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Legislation
Resolution: R-20-0158
File Number: 7451
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
Final Action Date: 5/14/2020
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND THE
DIRECTOR OF THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF
CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION TO DEMAND THAT MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY ("COUNTY") PROVIDE PROVISIONS OR ACCOMMODATIONS FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION OF JAIL INMATES RELEASED FROM THE TURNER
GUILFORD KNIGHT CORRECTIONAL CENTER LOCATED AT 7000 NW 41ST
STREET, IN UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, BACK TO THE
INMATES ORIGINATING COMMUNITIES AND CEASE FROM FURTHER
TRANSPORTING RELEASED INMATES TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") FOR
PURPOSES OF ABANDONING THE JAIL RELEASES WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY
ATTORNEY TO TAKE ANY AND ALL LEGAL ACTIONS NECESSARY
AGAINST THE COUNTY, IN LAW OR IN EQUITY, TO PROHIBIT FURTHER
TRANSPORTATIONS OF RELEASED JAIL INMATES INTO THE CITY AND TO
SEEK ANY AND ALL APPROPRIATE REMEDIES; PROVIDING FOR AN
IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Joe Carollo
WHEREAS, all person arrested in any municipality or any unincorporated areas
throughout Miami -Dade County are transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional
Center ("TGK") located at 7000 Northwest 41 st Street, which is owned by Miami -Dade County
("County"), operated by the Miami -Dade County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
("MDCR"), and serves as a pre-trial detention facility for inmates awaiting a disposition of their
criminal charge(s); and
WHEREAS, there are several ways for an inmate to be released from TGK including
posting bond at any time for bondable charges, qualifying for a pre-trial release program, and a
variety of criminal court orders resulting from a hearing; and
WHEREAS, based on information and belief, inmates released from TGK, without the
availability to secure personal transportation, are transported by MDCR to a designated release
location surrounding the Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building located within the boundaries of
the City of Miami ("City") and abandoned on the City's streets with no means of returning to the
municipality or unincorporated areas of the County from where they were originally arrested;
and
WHEREAS, for many years, the County and MDCR have failed to provide any
provisions or make accommodations for the transportation of TGK releasees back to the
inmates originating communities; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 7451 (Revision:) Printed On: 911512021
File ID: 7451 Enactment Number: R-20-0158
WHEREAS, without the ability to return to their community, TGK releasees inevitably
wander through the City committing crimes, assimilating with the homeless population, and
harassing residents, business owners, and visitors of the City resulting in the expenditure of City
resources and services to abate the issue created by the releasees; and
WHEREAS, the residents, visitors, and business employees and owners of the City have
been forced to carry a disproportionate burden in tolerating the behavior of TGK releasees and
the City has had to expend enormous resources without any contribution from the County or
MDCR; and
WHEREAS, the County has failed to balance the impact that such transportations has
had, and will continue to have, on the City and the City's residents, visitors, and businesses;
and
WHEREAS, the City Commission opposes the abandonment of TGK releasees within
the boundaries of the City and any further action by the County and MDCR that creates a
detrimental impact to the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to meet with the County Mayor and the
Director of MDCR to demand that the County provide provisions or accommodations for the
transportation of jail inmates released from TGK back to the inmates originating communities
and cease from further transporting released inmates to the City for purposes of abandoning the
jail releasees within the boundaries of the City.
Section 3. The City Attorney is hereby authorized' to take any and all legal actions
necessary against the County, in law or in equity, to prohibit the further transportation of
released jail inmates into the City and to seek any and all appropriate remedies.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
i ria i "ndez, Cify Attomey 5/21/2020
' The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be
imposed, including but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code
provisions.
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 7451 (Revision:) Printed on: 911512021