Sex Offenders Sent To Homeless Encampment Told To Find Housing, But Where?
Roughly 260 sex offenders have registered as their residence the intersection of Northwest 36th Court and 71st Street, on the edge of Hialeah and Miami. The closest house is four blocks away and the only buildings here are squat warehouses.
They start to roll in around 9:30 p.m., just in time for curfew. By the end of the night, around 50 people fill two dozen tents pitched on the ground on either side of the street.
Most people in the encampment wear evidence of their crimes on their ankles, as devices that beep when they’re out of range. Others just know the rules they must abide by. They’re living in rough conditions–no running water or toilet facilities and flooding is a regular fact of life–in order to comply with laws restricting where sex offenders can sleep at night.
“Rats live better,” said Gregory Baker, aka Claudia, who has lived at the encampment for a year and two months. He was convicted in 2009 for possessing and sending child pornography and attempting to send inappropriate material to a minor. He was told to come to this homeless encampment by his parole officer, who wrote down the address on a piece of paper.
“I was like, You have to be kidding me,’ ” said Baker. “Apparently they weren’t, because every place that my dad, my sister put an address at, [my probation officer] said no.”
In 2005, Miami-Dade County prohibited offenders from living within 2,500 feet of schools, daycare centers and playground. It was a response to a similar ordinance passed in the city of Miami Beach, which effectively made it a no-go zone for anyone convicted of a sex crime.
That restriction is in place from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Outside of those hours, sex offenders are allowed more free rein. So some people work, go over to their family’s homes and shop during the day and sleep in the tent camp at night.
If you draw a 2,500-foot buffer around all of the institutions mentioned in the ordinance, not much of the county is left. Even less when you take out the airports and particularly unaffordable areas where home prices are in the six figures. What is left are bits of Homestead, West Kendall and a few small patches like this one.
In 2007, the Miami New Times broke the story that these restrictions had, in essence, created a sex offender village under the Julia Tuttle Bridge. Social workers sent or dropped off people when they got out of jail and the DMV was printing “Julia Tuttle Causeway” on their driver licenses. The camp was dismantled in 2010 and residents relocated to temporary housing that eventually left them in the street.
This encampment on 71st street, tucked between warehouses next to the railroad tracks, is like the reincarnation of the Julia Tuttle Bridge camp.
And on Monday night, this is what Ron Book, the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and county officials went out to address.
Teams of Green Shirts, as the homeless outreach workers are called, escorted by Miami-Dade police went tent to tent, handing out a letter written by Book, president of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, to the deputy mayor about wanting to find a new place for those in this area. They also handed out a blurry black and white map of all the areas in the county that are off limits.
The plan is to help the sex offenders living here to find housing that works with their living restrictions. The Homeless Trust has offered to subsidize part of the expenses through rental or housing assistance.
“The goal tonight is to inform all of the people that are living out here that this is not going to continue,” said Book. “At some point, sooner than later, we’re going to dismantle this place and close it down.”
Over the next week, they Homeless Trust will help process those living in the encampment for rental or housing assistance.
“We have made clear in the memo that they’re being handed [is] that it’s their job to go find a housing opportunity and bring it back to us,” explained Book. “They’ve got to take control of their lives and find housing opportunities.”
They are not passing out a list of available housing, confirmed Book, but he says they’re handing out information to help them go search. He says this is one of the differences in how the Homeless Trust is handling the encampment on 71st street from the one under the Julia Tuttle bridge. The Homeless Trust will not be prioritizing these sex offenders over other homeless people as they did last time.
“What they want to do is wallow in self-pity and blame everybody else for their problem and blame laws and blame this and blame that,” said Book. “They want to sit around and blame other people. They can choose to do that or they can take responsibility for what happened, for the crimes they committed, understanding society and go out and take control.”
The name Book might not be familiar to those living in this homeless encampment, but it’s the name attached to the ordinance restricting sex offenders from living within 2,500 feet of places where children go – it’s called the Lauren Book Child Safety Ordinance.
Ron Book himself–who by day is one of the most powerful and influential lobbyists in Florida–drafted and pushed through this county ordinance. His efforts followed the horrible sexual abuse that his daughter suffered through as a child.
The Books’ nanny of six years sexually molested Lauren starting when she was 11. Now, State Senator Lauren Book is married, mother to twins, and an advocate for those who have been sexually abused.
As chair of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, tasked with figuring out what to do with all these people in tents and tarp shacks, Ron Book was behind the 2005 law that made it more difficult for these sex offenders to find anywhere else to live.
But Book rejects the notion that he should be held personally responsible for their difficulties.
“They can blame me all they want. I’ve never shied away from my work to make our community and our state and our country safer so that what happened to my daughter, doesn’t happen to them,” said Book.
Lauren Book, the namesake of the Miami-Dade County restrictions, was out with her father and the green shirts, talking with the sex offenders living out among the warehouses.
“This is not easy to do, for me, for my dad,” said Lauren Book. She has made a point over the years to visit with and try to understand the behavior of sex offenders in an attempt to prevent what happened to her from happening to other children.
“I don’t feel badly for these individuals. There are laws that were broken. You did some terrible bad things. That does not mean that anybody should be in a desperate situation,” said Lauren Book.
When asked about how she feels to have her name attached to the legislation that is an undeniable part of the formula that has led to this homeless encampment, she said that while she is proud of her engagement with the issue, there is not an easy answer.
“The truth is this is not a black and white issue,” she said. “The minute you start to think you can broad-brush this issue you’re in a terribly bad place, so I would be lying if I wasn’t conflicted.”
And, Lauren Book adds emphatically, she and her father don’t agree about everything when it comes to this issue.
“We fight all the time, very badly. You should see dinner at our house,” she said.
But they do agree on the residency restrictions.
“Ron Book, I beg you to come out here and live one day the way that we live and this will never ever happen,” said Gregory Baker. “They will change their story so fast it will make their head spin around.”
He says if he could find an address he would be gone immediately.
“I’d be burning rubber. That’s how quick I could get out of here. If they came and told me, ‘Hey, [you have] this address,’ phew, you wouldn’t see me. I’d be gone. You’d see smoke,” said Baker.
I know this is easier said than done, but if I were these registrants, I would go straight to one of the following places and pitch my tent. Consequences be damned. As a matter of fact, all 270 of them should unite, form a plan, and all go to the same place. Probation and law enforcement will have a hell of a time carting them all off to jail. They all need to go to one of the following places and pitch every last damn one of those 270 tents in front of them: 1) Miami-Dade county courthouse and/or City Hall 2) Ron Book’s personal home 3) Lauren Book’s personal home and/or her campaign headquarters 4) Take a road trip to Tallahassee and pitch their tents at the intersection of Appalachee Pkwy and Monroe St in front of the old statehouse 5) Gov Scott’s mansion in Tally. If they are all willing to do that united as one, I guarantee you it would garner state and even national media attention. THEN, something will have to be addressed. **We have to start thinking drastically along these lines people. The status quo obviously is not working.
Right… and when their ankle monitors go off and they are violated, they will have plenty of time in prison to reflect on their brilliant plan.
The entire situation is dire. I personally have spoken to so many of those legislated into homelessness by these well intended, misguided ordinances and state laws. They were emotionally drafted and on the surface one may think it makes sense, but as a practice they fall far short. We now have years of experience and piles of research to show us the errors of our ways and yet we persist to keep these bad policies in affect. In my conversations with so many of these people and I can assure you they do take responsibility for their crimes, ( there will always be some who may point the finger elsewhere) they’ve paid their dues and gone to prison many for so many long years, they go for treatment and want to learn better ways to move forward in their lives. But folks think about this seriously, put yourself in a situation where you are defined FOREVER by the single worst thing you’ve ever done, the world knows about it and you are unable to live back with the people who love you and want to help you, no one will hire you and you cannot find a place to live? And let’s talk about the fact you are tracked by a devise which doesn’t work great, you have to keep it charged and you get the privilege to pay almost $200 per month in some cases for wearing it!
You can’t afford food but you must pay the state for probation, monitoring and oh yes let’s not forget treatment. How successful would you be?
These people, are referred to by Mr. Book as animals, less than human and all sorts of other names as he views each as his daughters assailant. I get it he’s hurt, outraged and angered as we all are and would be, but honestly not all offenders are the deviant, sick individual that is Waldy. I’m sad for Lauren, but I’m sadder for those who pay the price of her dads wrath…
As a survivor of sexual abuse for almost 7 years myself while a child, at the hands of someone I knew, trusted and loved, Lauren I understand. But this is not the way to stop this.
Let’s work together to bring justice, healing, and futures to all. You say we cannot look at this issue and use a broad brush, you are right!!!! So why not help us to reform our policies, use a real risk based system, watch those who need watching and let the others move on with life after they’ve done their time. Let’s craft policy based on the real empirical evidence and let punishment fit the crime.
Living in hate and anger sucks life from us all. These issues effect more than the offender and the victim, they effect the entire families on both sides and our society as a whole. Let’s work toward survivorship for all those touched by these events and focus on prevention. As parents let’s focus on what we can do to prevent our children from being caught up as a victim or as an offender. As a “civilized society”, isn’t it our responsibility to learn from our mistakes and strive to do better? So why are we standing firm on policy we know does more harm than good?
I’m ready to work to find a better way, are you?
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I wish this organization would stop using the term “well-intended” when it comes to referring to sex crime laws. It is an insult to every registered citizen suffering under them. Nothing Ron Book does, has done, or will do in the future is “well-intended”. It has been well documented how him and little Mrs. Precious are benefiting financially and politically from these “well-intended” laws that, as it is pointed out, they are responsible for creating. And then you look at the millions they reap from their own charities from exploiting SO’s and the situations and now she is a state senator??? Please! And the other legislators that make and support these laws only do it to benefit them in the same way. So none of these laws were made under good intentions or under the false pretense of “keeping children and society safe. ” As a former teacher who always dealt with education politics in Florida, the people that run this state don’t give a damn about kids, all they care about is their wallets and political careers. Nothing they do is “well-intentioned”
At this point in USA society I’m way more worried about American born maniac Nazi’s than any Sex Offender! Priorities are all screwed up by politicians and crazy cops. Florida statutes allow for continued punishment and unbelievably harassing sex offender ordinances. Everyone hates a convicted Monster, but we are punishing the wrong ones. jev
I really hate to say this, but why not move somewhere that’s not so restrictive? It just seems like the question not asked.
Those who are on probation cannot leave the county.
Others have family, including children, who live here.
Many have chosen to live in communities like “Miracle village” in Pahokee, which is compliant because it’s in the middle of nowhere, far from employment opportunities or anything else.
It’s a prison either way you slice it.
I was on probation for 15 years. Yes you CAN move out of county. Go to where the jobs are. Sign up for college classes. That’s what I did. Anyone who tells you you cannot move out of county is lying. You just have to do it the right way.
those who are on probation cannot leave the county. That is an incorrect statement and not true. I transferred my probation in 2015 from Orlando to Southern Illinois because I wanted to get the heck out of Florida. I have a job a place to live residency restrictions of only 500 ft and I live like a normal human being. I still have four years left of probation unless my case gets overturned in the Appellate Court. It would help if the information being passed along was correct so people can make sound decisions
Ben – why should they have to? They paid their debt to society or are paying. Or did they? No other crime carries these same types of restrictions after the adjuducation imposed is completed. There is also the question of money and when you cannot find a job – do the math.
Ben – when did you move? Many things have changed…
I just moved to Leon county last year. You can transfer your probation to any of the 67 counties within the state. They HAVE TO ALLOW THIS, provided it’s for a good reason: Job, housing, education, employment, etc. If your probation officer tells you that you cannot move elsewhere, provided the address checks out with local law enforcement, go to his boss. If that person tells you no, take it to the judge.
BEN – They don’t HAVE to allow anything, and if they don’t want to, they won’t. They don’t even need a good reason. Also the other state/county has to accept you. I tried to transfer to Vermont and they said no. Stop trying to make it sound so easy when it is not. I’m glad YOUR case was apparently so simple, but the majority are not. Also you mentioned signing up for college…? I know you either did not do this or it wasn’t done correctly, because the second I did that probation immediately sent a letter to the school stating I was a sex offender and this is what I “did”. The school then had to have meeting after meeting after meeting and conferences JUST to see if I could attend. In the end I was allowed to, and ended up with 2 Associate’s degrees, but it was NOT easy and I did not do it by myself. I had to have other people, basically character witnesses, help me.
Please stop implying that things are so simple, because they are not. If they were this entire site would not be here.
County to county within the state of Florida is easy. Sometimes you have to go to a judge to allow it, but it would be rare for a judge to say no. I have NEVER had a problem moving around the state. Never take no for an answer and never be afraid to go over your POs head.
Moving to another state is a whole ‘nuther ball of wax. Just keep asking and familiarize yourself with that state’s laws. Perseverance.
A move within the state should have little impediment. It’s a matter of finding an acceptable address and coordinating the move with supervision. They could object to you moving into homelessness, but if you have a reasonable purpose for moving to another county there will unlikely be any issue.
Moving to another state involves first getting permission from the court in the sending state. Once you have that, you start (through your supervisor) an application to move to the other state. I believe all 50 states are part of the Inter-state Compact, it’s a treaty/agreement between the states. Among other things, it requires states to notify receiving states that someone under supervision will be either visiting or is trying to move. If trying to move, the sending state goes through their own process first, then sends the request to the receiving state. There are specific things each party involved has to do per the agreement. There are discretionary moves where the receiving state can deny the request, and then mandatory where the receiving state has to accept the move. A mandatory request requires certain conditions, such as immediate family living in the area, military relation or service, etc. So, if your spouse lives in another state, it falls under a mandatory move and the receiving state cannot deny the transfer without a very specific and acceptable reason. It’s not simple, but it is doable for some.
For registrants, the process has extra stipulations (of course!). And things can get tricky with special requirements like GPS monitoring or other things that other states cannot accommodate because they simply don’t do it. In addition to this, upon transfer you will have an extra set of supervision conditions placed upon you. The standard conditions of supervision for the receiving state will be sort of merged or laid over the sending state’s conditions. So things just get more complicated.
All that said, again, it is potentially a nightmare of complexity but in many situations at least it is possible. If you have a solid reason for moving, just try. Your supervisor doesn’t decide if you get to try, the courts and your judge does. If the judge says okay, everyone else has to go along.
Something that may help in finding suitable addresses is to use that county GIS, or Global Informatikn services. It is not 100% accurate, but will give you a visual map the area you want to move to. So you give them your criteria: 1000 foot buffer in red around any school, in yellow around any park, in blue around any daycare, an so on. I got a 54 inch map from Leon county GIS before I moved here and the GF scouted houses in the clear zones.
Also, try an education in engineering. Lots of grants for that.
While discussions on transferring probation to another jurisdiction (whether intrastate or interstate) is valuable information for those who voluntarily chose to move, it’s important to keep focused on the ultimate goal of not making it the best option.
There are many who have lived here their whole lives. Have children enrolled in schools here. Have elderly parents here. Have established jobs or businesses. Or who have supportive friends in THIS community. It’s not so easy to uproot family, abandon dependents, make new friends or find a job someplace new – even without the stigma.
There are many who would sooner sleep on an ant pile than move away from their children or not be able to support them.
Yes, it is possible to seek probation/court approval to move to another county or go through the interstate compact process and move to another state.
There are fewer hoops to jump through if you are staying within the Florida Department of Corrections – if you need more information about interstate compact you can find it here: http://www.dc.state.fl.us/pub/ic/
I wholeheartedly agree and support anyone who does not wish to move away. Likewise, it is never the best option. If we were living in the sewers they would try and figure a way to evict us on the grounds of “public safety.”
There are opportunities out there, if you know where to look. I can only tell you how I did it and only you can make the decision. I can tell you that if you have minimal math skills, and an aptitude for details, there are program grants out there for schooling for trades. CNC machining is going strong right now as is welding and engineering. You’ll make more money with certifications. I’m fortunate enough to have landed a full-time job while going to school full time.
If Ron Book really wanted to help, he could work to repeal the legislation that created this situation in the first place. He is a very powerful and influential lobbyist and a few words from him could make it happen. So he is responsible for the situation, not the registrants who have served their time and continue to be punished.
Hopefully those who have forced their fellow Americans into this and so many other inhuman situations will suffer untold suffering when karma finally visits them and their families. Senator Lauren Book will certainly be at the top of that list and rightfully so.
I for one will laugh with glee at their misery and pain and offer no compassion just as they have offered none for others.