Humane and Inhumane Treatment of Sex Offenders during Natural Disasters in Florida
Weekly Update 2017-09-12
Dear Members and Advocates,
It’s difficult to compose a professional member communication when I am so angry and frustrated. This week we saw some of the most heinous examples of hatred and inhumanity this writer has experienced in the more-than-decade I have been dealing with this registry.
In the face of a natural disaster that was reported to be one of the worst this state has ever seen, County Sheriffs were effectively slamming the door in the faces of human beings seeking shelter from the storm.
In Polk County, Sheriff Grady Judd tweeted that sex offenders should look elsewhere if trying to take shelter in one of his County’s shelters. In Broward County, Sheriff Scott Israel took a less brazen approach and simply ignored pleas for help. In fact, desperate calls and emails to the County’s sheriff’s department and Emergency Management Office were simply turned a blind eye to. Broward even opened two emergency shelters for pets – but valued the life of anyone with the “registered sex offender label” less than animals.
Other counties had a “Jail or Die” approach. Those on the registry could seek shelter in one of their Jails. One step better than nothing, but for those who would not leave their families to fend for themselves or who would rather take their chances than to be detained in a jail (when many were never jailed for their underlying offenses) for an indeterminate amount of time, it was not an option.
Finally, there were some Sheriffs, such as Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, who are deserving of praise for their humanity and integrity in being willing to uphold their oaths to protect life. “Sexual predators and offenders are part of our population as well,” said Pasco Assistant Administrator Kevin Guthrie. With Hurricane Irma approaching, Pasco County is opening space at one of its storm shelters to registered sex offenders and predators. A plan, Guthrie says, was put in place about six months ago.
In the aftermath of the storm, other issues are presenting themselves. Mandatory 48 hour IN PERSON reporting requirements are impossible if the registration office is closed for 6 days. People are scrambling to try to get back to their homes to avoid the “5 days or more” residency registration requirement, even if it’s not safe to return or utilities have not been restored. Simply put; in an emergency situation some of the registration requirements are at best impractical to comply with and at worst; impossible, yet there is no emergency exemption to avoid a third degree felony!
You can be assured that over the coming weeks we will be exploring options to block the sadistic agendas of certain Sheriffs for future natural disasters and implore the State to adopt exemptions to certain requirements during a natural disaster.
Finally, and most importantly, we hope you and your family weathered the storm safely.
Sincerely,
The Florida Action Committee
PS: A Reminder that there will be a New member Orientation call this Thursday Sept 14 at 8pm. Everyone is Welcome to call in to ask questions and share resources.
SOME HEADLINES FROM THE WEEK
CA: Lawmaker revives bill that would scale back sex offender registry
A proposal to end the lifetime listing of many convicted sex offenders on a public registry in California was revived Friday when its author put the language in a separate bill, bypassing a committee that shelved the measure last week. Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San…
Does a ban on sex offenders attending church violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
An Indiana Court of Appeals on Thursday heard the case of John Doe, et al. v. The Boone County Prosecutor, et al., 06A01-1612-PL-02741, which the ACLU of Indiana brought on behalf of three John Doe registered sex offenders who under Indiana Code 35-42-4-14, prohibits…
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Common Council voted on Wednesday, September 6th to all but eliminate the city’s residency restrictions for sex offenders, and there’s one sex offender in particular who likely played a big role in the change. The council voted to remove a…
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd
As residents of Florida are bracing down to prepare for Hurricane Irma, what is expected to be the strongest natural disaster to hit the Atlantic coast this century, Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, takes the time to post the following message to his Twitter account:…