FL - Zero Tolerance and Homeless Sex Offenders
Transcript of FL - Zero Tolerance and Homeless Sex Offenders
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Florida Department of Corrections
Presentations to the
Senate Criminal Justice Committee
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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OFFICE OF
COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
Zero Tolerance Update
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ZERO TOLERANCE UPDATE
The following actions have been instituted to ensure consistency in the reporting of ‘willful’ violations:
• Published memo from Secretary McDonough on “willful” violations in March 2006
• Revised “Reporting Violation Procedure”
• All probation officers and supervisors have received “Reporting Violation” training. The training covered ‘willful’ violations and alternate methods of reporting violations
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REPORTING VIOLATIONS
As of November 2007:• 49 counties (121 judges) authorize the department to
report certain technical violations via Technical Violation Notification letters.
• 45 counties (112 judges) authorize use of ‘Notice to Appear’ hearings in lieu of a warrant, which reduces the number of arrests required and the number of offenders in jail pending VOP
• 94 judges authorize the department to fax documents• 74 judges authorize the department to email
documents • 19 out of 20 circuits have court officers
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New Arrests & Technicals Against Population
-1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000
10,000
Viol
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Violations - New Arrest Violations - Technical Active and Active Suspense Population
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REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Violations per 1,000 Offenders
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March 2004 March 2006
20% Decline
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REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Probation officers continue to:• Address violations quickly and consistently
• Report willful violations
• Prevent future crimes by immediately addressing non-compliance
• Allow courts to decide on additional sanctions
• Exercise good judgment in ensuring offenders comply with the terms of supervision
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Homeless Sex Offenders
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
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HOMELESS SEX OFFENDERS
• Challenges locating appropriate lodging:– Lack of financial resources, family support,
or transportation.
– Residence restrictions imposed by state law and local ordinances (121 statewide).
• Homelessness is not a willful violation
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HOMELESS SEX OFFENDERS
• Their poor living situation limits the sex offender’s ability to get a job, secure a better residence, attend sex offender treatment, and acquire other basic needs (food, clothing, hygiene) to transition back into the community.
• ‘Homeless’ sex offenders with Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) lack access to electricity. Offenders must search for ways to charge the tracking device in order to comply with Electronic Monitoring conditions.
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MYTHS
• Residency restrictions are the sex offender panacea
• Sex offenders recidivate more than other criminals
• Groups of sex offenders living together are more dangerous to society
• All sex offenders are the same
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Absconder Apprehension
OFFICE OF COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
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Absconder Unit
• Secretary McDonough launched new initiative in March 2006.
• Goal: To reduce the total number of absconders by 20% or more within 1 year.
• By March 2007 the Department successfully reduced the number of absconders by 25%.
• To date, the number of absconders has been reduced from 44,040 to 30,638 (30% reduction)
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Apprehending Sex Offenders
• March 2006: 1,019 sex offender absconders
December 2007: 577 sex offender absconders
43% reduction in sex offender absconders
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In Pursuit of Absconders
• Actionable intelligence is vital to track and apprehend absconders.
• New partnerships were formed to share intelligence and coordinate enforcement operations.
• Intelligence sharing has led to effective partnerships
• Message to would be absconders: We will apprehend you.
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Absconder Gains by Month
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Absconder Gain Date
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Absconders To Prison
Monthly Gains from AbscondingStatus