FL- Miami Tries To Shutdown Sex Offender Camp

There is something NEW in this report, the State takes a position, while it may not yet be official it is the first time the state has spoken on such issues. If the state makes its position known OFFICIALLY, then it has basically overridden local residency laws -as to distance-. Further, since the ONLY registrants under state control are those on parole or probation, then that -distance- applies to them.

And, FLASH, it would mean anywhere in the state, all local residency laws would be overridden -as to distance- and only for folks on P or P; which would make it easier for P&P Officers to place such offenders. However, registrants NOT under state jurisdiction would have to move or likely be arrested.

6-3-2009 Florida:

A homeless camp filled with sex offenders living under the Julia Tuttle Causeway is once again creating controversy.

City officials in Miami are trying to relocate the sex offenders who have been living under the busy bridge over Biscayne Bay that connects Miami to Miami Beach.

In a letter sent to Gov. Charlie Crist this week, Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez said the state should move the 70 offenders who have been living under the Julia Tuttle Causeway because the city considers a nearby island to be a public park.

The state does not agree.

Picnic Island #4, as it's known, is located 1,200 feet from the Julia Tuttle and is only reachable by boat.

Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger told CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald that the state doesn't consider the island to be a children's park and it doesn't have a playground. The island is also far enough away from the bridge to meet the state's requirements, even if it doesn't meet the city's. The state's required distance is 1,000 feet, while the county's is 2,500 feet.

The camp started in 2007 after Miami-Dade County passed an ordinance which made it illegal for convicted sex offenders to live within 2,500 feet of where children might congregate. Residents of the makeshift camp say they're unable to find affordable housing that does not violate the ordinance.

City Manager Hernandez claims the offenders are violating the law for living too close to the park. But Miami police won't arrest the offenders and remove them because the land under the causeway belongs to the Florida Department of Transportation which makes it state jurisdiction.

The state has said it would urge the offenders to leave, but the community has continued to grow. Many offenders work during the day and return at night, as required by the state. They wear GPS devices so probation officers can follow their movements. Wives and girlfriends visit and often stay over. ..Source.. by Lisa Cilli