Avoid the bible belt areas. Look at the laws for the areas you want to move to also look outside of town areas you might be able to get a place on a bit of land outside of the town zone that might make things a little bit easier to find a place.

SuchasLife is correct. Avoid the Bible Belt states at all costs. The people in those states are very tough on crime and many are radical Christians, both of which make their state unfriendly to sex offenders.

The legislators in the Bible Belt states make a career of passing and enacting more and more sex offender legislation each year. The big problem is that since the sex offender registry is civil in nature---and not considered punitive by any of the courts-----any law they pass can be applied retroactively.

For example, let’s say he was released in prison to Virginia. He might find another state which is much more favorable to sex offenders than Virginia. But once he moves to that state, they continue to pass more and more restrictive laws. Since most of these laws will be retroactive, they will apply to him. The net result is that year after year a registrant has to sweat blood and hope the lawmakers do not pass another ridiculous law that will affect them, even though they were convicted prior to the new law.

I don’t think Utah is too bad and Nebraska is better than most. Stay away from Kansas or Missouri. Missouri at the present time is running neck and neck with Florida to see which state can abuse future sex offenders the best. Tennessee and Arkansas are awful for sex offenders.

You have to find a state that has the proper mindset toward sex offenders.

The Bible Belt is out for sure. Add to that the states of Arizona and California. A few of the states in the Midwest such as Illinois and Iowa are also unfavorable to sex offenders. Wisconsin is terrible.

Your best bet is either in the northwestern part of the country or one of the New England states. Oregon is pretty good, as is Pennsylvania.

Below are several links that will help you compare each state’s registration rules-----

http://tinyurl.com/l6myklf

tinyurl.com/mu2olfs

tinyurl.com/gqnjjpj

tinyurl.com/ydcn3q7

When you find a state that he would like, you need to move there at least six months prior to his released. He can then use Interstate Compact to transfer his probation to that state. He has to have a family in that state to be released directly to the state you move to, as that is one of the provisions of Interstate Compact.

http://tinyurl.com/co9cn3q

Do your research and do not hesitate to contact me if there is something you do not quite understand.

Rewdiazepam

PS I think we have spoken to each other several years ago.

If you have a problem with any of these links, let me know so I can correct them.

Yes, we have spoken before Rewdiazepam. I recognized your name right away.

The more research I do on other states, the more alike all the rules seem the same. Like what's the point of even moving to another state? And often times, the ruling says that the new state will abide by the old state's jurisdiction...

There are so many other factors as well. Yes, I had begun to investigate the interstate compact and knew some the answers in your post. We are definitely in the Bible Belt now, but at least my family is known, know what happened, and that my son made a mistake, but he was a good kid. In a new state, new area, he will be the dreaded new "sex offender? in the neighborhood and will be shunned, as we will be as well.

Thanks for your reply.

We would really like to move to Florida, as we are already Florida residents. How do I find what programs or classes that each state would require him to attend when he gets released? In Virginia he would have to attend one class per week for 2 years at $60.00 per class. OMG. I can't find that information. I just don't know where to turn.

Buddysmine,

I have to warn you that Florida is the worst state for sex offenders and it isn’t even close. The lawmakers are nuts down there, they have state residency restrictions, city residency restrictions, and each municipality has their own set of rules. Once he is on the registry in Florida, he will never get off, even if he moves. They did not used to take a registrant off even when he died, but that may have changed.

They are crazy down there. I am here to tell you.

They have such little regard for sex offenders that they forced a bunch of them to live under a bridge since they could not find a place to live because of the residency restrictions. Like under the bridge, no plumbing, no running water, no electricity, no sewage system. Most lived in a tent or a make shift shack. They are crazy down there.

Under state law, there are two separate designations for those convicted of crimes mandating sex offender registration: sexual predators and sexual offenders. I don’t know how your son will be classified, but I hope it is not a predator. Now I KNOW he is not a predator, as we have spoken before, but Florida may classify him as one. I don’t think so, but I am not sure.

State and local law impose restrictions on where certain convicted sex offenders may live after serving their sentence. Florida state law prohibits those convicted of certain sex crimes against a child under 16 years of age from living within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center, playground, park or other place frequented by children.

Some county and municipal ordinances impose even more restrictive residency requirements. For example, in Miami-Dade County, certain registered sex offenders are prohibited from living within 2,500 feet of a school, day care center, park or playground. The county also recently added "child safety zones" to its ordinance, which prohibits sex offenders from loitering within the 300 feet extending from schools, day cares, parks and school bus stops.

The Miami-Dade ordinance has received national attention for effectively forcing sex offenders into homelessness with over 70 offenders living underneath the Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge. Currently, there more than 160 municipalities in Florida that impose greater residency restrictions on convicted sex offenders than required by state law.

State law also places restrictions on where certain registered sex offenders may work. In cases where the victim was a minor, sex offenders cannot volunteer or work at any business, school, day care, park, playground or other place where children regularly are present.

Here is a link to a site that will help you with the registry requirements----

http://tinyurl.com/qxb2zve

But if he decides to move to Florida, the first thing I would suggest would be to find a place to live away from everyone else. Maybe a couple of miles out of town in a rural area. If you don’t, he may have a lot of trouble with the nut case citizens down there and the residency restrictions. I realize that you are not “nut case citizens” but a lot of them are down there and they hate sex offenders.

If he has some probation time to serve after his release from prison, since probation is still considered part of his court mandated sentence, some of the programs he is required to take should be on his J&S-----Judgement and Sentencing Document-----also called “sentencing papers.” If you do not have a copy, go to the Court Clerk of the county from which he was convicted and request a copy. Just tell them you would like a copy of your son’s Judgment and Sentencing Documents. It may cost you a nominal fee, but it won’t be much.

The problem is that he was sentenced in Virgina. Is that correct?? So if he moves to Florida, I don’t know for sure what Florida will want him to take. I am just not sure how Florida will handle a registrant moving from Virginia.

Regardless of what state you are in, each state will have a standard list of probation rules, which will be enforced by the PO. I want you to remember that the PO does NOT make the rules. The PO only carries out the orders of the court in regard to your son’s sentence, but the PO has a LOT of leeway.

Here is a link to the Florida probation rules-----

https://tinyurl.com/mal6etp

Buddysmine, these are the basic sex offender probation rules as handed down by the state. The sentencing judge may have added or omitted some of these rules for your son as probation is usually modified or tailored to each individual offender, as they may have different needs. But the probation rules will give you a general idea of what Florida requires.

Of course, if he has any court costs or fines from his conviction, payment for them will be included.

Here is a link to a document explaining in detail the Florida sex offender registry requirements. On page 40, is a sample registration form your son will fill out when he registers in Florida.

Buddysmine, you can do this. It seems complicated and it is but only because there is no way of knowing how Florida will handle your son’s requirements from Virginia.

I will check back a couple of times every day. If you have questions, message me or post your question on the board.

Good luck,

rewdiazepam

I forgot the link to the 327 page document which had the sample Florida Sex Offender Registration form on page 40. Here is the link----

https://tinyurl.com/lz97zwm

If you get confused or get over your head with all this, just jot down the questions and send them to me in a message or on the board.

rewdiazepam

Thank you.. I sent you a private message.

What about Alaska? Anyone know anything about Alaska?

Hi I am new to ds and live in mass. The so register is not to bad hear but it could be better.

Do not, i repeat, DO NOT move to Florida. I had a he said she said case that happened at a dorm party while I was in the military. After serving my time in military prison I came home to Florida. Big mistake. They will do anything to put offenders back in jail. The girl that cried rape on me because her boyfriend walked in on us was 20 at the time and it was a very hard case to prove. In the end I was made "an example" of and given an extremely light sentence. I wasnt out less than 2 years, weeks away from completing parole and the Sherriff Dept lied on me and hit me with a failure to register and gave me more time than my original sentence. Stay away from Florida. I'm.doing research now as well to move myself, wife and kids to somewhere more friendly. Good luck

Thank you Dodge83. Although hubby and I would like to move to Florida, we will not because of our son's status. We will try to sell our home and move to a different location within the same state...Virginia.

This is the first post I've seen on any forum that has such good information. I'm currently in Florida and it is definitely nuts down here. I can't even begin to describe it without exploding into paragraphs about civil rights violations and unconstitutional laws and regulations. So I won't, it's just bad here, and I want to move to another state.

I've been trying to search for information about which states are better for SOs, but I also have probation and so far it's been impossible to figure out how the different states will handle Floridas probation stipulations. Florida keeps their probationers on such a tight leash it's almost like being on house arrest. I read that other states are supposed to enforce the sentencing states probation stipulations when you transfer your probation, but I've also heard that it's mostly up to the receiving states probation office or your new probation officer as to just how much of those stipulations get enforced. I've also heard that the receiving state can also enforce their probation rules, even if it's not a part of your probation agreement.

With all that mess, I just can't figure out where to go. I have family that will move ahead of me, so I can choose any state.

I was considering New York because I knew someone living up there who's also on SO probation and he is allowed to do all these things that I WISH I could do. However, he was sentenced in NY, so maybe it wouldn't be the same for me if I transferred up there.

Even if nobody has any information to help my situation, I'd like to say thanks to those who pointed out which states NOT to go to. That'll save a lot of time by crossing them off the list. CA was on my list, now it's not. Thank you.

If you want to transfer your probation from Florida to another state, you will most likely need to use Interstate Compact---

http://tinyurl.com/yd53grrk

Interstate Compact is basically an agreement between states that allow offenders on probation or parole to transfer that probation or parole to another state. There are several basic rules and a lot of information, so I would start by reading the links on their site. You should also find some information about the probation conditions you will face when you move, but much of that is handled on a state-by-state basis and may vary from state to state.

Look their site over and read up on their procedure. Then if you have problems, message me.

rewdiazepam

I hope im not to late in a reply but my husband lives in ohio and its not to bad and i hear Florida is horrible for sex offenders.

Ohio is not bad at all. Florida is to sex offender registrants what Kryptonite is to Superman---TOXIC.

rewdiazepam