CLEARWATER, Florida (WFLA) — A Florida camp powered by solar panels and a generator is home to about a dozen sex offenders who claim they were sent there by probation officers, but there is no indication the public was alerted.
Land records indicate the tents that sit under a structure made from branches are on land owned by the Florida Department of Transportation. A state spokesperson said they were “not aware of this.”
Several sources, including a defense attorney, told Nexstar’s WFLA that anyone on probation is still “under sentence,” and they said that telling them to live outdoors violates state administrative code.
A state spokesperson also denied offenders are told where to live by probation officers.
Several of the camp residents agreed to discuss their living conditions but asked to hide their identities to avoid possible retribution from the state employees they claim sent them there.
“Yes,” one of them said when asked if his probation officer told him to live there. “They actually brought me out here.”
at least they present in better than Fox News coverage https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=D-cUvA66O2g
I must say this is the cleanest homeless encampment I’ve ever seen. Yery well set up. They should be proud of the example they set.
Update: https://www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/sex-offender-camp-to-be-cleared-after-8-on-your-side-report/amp/
What is reported in this article is not a surprise to me at all. When I was on parole, parole agents were more than happy to violate the law, particularly when it came to several blatantly unconstitutional parole conditions, several of which I challenged in court and won. At least they didn’t retaliate against me for having the balls to challenge their behavior. I was surprised by that!
These poor guys were scared of retaliation from law enforcement agencies if they spoke up about the probation officers who drove them out there and dropped them off, also register them a mile away from the actual location they were staying, so in sense they were all in violation and could technically be changed with FTR at any time depending on what law enforcement agencies decided to raid that encampment.
I know the parole office is pissed this reporter find out about their little secret human dumpling ground because now they gotta find another one and the look on Lindsay Cross”s face was classic “like ok and were else do you want them to go” BUT she didn’t say it was wrong or inhuman she just said yeah the community needs to be notified.
The bottom line, anyone who is on the registry, or a family member of one who is one the registry who thinks highly of this country is a fool. The fact that forcing people to live under a bridge or makeshift camp is seen as ok shows this country has extremely poor moral beliefs. The more I read articles like this, the more it reminds me of crimes of the past that happened in the US (Jim crow, segregation, etc.) This country hasnt learned a thing, and rest assured there are many who would love to go back to said way of life if they could.
It’s really the Florida government that is creating these problems. They’re the guilty party your honor.
I will echo what has been said already. The fact that this society is OK with treating humans like animals is troubling. But this is not a new idea. Most people feel that when a person commits a grievous act that he/she is no longer a person. He/she canceled their humanity card.
However what should be acknowledged and pointed out is that animals don’t do what humans do to each other. So calling someone an animal for what they’ve done is a misnomer.
It is all too human. Even the most horrific crimes by people like Sadam Hussein, Vladimir Putin, Chairman Mao etc are all TOO HUMAN!
The issue is can a person change (be fixed)? I believe it is possible. Otherwise we should execute anyone who steps out of line because it is a lost cause.
Humanity has a dark side much worse than any animals survival instinct. The struggle is taming that “beast” so that the good that humans are capable of can shine through. But society has to stop the denial and confront the ugly truths that exist in this world. This is the only way that human beings can advance towards heaven on earth. Utopia if you will. I think it’s a worthy fight.
Regardless of someone’s criminal record a person needs to have shelter, food, work, clothing, and support within the community. Sending someone in the woods to live is inhumane and damn right cruel in the name of public safety. I’d like to see Florida’s government live out in the woods for a few weeks during the summer and experience how pleasant the elements are on their body.
Just wondering if these homeless transient woods are on land owned by the state of Florida- parks, department of forestry, what division exactly?