Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Tracking sex offenders and other criminals

Officials agree the state needs a better way of collecting and distributing information.

By SHANNON COLAVECCHIO-VAN SICKLER
Published October 12, 2005

TAMPA - Judges, prosecutors and public defenders from Tampa Bay agreed Tuesday that Florida needs a better way of collecting and distributing information about sex offenders and other criminals.

In the first of three statewide meetings mandated by the Jessica Lunsford Act, the people who deal with accused criminals on a daily basis shared their frustrations about the current criminal justice system and offered up ideas for change.

Mike Sinacore, felony bureau chief for the Hillsborough State Attorney's Office, pointed out that the laws for detaining accused sex offenders before trial have not changed - despite public safety concerns about sex offenders that emerged last year following the murders of Citrus County girl Jessica Lunsford and Ruskin teen Sarah Lunde.

Under the current system, someone charged with a sex offense will in many cases be released on a low bond, or without having to post one at all, Sinacore said.

"That's something that needs to be considered," he said. Sinacore, former head of the sex crimes division, also urged lawmakers to clarify whether they want electronic monitoring for sex offenders who violate probation by committing a misdemeanor offense.

Marion County Circuit Judge James McCune said he wants more easily accessible information about the history of people who come before him for first appearances.

Ideally, he said, people coming before him could press their fingertips to a computer that would pull from a database information about previous arrests, convictions, probation and driving infractions in all 67 Florida counties.

He said the current system also does not give him ready access to immigration information.

"I could have the ax murderer of Mexico City before me, and I'd have no clue," McCune said.

The testimony of those in attendance at Tuesday's Jessica Lunsford Task Force meeting will be used in the creation of a report to be presented to the governor and legislators in January.

Lawmakers meeting for the 2006 session are expected to use the task force's findings in considering whether additional legislation is needed to implement the Jessica Lunsford Act, which Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law earlier this year.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 00:18:12]