The County Where Businesses Can Self-Identify As Parks in Order to Keep Sex Offenders Away
In 2020, an ordinance in Brevard County, Florida, permitted a business to certify itself as a place where children congregate—the moral equivalent of a park—thereby making it a crime for anyone on the sex offense registry to venture inside, or loiter nearby. The idea, apparently, was to make kids even safer from danger.
But, “proximity” laws prohibiting sex offenders from public places like playgrounds have not been shown to make kids any safer, says Emily Horowitz, a sociologist who researches sex offense law and policy.
At the same time, under this law, people on the registry have no way of knowing which businesses have self-certified themselves as child-gathering places. That means registrants don’t know which establishments they are barred from entering, or even going near. But if they get too close, they are violating their registration requirements, which could land them in prison.
The State should require each county to provide information to the FDLE who should be forced to indicate on their maps, the location of every place, whether by State or Local law/regulation, registrants are not allowed to live, visit, loiter, etc. If it is not on the map, then it doesn’t count. This having to guess is should be unconstitutional.
I agree allan when trying to find housing every address we looked at we had to call the sheriffs office to find out if the address was compliant . its funny that we look around the area and there is no schools, parks etc. But when we call we are told nope, there is a daycare , it’s like there is no signs for a daycare but then they say it must be a home daycare !!! I mean come on if they are not required to have a sign and its not on any map that we can access then how can they say we are in violation for being in close priority. But if they did put it all on a map that the public was able to access they would have 2 problems
1. The public would be able to see that there is hardly place we can live already and might not continue voting yes when they want to add distance Because most people don’t realize how big a 2500 foot circle is.
2. Everyplace would be hard lined so they couldn’t lue or just arbitrary say no because there is a this or that just to keep you from being able to find a place.
It also says treat others as you would have them treat you
Whatsoever you do to the least of your brothers and sisters you do into me.
And let’s not forget ALL have fallen and come short of the glory of god.