April 11, 2013

No more hiding out for sex predators in Bradford County

Without a doubt this is further punishment by any standard. Now, the U.S. Supreme court has questioned (in Doe) whether it is constitutional for the registrant to carry the government's message PUBLICLY. Here we see a sign placed -on the registrant's property- which forces him to do what the U.S. Supreme court brought into question. Are lawyers up to taking this to court? Further, the law (775.21(7)(a)) (Opps misquoted section) does not say any way he sees fit, it says notify the community, and what must be included in the notification, and who in the community to notify, this sign does not follow the law, it only notifies the his neighbors and folks who pass by.
4-11-2013 Florida:

STARKE, Fla. -- "I don't want another victim," Sheriff Gordon Smith says it's that simple.

To alleviate any confusion parents might have about where sexual predators live, he's posting big red signs, bearing the predator's names, in front of their homes.

"If you're selling Girl Scout cookies, if you're selling whatever, you'll know at that door lives a sexual predator," he said.

The sheriff says the idea came from his staff. He said parents kept calling with concerns. And when they looked, he said "We had more sexual predators in our community than all those other counties, comparable to our size, we had more than all them together. So that's an issue."

Florida law states, as Sheriff, he can notify his community about sexual predators any way he sees fit. "And as I see fit means putting up a sign," he said. And if the predators have a problem with it, he said, "If they don't like it, they got an option. Leave!" The Sheriff's Office says the signs cost less than $10 a piece. They'll use inmate labor to post them this week, making the burden on the taxpayer minimal. The signs will only be posted at the homes of sexual predators, not sex offenders. The difference is that a predator is a either a repeat offender and/or their crimes are violent with a victim under 12. ..Source.. by Leslie Coursey

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