ORLANDO, Fla.,None — A campsite in the woods near John Young Parkway and West Princeton Street in Orlando—where at least two dozen sex offenders live—is being closed off by the property owner. The offenders must find new places to stay and a Department of Corrections spokeswoman said the state is "concerned."
The property owner recently asked the roughly 50 people who live at the site to get lost. Among them are 24 sex offenders. They have been told if they do not leave on or before February 28 they will be arrested.
"From what I understand that state is telling these people they don't know where they're going – just go!" said one man who lives in a neighborhood near the site.
The site—which surrounds a lake—is filled with tents, makeshift homes and campfires. It is about a quarter of a mile off West Princeton Street in some thick woods.
Many people at the campground have lived there for several years. Some of the sex offenders are on probation. One man is on probation for life for a sex crime, according to people who live at the site.
"It's difficult for some of these offenders to find a place to live," Gretel Plessinger, a Florida Department of Corrections spokeswoman said.
The makeshift residence is approved by the state, Plessinger said. She said the state does not have funds to help these offenders pay for rent at an apartment or home.
"You're turning a lot of people out who shouldn't be in society," said George Oliver, who is not a sex offender, but lives at the camp.
"If an offender doesn't have a place to be they're more likely to commit a crime," Plessinger said.
The property owner could not be reached for comment.