Why is the Registry Punishment?
I can’t believe that we are still having to answer this common sense question. Isn’t it obvious?
Apparently to the judges of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, who recently overturned a lower court’s decision that the registry was cruel and unusual punishment, it’s not so clear. Neither was it clear to the judge in the Southern District of Florida who felt that forcing people into homelessness due to Miami-Dade county’s harsh residency restrictions isn’t punishment either. Incredible given that two of the original defendants on that case had died homeless on the streets of Miami by the time the Court heard the case. How is this possible?
Well what is common sense to us isn’t necessarily common sense to a judge. We must remember that judges, like all of us, live in their own world, socialize with their own friends and exist in their own preconceived notions about society, crime and the law. In other words, they have no clue what’s it like to live one day in our shoes. If, just for a week, one judge could have his name, photo and information listed on the Florida Sex Offender Registry, make him go out and find a job, a place to live while raising two kids or try to find a partner to spend life with, then have him come back and make the decision as to whether or not the registry is punishment. Wouldn’t that be glorious?
Residency restrictions, going to our kid’s schools, having a shot at keeping a job, finding a place to live, going to church, all of these things can continue to be denied us because our presence on the registry isn’t punishment. This is hogwash. You know it but the Court’s don’t see it because apparently we have yet to make our case crystal clear.
In an effort to do that we want to compile a list describing in detail the punitive effects on a registrant, their family, friends, employers and others in their lives, experienced living a lawful everyday life. Please include your experience in the comments below. Be specific and we will compile your comments for a “master list” of the punitive effects of the registry. Also remember that this is specific to our presence on the registry, not the criminal conviction itself nor any hardships as a result of probation requirements. PLEASE only list events that happened to you, not commentary.
Judges don’t know what they don’t know, so we have to tell them. We look forward to your comments.
I live in constant fear that someone will use my information published on the public registry to cause me or my family harm such as a physical attack or even murder. How do we know this can happen? Just ask federal Judge Esther Salas. Her son was murdered and her husband was seriously wounded by a gunman who targeted her and her family just because she is a judge. That can happen to anyone who is on the public registry just because of being on the public registry.
People who are listed on the registry have been murdered just because they were listed on the Hit Lists. At least one spouse has been murdered because of the Hit Lists. Beyond that, definitely most families are harmed. I’ve yet to see a Person Forced to Register whose children are not bullied or worse. I think that is a given. The Hit Lists harm children every day.
I remember in the past F.A.C even posted someone was killed because of the registry that was NOT even the person they thought they were but just LOOKED like the registered person.
Read about the sex offender panic in Britain in the summer of 2000. Lead by the now defunct News of the World tabloid. The News of the World somehow got ahold of a list of sex offenders who were being released from prison. A whole lot of vigilantism occurred. And in a country where a lot of people share the same name, many if not most of the vigilante victims weren’t even sex offenders. This is probably the main reason why the UK’s sex offender list hasn’t been made public.
DOESN’T THE SUICIDES ALONE PROVE IT IS PUNISHMENT?
By sharing my worst moments online for the world to see and publishing my face and my address, my punishment was not just mine–my family was also punished. My wife was kicked off of non-profit volunteer opportunities. My daughters were excluded from groups when they were in school.
A few years ago, I was doing quite well. It was a decade after my arrest and I was the president of the board of a religious congregation. Although many people knew of my conviction, some didn’t. One of those who didn’t saw my name on the registry and decided to make an issue of it publicly. At the same time, I was a negotiating a lease deal for the building for an after-school care program to solve a shortage problem in my town. The organization pulled out of the deal because of my placement on the registry. The town suffered. The religious community suffered. The media picked up the story and I was shamed and humiliated once again – both locally and nationally.
Trying to rent a room/share an apartment or house (not only does your new roomie find out that they are now a public target, so is their vehicle.)
Mysteriously getting a flat tire (nail/screw puncture) about twice a month for more than a year (It happened to me until I moved.)
Having to piss off your boss by taking time off from work several times a year to make a trip downtown.
Having a police car at your home
Having to report to the county jail several times each year
(Just for starters)
I have worked very hard to rebuild my life many times now. When I first was released from state custody I spent time under an overpass. I found legal housing at a hotel, but when a TV News Crew put the hotel on blast for allowing Sex Offenders to live there I was kicked out. I was a lucky one, they gave me a week to find something else. I had the support of family and friends and found an apartment in a legal zone that was 2-3 times as expensive as comparable housing in other areas not approved. Finding a job was a major hurdle, because I not only had to identify as a felon, but as a sex offender. Most recently I was accepted by a Social Organization- trying to do some good in this world, and when it was found out my past I was immediately suspended and pending banishment. I have to take unpaid days off whenever I need to register something with the Sheriff. I finished my sentence. I finished Probation. Shouldn’t there be an end to the registration as well?
To transfer to a larger company, I must pass a background check. I’ve been given acceptance letters from companies making $100,000+ a year, but once a background check is done, they’ve pulled the offer.
God, where to begin? We couldn’t keep our house due to residency restrictions, we would have owned it outright by now. Lost job, of course. Got job, eventually, for MUCH less money, and when a disgruntled employee found husband on the registry slid a mug shot pic under boss’s door. The employee then called the news stations,who swarmed the business and our house, where my 84 year old dad in a wheelchair answered the door. The business owner has no choice but to fire him, that kind of news is bad for business. Our credit is in disrepair, my car has been egged routinely, we both live in constant fear, and every night there’s another news story about horrible sex offenders, are they in your neighborhood? We’ve also had the now expected scam phone call trying to get money and threatening immediate arrest. We know better now, and thank heaven knew an attorney, but those few hours terror were indescribable. Husband got another job, for even less money, where they take advantage because they know the situation, and where else is he going to go? We’re well into our fifties and the realization that this is never going to be over makes it hard to even face the next day sometimes.
I’ve had two civil cases that were seen as unlooseable until the attorney discovered my s/o conviction.
Been on the registry for 21 years. Was only sentenced to 10 years registry as a Sexually Oriented Offender in Ohio in 1998. I was under Megan’s Law, and the Adam Walsh Act was imposed before my 10 yrs was up. That changed my classification and extended my registration.
Since 2009 (After I was supposed to be off the registry) I’ve been arrested 3 times now in 2 different state, twice in florida in 2 years, and have done prison each time for failure to register!!!!
I’ve done 3 YEARS FOR TECHNICAL REGISTRY VIOLATIONS,….the sex offense sentence was only a year, and I’ve done TRIPLE THAT FOR REGISTRY RULES?!?!?!
I was able to get my ex girlfriend to let me stay at one of her properties and when I registered her address they told me I had to give them her auto information. Her helping me has now put her information on their site without her written consent. She has never had to provide her vehicle information before and 3 days after her vehicle information was recorded she was pulled over by three undercover police with guns drawn and they searched her vehicle citing they pulled her because she didn’t stop at a u turn. We have lost untold of application fees for rent screenings in Ohio for years, and we have moved too many times to count, cause we’d rent a place, I’d register it, then we’d get kicked out and lose our deposit and 1st months rent, and was only there days,…and rent another uhaul, etc.
Background checks for jobs go back 7 years or so. Being on a publicly accessable list ensures the 7 year doesn’t amount to much.
I was denied a raise for 4 and half years while others got raises. As of now I’m the least paid person in my job by 5 dollar gap. And I’m missing out on so many things to do with my son, I can’t go to any school functions,can’t do any of his cub scouts with him.
The registry has prevented me from finding gainful employment. Consequently, I am on governmental programs such as SNAP and public healthcare. If the registry was not made public, then I could find gainful employment and be self sufficient.
This is why:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/670990346356255/
https://www.facebook.com/Judy.Cornett.PP.SZA
http://www.safetyzoneadvocacy.org/
https://shoalandaspeaks.blogspot.com/search?q=sex
Just found out about these groups thanks to Derek’s blog:
http://www.oncefallen.com/vigilantes.html
Here’s more reasons:
https://sexoffendernews.blogspot.com/
http://murders-new.blogspot.com/
The Valigator is dead (R.I.P.) but her hate lives on:
http://sexoffenderissues-valigator.blogspot.com/
My husband was placed on the registry in 1998, and honestly unless he applied for a job, no one that we know of (other than our close friends and family) was even aware of his status. We quietly lived our lives, for a while. Fast forward to I believe 2007, and we started getting unannounced visits twice a year from JSO. Then about a year or so later, a 10 year old girl about 2 miles from our neighborhood goes missing. That resulted in a search of our home at 2am on a Sunday morning, no search warrant, just 10 JSO officers on our porch telling my husband they were going to search the house and he couldn’t do anything about it (the girl wound up being a runaway that was found that same morning hiding in her next door neighbors yard).
I’m anxious when we travel out of state because I’m what- ifing the residency requirements wherever we go.
Everyday our son goes to school, I pray no one ever finds out about his dad’s status. Halloween of course is a no go, or decorating for any holiday for that matter. (I still dont understand how being denied our religious right to decorate for Christmas isn’t illegal.)
Unable to live in most decent places (city/county ordinances or apt lease rules)
Change of address hassles and having to update license so quickly after a change
Fear about keeping address/car ownership listing current in emergency situations (emergency addr change or car rental)
Having to register in other states while traveling
Having to register “temporary residences” when traveling in Florida
Inability to travel nomadic-ly (maybe hike in the Appalachians) without fear of arrest or threats
Having to research registry laws, accurately, outside of Florida before travelling
Prohibited presence within certain “zones” in counties like Seminole and Brevard
Inability to attend some public meetings and/or demonstrations in prohibited “zones”
Having to register email addresses, Internet ID’s, phone numbers – lack of privacy
Fear of being refused entry to foreign country – usually very costly
Stamp of shame of the passport
Requirement to register intent to travel abroad and the trip details required
General public shame and possible vigilantism
Hard to keep friends or lovers due to restrictions on life and/or distrust by the other person
Having to appear for in-person registration during the year
Not being allowed on school campuses for your own kids’ events
Not being admitted to college or adult schools or campus restrictions if allowed to attend at all
Not being able to work or to volunteer on a school campus without registering it online and then being outed by the State
Being forbidden from using adult social media sites
Fear about being surveilled by law enforcement everywhere that you go
Having to register vehicles of other folks staying at your residence
Hassle of at least semi-annual police address verification visits – often before dawn
Lifetime registration without qualitative evaluation of your danger to your community
Remaining on Florida registry after moving out of the state permanently
Having to register in other states for a lifetime only because Florida required you to
Unable to get many jobs
Unable to get bonded or insured for many jobs or events
Not allowed to be a member of YMCA and other groups
Effect of your registration on your family members – your kids getting bullied
Stress of keeping up with specifics of new, unclear and punitive legislation
Having no refuge or refuge only at the jail during severe weather events
Having little political power – speaking out in public exposes me as an offender
Possibly forbidden to enter certain hospitals even in crisis situations
Law enforcement officers’ differing opinions regarding what the laws are – getting arrested by mistake
The bunk house I found to stay at, let me stay as a registrant for 6 months. That is until a neighborhood activist went to the Mayor of Houston to complain that there were too many of “us” staying there. They gave me a week, before kicking me out.
I found a woman who accepts and loves me. Her family disowned her.
I move to Florida, I find an apartment in a registrant approved part of the city. My realtor hires me as maintenance and gets the riot act read to her by the Sheriff’s Sargent. Blessedly, my realtor sides with me. A neighbor catches wind that I live next door, they get on Facebook and tell everyone that the Realtor has a sex offender working for them.
Judges are human beings, and as such, are just as biased or un-biased as any other human being.
I thought that by taking the oath as a judge, prejudice is supposed to be left behind?
Where I live there is a bike and walking paved path that covers much of our city. It passes just 400 feet from my home. By law I am not allowed to use it or loiter within 500 feet of that marked bike path, punishable as a felony with 7 years in prison. If I decided to sit in a lawn chair in my own yard I could be arrested. If while mowing my grass I paused to rest for 2 minutes I could be arrested for loitering within 500 feet of a bike trail and spend the next 7 years locked in a prison. All because of a single conviction 20 years ago that landed me in prison for 30 months. If I ever move I will loose “grandfathered” status and never again be able to life within a distance of any path, school, church, daycare, home daycare, playground, McDonald’s with a play area, park, bus stop, place where children might congregate, etc. For the rest of my life. But I still have to pay property tax to maintain all of those things that I can never use or be near.
Oh boy where do I start. I have been living in this hell for close to twenty years. It’s almost impossible to find housing when you do the price is 3 times what is normal. I have a degree in culinary and a degree in ac repair you know what’s my profession. Driving trucks. Yes the two degrees I spent over 70 grand to obtain I can’t use them because I’m on the registry and nobody will hire me. I spent two years living on the street not because I didn’t have support of some family and could have easily stayed with them but because of residency restrictions kept me from staying with them.
It also kept me away from homeless shelters. So when hurricanes come our way I’m forced to just sit back and face the elements. Currently single because every worthwhile relationship I ever enter into once she finds out I’m on the registry the relationship ends because she doesn’t want the stigma!I can go on and on but to sum it up it’s denied and rejected from housing , from jobs, from religion from society. And not to mention everyday I fear for my life hoping and praying a vigilante doesn’t come across my name and come to kill of me and the household
I have been a member of Facebook for about 8 years…but two days ago I was removed from that social meeting place.
I feel I’m being punished for a crime that is 20 years in my past
I cant see how my friends feel about current affairs in regards to voting for a president. I cant read about issues that affect me and my future. I’m no longer a part of the conversation with my peers about issues that affect all of us.
It’s very sad and wrong that simply because of a title I’m no longer welcome on a social internet.
Thanks. Re FB were you convicted? Their policy seems to be if convicted. But if you had a withhold of adjudication then you may be deemed to not be a convicted felon. Note I am not an attorney.
Did FB inform you why they removed you?
I myself have withheld adjudication and FB did remove me many years ago. They do not give notice or explanation, they just remove
Your conviction is not what FB looks at. What they do is sneakingly match your face (if you post pics of yourself) to your photo on the registry. When signing up for FB if you’re still on the registry, DO NOT put your real birthdate in the sign up section. DO NOT post pics of your face (unless MAYBE you’re wearing sunglasses). And you DO NOT have to use your real name. I had an account under an artistic name I use for about 4 yrs, then Dick (and I mean that with all pun intended) Blumenthal demanded FB to use face recognition to kick off anyone who is on the registry. Because I had a crap ton of pics on there of my ex and I and all our fun outings, I got the boot in my 4th yr on FB.
When I came off the registry, I made a new account and everything is cool.
I was also kicked off of Match.com when on the registry within 3 days of paying for a membership. Since being off the registry, I have a new Match.com profile (because I am fresh out of another relationship). Fully paid membership with credit card and no issues.
These platforms check the sex offender registry, not your criminal record.
Maestro
You JUST made our point, it IS in fact punishment because it goes WELL beyond just our criminal history which 95% of people are not going to go pay for a background check to get.
But for free, anyone with an internet connection can look you up and in a small amount of time ruin your life.
90% of the people I get grief from are not even in my neighborhood
Unless you happen to be in Hendry County Florida and Sgt Bonnie Weaver goes out of her way to report all registrants to Facebook and then denies she did it.
@Edward Ruggles. No Facebook = No commenting on most news articles which host the most public, open & lively forum the word has ever had. But you can only participate in said medium if you have a Facebook account.
Add me to the list of “thanks for being on FB now get the eff off” list. I figure I was on there for around 12 years or so and just poof – or as I call it “Thanos-ed”
It totally sucks because I was an admin on a couple of active boards as well as member of several groups whereI have an active hobby. It was a great resource for keeping up on things.
Have been offered jobs only to have the revoked when find I am publicly listed in a registry in at least 15 occasions
Have had my registry picture plastered by a disgruntled neighbor on all the doors of the gated community where I live
Have neighbors that do not returns hello since then
Have had to pass running for HOA Board member for fear of retribution and or being ostracized when opponents say I am on registry
Have had a same disgruntled neighbor call a police officer to a HOA board vote because I volunteered to do the counting. Officer left as there was nothing wrong with it.
Have had my vehicle vandalized inside my gated community on several occasions
Unable to attend family events at parks
Unable to attend political and non profit events held at parks
Unable to participate in political events held/seen thru Facebook
Unable to move as no availability to what I can afford due to residency laws
Unable to join certain business networks due to being on registry
Unable to do extended visits with out of town family as have to register the address which can cause them embarrassment and or retribution
Have had varios occasions of new acquaintances stop communicating with me once found out I am on the registry
Family disputes due to being publicly listed
Depression/Anxiety about meeting new people or networking for fear/embarrassment they will eventually find out due to the high visibility of being on the registry
Constant worry that any innocent or innocuous comment or glance by me at a child or woman may be misinterpreted by someone that knows I am on the registry.
Paw Paw (me) is banned from taking his Grandson to any of the theme parks.
PawPaw is not allowed to take his Grandson to the Playgrounds to play
PawPaw is not allowed to bring his Grandson to school as I / we are not allowed on school properties
PawPaw is blocked from logging onto Nextdoor to see what they are saying about me / OR just seeing what is going on in my neighborhood in general because registered persons AND anyone who lives at their address is legally banned from making an account.
Denied ability to live with family. With my wife and children. Denied ability to reside in a safe place. Denied work. I have a Master’s Degree that is now useless. Have to live in fear that violating some technicality will land me in prison. Like failing to register someone else’s car. Denied the right to vote. To not be counted in the Census.
LE in Central Florida use license plate scanners/readers that alert them whenever someone on the terrorist watch list or SO list is within range. LE has virtually stalked me in traffic because my registered tag alerts them to my presence. The average felon does not have this type of on going surveillance against them.
Was recently harassed by 3 U.S. Marshalls banging on door and entering the backyard to peer through windows. Which is a violation of the 4th amendment by entering on to the curtilage of our property. Missed an opportunity to film the guy in the backyard. Thinking of contacting the ACLU.
I have to take days off of work and spend my precious time and money because the state is forcing me to do things after my sentence has been fully satisfied. I understand I am not being specific.
I had to take a day off work and waste a vacation day 4 times a year to go register. Lunch hour was not enough time. Sometimes I wait up to two hours to be seen depending on how many people are in line.
1) Had State Police stalk teenage daughter’s bedroom while they were changing – When we filed complaints and went to the committees they didn’t even have the decency to try and lie. Outright admitted they stalked a private residence and watched underage teenage girls change and get undressed (Barb is very familiar with the case and can verify) . The one-paragraph reply was to the effect that it was perfectly legal and justified because the father was on the registry.
2) Schools and teachers abuse children by publicly announcing parents that are on the registry opening children up to harassment by other students. Also, they treat students of registrants as pariahs and different. Very well documented (again Barb has records)
3) Children of parents on the registry are often not allowed to play with other kids, not allowed to their homes, not allowed to participate in Church activities and they are forced to endure the shame, whispers, and stares their parents endure if they attempt to go to church.
4)Children of parents on the registry are forced into poverty, starvation, and low income because the parent continually struggles to stay employed. As soon as they get a raise, promotion, or someone gets jealous the busted magazines or word of mouth gets spread and another job is lost.
5) children of parents on the registry have reduced medical standards and reduced medical health because of this. How can a parent afford braces or medicines when they can’t afford food since they are not permitted to have a job.
6) children of parents on the registry have reduced housing. The only places they are allowed to live if they can find any or a way to afford them are in poverty-stricken high crime neighborhoods that endanger the child’s life every day.
7) children of parents on the registry have a higher chance of suicide and attempted suicide because of the stress, trauma, and bullying they face. Many reports liken it to the same traumas as a returning soldier from combat zones..
Do I need to continue? The list of the second class standard of living standards that are forced upon the children of the “registrant cast” of second class society are virtually unlimited and unprecedented to any other categorization or segment of society. It could easily be considered as modern-day slavery, except worse… There is a reason it has been likened to the holocaust and Chinas Whyger genocides.
It is not that the judges dont know..They know very well. It is that they dont care and in many cases enjoy the power and attention it gives them.
All opportunities even with 2 MA degrees and 20 years of experience, gets me a job that barely pays minimum wage.
Residential restrictions are horrific. There are no places in to live in the most Southern counties of Florida, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe. This causes mass homelessness!
It restricts mobility. The Passport is marked with an embarrassing identifier, most countries will not even let you in to their country.
Constant harassment by the local Law Enforcement community. Showing up at the home unannounced to do residential checks and neighbors see the presence of Law Enforcement at your home continually.
life will never even be close to before your name enters the SOR, it’s a constant reminder of a past mistake and does not allow one to more forward with his / her life.
We booked a two-week stay at Value Place. After four days, I was notified that we would have to move out the next day because I was on the Michigan Sex Offender Registry. No refund was provided.
After spending nine months planning with our builder and moving into our new home. I changed my address according to my new address to satisfy the SOR requirements. I was approached by our builder as he was concerned that I was on the SOR and his daughter had put money down on a neighboring lot. He was not sure if his daughter would want to live next to a sex offender. He also mentioned he didn’t know if he would have built us a house if he had known I was on the registry.
After settled in, the word was out that the community that a sex offender was living among them. We were approached by the property developer, the President of the association, my builder, and the builder’s son in law. We were told they wanted us to move out of the house. The developer would pay us the price for the house. If we don’t move out they were going to get the sheriff to get us to move. We had to hire an attorney to help us stay in our house.
To get better acquainted with the neighborhood I thought it would be a good idea to join a community group on the internet. This would keep us updated on new neighbors, crime in the area, yard sales, and community picnics. I submitted an application to join nextdoor.com and was refused membership because I am on the sex offender registry.
We planned a two-week vacation to Costa Rica. Upon arrival, immigration refused me from entering the county because I was on the Sex Offender Registry. The government booked us on the next flight returning to the states.
In ADDITION to all of the above… my fiancé is currently in a foreign country working on a PhD. I go to visit (it’s one of the countries, luckily, that doesn’t ban SO’s outright) as often as possible. The last trip, I had just checked in to the hotel where we were staying (she lives in student housing) and there’s a knock on the door. Three local vice squad officers “investigating” because my passport is flagged, and my local PD sent that country my itinerary. My fiancé was accused of being a prostitute, I was detained in the hotel office. Luckily her student ID, passport, and the fact that she’s been dating me for over two years and knew about my case swayed them, and they left. The hotel didn’t even kick us out – but we got “looks” every time we passed through the lobby. I’m hesitant to go BACK, not knowing if I’ll be turned away at passport control, or if more vice officers will visit…
I was arrested 10 years ago, ive been out for 8. 7 of those years I was not legally allowed to live in my house nor any house in the city. Oct 2019 I was finally able to sell my house and move so me and my wife could live together without fear of someone turning me in for being at my own house that ive owned for 20 plus years. I finally can take a deep breath of relief but still feel the fear of day to day activities.
Via Email:
1 i first moved to fl i stayed with my inlaws and the police showed up at there apt,neighbors saw cops with sexofender shirts and started with my inlaws i moved out.
2 second place i was able to sty for a short time then my neighbors found out and ran me out of the neighborhood move again.
3 bought a house in palm beach cty and had no problems till a neighbor saw the detectives here,a kid went missing a mile away from my house and the came looking at me,scared the crap out of my daughter(6 at that time).
3 neighbors started messing with me rocks through windows spray painted crap on my house .
Everything was fine after that “UNTIL” the nextdoor app came out, now the new neighbors are giving me Hell. With Halloween coming up, I have been getting a lot more dirty looks as people drive or walk by my house. The dog doo has been piling up in my yard and I DONT have a dog.
Just received this email from an investment bank
“I hope this finds you well.
Thank you for your e-mail. I have reviewed your request with local management.
After careful consideration, unfortunately, the decision is not to continue your relationship with the firm.
We wish you nothing but the best in your future dealings.
Your Financial Advisor will be contacting you to make the arrangements for your account transfer.
Sincerely,”
Note: my crime was a sex offense (not money related) in 2008. I was convicted in 2010. I completed probation in 2015. I came off the registry in 2020. I’ve been with this investment firm for 20 years. NOW, they’re firing me as a client because of my offense in 2008. The email I wrote was an appeal, asking them to unfreeze my account. I had the support of my financial advisor, who wrote a letter advocating for me.
My free speech is limited when I can’t show up at certain restricted locations to give my opinion at rallies or government meetings.
I’m not allowed in some churches.
I’m also compelled to disclose my status as a registered person on my driver’s license.
I’m prevented from voting.
Law enforcement will require me to come to my door to meet them at least twice annually. I’ve seen them snooping in my side yard before coming to my front door.
I am condemned to the registry, for life, based only on the fact that I was arrested – and not even convicted.
Good evening to all and I hope this finds everyone safe and in good health.i am writing this tonight because I feel as though I need this to be heard in the courts and brought to light for the many of us forced into the streets in Miami. I was convicted of a sex offense in 2009, was released in 2015 and forced into Miami because I had no address to go to in my home state of Colorado. Since my release from Federal prison I have come across many of the same nightmares that is being faced every day. We are forced to live in the streets, being moved around everytime someone complains and have to deal with the weather. At first I did not have a tent or any kind of shelter and no money to take care of myself. I thankfully now do get disability. One of my disabilities is that I have sleep apnea and have a CPAP machine in which I can not use because of the situation I am forced to live in. My health is no longer the best and I face the fact that with my sleep apnea I stop breathing at least 30 times within an hour. At times I fear going to sleep because of that fact. It’s a sad day when we as people, human beings get treated worse than an animal because of a poor decision that we had made. It’s also sad when the courts are not fully aware of the situation we face on a nightly basis. Where we are now, there is gun fire to be heard throughout the night. Myself and many others get tired of living like this and at times we want to give up. Since I have been out here I know at least 3 people who have died out here. Yet the one person who is in charge of fighting the homelessness is the same one who fights to keep us here. I yet have to find a place that I can move into unless I move to homestead. Yet with my court ordered sessions is here in Miami and is a travel that makes no sense in taking due to the fact it would be an all day thing. We are constantly being looked at, stared at and put on display like we are an attraction at the zoo. I agree that for once, maybe those that feel like we need to be put out here should walk in our shoes. Not for a day but a week at least. Let them feel, see and taste what it feels like to be an outcast. I don’t condone my actions but I paid me debts to society, why should we continue to do so. The judges need to actually listen to what people are saying and do some research before they look at how deep their pocket is and realize that they are causing a serious problem. They are making people want to either get violated so the have a place to lay their head or even worse. We messed up our lives with our actions and majority of us accept that fact. Why should we have the courts as well as a certain individual continue to ridicule us and keep us down? I understand that people want to protect their families but let the truth be told. I can honestly say this one thing, what I fought for as an army soldier is dragged down and burned by the greed that our courts and elected officials have. I would rather sleep in a combat zone than sleep in the conditions that we are forced into. At least there we had showers, restrooms and some kind of normalcy. I beg the courts to see what is actually being done to those that they force into homelessness. Hear our stories and the stories of our families. Let them see how they are further destroying families. Enough is enough.
I have been denied housing, had property vandalized, I’ve had offers of employment rescinded after the background check comes back. I also am forced to live very far away from society including my fiancé who wants nothing more but to spend the rest of her life with me. My children have been teased about their father’s label (our last name is not very common) as well as I have not even attempted to attend any school function as I am fearful of being ousted in public further embarrassing my children or the children of my fiancé.
When or if we have to be hospitalized, we have to notify the Sheriff’s office we are at a hospital. They then notify the staff who can then abuse us as they see fit.
My personal story of this. I went in for kidney stones. When the nurse came in to check my catheter, she started pulling on it and causing me great pain. She kept telling me she “Knew all about me” and “Was going to make sure I never used my *ick again”. I started screaming for help and she ran out of the room.
When I made a formal complaint, they said she was a supervisor and that a manager in the morning would come take a report. No one ever came to take a report and I called a lawyer from my room and they stated, unless you have permanent damage, there is nothing I can do for you.
I cant find a home to rent because whenever I disclose to the landlord about being on the registry, its always, Im sorry but I cant rent to you, or even more ruthless, your kind is not wanted around here.
I have lost a few jobs too from being listed on the Registry. One job was at Tampa Electric, better known as TECO. I had been working there for a year, when I came into the shop one afternoon and my supervisor, who did know about my past, told me that the Personnel Manager had gone through some of the background checks and came across mine and told him to immediately let me go. He tried to talk to her for me to keep my job, but she wouldnt budge on it.
Another job that I was let go from , I was a subcontractor for five years with U S Homes, Installing Interior Trim in new homes. Never once been questioned about anything, always done my work on time, and quality work, thats why I had been working there for five years. So one day I get a call from the President of Lennar Homes who owns U S Homes, He tells me out of the blue that my services were no longer needed, I was shocked and confused, I asked why? He told me that he was notified that my name and picture appeared in the Tampa Tribune with all the other sex offenders, and somebody from the company recognized me and told him about it.
It is ridiculous the things we have to go through, to live our life the best we can, but each year that goes by, there are more and more restrictions and or laws that are put in place to restrict us even further. I have been off of paper, Probation, since 1998, but yet 22 years later, now in 2020 I still have to watch everywhere I go and what I do because the Registry makes it harder and harder to live a normal life, and it gets more difficult each year due to the added restrictions of The Registry. I know this is alot to read, but thank you for letting me tell a small part of my story.
Constant mental anguish, true remorse for pain you have caused and you live with , therefore, making positive strides in the right direction doesn’t matter as it is evident by the over policing amongst other things. Have to show flagged id at new dentist office hoping he won’t mess up my teeth… Last dentist forgot to fill in a cavity… He was new too… Makes me wander if my id has anything to do with this… The office personnel look at me with a disdain look. Fear for vigilante making an attempt to hurt me or, (better yet)my innocent family ,because I will defend myself to the extreme force neccesary which legally I would be within my right,but with these misguided ignorant current tense designations not sure. That’s all the FACTS i wana share for now.
Thank u.
I called Disney World Customer service today. I said you laid off 15,000 employees and now just announced 720 union workers are also being laid off.
I said you guys are bleeding money but will not let an offender visit even if their crime was over 30 years ago. There response was “Yeah, anyone with a sex offense who tries to enter our parks will be immediately trespassed by the sheriff’s department and banned for life”.
24yrs. Later I’m still on the registry. My youngest daughter had to grow up without a Dad because no judge would enforce my visitation rights. I now have grand kids and my kids all but one live long distances from me. They can’t understand why I don’t keep in touch on Facebook and why I don’t go to the grand kids school events. I’ve lost several jobs when they find out I’m on the registry. Had to retire early because of it. I’m snubbed by neighbors that don’t know me because of it. I’m forced to being a hermit.
Loss of Income or the Ability to Earn Similar Income Streams
This is why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m_epLZTtC8
Helloween hate and fear mongering.
I applied for a job that paid very well at my interview I explained my charges I explained I had pled guilty and took responsibility for my actions some 7 years earlier I explained I had completed probation paid my all of my fines early and had gotten married and had a infant child and just wanted to resume my life before I made a error in judgment in which no one was injured to not 1 not 2 but 3 interviewers all agreed I was a good candidate given my work history and experience and they would forward my application to HR in another state. The first phone call I recieved from HR was very friendly and welcoming they let me know the would be sending me paperwork for a background check I explained to the person my situation once again she asked how long ago and have there been any problems since I said no she replied then there shouldn’t be a problem. I received the background check paperwork filled it out returned it about a week later I recieved a phone call from the same person from HR offering me a position and a start date my wife and I were very excited I accepted. But about 2 days later I recieved another phone call from HR this time a different person notifying me that they were rescinding their employment offer this person sounded hostile and angry not only did she say they were rescinding their offer but I was not to apply to their company for any job openings offered by their company. Now mind you this is someone I’ve never talked to before in a different state after full disclosure to 3 people that I did have face to face meetings with. My wife and I were devastated we had hope for a new beginning and a brighter future just snatched away. I am currently working but at half the salary just above minimum wage at a labor position that has no future.
I can’t go see my mom and dad because of this because they have my little girl and the law is hard to deal with
Its Simple, If you were today to say the felons could not vote now. They agreed to it previously ( then the law change ). But it you were to take it away from them now, the courts would overturn it so fast and say it punishment. But not us
I visited my parents for a week over 10 years ago while on probation in my home state. I’ve never lived in Florida. They added to me their registry list. I’m from out of state and even though I’m no longer required to register in my home state (for over 10 years now) the Florida registry has kept me from getting a job. I had a job offer rescinded after first being offered he job from a large corporation in my home state because of the Florida registration. I certainly would have never visited if I knew this ahead of time. They didn’t let me know this would happen that they changed the law. I had visited in previous years with no issue while also on probation. The actual crime is over 30 years old now.
This case will help you.
BT2020
That makes me think of a song I listened to back when I was a kid by George Jones. It talks about doing time but all of us on the registry are basically doing time.
One verse goes ” Still doin’ time
In a honky tonk prison
Still doin’ time
Where a man ain’t forgiven” .
Also I looked up the definition of punishment in Webster’s dictionary Punishment : the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense.
Although there may be numerous interpretations of what punishment is, the word “Penalty” in the definition needs to be examined.
Penalty: a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
HUMMMMMMM
CherokeeJack
Very interesting! Also you might look up the definition of doxxing and laws against it. I made some quotes a few weeks ago from research I did but FAC didn’t paste it.
DavidM
Yeah about every 10th post or so from me doesn’t make it on here either. I think it depends on who is approving comments that day. Some that make it I can’t believe made it on and others that are award winning Dossiers never see the light of day.
I do recall seeing a post from someone on here about doxxing. Did you ever go back and look? Sometimes I see a post show up that I posted a week earlier.
All, we’ve been deleting posts that express political opinions. Last month, in a weekly update, we reminded members “Just remember, whether in posts, comments on our website or in these weekly updates, we need to keep opinions on religion, politics and certain other controversial topics out of the discussion.”
Punishment an penalty are administered at the time of conviction not years later by another state that has no jurisdiction in this case. If you’re going to post please make some logical sense.
BT2020
Your reply is confusing???? I am making our case and you are bashing me for it? Interesting. If we fight amongst ourselves, the other side has already won. Sad.
I think you may need to Re-read what I wrote. I was basically saying why the registry is punishment by using the definition of punishment and penalty.
Like when the legislators enact a “Law” requiring those convicted of a qualifying sex offense, regardless if adjudication is withheld, to register and the offender doesn’t, he faces a punishment?
Although the requirement to register is triggered by a conviction the punishment imposed is for failing to register as required and does not point back to the original penalty. This is way this statutory scheme is considered “CIVIL”.
Now if the “penalty imposed” pointed back to the original offense/penalty; that is to say: A person who violates this section and whose conviction under s.794.011, s.800.04, s.827.071, or s. 847.071 was classified as a felony of the first degree or higher COMMITS A FELONY of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
or A person who violates this section and whose conviction under s.794.011, s.800.04, s.827.071, or s. 847.071 was classified as felony of the second or third degree COMMITS A MISDEMEANOR of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.775.083
this would make the statue “CRIMINAL” because the punishment imposed for violating this statute is dependent upon the penalty impose by the original offense.
In other words, anyone who violates the requirement to register faces a third degree felony, regardless of the punishment imposed for the original offense.
Tongue twister
I’m in a state that has several tiers/levels and I am not publicly listed. If I want to move to a state where I’d like to live and purchase a home, I CANNOT do that because I will be placed on a public registry there and anyone looking up my name will assume I’m a repeat monster despite having a single internet possession offense. Also it’s none of their damn business what mistake I made years ago.
My life is on hold because Lawmakers, who need to show they’re doing something heroic with taxpayer money, have decided arbitrarily that the public needs to be able to track you and have all details on you. I mean, How Stupid is this?
Purely a SHAMING list nothing more.
Law enforcement already has databases to search for anyone with a sex offense if needed. These outdated laws are absolute bullsh*t, serving no real purpose.
I am facing unemployment becaus our company is closing down. I have applied for numerous jobs and the potential future employers are excited because of the vast experience I bring to them. As soon as they do a background check, they respectfully pull their offer; two companies toild me it was because of the registry. I am not a felon, the judge witheld adjudication. But I am on the Florida registry. So I might become unemployed in 6 weeks because of the Florida registry, where I would already be employed if I wasn’t on it.
This has happened to me numerous times as well and I also am not a felon because the judge in my case also withheld adjudication. I feel your pain, and hopefully one day this state will come to its senses and stop continuing to punish us and trying to define us by our past mistake.
During a criminal back round check, your conviction of a sex offense, regardless if adjudication was withheld, is public record despite the registry.
In other words, its not the registry that’s hurting your employment opportunities, rather the public record of conviction. The only way to conceal this conviction, regardless if adjudication was withheld, is through expungement
CMC
Not true,
I worked at a place that did not do background checks. Was there for 11 years until someone who knew about my past hung registry photos and info of me all over the store for customers to see. That was my last day there. I never lied about my past it was never asked of me on the application.
SO YES, the registry can in fact be the reason you cannot get, have or hold onto a job. Customers are not going to do a background check on you but they may live in your area and have seen you on the Nazi hit list.
So just to be clear, I was PUNISHED for doing nothing but being on the registry. That is punitive damage.
Just to be clear, I committed, plead guilty to, was convict of, and punished for 1 count of sexual battery upon a minor under the age of 12. For doing so I’m required to register as a sexual predator. being classified as such I’m no fan or supporter of the registry. I strongly believe its true intent and purpose is to “PUNISH” through public humiliation and shaming under the guise of protecting the public safety. Personally the embarrassment has at times been so extreme it would be a lie to say I never thought of suicide.
I’m a realist. The registry battle had been fought and lost. As far as the Supreme Court is concerned a conviction of a felony is public information and the mere distribution of such public information is NOT punishment.
There are other battles to fight: Classifying someone a predator based solely upon a conviction without additional due process, declaring the citizenry doesn’t have a right to choose their place of residency, voiding legal contracts (Plea agreements) negotiated with defendants regarding registry requirements and duration, in person requirements to report changes in the toilet paper etc, Address verification visits by law enforcement violating our “Right to be let alone”. Restrictive internet and other social media access laws with the intent to suppress our right of association and freedom of speech.
Its a cold night on the streets of Miami tonight.
My wife works with a man who is on the registry. Someone at her work found out and posted his mug shot in the cafeteria. The owner found out and called the entire office into the cafeteria. He said that he doesn’t know who did it, but if he finds out he will fire them. He also said if anything like this happends again, he will fire each person involved.
This is not typical by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s nice to know that not everyone sees the registry as proof of guilt, or that you are a bad person. My current employer knows I’m on the registry, and supports me as an employee.
The last company that I applied for a job with made an offer and then did a background check. They immediately withdrew their offer and told me it was because I was on the registry (I am not a felon). So yes, the registry is a form of punishment.
Not true!! I have no felony on my record. My offense was a misdemeanor. My background check came back clean for any felonies.
I lost a job in Canada were the list is not available. When my employer saw me on the list in Florida guess what, even though Canada doesn’t even count my adjudication witheld charge as a crime at all I was still let go. Imagine that.
Warg
Sorry to hear about your job. Hopefully the out-of-state challenge will happen soon.
Everyone knows it is punishment. If they did not know it was punishment then they would give it to everyone..Why don’t they give it to everyone? Because they know it is punishment..
The more accurate question and the one No one can answer is , Why should they care that it is punishment when so much money can be laundered through, so many crimes can be covered under it and so many sheep directed using it?
The only way to ever stop it is to convince them it is not a useful tool for elections , finances, and manipulations.. Have fun with that..
Underlying charges that have been formally removed/expunged by trial judge are still listed on public registries under the guise that it still stands as a current conviction. It’s clear attempt to alter the true record, thus all the fallout from public notification voids your status as not guilty of any crime.
“JZ on November 25, 2020 at 11:50 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
So is all this irrelevant now that we’ve lost the ex post facto case?”
So is all this irrelevant now that we’ve lost the ex post facto case
How do you know we’ve lost? It took Michigan ACLU 10 years to get the court to enjoin that state’s registry laws. We are eight years behind them.
Dismissed = Lost
What can we do? Appeal to SCOTUS?
First – there are several steps and we will know which ones the attorneys have taken within the next 4 weeks.
Second – there is an intermediary court between the district court and the SCOTUS, which is the Circuit Court of Appeals.
Maybe I won’t become a lawyer…
If I’m not mistaken, there was something about the statutory language in the Michigan case that probably will be corrected by the State legislature sometime in the future. There is no way the dissemination of public record information alone violates the ex post facto rule or is punitive in nature notwithstanding how “WE” feel. Our convictions are a public record end of story.
Now the rest of it, in person requirements, residency restrictions, internet access etc….are punitive and a different animal.
The requirement to register in person and all other in person requirements are a restraint on our liberty. Address verification visits by law enforcement violates our “Right to be let alone”. Restrictive internet and other social media access laws applied to those released from supervision violate our right of association and freedom of speech and the list continues on. Herein lies the battle.
The registry, as a stand alone public notification tool used to disseminate a public record of conviction, is here to stay.
Why the Registry is NOT punishment was made abundantly clear by the US supreme court in Doe V Alaska in 2005. A conviction of a felony is public information and the mere distribution of such public information is NOT punishment.
At the time of its decision it noted that there was no in person requirement, that those required to registered were free to change jobs and residencies as other citizens and not unlike all other citizens, the registered citizen was required to update any change in residency with the DMV within 48 hours. Finally, depending upon ones situation and after a certain amount of time, it allowed the registered citizen to petition for removal.
All the other nonsense that followed, Residency restrictions, in person requirements, “Moving the Finish line”, all of this resembles Probation, in fact because of the harsh penalties imposed for violating any of these requirements makes them more punitive than probation.
As far as I’m concerned and the way I interpret the findings in both Miller and Alaska is that there may not be a “Right to live where you want” but we are free to change residencies as other Citizens. (Or should be)
There is a lot of misinformation in this post by the various posters.
The ACLU filed Does v Snyder in 2014 and Does became final in 2017. It took the ACLU 3 years to get a final decision. The Oliver Law Group filed Does II in 2018 and we expect a final order in 2021 or 2022. Getting a final order usually occurs within about 2-4 years after filing suit. Getting a TRO can be had in days but in these cases usually take 3-6 months.
The registry in Smith was determined to be civil in nature in Smith. The Ex Post Facto provision (according to the U.S. Supreme Court) does not apply in the civil context. As FAC pointed out, they can appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. This is a very tough circuit for any criminal defendant and certainly worse for registrants. They can also file for a rehearing in district court. If they can tweak their argument, they may have a winning argument in district court.
You have to remember that there were various state and federal court decisions in Michigan that found various aspects of the registry unconstitutional. Only a small portion of these various issues can be cured by the Michigan legislature. The fact remains. The vast majority of registrants whose offense date predates July 1, 2011 must be removed from the registry and there is no law that Michigan can pass to put them back on the registry.
It is difficult to make a determination if registrants whose offense is between October 1, 1995 and July 1, 2011 if they are required to register or not. The fact motion alone in Does I was 269 pages and is available free on SADO’s website. You have to remember that there are multiple lawsuits spanning well over 1,000 pages, if not 2,000 pages that must be read to make a determination if a person is required to register or not.
Getting to the point of publishing truthful information. There is very significant case law where people have successfully sued persons who have published truthful information. There are even more rights to privacy under state laws and constitutions. Michigan limits the publication of MDOC offender information to 3 years and after that, removal is mandatory and automatic.
MSP public registry website lists many thousands of people who offended prior to 6/1/2011.
“The fact remains. The vast majority of registrants whose offense date predates July 1, 2011 must be removed from the registry”
“It is difficult to make a determination if registrants whose offense is between October 1, 1995 and July 1, 2011 if they are required to register or not.”
Scratches head.
Must of the successful case law that I have come across concerning the right to petition removal from the registry applied only to those whose cases predated the AWA. It’s my understanding that for those whose convictions occurred on or after AWA would remain on the registry.
As for Michigan I’m very confident the State legislatures will find a way to lawfully apply the AWA. They may offer instant relief for those whose convictions predate AWA. There’s big bucks to be lost if they don’t.
If as you say the petitions are over 1,000 pages there’s probably much more being argued here than just ones status on the registry.
CMC:
There are also privacy laws which vary from state to state. People have been successfully sued for publishing truthful information. In the context of registrants, you have to be patient until that issue is addressed in court. My sense is that the Florida registry will eventually get sued by an out of state registrant removed from that state’s registry.
Yes. I believe one of the Does in Alaska was finally given relief from Alaska State supreme under that States privacy law which is stronger than Federal. But it was “as applied” to Doe.
CMC and Jacob:
You haven’t been following my posts. Many registrants whose offense date predates July 1, 2011 are still on the registry because Does II isn’t final. They can petition individually to get off of the registry.
There are multiple lawsuits. If you read the agreed facts in Does I, you see that it is 269 pages. I have read through the 269 pages several times trying to help registrants get off of the registry.
There is a paucity of case law on the 406 petitions because removal is mandatory. If you run across any, post them here and I will read them.
I cannot keep responding to these vague and misleading “facts”.There are multiple cases finding different aspects of the registry unconstitutional in Michigan. There is nothing the legislature can do to undue these various decisions. The 269 page motion is only one in one lawsuit. There have been several successful lawsuits and I am confident that there are more than 1,000 pages. Actually, there are probably more than 1,000 pages on the SADO site alone and these don’t even cover half of the lawsuits.
Rest assured, I have been following these various cases and proposed laws in Michigan for several years. Registrants are being removed from the registry. Stop posting misinformation. Don’t post anything until you have actually read these cases and their supporting documents. You are only confusing people and making others like myself, respond to factually incorrect information.
Threat of Arrest with Restrictions and Compliances not law on date of my total release from the State. Is unusualy punishment from any other crime without the Label Sex
HOA said 👎 to purchase. Reason? I’m on a list.
The HOA denied you the ability to buy a house that was legal for you to buy?
WHL
I would not fight it, it will be a nightmare I know from experience.
When I was first put on the registry in 1997, I lived where there was an HOA. They made my life Hell 24/7 , 7 days a week, 365 days a year. I finally moved.
When I was packing my stuff, the HOA manager came over to taunt me. I told him when I was done packing, if you are still there when I was done, one of us was going to jail and the other to the hospital. He got the hint and left me alone while I finished packing.
Yea, I get it. HOA’s can harass and needle people to death. I live in an HOA neighborhood, and lucky for me it isn’t bad like most. But I will never move to another place that has an HOA.
Sorry to hear about your house, I really hope you find a good one without HOA problems.
Yep. There is a requirement in the Purchase Agreement that a sale or rental is contingent upon approval from the local HOA for that community.
I don’t remember that when I bought my home, but it was my first home purchase so I could have easily missed that part.
There are some places that in order to purchase HOA approval is required. And then there are others where the local HOA has no say in the matter.
First of all, I’m sure there are other folks here like me that were never convicted, yet are required to register. No judge ever told me that I would have to register as a SO for a year or the rest of my life. Currently, there is no way that I know of to be removed from the registry, short of having over a half million dollars to spend on taking my case all the way to the Supreme Court. That said, here are my views on the laws being punitive in nature, along with a few experiences that come with being on the registry.
Just having to register in person is punitive. It costs me 10 bucks to park every time. Not to mention gas and miles on my vehicle. Telling a prospective employer that you are required to register and can work whenever they need you, except for 2 or 3 hours when you have to go re register every quarter. Checking the box that says you have never been convicted of a felony on the job application, then the employer does a background check and you come back as a convicted sex offender. Punishment is an understatement.
I can’t coach my kids sports teams, though the incident that landed me on this registry had nothing to do with a minor. This one probably sucks the most as it punishes my kids too. Again, I was never convicted.
I don’t know where I can move. My wife and I have discussed moving to a more rural area or even out of state. Not knowing where you can or can’t go is punishment.
Just tonight, I nearly fell victim to a phone scam. Someone claiming to be from the sheriff’s office called to tell me there was a warrant for my arrest for failing to show up to court to give a dna sample. Being scared is punishment. Being afraid to call the real sheriff’s office to file a report is beyond punishment.
The punitive aspects of sex offender laws in Florida are numerous and never ending. My experience tonight explains certainly proves that.
This is just out.
https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/maryland-v-rogers/
(I read it as) : Maryland petitioner cannot be forced to register except if a court ordered it at sentencing (because it is punishment).
This was a request for the Supreme Court to hear a case and they denied the petition (they will not be hearing the case).
I’m in the same boat as you Gene. And many others. No underlying conviction, yet still on registry. The goon squads even place it online like it’s a standing conviction.
Wholly and entirely unconstitutional to the core.
SORNA is NOT PUNISHMENT as of TODAY, as the new Commander-in-Chief, an oxymoron, is allowing Immigrants with SEX OFFENSES, into the United StATES, WITH OUT ANY REGISTRY STATUE AND HE IS ALLOWING ANY IMMIGRANT IN THE USA WITHOUT PROVIDING A COVID TEST
..TALK ABOUT A SUPER SPREADER!
I think you are right! Anyone with a sex offense should be kicked out of the country and any immigrant with a sex offense should NEVER be allowed into the US. The U.S. is for the American Indians, the true Americans, and not these immigrants from another country!!! I say let’s kick out all non-American Indians too!! And let’s kick out those refusing to take COVID tests!! For a person who uses TruthAndScience as a moniker I find your comments biased. Also, can you explain why a Commander-in-Chief, who has never been impeached, is an oxymoron, compared to one that will be twice impeached, and further who most Americans who voted, and the rest of the world, think is a threat to Democracy?
I would have liked to have a say in the past elections. I use to love doing my duty to vote. When I was in line waiting I would chat up people and never judge them if they were voting for some other party than me. I was just happy we all had the RIGHT to vote.
Florida made a path for ex felons to be able to vote but a large sector of us were told we we were unworthy of our Constitutional right to vote. That even though we did our time, completed all of the requirements under the law, we are still 2nd and maybe even third class citizens who have less rights than some illegal aliens.
Not being able to vote is a lifetime ban / sanction that is under the classification “no brainer” PUNISHMENT. Is taking someone’s rights away and not ever restoring them not punishment? I can understand not being able to be a cop after a felony. I understand not working at a day care if you messed with kids.
What harm could we possibly cause by not being able to vote? The answer is, THEY are afraid we will sway the vote. To me, not allowing us to vote so they can win, is a form of election fraud, is it not?
The harm we could cause by voting would be to vote out those like Lauren Book who choose to pass laws to punish long after the sentence has been satisfied by the courts, and to redefine common sense definitions like “what 24 hours is” to deny us the rights granted every other American not on probation.
The judge withheld adjudication on every count so I am not a felon. That gives me the right to vote, and I have never taken voting as seriously as I do today.
WHL
Hold you head high and proud. Think of me and the others who cannot vote and make it worth it with YOUR vote.
CherokeeJack,
I do, I promise you that. I look up each and every person on the ballet and review their voting history. And I especially look up judges on ballets. When I vote, I really feel like I am voting on behalf of every registered citizen in the state, and I do my part to make it count for all of us.
Ballot. The ballet is something totally different.
That’s what I get for replying while being bored on a teleconference. Ballet sure reads different than Ballot 😉
we can all have a little fun once in a while 🙂
Yes we can 😁
FAC:
I think he is correct in saying ballet. The whole registry thing is nothing but a show.
‘DEEP FAKE’, IS THE NEXT CONUNDRUM FOR ‘PERSONS FORCED TO REGISTER’….
THE ‘FORENSICS PEOPLE’ ARE VERY CONCERNED!