§ 10.5-212. Legislative findings and intent.

(a)

The findings set forth in the recitals (whereas clauses) to this article are hereby adopted as additional legislative findings.

(b)

The board of county commissioners of Polk County, Florida, hereby adopts the provisions of Section 775.21(3)(a), Florida Statutes, which state as follows:

"Repeat sexual offenders, sexual offenders who use physical violence, and sexual offenders who prey on children are sexual predators who present an extreme threat to the public safety. Sexual offenders are extremely likely to use physical violence and to repeat their offenses, and most sexual offenders commit many offenses, have many more victims than are ever reported, and are prosecuted for only a fraction of their crimes. This makes the cost of sexual offender victimization to society at large, while incalculable, clearly exorbitant."

(c)

The board of county commissioners of Polk County, Florida, hereby adopts the provisions of Section 947.1405(7), Florida Statutes, which provides, in pertinent part, that:

"It is the finding of the Legislature that the population of offenders released from state prison into the community who meet the conditional release criteria poses the greatest threat to the public safety of the groups of offenders under community supervision. Therefore, the Department of Corrections is to provide intensive supervision by experienced correctional probation officers to conditional release offenders."

(d)

The board of county commissioners of Polk County, Florida, hereby finds and determines that repeat sexual offenders, sexual offenders who use physical violence, and sexual offenders who prey on children are sexual predators who present an extreme threat to the public safety. Sexual offenders are extremely likely to use physical violence and to repeat their offenses, and most sexual offenders commit many offenses, have many more victims than are ever reported, and are prosecuted for only a fraction of their crimes. This makes the cost of sexual offender victimization to society at large, while incalculable, clearly exorbitant and a drain on the resources of society.

(e)

It is the intent of this article to serve the county's compelling interest to promote, protect and improve the health, safety, morals and welfare of the citizens of Polk County by creating areas around locations where children regularly congregate in concentrated numbers wherein certain sexual predators are prohibited from establishing temporary or permanent residences.

(Ord. No. 08-048, § 2, 9-24-08)