Florida Police Chiefs’ Association Update: Week Ending June 22

Jun 22, 2012

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 22, 2012.  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.

 

 

NEWS


Fifth District Court of Appeal:  Police can search cell phones without warrant

The cellphone has become a lifeline in today’s society. Most users believe the content is private and not to be shared without permission.


Former Appleton police chief picked to ease tensions in Florida

Former Appleton Police Chief Richard Myers was contemplating an easy gig in Dublin, Ireland, when the Sanford, Fla., city manager asked him to run a police department under scrutiny for how it handled the Trayvon Martin shooting.


Officials struggle over release of officers’ mug shots

Okaloosa County officials expressed disappointment this week with a Florida attorney general’s office opinion regarding the release of jail mug shots of police officers.


Florida law enforcement agency says deletion of Scott transition team emails was an accident

Florida authorities have concluded that Gov. Rick Scott and members of his transition team did not willingly delete public records shortly before Scott was sworn into office.

 

Florida Governor Rick Scott Signs Two Bills to Provide Support and Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking

Governor Rick Scott signed two bills on June 12, 2012 to provide support and justice for the victims of human trafficking. 

 

Florida Police Union Cusses Governor Rick Scott in Newsletter

Fed up with the closed-door treatment from Governor Rick Scott, the Police Benevolent Association sent a nasty gram using a word game in its quarterly newsletter, Roll Call.

 

Tampa police to get Republican National Convention help from 60 agencies

Waldo Police Chief Michael Szabo wanted to give his officers a chance to help with security during the Republican National Convention.


Florida rolls out new guide for senior drivers

Florida has something new specifically designed for aging drivers.  The Florida Guide for Aging Drivers is available at no cost to senior drivers, compliments of the Florida Safe Mobility for Life Coalition.


Florida Department of Juvenile Justice:  Civil citations instead of arrests working

Florida law enforcement and criminal justice officials say the use of civil citations for troubled youth, rather than a lock-up, is slashing costs, and giving kids a better chance of a turn-around, and they want the practice to become more widespread.


Boynton balks at county offer to close the police department

Residents here praised the police department Tuesday and blasted a proposal from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to take over law enforcement in the city.


Sarasota Police Department Uses Technology from NDI Recognition Systems

Officer John Lake of Sarasota Police Department believes that more information in the hands of officers making traffic stops will result in lives saved. Read how he is using Automated License Plate Recognition Technology from NDI Recognition Systems to warn officers of potentially dangerous situations.


Study:  Florida’s mandatory prison term a success

Criminal justice experts say they weren’t surprised by last week’s study showing that the time Florida prisoners spend behind bars has grown more than in any other state – a 166 percent increase in the average sentence between 1990 and 2009.

 

 

REPORTS

 

Brennan Center:  The Hidden Costs of Florida’s Criminal Justice Fees

Increasingly, states are turning to so-called “user fees” and surcharges to underwrite criminal justice costs and close budget gaps.

 

U.S. Department of Justice:  Fact Sheet on Drug Courts

This fact sheet examines adult and juvenile drug court program models and the office’s support of adult and juvenile drug courts. It also provides facts, research findings, and additional resources regarding drug courts

 

National Institute of Justice:  Using Science to Reduce Mistaken Eyewitness Identifications Through Police Lineups

Nationwide, mistaken eyewitness identifications have played a role in 75% of convictions later overturned because of DNA evidence, and criminal justice practitioners and researchers have a pervasive interest in finding ways to improve the methods used for eyewitness identifications

 

Federal Bureau of Investigations:  Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, January-December, 2011

Preliminary figures indicate that law enforcement agencies throughout the nation reported a decrease of 4% in the number of violent crimes brought to their attention for 2011 when compared with figures reported for 2010.

 

U.S. Department of Justice:  Classifying Adult Probationers by Forecasting Future Offending

This report presents results from a demonstration project focused on the development of a risk-prediction model for a local probation and parole department in a large urban city.

 

Urban Institute:  Tracking Costs and Savings through Justice Reinvestment

This publication is one of three policy briefs designed to guide local policymakers in undertaking justice reinvestment – a data-driven strategy to identify the drivers of criminal justice system costs and make more efficient use of resources while maintaining public safety.

 

U.S. Government Accountability Office:  Personnel Security Clearances–Continuing Leadership and Attention Can Enhance Momentum Gained from Reform Effort

As of October 2010, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence reported that 3.9 million federal employees (military and civilians) and contractors hold security clearances.   The U.S. Department of Defense comprises the vast majority of government security clearances.  Longstanding backlogs and delays in the security clearance process led GAO to place the DOD’s Personnel Security Clearance Program on its high-risk list in 2005.

 

 

MEETINGS

 

June 25

Florida Department of Legal Affairs Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs

The Florida Division of Victim Services and Criminal Justice Programs Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys will hold a public telephone conference on making a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys, including, but not limited to, homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rate, poverty, violence, drug abuse, death rates, disparate annual income levels, school performance in all grade levels including post-secondary levels, and health issues.  Conference Call:  1(888)670-3525, Participant Code: 2473154911.  For updates please visit: http://www.cssbmb.com

  • To view details of the July 2 follow-up meeting, click here.

 

June 26

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission announces a public meeting on June 26, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. to determine whether or not probable cause exists to pursue disciplinary action against the certification of sworn correctional, law enforcement or correctional probation officers.  Location:  Florida Department of Law Enforcement Headquarters, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308.  Telephone: (850) 410-8600.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

 

July 8 – 11

60th Annual Florida Police Chiefs Association’s Summer Training Conference & Exposition:  Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

 

July 10-12

2012 Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Annual Training Symposium:  Sawgrass Marriott, 1000 PGA TOUR Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida  32082.  Toll-Free: 1-800-457-4653

 

August 20 – 24

Advanced Law Enforcement Executives Seminar:  Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista, 8100 Lake Street, Orlando, Florida.

 

Various

 

 

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