A few were convicted just for exposing themselves.
Nevertheless, they are all sex offenders - a stigma they have to carry as long as they live.
Photo credit:Noah Rabinowitz
Being a sex offender is hard in the state of Florida.
Even if offenders find homes that meets all residency requirements, landlords often refuse to rent to them.
Being in the sex offender registry renders them effectively unemployable.
Dick Witherow himself was almost charged with statutory rape as a teenager when he got his 14-year-old girlfriend pregnant.
Thankfully the judge did not press charge and allowed the two to get married.
Today, Miracle Village provides safe haven to non-violent sex offenders.
People with children are also not allowed.
Miracle Village is a self-sustained community.
There are anger management and bible study classes, and many go to church.
As a condition of their probation, most of the sex offenders attend psychological treatment programmes.
Some of the offenders even have jobs in local towns.
One neighbor, a mother of three, packed up and moved her family 40 minutes away.
Others are not bothered.
“They’re good people.
I’ve made plenty of friends, he told BBC.
Photo credit
Sources:BBC/Hillman Foundation/Inquisitr/ABC News/Starcasm
