WPTV: Sex offenders have strict Halloween instructions
On Tuesday night, law enforcement will be out making sure sex offenders are following the rules.
The Florida Department of Corrections says sex offenders are given strict instructions on Halloween:
- Do not give out candy or other treats.
- Turn off porch lights, close blinds.
- No outside decorations to attract children.
- Do not answer the door to trick-or-treaters.
- Do not dress in costumes or masks.
- Do not attend Halloween parties where children will be present.
Before heading out, parents should search routes to identify homes where sex offenders live. Avoid knocking on their doors, since they should be doing their part to follow the rules, FDOC says.
During designated “trick-or-treat” hours, FDC probation officers will make personal contact with every sex offender under their jurisdiction and conduct surveillance in local communities.
Safety efforts will also include surprise visits by probation officers, frequent residence monitoring, and increased surveillance at motels and treatment facilities that sex offenders use.
Law enforcement say they will arrest offenders who do not remain in compliance with the terms of their supervision.
and yet another tv station sensationalizing the RSO myths !
http://www.fox19.com/story/36718345/how-to-check-for-sex-offenders-in-your-neighborhood-before-trick-or-treating
Someone affected by all of these restrictions on decorating your home or your body for Halloween should challenge the law on first amendment grounds. How one dresses or decorates their home is a form of speech.
Does anyone know if SO can walk his/her children around to trick or treat here in Florida?
County and City ordinances all vary – you will need to check your local laws.
Duval County (Jacksonville) specifically prohibits all registrants from decorating their homes, wearing costumes, or attending events where children may be present, and requires registrants to put a “no candy” sign in front of their home. Though I don’t see how any of this could stand up to a constitutional challenge.
My son says he did not get his regular visit this year. Seminole County. Anyone else? I’ve gotten to where I hate Halloween.
My son got his visit. 2 probation officers in vests with PROBATION in big letters & accompanied by a deputy. They came in and went through our home looking for a reason to violate, but they didn’t find anything. I was afraid they would plant something. Entrapment is how he got on the registry.
so far I have 2 visits from the Titusville p.d.
1 to check my adderss verification that is done every
month.
2 today to validate my driver license.
what is next.?
I’am not on probation for about 2 years now
what’s up this .?
Every month?! That is insanity, especially if you are not on probation!
I am not an attorney, so please perform your own due diligence, but as far as validating a drivers license at your home, I have personally contacted the ACLU and was advised by an attorney that it constitutes an illegal warrantless search. If they come to your home, they cannot demand you produce your drivers license without a search warrant if you are not on probation or parole. Your rights protected by the 4th and 5th amendments are not waived UNLESS you voluntarily give them up. I have multiple times had rogue statute enforcement officers come to my home and demand I produce the drivers license or answer questions. I ask to see the search warrant they brought with them specifying the items to be produced and I will comply. If they don’t have one, I ask them if it is a crime under Florida law for me to not produce the drivers license, etc., or to not answer questions. If they say no, their job is done and I say goodbye and then close my door. If they say ‘yes’, I invoke my 4th and 5th Amendment rights. If they continue making demands or questioning me, I remind them that I invoked and that they are further violating my rights. They rule by fear…IF you let them. I ALWAYS…ALWAYS…ALWAYS have a video recording device handy before I open the door to them or in my pocket if I’m outside in case they arrive then. I make sure they see it and know I am recording to hold them accountable and as evidence for any court proceedings. We have the right to record our interactions with police, especially on our private property. You may want to consult with an attorney about the warrantless searches. If the police threaten you for not complying with illegal demands, research the following:
F.S. Title XLVI CRIMES
Chapter 836
DEFAMATION; LIBEL; THREATENING LETTERS AND SIMILAR OFFENSES
836.05 Threats; extortion.—WHOEVER, either VERBALLY or by a written or printed communication, maliciously threatens to accuse another of ANY CRIME OR OFFENSE, or by such communication maliciously threatens an injury to the person, property or reputation of another, or maliciously threatens to expose another to disgrace, or to expose any secret affecting another, or to impute any deformity or lack of chastity to another, with intent thereby to extort money or any pecuniary advantage whatsoever, OR WITH INTENT TO COMPEL THE PERSON SO THREATENED, OR ANY OTHER PERSON, TO DO ANY ACT OR REFRAIN FROM DOING ANY ACT AGAINST HIS OR HER WILL, shall be guilty of a FELONY of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
History.—s. 42, sub-ch. 3, ch. 1637, 1868; RS 2420; GS 3261; RGS 5092; CGL 7194; s. 1, ch. 57-254; s. 991, ch. 71-136; s. 1307, ch. 97-102.
There is no exemption in this statute for these public servants called police.
You must show them your drivers license and that’s all.
If they ask you any questions beyond verifying you are who you are and you live there, advise them you want your attorney present.
You “must”? What is the specific Florida statute that mandates that?
http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/1516rpt.pdf
Once a year, unless you move. SORNA requires you to in person register 2/4 times a year. any thing above and beyond is just harassment.
I have a date of offence of 1989. and live in the country on a private rd, The county I live in employs the SPOT program (A computer program that cycles your name every 90 days, used by 7 counties). over the years I have endured a lot of BS from the deputies, This is how I handle the visits, I ask what is your intent? How they respond dictates how I handle the visit. If they say I’m here to do a spot check, than the response is climb your ass back in your car and get the hell off my property or I will call the state police and charge you with armed trespassing, they will leave. I have also complained about the door cards that say we missed you and that you MUST call them right away, I have never called them back. (all correspondence between the sheriff office must be made by registered mail). I have been threatened with arrest so many times I lost count. I keep a log of the visits, car # date time and conduct of officers. Recording the visits keeps them in check.
In my county, LEO’s come by once every 3 months, akin to the requirement of designated sexual predators having to register once every 3 months. So, even if one is not on probation or parole, and even if one is designated a sexual offender (vs. predator), the probation/parole never ends; it simply transitions over to the sheriff’s office. They are basically treating everyone like sexual predators regardless by coming to their homes to perform face-to-face supervision functions akin to probatin or parole (demanding to produce drivers license, asking questions including if you have plans to travel and demanding to know where, when and how, etc.). The entire registration scheme is one big con! It is lifetime probation after one has completed his/her sentence. The grandstanding politicians can candy coat it all they want, but it remains to be one of the most egregious government-sanctioned and court-sanctioned violations of ex post facto that has ever been perpetrated upon Americans.
Can someone please explain the authority that LE bases this decree on? Absent a probation/parole status , exactly why are any of us required to comply without a statute or ordinance mandating us to do so? It seems that on some issues LE makes demands under the guise of some unknown statutory requirement or ordinance that in fact does not exist and relies on the fear of consequences of not complying to get their way. So if you are not on probation or parole and there is no law requiring you to comply why are we doing so?