This spring, more than 14,000 faith leaders met at assemblies across the state to call on law enforcement officials to address the problem of over-arresting both children and adults for minor, first-time criminal offenses.
The 11 independent organizations that make up the DART Florida Criminal Justice Collaborative organized a virtual “Call to Justice” meeting Tuesday. Approximately 300 clergy, officials, and community members from around the state attended to recognize state leaders who have worked to stop arresting people for minor offenses such as trespassing, petite theft and driving on a suspended driver’s license or expired tag, and instead are expanding access to civil citation programs.
Pastor Chris Hoffman, of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, said the program began in 2014 when he realized in one year 13,000 children were arrested for misdemeanor, first-time offenses. Hoffman said that after speaking to their congregations, clergy would hear hundreds of stories of kids getting arrested for “stupid things” – such as the 14-year-old boy arrested for playing with firecrackers on the local playground, which would later cause him to be denied entry into the Navy.
“These arrests brand children for life with criminal records, and limit their future opportunities,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman said that Pinellas and Miami-Dade have led the way on offering civil citations for years, and that St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway deserved special recognition for having 100% usage of juvenile civil citations in the last seven months.
“In the last two years, only one child was arrested for a first-time misdemeanor in the city of St. Petersburg,” said Hoffman. “Now compare that with Volusia County where I live, where 218 children were arrested in the last two years.”
