and check the website of the Sheriffs Office in your county to determine any alternative registration reporting procedures they may have in place during this State of Emergency.
Registrants may request a Driver License/Identification Card Address Update Form by:
Calling the HSMV Customer Service Line: (850) 617-2000, OR
Downloading the Form from DHSMV at
Florida Registrant Address Update Request, OR
https://www.flhsmv.gov/pdf/forms/registrant_address_update_request.pdf
And What if Certain Registrants Do Not Have Access to The World Wide Web?
Osceola County is doing it by phone
I called yesterday to find out about registration in Columbia county Florida.
I was told that all registration was being done by phone, and that I could do it right then.
This was told to me by a very pleasant woman named Tracy Hicks who said she was the Admin in charge. They offered no verifiable proof that you registered. She took all my info down and said my file would be updated. I understand with this covid-19 things change, but I am not too comfortable with not having proof I did indeed register. This give the cops way too much power to screw us over if they want.
I wrote down all info, and hope it does go good. But I am decided to post here as not only letting everyone know, but also as proof I did do it. Just in case!
Please everyone, stay safe, but stay aware, and keep good records.
Write down exact times and call from a verifiable number such as I did that if needed you can ask your phone carrier for proof call in a statement .
Just a piece of advice. I asked my officer to email me a copy of that 1st page of my re-reg papers so i could print it out and have that hard copy in case some cop wanted to be a jerk. She was happy to do so, and I got it in a matter of minutes.
I suggest that we all ask for that since they have your email address anyway and you can print it straight from that email which is especially easy to do from a Gmail account.
Stay safe everybody.
I 100% agree. When you got before a judge and it is your word against law enforcement that you registered, you will lose every time even with the best lawyer on the face of the Earth.
Even if the Sheriff’s employee meant well, they are not going to admit making a mistake and risk being fired just to save the skin of a sex offender.
I save a years worth of my registrations. I shred ones that are older than a year. I use to register one time a year, then 2 times a year and now 4 times a year. But hey, it is not punishment and soon will have to go in monthly just like on probation.
I know of at least one person who went back to jail on purpose because he said it was actually easier in there than on the street. Sad that someone has to choose between freedom and happiness.
Another possible option, if you don’t have email or the officer won’t email proof to you, would be to ask the officer if it’s ok to voice record him/her as proof. If he/she agrees (very important to avoid breaking the law), start a voice recorder and ask for permission again, while recording, so permission is given on the recording. Then ask them to ID themselves and the date and confirm that you registered. I was glad that they recently gave me the usual receipt when I registered, in person, in Orange County.
I am on probation and we are told to not go to the office for our monthly check in because of the virus safety concerns. Instead our officer calls us on our scheduled appt. time to see how we are doing, and this is probation which is a punishment and part of our sentence.
Yet, I am still having to drive to the sheriffs office to register twice a year in person. And this is NOT a punishment…. Makes a lot of sense.
Please do not try to make sense of registration policies since sense did not go into establishing them. There is no standard policy and each ‘fiefdom’ is left to make up its own policies. One day this ‘punishment’ will come to an end. Just hang in there with a positive attitude. That will frustrate your oppressors more than anything.
AND, to add to that, it is not just different from county to county, each time I go to register they have a different rule to follow depending on who you get.
It did get a lot better when a different employee took over the registration. Before it was taking 2-3 hours to be seen, now even if it is packed (Which it always is) you get seen in about 30 minutes.
Not sure what changes they may make in light of all this since I do not have to register again until June and hopefully things will be back on track.
Jed,
when you figure it out, let the rest of us know. I would say it is a laughable situation, but nothing about this is funny. I have said over and over again that when I was on probation I did not even have half the regulations we have now, of course then the registry had just started in 1997 and the Sheriff’s departments didn’t even really know what they were supposed to do.
Pinellas County having Registrants comply by Phone. Just did mine they dont want people coming in.
Pinellas making it impossible to comply with a law for which registrants are strictly liable.
FAC remind me what, if anything, is the guidance for situations in which counties simply refuse to allow people to register in person as required? (If it’s already in this discussion, I got lost).
All I can say is they have always been strait and Prof with me. I have date and time of calls and a recorded Message. Again I can only tell of my experience but I have been on for years and even the Home checks are done very Respectful and in a way not to bring attention. Many of my neighbors know and dont care but I appreciate how this county has so far handled my situation. I have much more respect now then ever before for my local law enforcement. I did mine on the Phone also but worry about the strict Liability
Does anyone have information on Seminole County? My son had an appointment and it’s for this Wednesday afternoon and now when he called in just to verify it says don’t show up but it doesn’t tell any other alternative— does anybody know?
Just looked on Seminole’s web site and it does not even mention the covid virus situation, this is all it says
Sex Offender Registration
If you are required to register as a Sexual Offender or Sexual Predator in the State of Florida, and this is your first time registering in Seminole County, please contact the Sexual Offender Registration Office at 407-665-6725 to make an appointment. If you have questions about what is required, please call 407-665-6725
At your appointment, you will be required to complete a registration form. To help expedite this process, you are welcome to complete the form in advance and bring it with you to your appointment. The form can be found by clicking here .
Florida law and Seminole County ordinances restrict residency and mobility for registered sexual predators and offenders. Restricted locations can be found by clicking here.
EXACT reason I moved away from Seminole county. Awful registration experience. I was one of the first to ever register in that county and left that day in tears. Takes a lot more than a cute puppy to make me cry.
Yeah there’s nothing on Seminole’s website about it When you call the number it says do not show up there’s no one here to help you and to leave your information on a voicemail. That someone will call you back but there’s no way of knowing whether they got the voicemail and you have no proof that you actually called and left your voicemail. And what I’m thinking is I wish I had a way to actually record their phone message saying don’t show up —it sucks
Seminole County is doing everything via webcams. I had to register a rental car and I also had my 6-month registration within the last 2 weeks. On both occasions, I did a Facetime check-in with them. If you call the number and leave a message, they will get back to you.
They said for people who cannot or don’t have the option for webcams, they have other means to complete the registrations remotely.
Thank you! I hope they get back with him soon because it sure makes a mom nervous
FAC Legal, what’s the best guidance for a registrant who is rushed to the hospital without knowing how many days they’ll be there? In other words, what are some good do’s and don’ts for purposes of compliance?
If it’s your second day and it looks like you’re not getting out the next day, call your registration office AND the FDLE.
Appreciate the feedback. For in-person registration of temporary and permanent residences, do we know whether they’ve ever just “let it go” regarding a registrant who alerted them that they were being hospitalized? Conversely, do we know whether anyone’s ever been arrested for failing to report in person that they were being hospitalized?
As you have correctly pointed out on multiple occasions, FAC, the statute makes no exceptions for hospitalization or other circumstances. So a phone call stating they may not be able to comply with the law, on the surface, would seem to pose a red flag.
In the meantime, here’s hoping that NO Florida registrants will need to be hospitalized > 3 days for Covid.
The statute specifically states that there must be an intent to establish a residence for out of state travel. It makes no such distinction for in-state travel.
943.0435
(7) A sexual offender who intends to establish a permanent, temporary, or transient residence in
another state or jurisdiction other than the State of Florida shall report in person to the sheriff of the
county of current residence within 48 hours before the date he or she intends to leave this state to
establish residence in another state or jurisdiction or at least 21 days before the date he or she intends
to travel if the intended residence of 5 days or more is outside of the United States.
Any change in the information required to be provided pursuant to paragraph (b), including, but not limited to, any change in the sexual offender’s permanent, temporary, or transient residence; name; electronic mail addresses; Internet identifiers and each Internet identifier’s corresponding website homepage or application software name; home telephone numbers and cellular telephone numbers; employment information; and any change in status at an institution of higher education after the sexual offender reports in person at the sheriff’s office must be reported in the manner provided in subsections (4), (7), and (8).
This statute (in its entirety) is antithetical to the core tenets of our democracy and is repugnant !
JJJJ – there is a distinction. Out of state travel needs to be reported BEFORE and in state change of residence needs to be reported AFTER. Reason being; if you leave the state there is no FL registration office or DHSMV location to report to.
There is a separate law for reporting intended travel (out of state) and not correcting it if you don’t leave.
If you’re awake you can call someone but what if you are immediately placed on a ventilator when you arrive at the hospital? If you have family that lives near you then maybe they would call for you but I wouldn’t count on them to think about that. Also, a lot of people are suffering from hypoxia (lack of oxygen) that gets worse over several days which is causing confusion and loss of short term memory. Even if you’re awake you may not have the whereabouts to call the registration office or FDLE.
My other concern is lets say you do call the registration office and FDLE that you are at the hospital then can they call the hospital to tell them you are there? And if the hospital knows you’re in their ICU will they move you to another hospital solely based on your criminal history, harrass you while you are there, or do the old patient dumping trick and let you die on the street?
JD,
Respectfully, is this an actual scenario or a hypothetical? If you’re placed on a ventilator worry about surviving and fighting a hypothetical case afterwards.
JD brings up another good point— do we know of anybody who’s had obstacles accessing hospital care due to their registration status, perhaps triggered by a notification?
With regard to JD’s first question, I don’t doubt there are those unfortunates who require ventilation upon arrival. I think FAC guidance in such an instance is, worry about survival over registration, if I’m reading correctly.
I have long ago given up on any of these registration requirements making any sense. It is such a ‘tangled web’ of opinions, paranoia, hate, fake news, false information, political aspirations, fear, etc. Even some in law enforcement can make no sense of it.
So I had the unfortunate experience of forgetting to go to my biannual registration last month, June 2020. I’ve been on the registry in NY since 2009 and moved to Florida in 2013. I got a phone call on July 2nd, from Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office, where the officer asked if I had forgot and told me to come in ASAP. I was arrested once I arrived at the registration site and taken to the county jail. Today I received a phone call from my attorney and was told they would not be filing charges and my case was closed!!! I thought I was screwed for sure, but very glad this worked out and figured I’d share my experience!
Thanks for sharing this Jeremy.
so can any one tell me if Duval is doing walk ins or phone registration for Aug I cant seem to get a answer from JSO no body is answering the phone thanks for all your help
If they won’t answer the phone or otherwise make you guess, then you HAVE to walk in. Because in-person is what the law says. (It does NOT say you must call ahead, make an apt, etc).
If the office is closed when you get there, you might take a selfie there and copy down any special sign posted.
In at least one neighboring county, there are special safeguards, but that county’s office is open for in-person registration. So I wouldn’t automatically assume that Duval is different.
(Hopefully Duval registrants on this forum have better info than I do).
People are getting arrested for miscommunications so with one week left in the month, if you can’t get into Duval, drive to the next county. They ARE ARRESTING people, so find a way to register even if you need to drive 5 counties over.
UPDATE got in touch with JSO Duval County they are doing call ins for Aug and the fee is being waved at this time
This past Monday I went to do my quarterly re-registering at the sheriff’s office in Rockledge. Upon arrival I announced myself on the external squawkbox. The deputy asked my name. I gave it to her. A few minutes later she came to the door and asked if there had been any changes since the last time? I’m three months older…that’s all. She asked if I wanted a copy of my reporting document? I told her page one would be fine. She didn’t even check my drivers license. I sat down in a chair to read and before I got started she was back at the door with page one. She said have a good day and I was finished. I wish it was that way all the time. Something good from the virus!
Had my moment of registration not long ago in Manatee county. No contact, no entry, no photo taken, no fingerprint taken.
All, at this time in Manatee county, is being done by phone at the MSO registry door. When you pick up the phone outside the entry door a officer will ask who you are, will ask for the last four digits of your social security number for verification it is you, followed by a few questions..address, emails, vehicle, etc.
And that’s it, will tell you all’s done and when your next registration month is.
I would not stop there. Did the officer enter it in the PC correctly? Software can crash, sites hacked. Just as I would want a receipt for a new flat screen I would want, even more, a copy of proof I registered. They are required to give you a copy of your registration form. Politely Inform the officer you would like a copy of it. They should print one out as you wait and bring it to the door.
I get a copy emailed to me within minutes of finishing on the phone (from home no less). I am fortunate to have a very professional and decent registration office.
Update: Manatee county Registration is back to indoors and the office has been redesigned with two separate plexiglass booths..two at a time and more security then a tellers window.
Is Jacksonville-Duval-JSO still doing phone-in registration?
Has the “new” phone number (904-630-8633) changed?
In answer to my own questions, Jacksonville Duval JSO IS still doing phone-in registration (at least through October 2020). The phone number IS still 904-630-8633.
REVERSAL!
JACKSONVILLE DUVAL JSO NOW REQUIRING IN-PERSON REGISTRATION AS PER OFFICER KIRK.
HOURS ARE 8-11 AND 1-4.
APPOINTMENTS NOT MENTIONED.
ORANGE COUNTY, FL: I re-registered today. The sheriff’s office at West Colonial and John Young Pkwy is allowing two registrants at a time into the standard/traditional registration room inside the lobby on the west side of the sheriff’s office. Everyone else must wait outdoors in the line marked for registrants. It’s up to you to know when a fellow registrant has finished registering and is exiting the building. Look for the registration receipt in his/her hand, I guess. Then, the head of the outdoors line can enter the lobby, and then the registration room. I got a receipt for my appearance – the receipt uses less paper than before – they’ve streamlined the data on the report. They required me to place my right index finger on a pad. They also made me sign (without showing what I was signing for) a signature pad. I will compare the verbiage on my receipt to that of previous receipts to see if they are adding rules, etc. to the registration receipt that I signed.
You should always ask for a complete form and don’t blindly sign stuff.
It would be much easier to follow that advice if I were able to see a printed document and then sign at the bottom of that paper document. However, I’d have to ask the cop to print out the document that I’m asked to agree to, and then trust that he’s showing me the right one, since apparently, the only way to sign is by signing the electronic pad outside the window. I think the cop would just tell me to F off anyway. I wonder what would happen if I just simply refused to sign anything. I don’t know of any law that requires it, but I’d be nervous.
You have the option to not sign, literally.