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Perversion and Justice

Will the state help with the growing sex offender colony under the Julia Tuttle Causeway?

Miami's colony of sex offenders is a lot like a big, stubborn pimple on the nose of the city: Nobody likes it, yet it just keeps growing.

So it's no surprise that after nearly two years of policymakers ignoring the problem, it has gotten uglier. The number of men living in a state-sanctioned tent settlement under the Julia Tuttle Causeway has more than doubled to 40 since New Times first broke the story in March 2007.

In response, Miami city commissioners passed some better-late-than-never legislation last week, designed to put pressure on the governor's office.

To sum up the good-intentioned, if somewhat toothless, resolution: The city will ask the state to form a task force to study and solve the public-safety-meets-human-rights nightmare. The group will consist of law enforcement officers, researchers, lawmakers, and social justice advocates.

"Until we put the governor on the spot, he will do nothing," Commissioner Marc Sarnoff told a late-morning city hall crowd of about 20. "Until you put a politician on the spot, he will do nothing."

In the audience, a slim fellow with a cleanly shaved head nodded and gave an ironic little smirk. A poised, well-dressed woman from the ACLU scribbled something onto a notebook. And Commissioner Tomas Regalado took a call on his cell phone.

Afterward, Miami Police Chief John Timoney complained the encampment has "caused a great deal of strain on police recourses."

On a recent visit to the bridge, Riptide counted 15 tents, three mobile homes, two shanties, and a van crammed under the causeway. That didn't include men who have spread out into nearby bushes to get some privacy.

Residents seem collectively unconvinced the city's new motion will do much. They have watched the elderly, the clinically insane, and the tremendously violent set up camp and flee the close quarters over the past two years.

Says 31-year-old Juan Martin, who was convicted of exposing himself to a teenage girl: "Come on — nothing ever changes. I'm gonna be under here for the rest of my natural motherfucking life."

 
  • HonestOpinion 04/16/2010 7:45:00 PM

    How about a constitutional, legal and human rights 'LAWSUIT' concerning MURDER LAWS encompassing 704,777 'NON' murderers, which is encroaching our entire country and these useless task force? hey ACLU, Here's a clue. Megan Kanka, MURDERED in 1994, a kid grabs a boob, has any sexual encounter with a peer he pays with his entire life and can be banned from his home and forced to live under a '^%$#$% BRIDGE'! Hello! How about that task force? That will fix the murder law problems? Governor Jed Bush's, had a task force concerning Juveniles with sex related charges done in Jan. 2006? The Task Force that stated Florida should 'NOT' name or register any juvenile offender as 'sex offenders' and/or expose them to the World on Predator Registries under, Megan's 'murder' laws! But, In 2007, President Georgie Bush, chum's up with Congress and joins the, catch all, blame all, destroy all, 'murder' Law's regime, and signs the Grand 'Adam Walsh 'MURDER' Law', to really terrorize the Megan's 'MURDER' Law registrants and Jessica's 'MURDER' Law refugees! Our American Leaders who took an oath to protect, again, succumbs to the wills, wants and demands of vigilante John Walsh, a ego driven man who'll exploit and demand out of jealousy for Megan and Jessica, demands GRAND law named after his son, to out pace, over ride and replace Megan's and Jessica's 'murder' Laws, with the ADAM WALSH'S "MURDER" LAW! For grandeur, Mr. Walsh demands children 14 - 18 with past sexual related incidences be retroactively named on his Grand National Predator Registry, dismantling and destroy years of juvenile protection policies in the US. MANY states across America have chosen to resist John Walsh's child abusive actions. BUT, Florida bows down to John Walsh's demands, regardless of it's own professional "task force's" opinions ? The opinion for Florida to uphold and continue it's juvenile justice protection policies, rehabilitation prospects,to secure the well being of 'All' children caught up in the legal system and assist children to mature into adulthood free from the stigma of a youthful mistake. BUT, for John Walsh Florida 'WILL' title the children as sex offending predators under the ADAM WALSH 'MURDER' LAW; which names, hunts, tracks, zones, banishes, and destroys lives, as a means to obtain ADAM WALSH'S 'MURDER' LAW'S FEDERAL GRANT MONEY! WOW? Who the %#@##* is protecting American citizens from over blown, child abusing, celebrity driven 'MURDER' Laws? WHO? Oh yea, Florida definitely needs a task force, as well as the rest of this country? This entire country is over run, encroached and obsessed with over the top 'Murder' laws, attached to non murderers. It's unreal! Upon a murder, our LEADERS have concocted Laws which do not concern or consist of murder but, all, any, and every concocted sexual and nudity charge is a registrable Megan's 'murder' law offense! Where as all, any and every, intended harsh, severe, sadistic and disabling; consequences, restriction, guideline and very intended punishment, fathomed by Our US and state Representatives, town officials and those parents of children who fell prey to A 'psychotic murderer', can be attached to all, any and every registrant being held hostage in America!!!! Billions spent of tax payers hard earned money to full fill the Hugh and Grand, National predator registries, and all the extra's; special lawyers, special courts, special victims unit, special sheriffs, special prisons, special juvenile offender treatment centers, special therapist, special marshals, special Task Force and special tax exempt GRANTS for everybody, right, MR Walsh? All on our dime? WE THE PEOPLE can save our money, save children by demanding adequate, honest and laws by supporting REFORMSEXOFFENDERLAW.ORG When is Enough , ENOUGH? President Barack Obama just met with the famous John Walsh on March 3, 2010 and made a grand appearence on America's Most Wanted. Obama has 4 Billion of our money to enforce laws? Pres. Obama stated the US tax payer, will support and fund, Mr. Walsh's, very own, "Adam Walsh 'MURDER' Law". How generous! When it is engrossing the majority of our justice resources, MONEY for schools, fund for poverty stricken families, child abuse intervention ! When and where does the buck for HATE Laws and HATE List, STOP? Hello, OUR American children, many harmless , non violent and rehabilitated citizens are actually being named and punished again and again for Adam's murder, from 25 year ago, THEY DID NOT COMMIT! Hello, are we all controlled stepford people, in America today? We allow citizens to be sent to the back of the bus because John Walsh said so? Children, our young males imprisoned, named on predator registries and forever stamped with shame, titled a sex offender under Megan's and/or Adam's 'murder' Law for playing doctors,an incidence of statutory, date, drunken rape; sexting or any foolish sexual act, behavior or misbehavior or sexually related escapade and our prosecutors can boost their careers to pin convictions under the 'Murder' laws. It is beyond ridicules! It's DISGUSTING? YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE, TOO! Call your legislators, today! Florida's useless, Task Force concerning Juvenile Sex Offenders: www.djj.state.fl.us/Research/Sex_Offender_Task_Force_Report.pdf

  • Honest Opinion 07/27/2009 6:01:00 PM

    It is interesting that Governnor Crist has the following opinion on HIS Florida web site: http://www.flgov.com/civil_rights Civil Rights Governor Crist believes that once a prisoner serves his or her debt to society, the state should automatically restore his or her civil rights so that the ex-offender may vote and become gainfully employed. Over the years, Governor Crist has been a leader in the civil rights movement. In the 2003 Legislative Session, one of the Governor�s top priorities was passage of the Dr. Marvin Davies Florida Civil Rights Act which enabled the Attorney General to bring a civil rights action against those who engage in a pattern or practice of discrimination or for issues of great public interest. Did YOU read: Although you have paid your debt, a prisoner should then be made homeless, unemployed and banned from the community and must reside under a bridge? HE can't have it both ways or discriminate the ex prisoners he doesn't like! Or can he? My HONEST OPINION: The fact of the matter is any residency restriction and banishment of our citizens is against the OUR laws! In America we can and will break the law just because we don't like some people? This government is so powerful that they could ban tootsie rolls if they wanted to and any citizen would be a CRIMINAL if we are caught with one, the scary truth! Concerning sex offender and the law let us review! 1. Magen's Law began in NJ in 1994. Every state in the US followed, cited and quoted, NJ's Magen law when forming their own sex offender laws and community notification. They did not follow the intent, purpose or constitutional reasoning of the law as written in Doe v.Poritz Excerpt: The Registration and Notification Laws are not retributive laws, but laws designed to give people a chance to protect themselves and their children. They do not represent the slightest departure from our State's or our country's fundamental belief that criminals, convicted and punished, have paid their debt to society and are not to be punished further. They represent only the conclusion that society has the right to know of their presence not in order to punish them, but in order to protect itself. The laws represent a conclusion by the Legislature that those convicted sex offenders who have successfully, or apparently successfully, been integrated into their communities, adjusted their lives so as to appear no more threatening than anyone else in the neighborhood, are entitled not to be disturbed simply because of that prior offense and conviction; but a conclusion as well, that the characteristics of some of them, and the statistical information concerning them, make it clear that despite such integration,reoffense is a realistic risk, and knowledge of their presence a realistic protection against it. READ MORE: http://lawlibrary.rutgers.edu/courts/supreme/a-170-94.opn.html The sad fact is NJ isn't even following it's own law! Another said fact is OUR Government is very powerful and can abuse their power! The prison systems were/are overflowing so they they formed a prison that spread out into the neighborhoods! Now that's POWER! Many constituents of this country are suffering in our country and I believe the punishment may not fit the crime. All sex offender laws are named after murdered children. They are not named or devised for Bobby andBettySue's or Dick and Jane or any person finding inappropriate photos on the internet or someone who's proud of their package, cares to shares, or pee in public = predator. The registry was NEVER intended for NON VIOLENT and minor sex offenses as noted in this article: August 25, The Times (Trenton) Governor Christine Whitman proposed Magen's Law--"minor sex offenders, such as offenders convicted of 'date rape,' some cases of incest and indecent exposure" authorities rarely notify the public (Stile andFromm 1994, 1) She added, "If you have totally open notification on everybody at all times, you start to create a level of fear and concern that is not reflected in the threat that these people provide to the community". 2. The laws were also challenged by the US Supreme Court in, SMITH V. DOE (01-729) 538 U.S. 84 (2003) Excerpt: Offenders subject to the Act are free to move where they wish and to live and work as other citizens, with no supervision. While registrants must inform the authorities after they change their facial features, borrow a car, or seek psychiatric treatment, they are not required to seek permission to do so. READ MORE : http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/01-729.ZS.html I don't get it, People! These laws have spiraled out of control! We now have 674,000 citizens listed and millions of family members pleading for some common sense legislation with NO reprieve or care? And billions of dollars being pumped into this "pet peeve" project that is clearly NOT working as intended, is there no end?

  • jack 02/22/2009 8:29:00 PM

    Hope you enjoy living there you fucking useless piece of shit. They should hunt everyone in your family and kill them to prevent further contimination of gene pool.

  • jack 02/22/2009 8:28:00 PM

    Hope you enjoy living there you fucking useless piece of shit. They should hunt everyone in your family and kill them to prevent further contimination of gene pool.

  • Banish 02/20/2009 8:24:00 PM

    www.banishers.net We need to banish sex offenders and their families. Almost always this stuff goes on in the family and kids grow up to be offenders. We need to keep banishing offenders and their families and make sure the kids of offenders do not touch our clean and pure kids. Disgusting to even think that my child might be in the same school as a sex offender's filthy child.

  • Banish 02/20/2009 8:21:00 PM

    www.banishers.net We need to banish sex offenders and their families. Almost always this stuff goes on in the family and kids grow up to be offenders. We need to keep banishing offenders and their families and make sure the kids of offenders do not touch our clean and pure kids. Disgusting to even think that my child might be in the same school as a sex offender's filthy child.

  • Renny 02/20/2009 8:15:00 PM

    Simple Solution. Build more bridges.

  • 02/20/2009 12:26:00 AM

    You're only half right -- this is perversion, not justice. How come Mark Foley isn't there, by the way (or Debra LaFave for that matter)? Oh yeah, this article describes why perfectly: http://www.oncefallen.com/SOLawsAndSexScandals.html Let me ask supporters of this abomination this -- if your child or someone else you cared about got caught up in this mess, could you support forcing him or her to live under a bridge? It seems this law merely punishes those who choose to OBEY the law. Never have I seen such a law that motivates people to break the law more than this one. Justice? Don't make me laugh. Revenge is a perversion, not justice.

 

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