A Message from the State Attorney |
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Dear Friend,
During the month of June, we bring increased awareness to important issues like elder abuse, gun violence, and LGBTQ Pride through traditional news outlets and social media while continuing to work diligently to protect our community each and every day. Criminals do not follow a calendar and are always looking to be a step ahead of the law. That is why I created specialized units within the SAO to handle certain types of crimes that need particular attention.
For example:
· My Elder and Vulnerable Adult (EVA) Unit focuses on those individuals that financially exploit seniors and adults who do not have the physical or mental capacity to defend themselves;
· I embedded prosecutors and investigators in agencies and neighborhoods with heightened gun violence to facilitate investigations, prosecutions, and victim services through our Gun Violence Initiative (GVI);
· My SAO Hate Crimes Unit looks into and handles incidents committed because of a victim’s race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, or advanced age.
We uphold the law and seek justice while connecting victims to the services they need to become whole. My office is a safe space for crime victims.
Consistent with my commitment to Smart Justice, we maintain an open and direct line of communication with our community. We do this in a variety of ways: through our website, our social media platforms, and our newsletter.
We want to keep you up to date with the work we do for you.
Thank you for your partnership in securing the safety and well-being of every member of our community.
Thank you and God Bless,
Sincerely,
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle
Receives 2023 Trail Blazer Award From
Florida Parents of Murdered Children
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was honored to receive the Florida Parents of Murdered Children's 2023 Trailblazer Award at the 5th Annual Florida Parents of Murdered Children All White Prayer Breakfast "I was touched being at such a meaningful event with my Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones who chaired the event, my dear friend and staunch anti-violence advocate Tangela Sears, Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert III, Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez, Senior Constituent Affairs Aide Barbara Sweet Kemp, local government and law enforcement leaders, and so many of the mothers with whom I have worked, with whom I have prayed, and with whom I have cried, all because someone had the cold-hearted arrogance to take the life of a beloved child due with senseless gun violence,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
“I am proud to say that my team and I simply choose to do what we believe is the right thing to do; and by doing that right thing, hopefully make a difference in the lives of the people of our great Miami-Dade County community and South Florida, especially our children and youth. My work is my passion. It is never my intent to seek any form of glory or honor. I am proud to say that crime victims in Miami-Dade County have never, and will never, be forced into silence, and if upholding that deeply held belief makes me a trailblazer, I proudly wear that label and ever-so-humbly accept this amazing award.”
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SAO Celebrates Pride Month |
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, along with members of the SAO Hate Crimes Unit, prosecutors and staff, kicked-off Pride Month. Every June, as we celebrate Pride month, we create awareness around the issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community and we honor those who have paved the way for equality for all. Here at the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, we are a safe space where every victim of crime is treated with the respect they deserve.
This is evident in the work of our Hate Crimes Unit which is made up of experienced prosecutors who are specialized in handling criminal cases, including those where the motives are based on the “sexual orientation, gender identity and expression” of the victim.
To learn more about out Hate Crimes Unit, please visit our website at miamisao.com
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Elder and Vulnerable Adult
Work Group Meeting
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The EVA Work Group is made up of various community stakeholders coming together to address financial crimes against the elder and vulnerable adults in our county. The EVA work group works alongside State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle’s EVA Taskforce and various law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety and security of one of the most vulnerable populations in our community.
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SAO Welcomes New Clerk of Courts |
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle welcomed newly appointed Clerk of Court and Comptroller for Miami-Dade County, Juan Fernandez-Barquin, and our former Assistant State Attorney and current Miami-Dade General Counsel and Chief Deputy Clerk for the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts, Luis Montaldo, to administer the Deputy Clerks’ Oath to both members of our SAO team and individuals from the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office.
Deputy Clerks are responsible for maintaining court records, processing legal documents, and providing support in court proceedings. By taking the Deputy Clerk’s Oath, individuals are authorized to swear to records of legal proceedings.
After the ceremony, the State Attorney, Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez, and the State Attorney’s Leadership Team met with the Clerk of Court Fernandez-Barquin to congratulate him on his new position and discuss important issues of community concern. Together, we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts and making a positive impact on the community.
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Charged with Financial Exploitation of
84-Year-Old Veteran
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Arrest Made in the
January Murders of
Two Homeless Seniors
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Ex-Miami Gardens cop, guilty of battery, trespassing in 2020 arrest |
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Community Outreach in Action |
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June's "Second Chance Program” Sealing & Expungement event was held at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. The State Attorney’s Office, along with the help of Miami Dade County Clerk of Court and Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office, were able to assist 75 individuals, with 68% of attendees eligible to seal or expunge one arrest in Miami-Dade County.
We are looking forward to bringing the “Second Chance” Sealing & Expungement Event to the Doris Ison Health Center in South Miami next month!
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Community Outreach Representatives Angie Fernandez, Steve Machin, and Jose Lopez joined several of our community partners, including members of the City of Miami Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department - CAHSD, Miami-Dade County Juvenile Services Department, Citrus Health Network, Inc., Community Health of South Florida, Inc., and CareerSource, among others, to participate in a Walking One Stop event in Coconut Grove.
Walking One Stop is a collaborative partnership among community leaders, police, and social services that brings governmental and non-governmental services to the door of community members and connects residents to a variety of support services that may assist them.
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Community Outreach Representatives Angie Fernandez, Jose Lopez, and Luis Martinez attended the World Elder Abuse Day Fair at the Senior Family Center in Miami Gardens.
Our Community Outreach Representatives delivered an engaging presentation on Elder Abuse Prevention to a group of seniors and distributed State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle's informative checklist and tips should your identity be compromised. Councilmembers Robert Stephens III and Linda Julien of the City of Miami Gardens and the Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department - CAHSD hosted the event.
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Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones attended the Embrace Girls Foundation Board and Partner Lunch Presentation hosted by Cox Media Group on behalf of State Attorney Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, an organization of which the State Attorney is a proud Ambassador.
The members shared their schedule of remaining activities for the year, shared updates on major projects and initiatives, and the attendees shared details of their relationship with the organization.
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SAO Alumni Profile in Passion |
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Carmen Duran,
Victim Specialist,
Elder and Vulnerable Adult Unit
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This month we highlight a distinguished
member of our SAO family.
We present our SAO Profile in Passion -
Carmen Duran.
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