Pervert Park

This documentary follows residents of a trailer park, owned and operated by Florida Justice Transitions (FJT), a private organisation founded by the mother of a convicted sex offender who could not find a place to live after his release. Locals refer to FJT as ‘Pervert Park’. The crimes committed by the residents range from misdemeanours to serious felonies. Each struggles with what they have done as they try to rebuild their lives in a world that - as the nickname given to their community suggests - finds it difficult to see past their crimes. With unflinching candor, residents tell the stories of their lives and their crimes. The film shows the residents’ flaws and humanity. Even as they grapple to live with what they have done and as some struggle with their own histories as victims of abuse, they hold jobs, go to school and build community. ‘Pervert Park’ seeks to deepen our understanding of this complex issue, and open up dialogue around management policies and sexual violence prevention. The film begs the question of whether lifetime registries, monitoring and restrictions on housing and work options are effective in protecting communities. How do we both protect public safety and implement just policies?