We have created a new unit to combat hate crimes, raise public awareness of this important issue, and help increase reporting of such crimes in our community. To learn more or to report a potential hate crime, please visit https://browardsao.com/hate-crimes-unit/ or call our Hate Crimes Hotline at 954-831-8059. (In an emergency, call 911.)
The Broward State Attorney’s Office was awarded a $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund the Broward County Hate Crimes Awareness Initiative, a cooperative venture with local law enforcement, educational and community organizations.
“Hate crimes send a message to try to demean and intimidate the intended targets,” State Attorney Pryor said. “They have an impact that extends far beyond the victim. We urge everyone to work together to help increase awareness of hate crimes and encourage people to report these offenses.” Read more here.

In the past year, 90 percent of eligible juveniles who were considered first-time offenders were issued a civil citation instead of being arrested for minor, misdemeanor offenses, Florida Department of Juvenile statistics show.
The average in Broward was 71 percent in the previous five financial years. The statewide average last year was 66 percent.
“This is a record-setting success for Broward County. Thank you to all of our partners in the justice system, law enforcement and our Broward County community who have worked with us to make this possible,” said State Attorney Harold F. Pryor. “This is a great example of what we can achieve when we come together to do the right thing. Our goal is to reach 100%.”
The memo of understanding on Juvenile Civil Citations was signed last year and is yielding positive results. Working together, we have made it a priority to make sure that young people who commit minor offenses do not have those poor choices follow them for the rest of their lives. 
Officers first consider issuing a juvenile civil citation instead of arresting and prosecuting individuals who are 17 or under for minor, misdemeanor offenses. Eligible offenses include disorderly conduct, vandalism and petty larceny.

Broward County has taken a giant step forward on bond reform and I am proud to have worked with Chief Judge Jack Tuter, Public Defender Gordon Weekes, Sheriff Gregory Tony and other partners in the criminal justice system to make this sensible change. The new Uniform Bond Schedule balances the need to protect the public from dangerous crimes with the need to reduce overcrowding in our jails. By setting a uniform standard bond for non-violent crimes, everyone charged with the same offense will be entitled to release on the same conditions. A level playing field that sets bond amounts without considering an accused person’s income has been needed for a long time.

This is not a “get out of jail free” card. Booking officers can hold people for magistrate court when appropriate. People arrested on warrants for new charges or for violating existing terms of release will not be released. People with out-of-county holds, violations of probation, or warrants for missing court appearances will have to appear before a judge who will decide if they should be released on bond or not. Those charged with dangerous crimes, violent offenses or crimes that involve public welfare and safety are also excluded. 

This new method of determining bond will reduce the number of people sitting in jail waiting for their day in court. It will create a fairer process for setting bonds and speed up the process of being released for those whose charges qualify. These are monumental changes for people who have languished in jail simply because they are unable to afford to pay the monetary bond or whose living situations will not accommodate being released on an ankle monitor. I welcome these prudent changes. Details here.

No one person can stop human trafficking but the Broward County community is united on working to reduce the number of people being trafficked and exploited.
HANDY and the Kelley Kronenberg law firm's Justice for Kids program recently sponsored a Broward Town Hall Meeting "Sounding the Alarm on Human Trafficking." Panelists included (left to right): HANDY CEO Kirk Brown; Christine Frederick, CEO and Victim Services Coordinator for the FLITE Center;  Jumorrow Johnson, the anti-human trafficking coordinator and director of community relations for the Broward State Attorney's Office; and attorney Justin Grosz.

Earlier this year, we published the office’s 2021 Year In Review report, which reflects some highlights from the past year. Read the details here.

We are hiring! We have career opportunities for attorneys, investigators, legal assistants, and other positions. Our career opportunities and employment listings are regularly updated here.


 

Our Elder Abuse Taskforce training sessions have proven very popular with law enforcement officers and others who work closely with seniors. Elder Abuse is a serious crime that is underreported but significantly affects seniors. Assistant State Attorneys Courtney Sowerby-Thomas and Nneka Utti train officers and others to spot the signs, protect our community and ensure successful prosecutions of these crimes.

 

Orlando Diaz, who dedicated more than 30 years of his life to public service at the Broward State Attorney's Office and the Coral Springs Police Department, passed away earlier this year. After more than 20 years as an officer with the Coral Springs Police Department, he retired from that role and became a process server for the State Attorney's Office. He helped countless people during that time. Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.