Topic: Probation

There was little debate except for one lawmaker wondering why a 50-year sentence was chosen. HB 7027 would impose a minimum mandatory sentence of 50 years for a conviction in the sexual assault of a child, disabled person and a senior.

Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, and Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation, say a loophole that allows offenders contact with pornography that's not "relevant to the offender's deviant behavior pattern" should to be closed.

Heinous child murders prompt legislative hearings where on Tuesday experts in dealing with predators described to lawmakers the scope of the problem they face. ... Related Research: Sept. 24, 2013 Senate Judiciary & Children and Families Committees joint meeting packet and video.

The National Bar Association and the Hillsborough County Black Elected Officials Monday joined a chorus of people calling for a special session. A protest at the state Capitol continues with demonstrators planning their own legislative session for Tuesday. ... Related Research: July 29, 2013 Letter to Governor Rick Scott, Senate President Don Gaetz, and House Speaker Will Weatherford from Hillsborough County Black Elected Officials.

Bills would emphasize drug and mental treatment, job training for nonviolent prison inmates in order to keep them from committing more crimes and returning to jail. ... Related Research: Feb. 19, 2013 Smart Justice Alliance press release.

The labor union that represents the state's corrections officers is trying to block cost-saving measures at the Department of Corrections that limit officers' ability to visit parolees and probationers in their homes.

The Department of Corrections in 2010 awarded the multimillion dollar-per-year contract to B.I. Inc., which had submitted the lowest-cost plan for an offender tracking system. Another vendor, though, said B.I. filed an incomplete request for proposal.

Gov. Rick Scott signs the "Officer Andrew Widman Act" at a ceremony held shortly before dawn in Fort Myers. The legislation is designed to give judges more discretion in deciding whether to keep in jail someone who has violated probation. The bill is named in honor of a police officer killed in 2008.