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FAC Hosts 1st Meeting of the Florida Public Safety Commission Meeting
Meeting a success with more than 30 attendees from across the state
On September 24, 2008, FAC launched an organizational meeting of the Florida Public Safety Coordinating Commission Meeting in Clearwater, FL. The meeting was attended by more than thirty individuals from across the state and all walks of life, from government to not-for-profit and private entities to academia. For a complete list of attendees, click here. Senator Victor Crist, Chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee, spoke during the morning session about the importance of establishing dedicated funding sources for judicial appropriations. He also urged local officials to work together with state leaders to address issues of mutual concern relating to juvenile justice reform and our growing inmate population. FAC and the participating attendees were extremely grateful for the extended period of time Senator Crist spent with the group, including listening to comments from every group’s representative present.
In the afternoon, attendees divided into two groups: those who desired to discuss legislative issues and those who wished to address communication priorities. While many items were discussed, the legislative group focused primarily on the issue of trust funding the judicial branch and how the group could effectively advocate such a position. The legislative group also identified the importance of implementing the recommendations from the Blueprint Commission and supporting alternatives to incarceration at the local and state level. The communications group focused their discussion on how together key stakeholders in the criminal justice field may better frame the relative issues. There was a strong consensus that the local PSCC should play an instrumental part in providing feedback on proposed legislation as well as gathering information at the local level on how the overall system may be improved.
A survey will be sent out to the various groups originally invited by the FAC to attend last week’s event. In this letter groups will be asked whether they desire to participate in this formal Commission and if so, to provide a name of who will represent their organization over the next two years January 2009 – January 2011. In order to qualify, the recommended representative must have served at the local level on their PSCC.
The next meeting of the FPSCC will be held during the first part of January, with the exact date and location to come. To request a detailed summary of the meeting or for more information please email Valerie Miskelley. The FAC again would like to thank all those who attended this day long meeting, especially Senator Crist and his aide Jennifer Wilson and Commissioner Joe Eggelletion, Chairman of the FAC Public Safety Committee. Last week was a step in the right direction and through the integration of a group list serve and the use of outside resources like the University of Florida’s IFAS Centers, FAC believe the FPSCC will evolve to be a true asset to our beloved state.