State attorney pushes for executive order to hold serial, violent juveniles in custody during pandemic

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Florida statute states that juveniles must be released from custody if their trial doesn't start in 21 days, even if they are evaluated and determined to be a possible danger to society.

State Attorney Aramis Ayala said it's happening more because of the coronavirus pandemic now that the Florida Supreme Court has delayed trials until June.

“In my view, the safety of our community is currently in doubt," Ayala said Tuesday in a Zoom news conference.

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Assistant public defender Bree Lawrenson, the juvenile division chief, said she disagrees with holding children for longer.

“The pandemic isn’t really changing that,” Lawrenson said. “Even before the pandemic, we weren’t having trials within 21 days."

Lawrenson said she worries that the during the pandemic, it’s even worse to keep juveniles in facilities because family visitations are suspended and services aren’t as readily available.

Ayala said the issue is about keeping children safe.

She said she’s OK with releasing most juveniles with low-level offenses. But she said serial and particularly violent offenders could hurt themselves, others or rack up a bunch of charges and end up in the adult system if released too soon.

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Ayala sent a letter to the governor arguing for an executive orders that would allow the state to hold violent juvenile delinquents longer than state law allows considering the pandemic.

The governor’s office has not commented on the matter.

Video: Family members, prison reform advocates rally for furloughs for Florida inmates amid COVID-19 concerns As family members push for the early release of state prison inmates, it appears Florida has little authority, to do that. But a letter has been sent to Corrections Secretary Mark Inch, requesting that he considers temporary release under a little known furlough program.

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