Inside the tiny town built for sex offenders

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2746472/Inside-tiny-town-built-sex-offenders-Photographer-captures-spiritual-safe-haven-Florida-200-convicted-sex-criminals-relatives-live-side.html


Inside the tiny town built for sex offenders: The spiritual 'safe haven' in Florida where 200 criminals and their relatives live side-by-side

Miracle Village, just outside Everglades in south Florida, was established in 2009 by the late evangelical pastor Dick Witherow
Borne out of religion, it is place where registered sex offenders can live without judgement and repent their sins

Many offenders find it near impossible to find housing in Florida, where they are not permitted to come within 1,000 feet of children

Brooklyn-based photographer Noah Rabinowitz spent three days in the village capturing the people who live there
Rabinowitz says he was more interested in capturing a self-governed society, rather than what had brought them together

[LeftyMom]

1. Interesting that you didn't show any pictures of CHILDREN LIVING THERE

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. lots of pics at the link. here is one with kids.

[tblue37]

6. I'm sure the whole point of the place is to

give them a place where they *can* live--i.e., with no children around--and where they also will not be easily tempted to give in to their impulses. It's like creating a completely alcohol- or drug-free space where addicts can work on rehabilitation. It would be harder for an addict to learn control if he was always in the presence of addictive substances.

And like any other addict, a child molester won't stop being inclined toward his "addiction" even after treatment, so it will always be better to prevent him from being in situations that would make it easy to do what his addiction impels him to do. But since a molester's (or any other type sex offender's) addiction is to something that so horrendously violates other, vulnerable people, he cannot be permitted *any* opportunity to return to that behavior. An alcoholic has the "right" to go among people who are drinking, despite the threat that poses to his sobriety, but because of the risk to children, a child molester cannot, must not be allowed access to potential victims.

I am an atheist-leaning agnostic, but I still realize that for many addicts and criminals, laying a veneer of religion over rehab can help them improve their control and, for sex offenders, more easily acknowledge their guilt and their need to reform.

The isolation from potential victims, combined with emphasis on acknowledging guilt and seeking to suppress those impulses, even when they can't be eradicated, seems to me a good thing. Also, many sex offenders were themselves abused children, so I don't think the existence of at least a modicum of compassion toward them is wrong, as long as it does not interfere with the most important purpose, which is to keep them away from potential victims and teach them to control their impulse to abuse them if they ever do find themselves in a situation where that would be possible.

On Edit:
I didn't realize kids were there. They should NOT be allowed to live there. In fact, having children to bring there should disqualify a candidate for residency.

[LeftyMom]

7. But there ARE children living there. Which is insane. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

8. the children of the sex offender

[LeftyMom]

9. Does that make it okay? They're being subjected to an extreme risk. nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. i hope the kids will ok. they would be living w the sex offender whether in this town or out

[LeftyMom]

13. They're living in a town where most of the adults are sex offenders.

Even if nothing ever happens to them, that's going to result in some really fucked up socialization.

[Louisiana1976]

33. Sex offenders should have their children taken away from them if they're going to live there.

[Scootaloo]

14. "Sex offender" does not mean "Child predator"

if I get arrested for public urination, I would be a sex offender, under these laws, because I was exposing myself.

[NYC_SKP]

15. That's true, it happened to my alcoholic stepfather.

Thanks for clarifying for the community.

I'm surprised at the open-minded and well educated, and tolerant, folks this day on the DU.

[MindPilot]

19. Happened here to a guy running for city council. (Dem of course)

He was out doing to some door-to-door campaigning. Went to his car to pee in a bottle (us old guys--sometimes we don't get much warning; I keep a bottle and a towel in my car) someone looked in the window, saw him and reported that he was "masturbating in public".

There were lots of questions surrounding the incident. I have no doubt there were some political motivations to his being charged. He ended up having to plead guilty to a more serious crime, but one that would not brand him as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Naturally the republican won.


(It was probably cowboys who turned him in. )

[NYC_SKP]

21. !!!

Those damned cowboys!

[Hemmingway]

20. That's bullshit.

At least here, public urination is considered disorderly conduct. Indecent exposure requires sexual gratification.

Let's not embellish.

[NYC_SKP]

22. At least 13 states require sex offender registration for public urination...

Also:

Here are some of the more surprising ways you can end up on a sex offender registry:

1) Taking naked photos of yourself — if you're a minor. in Pennsylvania was charged in 2004 with spreading child porn after taking nude photos of herself and putting them online, according to Human Rights Watch. She was still on the sex offender registry as of 2012.

2) Visiting a prostitute.

3) Peeing in public.

4) Flashing your breasts.

5) Having consensual sex with a teenager, even if you're a teenager, too

6) Sleeping with your sister.

7) Giving another child a hug.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-things-that-could-make-you-a-sex-offender-2013-10#ixzz3CfRmOIu4

[MindPilot]

25. Not bullshit and "public" is very broadly defined.

It's something I'm very concerned about because as I mentioned upthread, I'm an old guy. If I suddenly have to pee, pull into an alley and go behind a dumpster, that's public. Doesn't matter if I'm where no one can see me, it is still public. All it takes is one by-the-book cop, and my peanut bladder puts me on the registry.

[NuclearDem]

27. No, it's not bullshit.

[Agschmid]

37. Nope.

Wrong.

[tblue37]

10. Yes, I realize that now. I hope they are adequately protected, but

I don't think they should be there. In fact, I think that those who have children they would bring with them simply should not qualify to live there.

(I edited my post.)

[NYC_SKP]

3. Good for them. They've paid their dues and deserve to have a life without stigmatization.

One can be absolutely innocent of any wrongdoing and still have a record.

My stepfather, IIRC, was an offender for having peed in public.

Were he alive to day, his house would show up on a map of offenders for public exposure.

I don't have a problem with this town.

If I'm missing something, please explain.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. some of the comments following the article

WKH, East Coast, United States, 16 hours ago
NO CHILDREN should be subjected to living in this community. These people are dangerous & should not be around children!!!

Cmj61, Baltimore, United States, 8 hours ago
In some states a18yr old who is caught dating a 15yr old , has to register as a sex offender

gabie20, Toronto, Canada, 4 hours ago
Also, did anyone ask the American taxpayers if they agree to "sponsor" the comfortable living of those criminals? They should be in jail at least.

Beea, Hertfordshire, 16 hours ago
Great idea allowing them all to live together where they know they won't be judged and can continue being sick individuals. There is a child's bike in one of the photos. This is disturbing.

2 of 5 repliesSee all replies
Matt, Here and there., Germany, 8 hours ago
The picture of the chid's bike is disturbing.............but not the picture of the children.....odd t say the least....?


yengirl, New York, United States, 7 hours ago
Miles from no where. And they all have jobs or is Obama taking the taxpayer's money to give them free rent, free food, free phones, free everything?

emmi, Los Angeles, United States, 16 hours ago
What mother would let her children live there?!
ReplyNew Comment562400Click to rate

Beach Rose, Morro Bay, 6 hours ago
@ Happy Dude: Did you not read the article and look at the pics? It clearly states there are a few children living there; two of them are pictured, and there's a little girls bike in one of the photos. So yes, there ARE some children living there. The bus stop relocation was probably to make sure kids don't live there aren't exposed to these people.

happypasserby, No-where, United Kingdom, 4 hours ago
It says there is one woman sex offender in the town of 200, and most of the women are the partners of the men. Disturbing that the women would let their children around this though.

Living on an Island, Sydney, Australia, 16 hours ago
I could vomit just looking at their repulsive faces and knowing what went on their foul minds when they did those disgusting things to innocent children and changed the little ones lives for ever... for the worst. If someone dropped a bomb on that little gathering of filth I would see it as cleansing. And as for the women who support these creeps. You have a lot to answer to as well.

[NYC_SKP]

5. I saw those. Apparently, they want them to suffer forever.

Well, then they need to change the laws and sentencing guidelines.

Once out of jail, one is supposed to have their rights restored.

[Union Scribe]

24. Wow they can blame Obama for anything! nt

[SonofMarx]

16. I dont trust those

[Live and Learn]

23. +1 nt

[riversedge]

29. I think it is a good idea--a win-win

for all in fact. When I first saw this article I immediately thought of lepers colonies which were common to isolate the inflected. Not the same I know. Back then leprosy was not curable. I have read of the high recidivism rate of molesters--to the point that most think it is not 'curable' but can be controlled--self control, religion?

Sad to say--I have a nephew --child porn offense--downloading crap. He was convicted, served his time with work privileges. Now lives with his kids and new wife in a small town--edge of town. Kids are in HS but were in grade school when this happened. He is basically shunned by most.

[vankuria]

12. I can see why some would criticize

However once theses folks finish their jail sentences they have to go someplace and with all the restrictions as to where they can live I suppose this is a good thing. Many on sex registries end up homeless or living in their cars and while some might say "who cares", at least this way you know where they are and they can be tracked more easily.

The article does state many work in nearby towns and must attend classes and therapies that are offered. Am I wrong or does everyone benefit from this?

[Laffy Kat]

26. Safer there than under a bridge.

As upsetting as some of these crimes are, I agree that the offenders need a place to live. They've paid their debt. Yes, the recidivism rate is high, but if they don't have a supportive community I'm sure it's even higher. One would think the population of Miracle would actively police itself to protect itself. Would I let my child visit the little town? No. But the residents deserve a chance.

[handmade34]

17. we need more efforts like this...

I applaud the man who has created this community

[BlueJazz]

18. I am a Sex Offender. I'll even say it again: Bluejazz is a sex offender.

I just didn't get caught....and didn't get stuck with the label but I could have.

Happened 14 years ago. I was 18 and my girlfriend was 17 (3 weeks shy of her 18th birthday.)
Yep...we had sex.
According to the law (in several states) I could be saddled with the words "Sex Offender" for the rest of my life.

Things are not always as they seem...or fair.

[NuclearDem]

28. Sex offender laws in this country are unbelievably screwed up.

Sorry for what you're going through.

[Live and Learn]

30. Offender laws period in this country are screwed up. But, BlueJazz isn't suffering

from them since he never got caught. He was correctly pointing out the hypocrisy of our laws.

If we all got caught for everything we ever did, we would have close to a 100% arrest and conviction rate.

[trumad]

31. Oh fucking whaaaaaaa!

No one upthread has any idea what these guys did to be in the position they are in.

I'd love to see some kind of report telling us that.

Keep the predators as far away from children as possible.

[Live and Learn]

32. They served their sentences. If you don't believe the sentences

were correct, you should work to fix that.

We should also be working on finding the reasons that people are prone to this and possibly even some real solutions. An overwhelming percentage of predators were once victims themselves.

This scarlet lettering of people was never a good idea and it isn't a good idea now.

[trumad]

38. Do you have kids?

If so..do you have no problem if a predator moved next door to you?

[Live and Learn]

39. Yep and no. It wouldn't make me comfortable to know it but

I watch my kid as carefully as possible anyway. There are many bad things that can happen in life. And many people that have and will do bad things that haven't been caught or have yet perpetrated their deeds.

Edited to add: It probably wouldn't make me comfortable to know everything about any of the people that live near me. Sometimes, it is best left unknown.

[trumad]

40. Wow

So you wouldn't want to know if a child predator moved next door to you?

That's some irresponsible parenting right there.

[NuclearDem]

34. ...

[beam me up scottie]

35. We know where they are.

Seriously, would people rather have them scattered to the wind like those who can't find housing and go underground?

If they can't find a place to live they won't stay on the registry.

[Jackpine Radical]

36. What is the re-offense rate for sex offenders released from incarceration?