HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Commissioner SarnoffA RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI COMMISSION URGING GOVERNOR CHARLIE
CRIST TO CONVENE A TASKFORCE TO EXPLORE EFFECTIVE MEANS TO PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITIES FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami seeks to protect members of our community from sexual violence; and
WHEREAS, an encampment of individuals convicted of sexual offenses has arisen under the Julia Tuttle
Causeway bridge and in other outdoor locations in Miami -Dade County due to the inability of such
offenders to find permissible housing under residence restriction ordinances promulgated by Miami -
Dade County, the City of Miami, other municipalities in Miami -Dade County and the State of Florida, and
WHEREAS, the homelessness of sexual offenders and predators threatens the safety of the public by
leading some offenders to abscond, thereby obstructing the ability of law enforcement to track those
offenders still under supervision, and
WHEREAS, homelessness and the resulting instability can exacerbate the potential for re -offense and
interfere with both community reentry and treatment programs in which offenders are enrolled, and
WHEREAS, various sexual offenders have been living intermittently, and possibly continuously, under
the Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge since at least April of 2007, and
WHEREAS, the number of offenders living under the bridge has increased dramatically during that time,
in part because many have been directed to reside there by their probation officers who cannot find
permissible housing for these offenders anywhere in Miami -Dade County, and
WHEREAS, the public safety crisis created by the housing situation is not unique to the City of Miami, to
other municipalities in Miami -Dade County, or to Miami -Dade County as a whole, but exists in other
areas of the State as well, and
WHEREAS, the proliferation of local residence restrictions in other counties and municipalities makes
cooperation among various counties and municipalities necessary in order to address the issue, and
WHEREAS, the involvement of the Department of Corrections, local and state law enforcement agencies,
and other government entities in tracking offenders who are still under supervision and protecting the
public makes cooperation among various state and local agencies necessary in order to address this
.public safety crisis, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. Governor Charlie Crist should convene a statewide taskforce to examine effective means to
protect our communities from sexual violence.
Section 2. The statewide taskforce should identify public safety concerns arising from the inability of
many sexual offenders and predators to find permissible housing under the patchwork of state, county,
and city residence restrictions. S U ITTED INTO THE
Page 1 of 2 PUBLJC
RECORD FOR
1TEMaa1_ON a ja fb . .
OQ-000(02- Sub icki - Corn miSSi0r &.rv10ff
Section 3. The statewide taskforce should include representation from law enforcement, probation,
corrections, experts in the treatment and management of persons convicted of sex offenses,
researchers, victim advocates, human rights advocates, and state and local policymakers.
Section 4. The statewide taskforce should work collaboratively to seek solutions that remedy this
counter -productive public safety and housing crisis in a way that will better protect the public from
sexual violence by minimizing offender instability that can lead to recidivism and facilitating the effective
monitoring and supervision of offenders still under supervision.
Section 5. The statewide taskforce shall be convened for its first meeting within 120 days after this
Resolution's adoption and signature of the Mayor. {1}
Footnotes:
{1} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
Page 2 of 2