In a bold move that has sparked heated debate, State Attorney Monique Worrell of Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit, which includes Orange and Osceola counties, has mandated that law enforcement make an arrest or issue a notice to appear in court before a case can be prosecuted. The policy, put into action this week, aims to cut through a backlog of over 13,000 non-arrest cases by prioritizing those ready for immediate legal proceedings. According to a report by FOX 35 Orlando, Worrell has also reached out to the state's attorney general for 13 additional prosecutors to handle these cases better.
However, the unexpected consequences of this policy could delay justice, with particular concerns raised about it denying prosecution in cases of domestic violence and firearms. The Orange County Sheriff's Office has expressed opposition to Worrell's approach. Having caused a rift between prosecutors and law enforcement, working together to prioritize cases has spurred debate over who should be responsible for building prosecutable cases. The Orlando Sheriff’s office, troubled by the potential implications, argues this change could discourage thorough investigations in less-serious offenses, FOX 35 Orlando reported.
Among the most vociferous criticisms of the new policy is the concern outlined by Michelle Sperzel, CEO of Harbor House. In her criticism of the policy, which includes non-arrests in violent cases such as gun-related and domestic violence incidents, she articulated how not arresting an abuser is not equivalent to the absence of violence. She highlighted the complexities of domestic violence situations, where the absence of visible injuries or an abuser at the scene does not negate the suffering of survivors. Sperzel's worries, as she conveyed to WFTV, are that the new norms may disincentivize survivors from coming forward if the lack of an immediate arrest leads them to believe their experiences will not be taken seriously.
In her defense, State Attorney Worrell outlined the logic driving this measure during a press conference, as reported by WFTV: "The arrest cases receive priority. Those other cases sit on the back burner, and sometimes it takes up to two years to have those cases effectively prosecuted." She further stated, "If it’s a violent case, that person should be in custody, and then a judge can make a determination as to what happens next." While outlining her office's priorities, non-arrest crimes that they will continue to receive and process include homicides, child abuse, and human trafficking.
The policy's impact will unfold in the coming weeks as the state attorney's office and local law enforcement work through the intricacies of collaboration—or lack thereof—in the pursuit of justice in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
