Florida orders sex offenders from bridge

[Blaze Diem]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080206/ap_on_re_us/sex_offenders_bridge;_ylt=Ag8AQVFNWNmjyd_7chqDEthH2ocA
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By MATT SEDENSKY, Associated Press Writer
Wed Feb 6, 10:30 AM ET



MIAMI - The state is trying to dissolve a community of sex offenders living under a bridge that includes a makeshift gym, kitchen, living room and numerous pets.


The men have lived under the Julia Tuttle Causeway for more than a year. They say limited money and strict local ordinances make it nearly impossible for them to live anywhere else. But state officials are telling them to leave.

"We're urging them to find a residence. We want them to be able to reintegrate into society," said Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the Florida Corrections Department.

The situation is garnering the attention of state lawmakers. Democratic State Rep. Jack Seiler said that while restrictions to keep sex offenders away from children are good, communities are trying to "one-up" each other with tougher and tougher restrictions.

He said the state may have to adopt uniform standards.

"There has to be some place in a greater metropolitan area where these individuals can reside and we can monitor them," Seiler said. "If we push them all underground or out of areas where they can be monitored, that is not in the best interest of public safety."
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The offenders' community is like no other.

Just beneath where motorists pass, in the angled area where the bridge meets a concrete slope, there are domed tents, a cream-colored sofa beside a large generator-powered television and XBox, and stacks of canned food and drinks.

The air is tinged with sea salt, and the sound of cars passing overhead is relentless. Yet perfect Atlantic waters make it strangely serene.

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Juan Carlos Martin, a 29-year-old on the sex offender list for lewd or lascivious exhibition to a victim under the age of 16 — a crime he says he didn't commit — said it's been impossible for him to leave the bridge. He has been rejected from 15 jobs because of his record and can't find a place he can afford that's in compliance with the law.

What the law's doing to us is totally wrong," said Martin, who has lived here about six months. "Society will see that we aren't animals."
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Right or wrong, deserved or not, our society must deal with situations of homelessness, such as this.
There are thousands of homeless in our Nation. Some are there because of mental illness, addiction, a past criminal record, poverty and other reasons. Generally they are dispersed & moved by ordinance, from one location to the next.
What is to be done as these numbers grow yearly?

[SoCalDem]

1. The dilemma of what to do with prisoners who are released from prison

If their crime is particularly disgusting, they cannot find jobs. If they are prohibited from living in certain areas..

where DO they live? how DO they support themselves?

If they are "given" a stipend and provided housing, the public goes nuts about their tax money supporting them..

If they are just cut loose, and end up on the streets, the public goes nuts again..

There seems to be no answer..

[Hydra]

2. I saw a report on this

It's like they want those people to go underground. The ones who put up with it are likely not guilty of something serious, as they only reason they would put up with it is to prove that they are good members of society.

Still, why should this be different? The number of people wrongly convicted of murder and sex crimes is staggering. Our "justice" system is just as broken as the rest of America.

[northzax]

3. statewide standards make sense, honestly

communities should not be able to be more restrictive about who can, and can't, live there than other communities.

[Blue_Tires]

4. about time

there was a great story written about this a couple of months ago...believe it or not, the parolees were doing a good job of surviving and creating a mini-community (imported a few furniture pieces, had a power generator and some appliances, one of them knew how to fish and cook)

[Blaze Diem]

5. What generally is required for any job or housing rental anymore is

a background check. Some places are more lenient on rentals if the crime was not violent, but there are few employers who hire any with prison time.
It has become the nature of society and tho we cannot mandate a business or apt building to hire or house these people, something needs to be done.
Homelessness will not go away just because they are moved from public view.

It is a global issue as I see it. When we look at masses of people who are fleeing war or government oppression to cross borders, I wish to hear from world leaders on this human crisis.

Its time the United States addresses this growing dilemma. After all, I don't see the economy getting any better for some time, and thanks to the destructive years of Bush policies and war profiteering, the division between haves and have-nots stands to grow much larger.

I challenge the next President to create & implement a humane & sensible solution.
We can give billions for war to destroy people, or we can give billions to lift people out of despair.
Perhaps this could begin with a meeting of State Governors, all I know is that deniel by our government concerning this issue is very sad. Its a small Planet, and what we do with our time here (ahem, George Bush) will determine the survival of the generations that follow.

[varkam]

6. I understand that most of these people committed some pretty serious crimes.

I understand that, because of that, they deserve punishment. I get that. The thing that I don't get is that it seems we're just extending their punishment further and further in ways that are not connected with reducing recidivism, making rehab a top priority, or making the public safer. I wonder if we're letting our collective desire for punishment outweigh our desire to protect the public.