Fla. Stat. § 775.21
(2) DEFINITIONS.--As used in this section, the term:
(3) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE; LEGISLATIVE INTENT.--
(b) The high level of threat that a sexual predator presents to the public safety, and the long-term effects suffered by victims of sex offenses, provide the state with sufficient justification to implement a strategy that includes:
1. Incarcerating sexual predators and maintaining adequate facilities to ensure that decisions to release sexual predators into the community are not made on the basis of inadequate space.
2. Providing for specialized supervision of sexual predators who are in the community by specially trained probation officers with low caseloads, as described in ss. 947.1405(7) and 948.03(5). The sexual predator is subject to specified terms and conditions implemented at sentencing or at the time of release from incarceration, with a requirement that those who are financially able must pay all or part of the costs of supervision.
3. Requiring the registration of sexual predators, with a requirement that complete and accurate information be maintained and accessible for use by law enforcement authorities, communities, and the public.
4. Providing for community and public notification concerning the presence of sexual predators.
5. Prohibiting sexual predators from working with children, either for compensation or as a volunteer.
(e) It is the intent of the Legislature to address the problem of sexual predators by:
1. Requiring sexual predators supervised in the community to have special conditions of supervision and to be supervised by probation officers with low caseloads;
2. Requiring sexual predators to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, as provided in this section; and
3. Requiring community and public notification of the presence of a sexual predator, as provided in this section.
(4) SEXUAL PREDATOR CRITERIA.--
(a) For a current offense committed on or after October 1, 1993, upon conviction, an offender shall be designated as a "sexual predator" under subsection (5), and subject to registration under subsection (6) and community and public notification under subsection (7) if:
1. The felony is:
a. A capital, life, or first-degree felony violation, or any attempt thereof, of s. 787.01 or s. 787.02, where the victim is a minor and the defendant is not the victim's parent, or of chapter 794, s. 800.04, or s. 847.0145, or a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction; or
b. Any felony violation, or any attempt thereof, of s. 787.01, s. 787.02, or s. 787.025, where the victim is a minor and the defendant is not the victim's parent; chapter 794, excluding ss. 794.011(10) and 794.0235; s. 796.03; s. 800.04; s. 825.1025(2)(b); s. 827.071; or s. 847.0145; or a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction, and the offender has previously been convicted of or found to have committed, or has pled nolo contendere or guilty to, regardless of adjudication, any violation of s. 787.01, s. 787.02, or s. 787.025, where the victim is a minor and the defendant is not the victim's parent; s. 794.011(2), (3), (4), (5), or (8); s. 794.05; s. 796.03; s. 800.04; s. 825.1025; s. 827.071; s. 847.0133; s. 847.0135; or s. 847.0145, or a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction;
2. The offender has not received a pardon for any felony or similar law of another jurisdiction that is necessary for the operation of this paragraph; and
3. A conviction of a felony or similar law of another jurisdiction necessary to the operation of this paragraph has not been set aside in any postconviction proceeding.
(c) If an offender has been registered as a sexual predator by the Department of Corrections, the department, or any other law enforcement agency and if:
1. The court did not, for whatever reason, make a written finding at the time of sentencing that the offender was a sexual predator; or
2. The offender was administratively registered as a sexual predator because the Department of Corrections, the department, or any other law enforcement agency obtained information that indicated that the offender met the criteria for designation as a sexual predator based on a violation of a similar law in another jurisdiction, the department shall remove that offender from the department's list of sexual predators and, for an offender described under subparagraph 1., shall notify the state attorney who prosecuted the offense that met the criteria for administrative designation as a sexual predator, and, for an offender described under this subparagraph, shall notify the state attorney of the county where the offender establishes or maintains a permanent or temporary residence. The state attorney shall bring the matter to the court's attention in order to establish that the offender meets the criteria for designation as a sexual predator. If the court makes a written finding that the offender is a sexual predator, the offender must be designated as a sexual predator, must register or be registered as a sexual predator with the department as provided in subsection (6), and is subject to the community and public notification as provided in subsection (7). If the court does not make a written finding that the offender is a sexual predator, the offender may not be designated as a sexual predator with respect to that offense and is not required to register or be registered as a sexual predator with the department.
(5) SEXUAL PREDATOR DESIGNATION.--An offender is designated as a sexual predator as follows:
(a) 1. An offender who meets the sexual predator criteria described in paragraph (4)(a) who is before the court for sentencing for a current offense committed on or after October 1, 1993, is a sexual predator, and the sentencing court must make a written finding at the time of sentencing that the offender is a sexual predator, and the clerk of the court shall transmit a copy of the order containing the written finding to the department within 48 hours after the entry of the order; or
2. If the Department of Corrections, the department, or any other law enforcement agency obtains information which indicates that an offender who establishes or maintains a permanent or temporary residence in this state meets the sexual predator criteria described in paragraph (4)(a) because the offender committed a similar violation in another jurisdiction on or after October 1, 1993, the Department of Corrections, the department, or the law enforcement agency shall notify the state attorney of the county where the offender establishes or maintains a permanent or temporary residence of the offender's presence in the community. The state attorney shall file a petition with the criminal division of the circuit court for the purpose of holding a hearing to determine if the offender's criminal record from another jurisdiction meets the sexual predator criteria. If the court finds that the offender meets the sexual predator criteria because the offender has violated a similar law or similar laws in another jurisdiction, the court shall make a written finding that the offender is a sexual predator. When the court makes a written finding that an offender is a sexual predator, the court shall inform the sexual predator of the registration and community and public notification requirements described in this section. Within 48 hours of the court designating an offender as a sexual predator, the clerk of the circuit court shall transmit a copy of the court's written sexual predator finding to the department. If the offender is sentenced to a term of imprisonment or supervision, a copy of the court's written sexual predator finding must be submitted to the Department of Corrections.
(6) REGISTRATION.--
(a) A sexual predator must register with the department by providing the following information to the department:
1. Name, social security number, age, race, sex, date of birth, height, weight, hair and eye color, photograph, address of legal residence and address of any current temporary residence, within the state or out of state, including a rural route address and a post office box, date and place of any employment, date and place of each conviction, fingerprints, and a brief description of the crime or crimes committed by the offender. A post office box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address.
a. If the sexual predator's place of residence is a motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home, or manufactured home, as defined in chapter 320, the sexual predator shall also provide to the department written notice of the vehicle identification number; the license tag number; the registration number; and a description, including color scheme, of the motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home, or manufactured home. If a sexual predator's place of residence is a vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat, as defined in chapter 327, the sexual predator shall also provide to the department written notice of the hull identification number; the manufacturer's serial number; the name of the vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat; the registration number; and a description, including color scheme, of the vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat.
b. If the sexual predator is enrolled, employed, or carrying on a vocation at an institution of higher education in this state, the sexual predator shall also provide to the department the name, address, and county of each institution, including each campus attended, and the sexual predator's enrollment or employment status. Each change in enrollment or employment status shall be reported in person at the sheriff's office, or the Department of Corrections if the sexual predator is in the custody or control of or under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, within 48 hours after any change in status. The sheriff or the Department of Corrections shall promptly notify each institution of the sexual predator's presence and any change in the sexual predator's enrollment or employment status.
2. Any other information determined necessary by the department, including criminal and corrections records; nonprivileged personnel and treatment records; and evidentiary genetic markers when available.
(f) Within 48 hours after the registration required under paragraph (a) or paragraph (e), a sexual predator who is not incarcerated and who resides in the community, including a sexual predator under the supervision of the Department of Corrections, shall register in person at a driver's license office of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and shall present proof of registration. At the driver's license office the sexual predator shall:
1. If otherwise qualified, secure a Florida driver's license, renew a Florida driver's license, or secure an identification card. The sexual predator shall identify himself or herself as a sexual predator who is required to comply with this section, provide his or her place of permanent or temporary residence, including a rural route address and a post office box, and submit to the taking of a photograph for use in issuing a driver's license, renewed license, or identification card, and for use by the department in maintaining current records of sexual predators. A post office box shall not be provided in lieu of a physical residential address. If the sexual predator's place of residence is a motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home, or manufactured home, as defined in chapter 320, the sexual predator shall also provide to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles the vehicle identification number; the license tag number; the registration number; and a description, including color scheme, of the motor vehicle, trailer, mobile home, or manufactured home. If a sexual predator's place of residence is a vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat, as defined in chapter 327, the sexual predator shall also provide to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles the hull identification number; the manufacturer's serial number; the name of the vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat; the registration number; and a description, including color scheme, of the vessel, live-aboard vessel, or houseboat.
2. Pay the costs assessed by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for issuing or renewing a driver's license or identification card as required by this section.
3. Provide, upon request, any additional information necessary to confirm the identity of the sexual predator, including a set of fingerprints.
(k) 1. The department is responsible for the on-line maintenance of current information regarding each registered sexual predator. The department must maintain hotline access for state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to obtain instantaneous locator file and offender characteristics information on all released registered sexual predators for purposes of monitoring, tracking, and prosecution. The photograph and fingerprints do not have to be stored in a computerized format.
2. The department's sexual predator registration list, containing the information described in subparagraph (a)1., is a public record. The department is authorized to disseminate this public information by any means deemed appropriate, including operating a toll-free telephone number for this purpose. When the department provides information regarding a registered sexual predator to the public, department personnel must advise the person making the inquiry that positive identification of a person believed to be a sexual predator cannot be established unless a fingerprint comparison is made, and that it is illegal to use public information regarding a registered sexual predator to facilitate the commission of a crime.
3. The department shall adopt guidelines as necessary regarding the registration of sexual predators and the dissemination of information regarding sexual predators as required by this section.
(7) COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.--
(a) Law enforcement agencies must inform members of the community and the public of a sexual predator's presence. Upon notification of the presence of a sexual predator, the sheriff of the county or the chief of police of the municipality where the sexual predator establishes or maintains a permanent or temporary residence shall notify members of the community and the public of the presence of the sexual predator in a manner deemed appropriate by the sheriff or the chief of police. Within 48 hours after receiving notification of the presence of a sexual predator, the sheriff of the county or the chief of police of the municipality where the sexual predator temporarily or permanently resides shall notify each licensed day care center, elementary school, middle school, and high school within a 1-mile radius of the temporary or permanent residence of the sexual predator of the presence of the sexual predator. Information provided to members of the community and the public regarding a sexual predator must include:
1. The name of the sexual predator;
2. A description of the sexual predator, including a photograph;
3. The sexual predator's current address, including the name of the county or municipality if known;
4. The circumstances of the sexual predator's offense or offenses; and
5. Whether the victim of the sexual predator's offense or offenses was, at the time of the offense, a minor or an adult. This paragraph does not authorize the release of the name of any victim of the sexual predator.
(10) PENALTIES.--
History.--s. 1, ch. 93-277; s. 1, ch. 95-264; s. 54, ch. 95-283; s. 61, ch. 96-388; s. 5, ch. 97-299; s. 3, ch. 98-81; s. 1, ch. 98-267; s. 1, ch. 2000-207; s. 3, ch. 2000-246; s. 113, ch. 2000-349; s. 1, ch. 2002-58.