|
|
| Budget cutbacks reduce oversight of criminals |
| By tbo.com - MARK DOUGLAS |
| Published: 03/05/2012 |
|
CLEARWATER -- Cost-saving measures by the Florida Department of Corrections have ended surprise home visits by probation officers to thousands of violent criminals and drug offenders who are under court-ordered supervision. "Public safety has not been compromised here," said agency spokeswoman Ann Howard. But a number of probation officers complain privately that guidelines effective this week will put the public at risk because some offenders won't have to worry about surprise checks on their behavior. Department of Corrections managers won't reveal details of the plan, saying only that sex offenders and those under house arrest will see the same level of monitoring as before. "We're not going to discuss the number of face-to-face meetings we're going to make out there," Howard said. The Department of Corrections expects to save about $400,000 through the moves, from a prison budget that's $79 million in the red. State Sen. Mike Fasano said he understands trying to make ends meet in a difficult budget year and blames the deficit on state lawmakers who set aside $200 million in a trust fund for a prison privatization plan that failed to materialize this year. Read More. |
Comments:
Login to let us know what you think
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
The directory includes the biographies of judges presidentially appointed to serve during good behavior since 1789 on the U.S. district courts, U.S. courts of appeals, Supreme Court of the United States, and U.S. Court of International Trade, as well as the former U.S. circuit courts, Court of Claims, U.S. Customs Court, and U.S. Court of Customs and Patent Appeals. Also included are judges who received presidential recess appointments to the above named courts but were not confirmed by the Senate to serve during good behavior. The Waco Federal Judge is experienced in patent litigation and starting to become the go-to district for intellectual property cases. The appointment of Waco’s new federal judge, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that narrows the venue for patent cases and Waco’s home in the federal Western District of Texas have combined into a perfect storm that could drastically alter Waco’s legal landscape.