Florida Police Chiefs Association Update: Week Ending March 15
Mar 18, 2013
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 March 15, 2013. 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
Florida Police Chief Bitten During Bike Week Scuffle
Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood was injured Saturday in a Bike Week scuffle when he was bitten on the hand by a man who had flagged him down on Main Street as the annual motorcycle event drew to a close.
Senator Joe Negron’s measure would forbid warrantless spying by local and state law-enforcement agencies.
Support for Red-Light Cameras May Be Dimming
State Representative Neil Combee supported red-light cameras until last December, when a camera at North Florida Avenue and Memorial Boulevard in Lakeland snagged him for a violation.
Blog: New bill tries to bring “smart justice” to Florida
A new proposal announced Tuesday-dubbed “Smart Justice”-would change the way Florida deals with non-violent drug offenders.
Florida bill would require anger management courses for bullet buyers
A Florida legislator wants anyone trying to buy ammunition to complete an anger management program first, in what critics say is the latest example of local lawmakers reaching for constitutionally-dubious solutions to the problem of gun violence.
Florida Senate Panel Considers Death Penalty Changes
Significant changes could be coming to the state’s capital punishment system. Monday, a Florida Senate panel discussed a bill to require a jury to unanimously recommend the death penalty.
New Volusia County DUI Court Program Sees First Graduating Class
For the majority of the 1,000 people in Volusia County who are charged with driving under the influence each year, a trip through the criminal justice system is enough.
Senate panel OKs related “Caylee’s Law”
A Florida Senate panel has cleared increased penalties to a law closely related to “Caylee’s Law.”
Investigation into Edgewater police chief ends
Edgewater Police Chief David Arcieri is back in the clear after the State Attorney’s Office closed its investigation into whether he obstructed an investigation.
Keith Dunn retires as chief of police; Ray Black replaces him
Miramar Police Chief Keith Dunn retired Thursday.
No clear successor as New Port Richey Police Chief Leaves
It was a strange last day on the job for outgoing New Port Richey Police Chief James Steffens.
Recently-Demoted Miami-Dade Schools Police Chief Has Resigned
Miami-Dade Schools Police Chief Charles Hurley is no longer on the job, a school district official said.
Opa-locka has a new police chief – or does it?
There’s a new chief in town, but Opa-locka apparently doesn’t know it.
Fraud conference offered Southwest Florida lessons on what to watch for
Federal law enforcement officials said Florida’s recently found fame for fraud pushed them to open offices in Fort Myers and Miami.
The Sad State of Solitary in Florida: Is There Hope for this Human Rights Violation?
The United States has become a global outlier in its over-reliance on incarceration.
REPORTS
In 2012, the reported seizures of marijuana from indoor grow sites continued to outpace seizures from outdoor grow sites. Indoor and outdoor cultivators continue to develop innovative techniques and schemes to avoid detection by law enforcement. Despite these efforts, county and local law enforcement agencies in 58 of Florida’s 67 counties reported the detection and dismantling of 771 indoor and outdoor grow sites, resulting in the eradication of 37,388 marijuana plants, 723 arrests and the forfeiture of $1,669,117 in assets.
The rate of incarceration of women has increased substantially in recent decades, with a 31% increase between 2000 and 2011. Female offenders appear to have different risk factors for offending than do male offenders. In particular, female offenders report greater incidence of mental health problems and serious mental illness than do male offenders. Female offenders also report higher rates of substance dependence as well as greater incidence of past physical and sexual abuse. Other researchers also have noted elevated rates of experiences of interpersonal trauma, substance dependence, and associated symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in female offenders. This policy brief discusses the Women’s Pathways to Jail study, which addresses critical gaps in the literature by assessing the prevalence of serious mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance use disorders in women in jail.
In many cities and counties, inmate health care comprises as much as a third of the cost of the corrections department. Options are presented on ways to substantially reduce the costs without reducing the quality of the care. This study draws on practices of jails and prisons across the nation. Approaches for cost reduction include ways to reduce demand or need for health care (e.g., screening need for hospitalization) and ways to reduce the cost per inmate when care is need (e.g. use of telemedicine).
This article reviews the literature on the relationship between zoning, the built environment, and crime and presents the results of two empirical studies on these relationships. Mixed commercial- and residential-zoned areas are associated with lower crime compared to commercial-only zoned areas. In addition, neighborhoods in which there was a zoning change experienced a significant decline in crime. Results suggest that mixing residential-only zoning into commercial blocks may be a promising means of reducing crime.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, part of the Department of Homeland Security, has reported progress in stemming illegal cross-border activity, but it could strengthen the assessment of its efforts.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Case Law Updates (February 27, 2013)
- 13-02: Detaining Persons Leaving Premises Prior to Execution of Search Warrant
- 13-01: Recording Suspect’s Conversation with Girlfriend in Police Station
UPCOMING MEETINGS
April 11
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
The Region XIV Trust Fund Advisory Council announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: April 11, 2013, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Miami Dade College, North Campus, Room 9118
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: Discussion of Region XIV Reports and other Region XIV business matters.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Maevis Pierre, Interim, Region XIV Secretary O., (305)237-1329, Email: mpierre6@mdc.edu.
May 2
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Police Board announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday May 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: An emergency meeting was held by the FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism Program’s Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute (FCJEI) Policy Board to discuss tuition increases for FCJEI courses, to aid in increasing the revenue for the diminishing funds (due to the economy) in the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund, which is the major funding source for the Criminal Justice Professionalism Program. In addition, the FCJEI held election of a new chairperson of the policy board, provided updates to FCJEI Policy Board members on all FCJEI courses, discussed creating a consistent instructor fee structure to include online training initiatives, and provided an update on the status of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund.
The FCJEI agreed to increase the tuition fees for the FCJEI leadership courses; however, the policy board decided to discuss the tuition increases with Florida Sheriff’s Association and Florida Police Chief’s Association prior to moving forward with the fee increases. The FCJEI Policy Board advised that further assessment of instructor fees would be conducted prior to making a final decision. The FCJEI Policy Board elected Punta Gorda, Chief of Police Albert “Butch” Arenal, Chairperson of the Police Board and approved the meeting minutes from June 10, 2010, FCJEI Policy Board Meeting.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Kristi Gordon, Bureau Chief, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308, (850)410-7373, email: kristigordon@fdle.state.fl.us. For more information, you may contact: Kristi Gordon, Bureau Chief, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308, (850)410-7373 or email: kristigordon@fdle.state.fl.us.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass& Webb.
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