Author: FAC Contributor #10

Preventing and managing sexual assaults in the real world is a challenge.  An article in the Washington Post suggests that sexual assaults in virtual reality may be added to the list of new challenges.   This article may be behind a paywall.   SOURCE:

HB 1235, House Judiciary Committee, 10:00 am, Wednesday, February 7, 2024   SB 1230, Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 2:00 pm, Thursday, February 8, 2024 Watch meetings here.

The defendant in Lake County charged with capital sex offenses carrying a looming death penalty has elected to take a negotiated plea bargain of Life Without Parole (LWOP).     The alleged crimes in this case were exceptionally heinous.     SOURCE:

New legislation always faces the challenge of being specific enough when defining the target that is being sought with restrictions or sanctions.  There is no justice in casting a big net hoping it catches the right activity or individuals.   Creating a series of unintended consequences or injustices is a caution.   The attached article from Reason describes how one

Women Against the Registry (WAR) has published an article describing a successful legal challenge to a proximity ordinance in Windsor Locks, CT.     A person forced to register (PFR) filed a civil rights challenge to the town’s ordinance prohibiting him and others from being within the proximity of public services.  His suit claimed he had a constitutional right to access

The Sentencing Project has released a report indicating that when it comes to crimes of a sexual nature, the criminal justice system has the wrong focus.  The research shows efforts are focused on increasing punishment and dedicating more resources to managing offenders of a crime of a sexual nature, while the prevention of new crimes remains a desert of attention,

In State v Croce, the defendant successfully argued in a lower court that FS (Florida Statutes) 943.0435(4)(h) and (9) did not require the individual to register as a sex offender until the completion of their probation.  And, the 2nd District Court of Appeals agreed.     Mr. Croce failed to register an instant messaging device which is an obligation in 943.0435(4)(e).

Data4Change, Inc has completed a recidivism study of first time offenders in Florida.  Using Florida Department of Corrections data (current to 12/31/23), major offenses are broken out by re-offense; those not re-offending; by technical probation violations and new offenses un-related to original crimes.   In Florida, first time offenders since 2020 only report a 1% recidivism rate for a new

For the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (SB 1230) and the House Judiciary Committee (HB 1235)   WE LEARNED THIS MORNING (JANUARY 30) THAT HB 1235 WAS MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE (NOT BEING VOTED ON) AND HAS GONE STRAIGHT TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.  THIS CALL TO ACTION HAS BEEN AMENDED TO INCLUDE

For the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (SB 1230) and the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee (HB 1235)   Even though SB 1230 and HB 1235 have passed favorably in each of their first committees, we learned from last year that now is not the time to give up.  Our FAC legislative chair has been spending days in