Source: hernandosun.com 8/4/23
Last week, the Hernando Sun ran a story on recent changes to the Hernando County Sexual Offender and Sexual Offender Ordinance found in Chapter 21 of the Code of Ordinances. The story was largely based on a copy of the revised ordinance posted on the BOCC website for their July 11th meeting. We have learned that the copy of the ordinance posted did not reflect some of the final revisions.
County Commissioner John Allocco spoke with us about the final revisions and why the changes were needed. Allocco said the most significant changes to the ordinance were driven by the ambiguous language specifying where registered sex offenders can and cannot go in Hernando County. Areas generally off limits to Sexual Offenders and Predators are defined in Section 21-239 of the ordinance, which is titled Restrictions of Certain Activities of Sexual Offenders and Sexual Predators. The section also establishes certain exemptions.
Allocco cited wording in the section of the ordinance that made it appear an offender could be prohibited from going to a third-party meeting, such as an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting hosted at a church. Another example was the language that seemed to prohibit a sexual offender or sexual predator from visiting a relative in the hospital or a nursing home facility.
To clear things up a bit, some of the verbiage in section 21-239 was changed. The initial paragraph formerly read: “No sexual offender or sexual predator may enter or remain within the 1000 ft. buffer zone surrounding any school, childcare facility, park, playground, public library, long-term care facility, nursing home facility, or religious institution except to:” with a list of several exemptions following. The wording “enter and remain” was deleted and replaced by “loiter or prowl.”
The below-bolded wording was added to Section 231-239(k) of the ordinance, which now permits attending a church service or function, including attending official meetings or functions of rehabilitation or treatment groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and related groups;
Section 21-239(q) added language to permit offenders to visit relatives in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, or hospitals that may be in an otherwise excluded zone. The addition allows an offender to attend or visit a relative in a long-term care facility, nursing home facility, or hospital property. When a sexual offender or sexual predator enters upon a long-term care facility, nursing home, or hospital pursuant to this subsection, the sexual offender or sexual predator shall promptly depart from the property without any undue delay or loitering on premises after completing such visit.
Allocco said the need for the changes was brought to his attention after he was contacted by several people who were seeking clarification so they did not run afoul of the ordinance. “They are just trying to do the right thing,” he said.
More ordinances which do not protect kids but make town folk feel safe. (Which they aren’t)
You just can’t get it through thick-headed peoples’ minds that its not PFRs who commit new offenses. And since when has any rule stopped someone from breaking it?
“They are just trying to do the right thing.” which means they are being law abiding citizens and these draconian ordinances aren’t needed, yet the government can’t give up control of those they hate. I used to be a proud American but now I know our country is far from free and filled with hateful idiots.
It seems to me that prohibiting a PFR from going to church is a blatant violation of the First Amendment.
They sure do love using the phrase “sexual predator”. Puts a nasty image into everyones head. Even throughout all my time in prison and classes and classes afterwards I actually ran into 1 actual predator. Seems to me they just love instilling fear and making everyone on the list appear to be the absolute worst of the worst. Hatred is such an easy emotion, full of ego tripping and rage as it suits an individual for being self labeled as noble and self righteous in their vitriol hatred of people. The registry is disgusting, the people propping it up are awful terrible people only interested in their own self serving agendas.