April 2023 | Volume 4
A Message from the State Attorney

Dear Friend,

As many of you may know, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The SAO Sexual Battery Unit (SBU), which is housed in the in the Orlowitz-Lee Children’s Advocacy Center (aka Kristi House), is comprised of senior prosecutors, trial coordinators, victim/witness counselors, paralegals, and support staff. The Children and Special Needs Unit (CSNU) also is in Kristi House and assists law enforcement and the SBU in investigating allegations of child abuse, both sexual and physical, by conducting interviews of young children. CSNU consists of forensic interviewers, intake clerks and a paralegal who are specialized in dealing with very young victims.

Together, they handle our complex sexual battery and lewd and lascivious cases involving minors under 12, serial rapists, “cold” rape cases solved by the evolution of DNA, severe child abuse cases, and long-term sexual abuse of minors in a familial setting. These cases can be very challenging. Child victims often suffer severe trauma, and many do not report their victimization for days, months, or even years.

SBU understands the central role victims play in the justice system and team members consider their needs throughout this difficult process. They are very sensitive to the additional trauma the court system can place on victims and employ a victim-centered approach when handling cases. SBU attorneys and staff work closely with experts who are trained to recognize signs of neurotrauma.

Our trauma-centered approach is critical in sexual battery cases as well as in Human Trafficking cases, particularly those involving minor victims. We see that the stress of giving depositions for these victims who have been brutalized repeatedly creates additional trauma as it forces them to relive the most painful and humiliating experiences of their lives.

If a child is too traumatized to testify, we can lose the ability to prosecute that child’s exploiter. In Florida, the law permits defense attorneys to depose child victims in felony cases whenever they choose. During the past few years, I have advocated for legislative change that would require defense attorneys to obtain court approval before putting child victims through this extremely stressful process. Last year, though our bill passed the Florida Senate unanimously, it did not even get to the floor of the Florida House of Representatives for a vote. This year, our bills appear to be progressing well, but we can’t be overconfident, and we really need your help.

I urge you to contact your Florida legislators to let them know you want to see stronger protection for children from criminal discovery depositions and ask them to support House Bill 667 and Senate Bill 510. Use your voice to protect our children and help them find justice and healing.

Thank you and God Bless,



Sincerely,
Public Nuisance Law Passed,
Strengthens Hate Crimes Enhancement Law
In other legislative news, the new Nuisance Law, advocated for by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, provides increased protections and safety for our community. This Public Nuisance bill cracks down on crimes motivated by hate by making it a felony for hate groups to harass people for their religion or ethnicity.

“As you know, there has been a dramatic uptick in hate-related incidents against the Jewish Community. Over the last two years, there have been numerous incidents where anti-Semitic flyers were thrown onto private property throughout our county. Unfortunately, the previous statutes left our office unable to charge any of the subjects for these vile crimes. That is why I supported House Bill 269. I am truly pleased and very grateful that our Florida Legislature passed this significant bill, and that the Governor has signed it into law. This now strengthens our laws addressing crimes motivated by hate and will allow the police and prosecutors to seek charges and successfully prosecute these types of hate incidents.”

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle created the SAO Hate Crimes Unit which is specialized in prosecuting crimes of hate when the offender committed the crime because of the victim’s race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, or advanced age.

State Attorney, Public Defender Need Florida Legislature’s Support to Keep You Safe
by Katherine Fernandez Rundle
"As Miami-Dade state attorney, I am committed to keeping our community safe and protecting victims. My team and I work closely with 37 different police agencies and other partners to investigate and prosecute local crimes. Together, we have reduced the crime rate almost 70% during my tenure, but we still have work to do.

Our office is facing a staffing crisis that can undermine our ability to protect the community if not immediately addressed. We are down more than 100 prosecutors and 250 staff, trending to a 30% vacancy rate and being crushed by a backlog of COVID cases. The public defender’s office faces a similar crisis.

If we cannot retain the highly trained and motivated attorneys and support staff who keep our criminal justice system working, our community will be the victims. We cannot allow that to happen." - State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle
Kristi House's Inaugural
Crusader of the Year Award
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was honored with the inaugural Crusader of the Year Award at our Miami Mardi Gras Gala, pictured alongside Kristi House CEO Amanda G. Altman, Esq. and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle has been with Kristi House since our founding in 1995. She was a leader in our partnership when we became a nationally accredited Children’s Advocacy Center in 1999. Her team has been at the table with Kristi House and our seven partners every week ever since, ensuring that all child-victims and their families get the legal, medical, mental health and supportive services they need.

We honor our State Attorney’s relentless pursuit of justice on behalf of all children in our community. We salute her enduring dedication to healing the hurt.

"Due to the incredible work performed by the staff and volunteers of Kristi House, a truly magnificent treatment program, and the critical services they provide, their work is unparalleled anywhere in the country,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

"Kristi House’s Board and staff have a relentless commitment to address the needs of sexually abused children. And over the years, as new crime trends targeting children were recognized and uncovered, such as human trafficking, we have continued to successfully work together to create programs to combat the human trafficking of our kids."
SAO Celebrates
Bring Your Child to Work Day
Click above to see video
We at the SAO had a wonderful turnout for this year’s Bring Your Child to Work Day event, a day set aside annually for a national public education campaign in which children aged 9-17 go to work with their adult hosts--parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, or friends. 

This national event is to show our children the value of their education, provide them an opportunity to share how they envision the future, and begin steps toward their end goals in a hands-on and interactive environment which is key to their achieving success.

We were very excited to see so many smiling faces as our children got to meet our colleagues, friends, and Judges, and in the afternoon, we had a surprise visit from the Miami-Dade Police Department’s K-9 Unit, coordinated by our Gun Violence Initiative Unit. Each child was able to take home a Certificate of Appreciation for helping us do our work today.

Thank you to all our SAO team members who made this day a huge success!  

In The News
Jury Convicts Man of Killing
11-Year-Old Daughter of His Ex 
National Crime Victims' Rights Week
"My SAO team and I are proud to join with the Office of Justice Programs - Office for Victims of Crime, and these other amazing organizations, as we work together to raise awareness about the tremendous impact crime has on victims and their families, to honor victims, and to recognize the dedicated professionals who support them unconditionally during this National Crime Victims Rights Week," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
SAO Child Support Program
Tenure Presentation
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle honored 38 team members from our Child Support Program with a combined 580 years of service for their hard work and dedication to the children and families we humbly serve.
Thank you for your public service and keep up the good work!

“Providing access to vital child support services is one of the main priorities of the State Attorney's Office in our efforts to provide for the well-being of our children and help offer hope for a better future,” said State Attorney Fernandez Rundle. "As the only State Attorney operating a Child Support Program in the State of Florida, I strongly believe that children are our most precious resource."

The mission of the State Attorney’s Office to ensure that the children of Miami-Dade County receive the support that they need and deserve. Through March 2023, the SAO Child Support Program has collected $80,568,455. 

The Child Support Program is available to assist all parents and caregivers with their child support needs. We are here to serve parents due child support, as well as to assist parents who owe support in complying with their obligations. We understand that there are circumstances that can keep a parent from being able to meet their obligations, and program staff are always looking for innovative ways to work with parents and caregivers.
SAO Shares "Second Chance" Program
at National Conference of State Legislatures
Deputy Chief Nilo Cuervo, representing State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, joined Miami-Dade County Public Defender Carlos Martinez and other distinguished guests and legislators from around the country, as a panelist at a two-day event hosted by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

Chief Assistant Cuervo shared information on the State Attorney's highly successful Sealing and Expungement "Second Chance" Program.
Community Outreach in Action
Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones and SAO Justice in Motion (JIM) volunteers Cinthia Malta, Marianela Gimenez and Beverly Anderson, participated in the Miami-Dade Police Department’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Resource Event at Olinda Park, sharing information and resources with the attendees about our Human Trafficking efforts, Domestic Violence, SAO Victim Services, Sealing and Expungement Program, Child Support, and Internet Safety for children.
For more information about our programs or to request our participation in a community event, please call 305-547-0724 or send an email to Communityoutreach@miamisao.com
Community Outreach Representative Angie Fernandez visited the Sweetwater Towers residential building for seniors to conduct a presentation about their voting rights and share our Voter's Rights palm cards with the attendees as there is an upcoming election in the City scheduled for May.
Angie received an unexpected visitor during her office hours at the Westchester Branch Library...the Easter Bunny !
He inquired about the wonderful services and programs offered by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and our amazing Community Outreach Division and took home a copy of our 2022 Year in Review.
Angie is at this Westchester Library Branch the First Wednesday of every month!

SAO Celebrates Completion
of Training Program

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and members of her Leadership Team joined County Court Division Chief Elvia Medina Marcus for an afternoon gathering with the new prosecutors and support staff who have completed their SAO training and are ready to serve our community.

We welcome our new colleagues to our SAO family!
SAO Profile in Passion
Neith Gort,
Paralegal,
Gun Violence Reduction Unit
This month we highlight a distinguished
member of our SAO family.

We present our SAO Profile in Passion -
Neith Gort.
Courtroom Highlights