Prison phone provider accuses Florida Dept. of Corrections of using inmates’ families as a slush fund

January 31, 2019, 7:45 pm In a lawsuit, Securus Technologies said the department opted for a “wish list of goodies” over lower rates for inmates and their loved ones. The Florida Department of Corrections used the procurement process

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New Times: Despite Ban, Florida Democrats Still Indirectly Accepting Private-Prison Money

January 29, 2019, 6:12 pm Last year, a group of progressive activists convinced the Florida Democratic Party to stop accepting campaign donations from private, for-profit prison companies. The industry, which makes billions by keeping other human beings behind

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Sen. Lauren Book wants to create “Soliciting for Prostitution Registry”

January 29, 2019, 6:04 pm Florida State Senator Lauren Book, introduced Senate Bill 540 last week. Included in her bill is the establishment of a “Soliciting for Prostitution Registry”. Her bill also wants every law enforcement officer to

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NARSOL: People First Language

January 28, 2019, 1:28 pm The following was circulated to all affiliates by Cindy at NARSOL. I think it’s a very useful message. When dealing with others, you might want to suggest they re-phrase their labels. Hello friends,

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MI: Michigan State sex offender registry can’t be enforced in pandemic

April 6, 2020, 11:38 pm A federal judge is commanding state authorities to stop enforcing rules under the Michigan Sex Offender Registry Act during the coronavirus pandemic. According to an interim order U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland issued

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FDLE Responds to FAC Letter RE: Coronavirus and Registration

April 8, 2020, 9:16 pm The following was received from the FDLE From: Sexual Predator Unit <SexPredator@fdle.state.fl.us> Date: April 8, 2020 at 1:52:05 PM EDT To: gail colletta Subject: RE:  Letter To FDLE re coronavirus 03122020.pdf Good afternoon,

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Florida Registrant Jailed for Failure to Report Address Change DIED of Coronavirus

April 8, 2020, 9:59 pm A Broward jail inmate who was being treated for coronavirus has died, underscoring concern over how the pandemic will pose problems for detention facilities across South Florida. Broward County’s jails, which house more

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Tampa sets up tent city for protection of homeless… except sex offenders.

March 30, 2020, 6:28 pm Even in states of emergency, governments take any opportunity to kick persons required to register as sex offenders. With a county-wide order for people to stay indoors now in effect, the city of

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Lawsuit: Release Sex Offenders Who Have Served Their Time

April 10, 2020, 12:32 pm Sex offenders who have completed their sentences but are still being held in Illinois prisons should be released as part of the effort to reduce the state’s prison population during the COVID-19 crisis,

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Inmate diagnosed with coronavirus had emergency motion filed for release prior to his death

April 10, 2020, 12:36 pm NOTE: Please post comments on the original article A Broward County inmate who died this week after testing positive for the new corona virus had an emergency motion filed for his release prior

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Person dies from Coronavirus in Florida’s Civil Commitment Center

April 10, 2020, 10:32 pm A resident at the Florida Civil Commitment Center in Arcadia – a “treatment facility” where persons who have already been convicted, sentenced and served their full punishment are sent for involuntary and indefinite

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Member Submission: Tampa and Easter Week

April 11, 2020, 12:20 pm Recently the city of Tampa, in partnership with Catholic Charities, has built a camp for homeless people. The concern is that the homeless people may not have access to a facility where they

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Calls for Reduction in Prison Population Aims to Protect Residents

April 14, 2020, 11:51 am As of Easter Sunday, the Michigan Department of Corrections is reporting a total of nine prisoner deaths from COVID-19. Recent articles published in the Detroit Free Press have criticized the department’s response to

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Once Fallen: Apply for benefits

April 11, 2020, 10:40 pm Since many of us work in groups that assist registered persons, it is important to pass along information about the COVID-19 stimulus checks. The only requirements for getting a check is a valid social

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No Mediation Required in Does v. Swearingen (Ex Post Facto Plus)

April 14, 2020, 10:53 pm This afternoon, Judge Williams entered an order granting the parties’ Unopposed Motion to Dispense with Mediation. Both sides agreed that Mediation would be futile and it is now not required. The post No

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11th Circuit: Text message not “notice or advertisement” for CP

April 15, 2020, 12:40 pm The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (the appellate court for Florida, Georgia and Alabama federal courts) found that private text messages cannot support a conviction for a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(d)(1).

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2nd DCA: Penthouse magazine does not warrant violation of probation.

April 15, 2020, 12:56 pm Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeals reversed and remanded a the probation violation of a man who was caught with a Penthouse magazine. George Bryan was charged with violating his probation and lying

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Thoughts on the remote courtroom

April 15, 2020, 8:26 pm This week the Supreme Court of the United States announced that for the first time in history, they will hear oral arguments remotely. The decision, prompted by the Coronavirus epidemic, introduces a new

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Great case: No duty to register if not “released from the sanction for conviction”

April 18, 2020, 11:15 am An excellent case came out of Florida’s 2nd District Court of Appeals last week! An individual who had been charged with a Failure to Register (FTR) had his charges thrown out by the

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Proof, proof, proof required for probation violation.

April 20, 2020, 12:05 pm It’s not a “sex offender case” but another appellate court decision out of Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeals found that a probation officer must PROVE that a probationer moved without permission in

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