, , , , , ,

A 6-Year-Old Had Her Hands Zip-Tied at School. Florida House Passes on Setting a Minimum Age for Arresting Kids

Florida likely won’t be setting a minimum age for arresting children, despite national outrage over a 6-year-old who had her hands zip-tied at school after she threw a temper tantrum. The Florida House took up the issue…
, , , ,

Bill Proposed to Expunge Felony Records for Kids

Kids who get arrested can get their records cleared if they complete a diversion program. But it’s currently limited, so Senator Keith Perry wants to expand it. “Current law only permits juvenile expunction for misdemeanor offenses this…
, , , , ,

Jennifer Webb Files Legislation to Curb ‘Unnecessary’ Baker Acts in Florida Schools

Rep. JenniferWebb is responding to recent reports of children being sometimes unnecessarily removed from school under Florida’s Baker Act over incidents school officials or law enforcement officers deem unsafe to the student or others. Webb’s…
, , , , , , , , ,

Cleo LeCroy to be Freed from Prison for 1981 Murders of Newlyweds

Just two months shy of his 18th birthday when he gunned down John and Gail Hardeman at Brown’s Farm Wildlife Management Area, LeCroy benefited from two-back-to-back U.S. Supreme Court decisions. In 2010 and again in 2012, the nation’s highest…
, , , , ,

Florida Legislators Pass Bill to Allow Surprise Inspections of Juvenile Lock-Ups – The Miami Herald

Last week, the Florida Legislature sent CS/HB 361: Persons Authorized to Visit Juvenile Justice Facilities to Governor Rick Scott for approval.  To increase executive, legislative, and judicial oversight, CS/HB 361 authorizes the Governor…
, , , , ,

Tell Governor Scott to Sign CS/HB 361: Persons Authorized to Visit Juvenile Facilities

Take Action! Tell Gov. Scott to sign CS/HB 361! Yesterday, the Florida Legislature sent CS/HB 361: Persons Authorized to Visit Juvenile Justice Facilities to Governor Rick Scott for approval. In the wake of The Miami Herald‘s Fight…
, , , , ,

Florida’s Pattern is Underfunding School Psychologists and Resource Officers – The Miami Herald

Legislators, mental health professionals, and law enforcement have expressed concern regarding Florida's failure to adequately fund school psychologists and resource officers. Read more.
, , , , ,

Abuse, Lies, Videotape: A Star Employee at Miami’s Juvenile Lockup Confesses to Misconduct – The Miami Herald

A detention officer at the Miami-Dade Regional Detention Center has been fired for admitting to falsifying records during polygraph testing. Read more.
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Senate Criminal Justice Committee Passes SB 936: Juvenile Justice

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will be considering SB 936, a bill which makes several key reforms to the juvenile justice system, including: Prohibiting children younger than 14 from being prosecuted as adults for…
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

YES on SB 936: Juvenile Justice

Take Action! Tell your Senator to support SB 936! On Monday, January 22, the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice will be considering SB 936, a bill which makes several key reforms to the juvenile justice system, including: Prohibiting…
, , , , , ,

Advocates Gather at Capitol to Call for Criminal Justice Reform for Children – WTXL

Last week, advocates gathered at the capitol in Tallahassee to call for reforms to Florida's system of charging juveniles as adults. Senator Bobby Powell and Representative Sean Shaw have each filed reform bills in their respective chambers. Read…
, , , , ,

Advocates Looking for New Solutions to Make Juvenile Civil Citations Consistent – WCTV

Despite the Florida Legislature's failure to pass legislation making juvenile civil citations mandatory, advocates are still seeking solutions to ramp up issuance.  The bill died before reaching the floor, primarily due to complaints that it…