OPINION

Crime survivors want smarter justice policies to make communities safer | Opinion

Agnes Furey
Your Turn
Agnes Furey remembers her daughter and grandson, who were murdered, during a vigil hosted by Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice at the Capitol.

Being a crime survivor can be a long, lonely journey. In 1998, my daughter and 6-year-old grandson were murdered. After that, I spent a lot of time being angry and even more time numb and immobilized. 

Finally I decided I needed to do something. I needed to learn as much as I could and work to help stop the cycle of crime. 

Crime survivors are the primary stakeholders in the criminal justice system, and our voices need to be heard in order to produce smarter, more effective public safety policies. 

I am happy to see that the Florida Legislature has been listening, and Rep. Paul Renner introduced a new bill, JDC 19-02, which passed its first committee. This good bill will reduce wasteful spending in the criminal justice system, and help stop the cycle of crime.

The bill includes strong steps for strengthening communities and improving public safety. It would end the restrictions that prevent people from earning jobs in fields like barbering, construction and cosmetology after they have completed the terms of an old conviction.

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Currently, Floridians living with a past conviction face restrictions that prevent them from contributing to their families, communities and the economy. By removing barriers that prevent them from receiving state-issued occupational licenses, we are providing opportunity for people to become productive members of their families, communities and our economy.

A job is a life-stabilizing opportunity that decreases a person’s likelihood to re-offend. Removing obstacles for people to work can reduce recidivism and create safer, stronger communities.

This proposed law also includes important reforms that can help ensure our probation system is more effective. When judges can use a wider range of sanctions beyond incarceration in state prison to address technical violations of probation, people can more effectively be held accountable for changing their behavior.

Survivors know how trauma extends beyond the actual crime itself. Hospital bills, lost wages, depression and substance abuse are all too common among crime victims.

One provision that crime survivors believe could improve this good bill is a revision of the rules governing the Victim Compensation program administered by the attorney general’s office. This program offers much-needed assistance for victims who have suffered economic losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, counseling or burial expenses. Unfortunately, the program includes serious barriers that prevent many survivors from receiving the support they need.

In the real world victims are often so traumatized by a crime that they miss deadlines while struggling with grief and shock. Or they simply don’t hear about the services available until deadlines have passed.

Crime survivors look forward to working with the Florida House to reduce obstacles to accessing the Victim Compensation program, including extending the time limit for reporting a crime to five days and extending the time limits to apply for victim compensation funds to five years.

This bill has the potential to be a big step toward transforming public safety in Florida. Those of us who have felt the pain of crime don’t want to be victims, and we don’t want anyone else to be.

We are pleased legislators are taking action to help ensure the cycle of crime is interrupted, and we look forward to working with the chairman on this excellent bill.

Agnes Furey is a Tallahassee Chapter Co-Coordinator of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, a national network of over 25,000 crime survivors across the nation.