Florida Police Chiefs Association Update: Week Ending June 6, 2014
Jun 4, 2014
The following is an informational update on law enforcement news, events, legislative developments and meetings relating to the Florida Police Chiefs Association community for the week ending June 6, 2014.
Click on the hyperlinks in bold type to access all information.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Florida Police Chiefs Association lobbyists, Colodny Fass& Webb.
NEWS
Governor Scott: Budget Provides Critical Investments to Keep Florida Families Safe
Governor Rick Scott signed Florida’s Budget on June 2, 2014, part of which provides resources to state and local criminal justice agencies and the judicial branch to ensure the safety and protection of Florida families and visitors through effective investigations, prosecution, and targeted rehabilitation and prevention efforts.
- 2014 Florida Law Enforcement and Public Safety Appropriations
- Rick Scott Inks Record Budget, Spares Most Projects
- Highlights from Florida’s new $77 billion budget
- Florida TaxWatch Finds $120 Million Worth of State Budget”Turkeys”
- Florida Senate leaders “thrilled” with newly signed state budget
- Compilation Of Statements And Reactions To Governor Rick Scott Signing $77 Billion Budget
- See all the 2014 Florida Budget press releases from the Governor’s Office
- View all 2014 Florida Budget items from the Florida Senate
- Go directly to the 2014 Florida Budget (HB 5001)
As promised, Governor vetoes speed limit bill
Florida Governor Rick Scott said last month that the death of a state highway trooper who was killed investigating an interstate accident convinced him a speed limit increase was wrong for Florida and made good on his promise to veto Senate Bill 392, which would have authorized state officials to raise the limit 5 mph to a maximum 75 mph if deemed safe. The Tampa Bay Times’ Tia Mitchell reports via the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.
Decline in Florida prescription drug-related deaths highlighted
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey announced that prescription drug related deaths are continuing to decline, according to the 2013 Interim Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons Report by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.
ACLU sues for Sarasota police cell records
The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit seeking records about the Sarasota Police Department’s use of a device that can secretly track cell phone use.
Some people may be under the impression that one’s home is one’s castle-inviolable, a refuge even from police intrusion.
A deal, again: Jacksonville, Police and Fire Pension Fund finalize previous accord
A pension reform agreement has been made in Jacksonville between the mayor and the city’s Police and Fire Pension Fund nearly two full weeks after the parties shook hands and said they reached a settlement.
Lakeland Failed To Notify Florida Department of Law Enforcement Police Chief’s Exit
Police departments must inform state agency when a sworn officer leaves.
Identity theft investigation leads Tampa police to scrutinize access to Florida driver database
The last time state auditors looked, Tampa police got a passing grade for preventing employees from exploiting Florida’s drivers license database as a hunting ground for identity theft.
Syrian suicide Bomber Is Identified as a Florida Man
An American who blew himself up in an attack in Syria has been identified by law enforcement officials as Moner Mohammad Abusalha, a man in his early 20s who grew up in Florida and traveled to Syria late last year.
Jeffrey S. Goldman will be the new police chief in Delray Beach.
Port Richey names interim police chief
The city has appointed an interim police chief to take over for Dave … Gabbard was referred to O’Neill by the Florida Police Chiefs Association.
Former Longboat Key Police Chief McCammon dies at 83
Wayne McCammon, longtime Longboat Key police chief, died on May 27. He was 83.
Fired Homestead police captain files whistle-blower lawsuit
A battle is raging in Homestead over whether some internal affairs files were destroyed and other records were faked to cover it up, which would be against Florida’s public-records laws.
Questions linger among officials on how to prevent future Ft. Lauderdale holiday beach arrests
After scores of police in riot gear and the closure of three bridges helped defuse a simmering Memorial Day disturbance on Fort Lauderdale beach, there was little consensus among officials on how to prevent such problems that now have marred three holiday weekends in the past year.
Scammers targeting South Florida seniors, says chief of Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade
Phone calls are not the only way that scammers prey on South Florida residents.
Many law enforcement officers got their start at University of Central Florida
Local officers share their stories of starting their careers at the University of Central Florida.
REPORTS
From the U.S. Government Accountability Office–Of the approximately 28 million passports issued in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 that GAO reviewed, it found issuances to applicants who used the identifying information of deceased or incarcerated individuals, had active felony warrants, or used an incorrect Social Security number (SSN); however, the GAO did not identify pervasive fraud in these populations.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Online University
From the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention-The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) has launched a new website for the OJJDP Online University, a central source for the juvenile justice community to easily connect with training and technical assistance. The Online University is a one-stop shop for training courses, webinars, training and technical assistance events, and materials that OJJDP’s training and technical assistance providers and partners have developed. Features include a calendar consolidating all the upcoming training and technical assistance events in the juvenile justice field, a “quick links” to training and resources, including webinars, online and classroom trainings, and publications.
Prediction and Risk/Needs Assessment
From the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs–This bulletin discusses our ability to predict whether a young adult will commit crimes based on information available from his or her juvenile years and reviews assessment tools used to make these predictions. Risk assessments are relevant to a range of decisions, from pre-charge diversion to sentencing and disposition. Selecting a risk assessment tool depends on the specific decision. For example, pretrial detention decisions often require an estimate of how likely a youth will be to commit a violent offense in the short term. Decisions with longer term impact, such as disposition, case planning, and management, call for an assessment of the individual’s psychosocial needs, as well as risk and protective factors.
How Community Advisory Boards Can Assist the Work of the Justice System
From the Center for Court Innovation–Community advisory boards provide community members with a forum to air concerns, learn about the justice system, and steer new initiatives. In addition, community advisory boards allow law enforcement agencies to identify public safety and other community problems, recruit volunteers, and engage in community policing strategies that foster goodwill and public support. This fact sheet provides guidance to justice practitioners interested in creating a community advisory board. It provides guidance on establishing goals, a review of practical considerations, and examples of accomplishments from around the country.
Data-Driven Crime Prevention: New Tools for Community Involvement and Crime Control
From Justice and Security Strategies, Inc.–This essay first discusses previous research and the authors’ own research on collective efficacy in Miami-Dade County, followed by a proposed strategy for data-driven crime prevention. Over the years, research has shown that neighborhoods with higher “collective efficacy” (the degree to which neighbors trust one another to act according to shared values) and “social cohesion” (emotional and social investment in the neighborhood) experience less crime. This is reflected in the concepts of community policing and community-based crime prevention and means that data on these features of neighborhoods must be collected through resident surveys, systematic social observations, and environmental design assessments. Such data collection efforts will assist in identifying both problems and strengths in the way residents interact with one another and act to preserve and/or improve the neighborhood’s quality of life.
From the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs–Although the features of drug courts vary according to the population served, as well as the resources allocated, programs are generally managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, community corrections, social workers, and treatment service professionals. Support from stakeholders who represent law enforcement, the family, and the community is encouraged. Drug court participants reported less criminal activity and had fewer re-arrests than comparable offenders processed under traditional court procedures. They also reported less drug use (56% vs. 76%) and were less likely to test positive for drug use than comparable offenders processed in traditional courts. Treatment investment costs were higher for participants, but with less recidivism, so drug courts saved an average of $5,680 to $6,208 per offender overall.
From Models for Change–Dual status youth cross the agency lines of the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, yet the agencies do not always communicate or collaborate on plans to serve youth. Research and experience indicate that an integrated, multi-system approach can effectively yield better outcomes for youth and families, enhance system performance, and produce significant cost savings within communities. This white paper highlights strategies that youth-serving systems can apply to develop a more integrated approach and looks at examples where system integration and coordination led to profound transformations with better outcomes for youth and communities.
Applying a Justice Reinvestment Approach to Improve Michigan’s Sentencing System
From the Council of State Governments–In Michigan, one out of every five state dollars is spent on corrections. While policymakers look for ways to contain the high costs of corrections, victims, law enforcement, and prosecutors have urged caution against letting fiscal concerns trump efforts to reduce crime and protect the public. Michigan has analyzed these problems in recent years and implemented sentencing reforms to make sentences more predictive and consistent and employed risk of re-offense data to inform probation and post-release supervision. Michigan has achieved measurable progress – reported violent crime decreased 15% from 2008 to 2012; re-arrest rates for parolees declined by 20% from 2008 to 2011; and the prison population dropped 15% between 2006 and 2012.
RULEMAKING
Florida’s Crimes Compensation Act Rules To Be Clarified
Rulemaking has commenced by the Florida Department of Legal Affairs to clarify definitions, documentation requirements, and amend benefits and procedures for claims filed pursuant to Florida’s Crimes Compensation Act.
Published on May 22, 2014, the corresponding Notice pertains to the following proposed Rules:
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A hearing will be scheduled if requested by a member of the public within 21 days of this notice.
To view the Notice and access the complete texts of each proposed Rule, click here.
An April 2013 Informational Memorandum (OIR-14-O1M) from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation reminded property and casualty, as well as health insurers, that deductible or copayment provisions of any insurance policy are not applicable to a person determined to be eligible for exemption from them as a crime victim pursuant to the Florida Crimes Compensation Act.
The Memorandum was issued in response to a request by the Florida Attorney General’s Bureau of Victim Compensation (“BVC”) to inform insurers that the determination of what constitutes an eligible crime victim is ” . . . wholly made at the sole discretion of the BVC . . .”
To read the complete Memorandum, as well as the BVC’s request letter, click here.
REGULATORY HEARINGS AND MEETINGS
June 17
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
The Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: June 17, 2014, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Valencia Community College, Criminal Justice Institute Auditorium, Room 100, 8600 Valencia College Lane, Orlando, Florida 32825
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The above meeting will be held to determine whether or not probable cause exists to pursue disciplinary action against the certification of sworn correctional, law enforcement, or correctional probation officers.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Lori Morea at (850)410-8625 or email at lorimorea@fdle.state.fl.us.
UPCOMING FLORIDA POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION EVENTS
Sunday, June 29
62nd Annual FPCA Summer Training Conference
Boca Raton Resort & Club 501 East Camino Real Boca Raton, FL 33432
Tentative Conference Agenda Attendee Information Attendee Registration Exhibitor Registration Exhibitor Information Exhibitor Rules Booth Layout
July 9
Crisis Communication Boot Camp
Orlando PD Training Center 100 Andes Avenue Orlando, FL 32807 Details Register
August 18-22
Advanced Law Enforcement Executives Seminar
The Florida Hotel 1500 Sand Lake Road Orlando, FL Information coming soon!
September 22-26
Future Law Enforcement Executives Seminar
The Florida Hotel 1500 Sand Lake Road Orlando, FL
October 25
IACP Annual Conference
121st Annual Conference Orlando, FL Book a room in the FPCA room block Conference Information