I worry constantly about where my two sons will live, when they get out. I have considered the rural homesteading idea. It would be safer if there was a community of people who could help each other against vigilantes. Do you any particular state in mind? I would want to stay out of any state with civil commitment.

That is definitely an added benefit. My top two are Oregon and Colorado, based on the availability of land and their RO laws.

I would like to be kept int the loop. I have been working remote which I could do via data hubs, love building, pretty good in mechanics and have always been told that I could make rock and dead sticks grow. It would also allow for me to continue my art..

Oregon and Colorado are good for me, also. One of my incarcerated sons is already in Colorado. If he ever gets out, he will be on lifetime parole. If he never gets out, at least I could be close enough to visit him. Colorado has some of the worst SO laws in the US, but there is a very active reform group in Colorado. I have lived there before...in the 1970s...in various non-traditional housing venues...a tipi, a camper trailer, and a school bus.

It's probably not a bad idea but sad that you even have to worry about finding housing in this land of the "free"?
Doesn't Florida have a community out in the open land specifically for sexual offenders also? I'm not sure of any other state that's had to resort to this, but it's sad that there is a market for this kind of housing due to one's "past" crime. With all the registrants in the US, you may become a tycoon with this concept and maybe even form your own "state" of the union. In 2017, my loved one may need a place to stay, so I'll keep this in mind. Thank you.

I have also toyed with this idea of creating a close knit group of low levels non dangerous SO's But myself would choose warmer weather place for homesteading, get more time to work on the place. Winters are very harsh and long in Colorado Snows 10 months a year in the mountains. It is the second mostly beautiful state we have "Alaska being first" I have been to the local 48 states and Alaska. Only state I cant judge in that opinion is Hawaii. But as I was saying I have thought about that but realize getting older and not kept myself in shape. I wouldn't make it a full week with a community because everyone has to do their fair share of the work and spend their fair share of the money needed to build that community. The money part wouldn't be a problem for me at all. My problem is not being efficient for the sunup to sundown working. Plus having know-how to make it all come together. I do know the learning could be taught to someone like me. But its just a matter of time before I am no longer walking or walking with a walker then I become a burden. I am only mentioning this all because some people would dream of doing this with you and then when they get their they are unable to perform then they would need be told they are not a fit. You really need a fair share of mostly young age people for your heavy work Or People that are in really good shape. Older People tend to end up with things like cancer then they too become a burden when it gets them down. Their is nothing worse than a man that once was very helpful end up with cancer and it gets toward the end. I watched 3 die just this past year. These are all aspects you must consider. I have also toyed with buying an old ghost town and having SO's go in and settle it keep the buildings that are salvageable and rebuild them and build new buildings where the destroyed ones once stood and create a self sufficient town of our own. Either way I plan on doing something in Southern NM because it seems to be at least tolerable with their laws. I think other than the lifetime registration here in WV we have the mildest laws as far as registered citizens in the entire country but I am trying to get away from winters. my health is better in a warm to hot climate than it is in cold weather climate. But Oregon is another beautiful state you are interested in two of our most beautiful states we have so I do wish you all the luck with your developing.

Great idea, I wouldn't mind a move out west.

I just saw a video on youtube how someone could get started and it is workable its called an intentional community https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNQEz6MFU7k&index=2&list=TLOvrRfPfihbMxODAzMjAxNg

LOL!! Homesteading? I know a few "Registrants' living in card board boxes down by the river and under over-passes or out in the desert but really? All the real land worth homesteading went "West" (aka south) during the last century....Oh and those 'communities' are also 'intentional' Even hippy communes couldn't make it after the first flush / inhale....Good Luck.

I like the idea, but I have not found a state that doesn't have stipulations against any one on probation or parole living together, you may need to investigate this as well.

This could be a good idea for those who need it.

@honestwitness CO actually has some of the least restrictions for an RSO - at least where I am.

I am currently on probation and I have zero living restrictions, once I'm off the only thing I have to worry about is registering, and 10 years after I'm off paper I can petition to not have to do that anymore.

For those SO's who don't have the know how or means or skills to get gainful employment or become self employed the homesteading thing could be good.

If you do it in CO let me know, I wouldn't move into the community but I could help. I have a degree in Electronics and in Mechanical design. Setting up solar power would be something you might want to look into, especially in CO. The sun index here is higher than most of the states.

I don't know about RSO restrictions in OR, but I did grow up in the pacific northwest. There is probably better land for growing up there but not as much sun.

There are long standing restrictions against "Association" (Anyone with a Felony conviction hanging out together while on parole or on the Registry) Anyone "associating' can be revoked and sent back to prison.
This isa major factor that makes forming a "movement' so difficult. It's why families/ wives Mothers form groups like "Women Against the Registry" (WAR) and even then we have have great difficulty 'finding' each other. (for a start, It costs a lot to send an invitation to join to family members by sending the invitation or a brochure to an entire list of Registrants and ask that their significant other get back to a PO Box if interested..P&P .Divides to Conquer no matter what the felony conviction.) It's not just the fear of 'exposure' / googling' but parole restrictions that effect all our lives. Restrictions intended to leave us isolated and thinking there's no body that shares our issues because if we reach out, there is always the very real chance of getting revoked and taking another trip down to incarceration nation. .

Being a recluse I wouldn't want to deal with all the personalities, but different strokes for different folks. There are actually a lot of blog sites that are good at demonstrating just what you are talking about, along with many books.

http://purelivingforlife.com/ is one of them... they describe their 'process' of going from living on grid to off. It is an interesting blog.

Thanks for the replies, everyone! You've all raised some excellent points, so now let me give some more details to answer some of the questions and concerns that people have.

First, the issue of registration laws in CO and OR: according to all of my research, these two states are some of the most tolerable in the union for SOs. In Oregon, they have refused AWA compliance, and classify offenders based on not only their charge, but also the context and circumstances of their case. This means that someone like me could potentially be moved down to a Tier II offender, and then have the opportunity to petition for Tier I within 10-15 years.

Next, the probation/parole issue. This one is impossible to get around, so I hate to say it, but any partners in this venture would have to be off of supervision, before joining. Being as I am a single parent, we also would not be able to accept anyone who has restrictions against being around minors. It's a crap shoot, and I apologize to everyone here who that would disqualify, but there's just no way around it.

For those concerned about how useful they would be, keep in mind that the main concern is that everyone be able to contribute financially to buying the land and setting up housing. Once we begin to set up the community, we will need both people who can find employment to bring in income, AND those who can work full time in the community. This doesn't just mean people who can do heavy labor around the homestead, but also those who can handle administrative work and the like. Basically, we can always find a purpose for someone who is physically limited in what they can and can't do to contribute.

Have I covered anything?

Oh, and as to the community if Florida, I read about it, and it is entirely different from what I'm trying to do. The Florida community is more of a rehabilitation/support community than anything. They accept violent offenders and legitimate sexual predators into their community to give them a place to live and attempt to rehabilitate. This is not at all what I'm trying to do, but rather to build a community with non-violent people who are on the list solely because of bad luck/bad laws.