F R O M T H E S T A T E A T T O R N E Y A n d r e w H . W a r r e n - S t a t e A t t o r n e y f o r t h e T h i r t e e n t h J u d i c i a l C i r c u i t
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led to mass incarceration , and have had no significant impact on public safety , we begin to rebuild trust with the citizens we serve .
My office continues to work alongside elected officials and community organizations that advocate for smart reforms that improve public safety . When Amendment 4 — the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative — was passed in 2018 , we quickly worked to develop and implement a process for returning the right to vote to citizens who had completed the terms of their sentence but could not afford to pay their remaining fees . Allowing returning citizens to vote increases public safety because it reintegrates them back into society and reduces the likelihood of reoffending .
In addition to promoting the safety of our community , the State Attorney ’ s Office is committed to supporting crime victims through every step of the criminal justice process . We staunchly supported Amendment 6 , also known as Marsy ’ s Law , which enshrined the rights of crime victims into the Florida
Constitution . Once passed , my office revamped our policies to comply with the new law . We updated our victim notification procedures and resources ; developed and trained assistant state attorneys , victim advocates , and staff on the changes in the law ; and coordinated with our law enforcement partners on how the requirements of Marsy ’ s Law would affect their operations . My office advocated for Amendment 6 to uphold our promise to protect victims and ensure their voices are heard from arrest to conviction . As we seek long-term solutions to the issues that plague the justice system , we must remember to not follow the ghost of criminal justice past . We now see the cost of antiquated laws that disproportionately punish poor and minority communities . We see the “ tough on crime ” philosophy that has resulted in a ballooning penal system . Now , we must regroup and find evidencebased solutions that address crime at the root . My office will continue to listen to the communities we serve and work tirelessly with legislators to ensure that the criminal justice system is fair , promotes public safety , and listens to the voices of victims . n
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