By Daytona…
Don’t travel to Florida,as I found the hard way.Bottom line is I didn’t do
my homework.
I’m a level 1 living in Mass. In 2015 I made a decision to move to Florida
and retire there.I had lived in Mass all my life without any trouble with the
law. Its been 30 years since my sentencing.There was no Registry then,but I
still had to appear before a local PD to be processed,Finger printed,and
mug shots taken each year till 2000-2001.the Mass.registry was then formed,and I have been on it since.I was given a Level 1 Classification in
2003.I petitioned to have my name removed but was denied.
I had lived quietly alone in the country,and was never bothered.the only
people who knew about my status was the people involved with my
arrest and conviction.
I was contacted by an old girlfriend i knew 40 years ago who lived in
Florida. I made the decision to visit her and see if we could live together.
This is where I went wrong.I had become complacent with my life.
I wasn’t up on all the changes that had happened,Adam Walsh act,SORNA,etc.And Florida’s harsh SO laws.
Off I went after contacting Mass SO registry I was leaving and
headed to my unfortunate demise.
I knew I had an obligation to Register in Florida and as soon I
got there Contacted the local FDLE office.To my surprise I was told there
was no levels in Florida and my name would go public. I wasn’t aware
of how bad things would get for me.I didn’t do my homework!
Three days after moving in with my girlfriend we were called to the
housing complex office where she lived.I was told to leave,I was being
evicted. FDLE had sent emails to the community stating where I was
living. I was furious and went the FDLE office.Only then did I Realise the
mistake I had made by coming to Florida.
I lived in hotels for a couple of weeks, I then called a LIfe-long friend
that lived in Tallahassee and asked if I could stay with him till I figured
out what I was going to do.
I had to now re-register in Leon county,Be re-booked and get another
Florida license.(Re-booked,fingerprinted again and detained for 3 hours}.
After the 2nd week of staying with my friend,he told me he had a visit
from his neighbor, who was a self-appointed crime watch mayor of the
neighborhood. He was told FDLE had again emailed the community
with my ID, and I should leave, I wasn’t wanted there.
Truth being,this was the lowest time of my life,I wanted to end it all.
I had a good friend who I contacted that helped me through this
terrible time.
I left Florida, and never looked back.I came back to Mass. re-registered
again as a Level 1. But Florida wasn’t done with me yet.Because I did
register in Florida my name & ID was out in the public domain now.
I’m a level 1 in Mass. which means my name & ID cannot be given out,
only if requested through along process,and yet I’m in the public domain,
on SORNA, and I never was there before.
Now I wait,after 30 years of this BS for something to happen to me in Mass. as it did to me in Florida.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK!! and DON”T GO TO FLORIDA!!!!
Absolutely. Without a doubt. Supposedly the county that I was caught up in was one of the worst. One of the dirtiest when it comes to the criminal justice system, period. Whether it’s drug cases, armed robbery, etc. I wish I could share my story of how a corrupt detective in Plantation had me facing death at age 21. How he used lies and manipulations on his report against me and in cahoots with the prosecutor had gotten me 32 charges. For my 1st offense. Trust me, Someone was looking out for me.
As a former Probation Supervisor with the State of Florida, yes Florida’s laws are strict and ridiculous. I think any and all Sex Offender Registration laws are out of hand. I think the only one’s if any at all that should have access to this information are law enforcement personnel conducting a CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, in regards to a “true” crime. And then there should not be a registry at all, if they suspect person A then check there background out and go from there.
I feel these types of laws/rules border on VIOLATIONS OF OUR 4TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
It’s NO ONE ELSE’S BUSINESS WHAT MAY OR NOT BE IN A PERSONS’ PAST.
If a person has served his or her punishment, leave them alone. If a person is on supervision, the Parole/Probation personnel no where the offenders are and should be able to work with police investigating any crime involving a sex offense.
There are some federal and state Court Judges who are getting some”hmm” and telling these states there laws are indeed in violation of our Rights as set forth in the BILL OF RIGHTS.
In this article, the writer says:
“Off I went after contacting Mass SO registry I was leaving and
headed to my unfortunate demise.”
This means he was still an RSO in MA when he moved to FL. He was still searchable in the SOR database by still being on the registry. I’m no longer on any registry. Never registered anywhere when I traveled while on it (and was not even told I had to by my former probation officers). So…yeah… I’m gonna have to chance it.
What about being OFF the registry in your current state after fulfilling registry obligations and THEN you move to Florida? Will Florida make you register even if you’re all done with the registry?
I’m pretty sure, yes. If my understanding is correct, it’s that way for most, if not all, states. Your convictions determine your registry status, not your status in your current state. Don’t go to Florida, it’s a hellhole for people with records in general and especially so for RSOs.
Well, then I guess I’m gonna be screwed because I’m moving there next week. It’s where my girlfriend lives and we’ve already put the deposit on the apartment.
I’ve been off the CT registry for a year now and I’ve been down to FL twice for more than 5 days each time. I didn’t go anywhere to register as anything because I am no longer registered.
We even went to the U.S. Virgin Islands for 6 days for her birthday in July.
I’m gonna chance it. If they try to force (i.e. harass) me to register as a SO in their state, I’ll pack up and move back.
This type of issue is one that should be challenged with a lawsuit along with all the residency restriction lawsuits.
Yes. Florida doesn’t care if you are not required to register in another state. Their registration requirements are based on the fact that a person was convicted of a sexual offense in the past. If they find out that person can be charged with failure to comply with the registry law. If that person flees the state they can be extradited back to face charges. We are aware of cases where this has happened to people for simply vacationing in Florida. I recommend that anyone moving to any state become familiar with the registry laws of that state. https://narsol.org/dokuwiki
I really implore you to rethink your strategy. I think if you’re discovered as a person with sex offenses who is not registered and should be, you won’t be “harassed” so much as arrested. Fl doesn’t care about you, or people with sex offenses, at all. For example, 2 days visiting before registration is required, within 2 days after that you have to get a “special” sex offender license/id, and Fl is notorious for its residency restrictions which leaves people homeless, living under bridges, etc. Really, you could not pick a worse state.
You currently live in Ct and were on the registry there? Trust me, Ct is a “good” state. Other states are not like that. My dad lives there and I’ve spent time there, and my experience there was the best of all the places I’ve been. Florida will not be like that.
First of all, wow and WOW! Much respect for your story and for you keeping it together all this time. It’s a battle for sure…keep it together and stay with it.
Society doesn’t know what they’ve enabled with the laws they’ve blindly enacted. Most just see cover stories (ie John Walsh) and they think there’s a movement in victim’s rights that they need to pick a side on. Hardliners on both sides of politics know it’s an easy platform to run on. They built the system to completely pin down an individual.
The system also ensures that the policies in place can survive term after term. People easily unite and vote to pass these seemingly well meaning laws on the surface but the average voter doesn’t care to read about the underlying mechanisms that they’re agreeing too so long as it “cleans up the streets”. Which, again, is an easy platform to run on.
So sorry this happened to you. I won’t even visit florida. Their 3 day registration trigger is especially ridiculous.
I’m pretty sure florida requires registration after only 2 days. And then two days after that, you have to get a “special” license or ID. Yes, avoid Florida; it’s the worst. In so many ways. Nevada also has a two day limit BTW. I spent a summer in Louisiana, and it too was horrific. Just don’t go.