Nearby residents of a 'paedophile village' home to more than 200 sex offenders have told how they don't let their children out to play.
Miracle Village, near the city of Pahokee, Florida, is officially "a prison re-entry residential campus" but people living within the catchment area have less polite terms for it.
Around 80% of the residents are ex-convicts who have served prison time for crimes against minors, the Mirror reports.
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Many of them are banned from living within 1,000ft of schools, playgrounds, nurseries or parks. So in 2009, Dick Witherow, a pastor with the Christian group Matthew 25 Ministries, decided to create a safe haven for Florida's paedophiles.
The settlement recently officially changed its name to Restoration Destination. According to its website it provides "essential services to individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society".
But other law-abiding residents are less than impressed with the occupants.
A woman who lives nearby said it was "frightening" when the sex offenders began moving into the nearby neighbourhood, saying: "I used to keep little daycare kids… and they sent me a paper saying they were moving in."
Sex offenders are held to a strict set of laws, including one that says they must announce to all residents that they are moving in and let them know of their previous sex crimes.
The religion-based 'village' screens individuals and usually rejects those with a violent history.
"That's why I don't let my daughter walk anywhere," said one father when media teams asked him how he feels about his neighbours.
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Florida State Senator Lauren Book runs a charity with her father working to prevent sexual abuse in children.
Ms Book has publicly told her story of sexual abuse when a live-in nanny assaulted her repeatedly.
Her father Ron said: "I do not believe these people can be rehabilitated. I don't lie awake at night thinking how can I stick it to these b*****ds and dirtbags, these scum buckets, but when we think about we are going after them.
"If you commit a crime against a kid, we will treat you differently. You stole my daughter's childhood. Go to hell, you son of a b***h, and that is why we require you to be registered."
Residents include a man who was convicted at age 18 of attempting to have sex with a nine-year-old.
Another resident, Pat Powers, moved to Miracle Village after serving 12 years in prison as a sex offender after abusing students he was giving sports coaching to.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, www.victimsupport.org.uk.
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