Dangerous Misinformation: Halloween
The office of Florida’s Attorney General, Ashley Moody, put out some dangerous misinformation this past week.
In this article it is reported that Ms. Moody’s office suggested “that parents visit the Florida Department of Law Enforcement website to see a list of all registered sex offenders and predators living within a five mile radius of any Florida neighborhood. Florida law prohibits sex offenders from distributing candy or other items to children on Halloween. Attorney General Moody asks Floridians who encounter a sex offender handing out candy to notify authorities.”
In fact, Florida Law DOES NOT prohibit all persons required to register from distributing candy or other items to children on Halloween. The law only applies to probationer or community controllees. (F.S. 948.30)
So now you invite all Floridians to report people to the authorities for engaging in conduct that is perfectly lawful? That’s what the article says, but in the video that appears in the article, Ms. Moody makes no mention of sex offenders.
If the statute is indeed correct, than you better believe it that they will probably have that changed soon.
Sounds like that sheriff’s department is trying to pawn off their Halloween compliance checks for probationed and paroled people on to the community. Which is opening a huge can of worms. For both sides.
Oh did you guys happen to see all the violence during Halloween that ended up with several teems killed and several others wounded. The registry sure did its job in protecting these children. Js
Didn’t see all that, but sure glad all them poor kids were protected from them registrants. Amazing how the very thought of maybe, possibly, asteroid-hitting-earth-while-lightning-strikes-you-twice -and-winning-the-lottery chance of a sex offense invokes such yellow-belly fear and knee-jerk antagonism while the very real likelihood of violence is disregarded!
Yeah, I can’t remember where in Florida that took place but there was two teens killed and one adult that was killed Halloween night. Then there was a few other news articles on my news feed about teens involving violence during Halloween night. I’m not sure if that was just the same article but the headline worded differently. I never read them all but from what gather. There was a handful of teens that died due to gun violence over Halloween night.
Teens shooting teens in downtown Orlando on Halloween night…but the registry is supposed to protect them.
If your not on probation you can hand out candy and decorate if you choose to. To my understanding. However it would probably not be a wise move. Even tho 99% of us won’t harm anyone. The unwanted attention wouldn’t be worth the headache IMO.
Yes, your correct this ONLY pertains to individuals that are on Probation. In fact I have included the updated F.S. and if you notice the heading “ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OS PROBATION OR COMMUNITY CONTROL”. We need to address this with the AG’s office.
948.30 Additional terms and conditions of probation or community control for certain sex offenses.—Conditions imposed pursuant to this section do not require oral pronouncement at the time of sentencing and shall be considered standard conditions of probation or community control for offenders specified in this section.
(1) Effective for probationers or community controllees whose crime was committed on or after October 1, 1995, and who are placed under supervision for a violation of chapter 794, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, s. 847.0135(5), or s. 847.0145, or whose crime was committed on or after July 1, 2021, and who are placed under supervision for a violation of s. 787.06(3)(b), (d), (f), or (g), the court must impose the following conditions in addition to all other standard and special conditions imposed:
Wow 20+ years & I always thought I was forbidden to participate in Halloween and anything to do with it. I have literally sat in the dark on Halloween or the designated trick or treat day all this time. I have children that suffered because of misinformation from Florida and Georgia
The elected officials are not only discouraging us from participating in life, they’re actively trying to get the public to tattle-tale on us out of spite!!
I have added AG Moody to my Media Blitz Phase 3 list.
Be careful with this because according to Sec. 685.104 code of ordinances regarding registered sex offenders in duval the no candy rule applies whether on probabtion or not. I dont want anyone getting themselves in trouble
Blue, Thats a great point and thanks for mentioning it. We have to be careful of the local / County ordinances, even though there’s not a State Statue forbidding distributing candy, there may be a local one. The problem is most people don’t know how to research these laws or sometimes these laws are so “hidden” and difficult to locate that until Law Enforcement discovers that you broke the law, you will never know.
I’ve spent the last 8 years
Building a good relationship with my neighborhood and I’ve told EVERYONE about my “Past”, Met someone in a Club and and had sex that night, One time only, And she said she was 21!!. NO SMALL CHILD INVOLVED !…… And this past Halloween (holiday) PROVED PEOPLE DONT HATE US ALL !!!. I was invited to a “Halloween Party/Hay Ride, But chose not to go because of the ABSOLUTE FEAR of someone accusing me of looking at a child “wrong” !!., So we stayed home behind the locked gate HATING how I felt ! Well, Here’s some HOPE for us ALL !!!. A Hay ride was scheduled for 6pm, At 5pm I see several vehicles pull up at my house on my security monitor !!!! Talk about Crapping your pants !!!. But I don’t run from anything !! So I grabbed my “Defense” and went outside expecting the ABSOLUTE WORST !!. I was prepared to die FIGHTING that day !. BUT, Instead of Angry Haters, I had NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS asking ME, YES ME to PULL MY TRAILER in the Hay Ride !!. My neighbors CAME TO ME AND ASKED ME TO JOIN IN AROUND KIDS !!!!!!.
Talk about getting “Choked Up” !!.
So, For the FIRST TIME IN 18 YEARS, I had a GOOD TIME without MUCH FEAR !; Don’t worry, I kept my guard WAY UP, But enjoyed dragging 30+ people (Adults and Kids) around our little neighborhood!! Between me and my neighbor, we had 70+ People riding on our trailers !! It was a REALLY BIG TURNOUT for our TINY neighborhood !!;. . So, THERE IS HOPE !!!!. I’ve been wanting to move out West because of poor health and Lax’er laws/requirements, But after feeling ACCEPTED, I’m considering staying put !!. Also, I’ve WORKED REALLY HARD to gain the TRUST from everyone i deal with !!. I’ve did SO MUCH FOR FREE ! Many Many FREE Tows (I have a small Towing Service), I grade our 4 miles of Dirt Roads FOR(people always toss me a few bucks for fuel)FREE, And am always “Helping” anyone that asks. But that’s also WHO I AM ! I’ve ALWAYS HELPED anyone that needed help !. . I just wanted to share my story with everyone !. OUR PAST DOESN’T DEFINE OUR FUTURE !! WE MUST FIGHT FOR CHANGE !!! Best advice I can offer is, DONT STAY SHUT IN !!!! Get out ! Take walks, Say HI even if they turn away !!! Offer any help EVEN IF THE CURSE YOU OUT (it’s happened to me!!), DONT GIVE UP !! Prove to everyone that YOU’RE NOT THE MONSTER THAT EVERYONE HAD BEEN TAUGHT THAT YOUR SUPPOSED TO BE !!!!!. . Ive told EVERYONE I DEAL WITH ABOUT MY PAST !! And I do it RIGHT UP FRONT !! So we don’t waste any time if “Haters wanna Hate” !! And yes Ive met lots of Haters !!!. BUT, I’ve met lots of people that UNDERSTAND AND FORGIVE !!! It’s all in what your doing TODAY !!