Tag Archive for: Florida Senate

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In Florida, Your Kid’s Chance of Arrest at School Depends on Where You Live

After a student was caught cutting class at Seminole High School’s ninth grade center in April 2019, a trio of Sanford police officers told the girl to get in a golf cart so she could be taken back to campus. She refused. “I’m…
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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…
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Legislation Limiting Restraint and Forbidding Seclusion in Schools Heads to Final Committee Stop

Lawmakers appear closer than ever to passing legislation ending restraining and secluding children with special needs at school. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education approved the bill (SB 1644), sponsored by Sen. Lauren Book,…
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Lawmakers Could Give a Second Chance to More Juvenile Offenders

Bills that would provide more Florida kids with a second chance is primed for a floor vote in both chambers. SB 700, by Republican Sen. Keith Perry, and HB 615 by Democratic Rep. Clovis Watson,would change the way the state expunges juvenile…
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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…

Central Florida Charter Schools Struggle to Pay for On-Campus Officers Required by New Law

Two Winter Garden charter schools planned to buy new computers this year, giving every student on their shared campus one to use. But when Crystal Yoakum, the CEO of the two affiliated schools, got a look at the numbers, she knew that dream…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Florida’s Troubled Prison, Juvenile Justice Systems Gear Up For Overhaul – The Huffington Post

The Florida Legislature is currently considering a number of bills to reform the state's juvenile justice system. The most influential of these bills is a bill that will require police officers to issue civil citations to juveniles who are…