September 2023 | Volume 8 |
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A Message from the State Attorney |
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Dear Friend,
Every time a child’s life is taken or impacted by a firearm, our hearts break and we ask ourselves “what could have been done to prevent it”.
Some of the most tragic cases are those of children who accidentally shoot themselves with a gun belonging to a parent or family member. According to a study in the scientific journal Injury Epidemiology, most children in the U.S. who die from an accidental shooting were playing with guns at home or mistaking them for toys. Research suggests that over 90% of guns used in these shooting deaths were left unlocked, loaded, and available. In almost 50% of accidental shootings where these unintentional deaths occurred, the child victims were between two and four years old.
The study also stated that most of those accidental gun deaths were
self-inflicted, especially for children under five, who unintentionally shot themselves in 8 out of 10 cases. For older kids, ages 10 to 14, nearly a third of the shooters were friends of the victims.
For the most part, these shootings were easily preventable, making them all the more distressing. Those who lawfully own firearms must be keenly aware of the potential risks and responsibilities that are inherent to gun ownership. They should take common sense steps to keep their firearms locked, unloaded, and away from children, particularly when kept in the home.
At my office, we have seen many cases where a firearm that was hidden in a closet, a drawer, or a high shelf wasn’t enough of a barrier to keep a child from getting their hands on it. Simply hiding firearms rather than locking them away can be like hiding holiday gifts. Naturally curious kids end up finding them.
By Florida law, any person who stores or leaves a loaded firearm on premises under his or her control and who knows or reasonably should know that a person under age 16 is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent or person having charge of the minor, or without supervision required by law, must do one of the following:
· Keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container;
· Keep the firearm in a location which a reasonable person would believe
to be secure; or
· Secure the firearm with a trigger lock.
I ask you to join me and my team in spreading the word about the importance of safely and securely storing firearms. By creating awareness and education, we can keep firearms out of the hands of our children and prevent them from harming themselves or others.
Thank you and God Bless,
Sincerely,
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Taking the Oath:
Assistant State Attorneys' Swearing-In Ceremony
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle hosted the Swearing-In Ceremony for the August 2023 Class of Assistant State Attorneys. Members of our Leadership Team, SAO staff, family, friends, and loved ones of our new prosecutors, joined the State Attorney for this momentous event. The ceremony included the participation of United States District Court of Southern District of South Florida Judge Beth Bloom, who administered the Oath of Admission to the Florida Bar, Administrative Circuit Court Judge Juvenile Division Orlando Prescott, and Circuit Court Judge Family Division David Young, who administered the Assistant State Attorney Oath of Office, and Pastor Alphonso Jackson, Sr. who led the ceremonial invocation.
“This is an important day, not just for our new prosecutors and their families and friends, but for everyone in our community,” said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
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The new Assistant State Attorneys completed our five-week intense prosecutorial training program learning how our office functions, and gaining first-hand knowledge of the role of a prosecutor, and the State Attorney’s Office role in our community. During this training, they learned how important it is to be fair, ethical, and effective prosecutors, receiving instruction from members of the SAO Leadership Team. |
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“Now that you have completed our prosecutorial training program, you know that our overall mission is to protect and defend our community by upholding and enforcing the criminal laws of the State of Florida," said State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "Most importantly, you understand that as prosecutors, you truly are ministers of justice. You seek a just result in every single case with honesty and ethics. You must protect the innocent and convict the guilty. You stand up proudly and compassionately for our victims, and you become their voice and advocate. Among hundreds of applicants, your exceptional qualities shined brightly. Each of you was hand-selected to serve the community of Miami-Dade, and I look forward to hearing of your successes.”
Please join the State Attorney Katherine and our entire SAO Team in congratulating our 35 new Assistant State Attorneys. We welcome them to the “Best Team in America!”
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Public Defender Addresses
New Assistant State Attorneys
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle welcomed Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez, who addressed our new class of Assistant State Attorneys during their in-depth training course.
“I have always believed our attorneys must have a deep understanding and appreciation of the criminal justice system,” commented State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, “Carlos provides a wealth of knowledge to our young attorneys on collateral consequences of conviction, honed through his tenure since 2008. His recent discussion highlighted the central role of the defense bar, particularly at the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office.”
Since the conclusion of this enlightening training course, the new class of ASAs has continued to progress in their professional journeys. Equipped with valuable insights shared by Carlos and guided by the SAO Leadership Team, these young attorneys have since taken the ASA Oath of Office and are better prepared to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system.
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State Attorney Participates in the
Florida's Future Conference
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle participated in a panel discussion on justice at the Florida’s Future Conference, moderated by Florida State Representative, Wyman Duggan, and alongside the Chief Judge of Florida’s Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Nushin Sayfie, and the Chief of Police for Florida International University (FIU) Police Department, Alexander Casas. |
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This event, held at the University of Miami, brought together local, state, and federal leaders to discuss the future of Florida, in the areas of housing, education, justice, and commerce. During this thought-provoking discussion, the State Attorney explained the critical role of the State Attorney’s Office in community safety, spoke on the impact of technology in criminal court proceedings, and discussed the need for housing resources and fair compensation for employees amidst a staffing crisis.
Thank you to Florida House of Representatives Speaker Danny Perez for chairing the event and facilitating this insightful discussion on Florida’s Future.
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Excellence Rewarded: SAO Honored with
2022 Group Achievement of the Year Award
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle congratulated Assistant Chief of Narcotics and Special Operations Jessica Caso-Pedraja, Division Chief of the Cyber Crimes Unit Stewart Hedrick, and Assistant State Attorney Amy Drever, for being awarded the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation – 2022 Group Achievement of the Year Award.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to these remarkable individuals for their well-deserved recognition in handling the case against Jorge Morales and his mother, Lilliam Morales who had kidnapped his son and fled to Canada. I am immensely proud of these individuals for their unwavering dedication, tenacity, and relentless pursuit of justice in this case and countless others. Their collective success exemplifies their ability to work cohesively and effectively alongside their fellow prosecutors and law enforcement agencies,” stated Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
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On August 27, 2022, Jorge Morales and his mother, Ms. Lilliam Morales, picked up his son from the child's mother. As per their Court-Ordered Time-Sharing Agreement, Mr. Morales had to return his son to his mother by 9:00 p.m., the same day; however, he failed to do so. After a more than two-month investigation, that involved the collaborative efforts of the Detectives from the Miami-Dade Police Department's Special Victims Bureau, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the United States Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jorge Morales and his son were ultimately spotted in New Brunswick, Canada. The child was safely returned to the United States and reunited with his mother. Jorge and Lilliam Morales were later extradited back to Miami, Florida, where their charges were upgraded to Kidnapping. Both remain in custody without bond. |
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A National Day of Remembrance:
Honoring the Lives of Murder Victims
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Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones, along with Victim Specialists Lisa Simmons-Whyte, Inza Andrews, and Rhonda Tice, attended the “A Day of Remembrance” event hosted by City of Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris and the RTJ Foundation.
In 2007, Congress designated September 25th as the National Day of Remembrance for murder victims. Advocates, community members, surviving family members, and friends attended the observance to honor the victims and raise awareness of the impact of murder on families and communities.
The event was held at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex, with organizations such as Faith In Florida, Ever 2 Carnell Williams Thomas Foundation, Inc., The Gregory Smith Jr. Foundation, The Trayvon Martin Foundation, Crime Survivors Safety and Justice, Mothers Fighting for Justice, Inc., The Jack Brown Foundation, SMASH, Real is Rare, Women with Broken Heels, AMH (A Mother’s Hurting Heart), and Florida Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. participating.
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SAO Human Trafficking Task Force:
Recognizing Red Flags in Hotels
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Members from the State Attorney’s Office Human Trafficking Task Force and Human Trafficking Unit Victim Services were invited by Doral Police Department Neighborhood Resource Officers and Community Liaison, to participate in a Human Trafficking training hosted by the Intercontinental Hotel for the City of Doral Hotel Crime Watch.
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Managers and staff from five Doral hotel properties were present as SAO HTTF Deputy Commander Alexandra Martinez presented the dangers of Human Trafficking and the signs to look out for in and around hotel properties. Special Victim Advocate, Tanya Gennusa discussed victim services offered to HT survivors and provided attendees with the Human Trafficking Hotline, (305) FIX-STOP, to report suspicious activities. |
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SAO Recruitment & Job Fair:
Where Opportunities Blossomed
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle took a proactive step in expanding the office’s workforce by hosting the third Recruitment & Job Fair at the SAO Child Support Program Office. This strategic initiative was aimed at filling a substantial number of clerical positions within the office, and due to the hard work of current SAO employees, it proved to be a success.
The job fair attracted a diverse pool of individuals, with eager participants in attendance with hopes of securing a position. The event offered same-day interviews and conditional job offers for current vacancies.
The results were highly promising, with 35 participants receiving conditional job offers on the spot, and many other applicants being called back for further interviews and assessments.
We look forward to growing the “Best Team in America” and finding remarkable talent to serve you, the Miami-Dade Community.
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If you or someone you know is interested in a position at the
State Attorney's Office, visit our website.
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Second Chance Program
Seal & Expungement Event
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State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle thanks all who attended our “Second Chance” Sealing or Expungement Event held at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex.
The State Attorney’s Office assisted 200 individuals, with 162 attendees eligible to seal or expunge one arrest in Miami-Dade County.
This event would not be possible without the assistance from our community partners at the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office, the City of Miami Gardens, Miami Gardens Police Department, Councilman Reggie Leon, the NAACP Miami-Dade Branch, the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, and Miami Dade College.
Next month, this event will be held at Historic St. John AME Church in South Miami. Follow us on social media for additional information.
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Community Outreach in Action |
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Community Outreach Representative Janeen Jones and JIM Volunteers Janice Walker, Sadie Hicks, and Claudia Baez attended the MCPBA Community Resource Fair at Gibson Park.
SAO Representatives determined individuals’ eligibility for Sealing or Expunging a Miami-Dade County arrest and provided information on SAO programs
and services to participants.
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Community Outreach Representative Angie Fernandez attended the Hialeah Community Coalition Youth Dialogue Event with students from various City of Hialeah schools held at the City's “Early Prevention and Intervention” (EPI) Youth Program.
Angie spoke to participants about violence in our community and the negative effects of drug and alcohol abuse.
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Community Outreach Representative Luis Martinez and Justice in Motion Volunteers (JIM) Joselyn Zamora, Kamona Haggins, and Shavonya Strachan attended the Elderly Fraud Educational Annual Luncheon hosted by Molina Healthcare of Florida in partnership with the Hispanic Coalition.
SAO Representatives provided information to attendees on State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle’s Elderly and Vulnerable Adult Exploitation Unit and Hurricane Preparedness.
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Community Outreach Representatives Jose Lopez and Angie Fernandez, along with members from our Domestic Violence Unit, attended the Inmigración y Más event organized by La Nueva Poderosa 670AM, the City of Hialeah, and the Hialeah Chamber of Commerce, which offered support and assistance to the vast number of newly arrived immigrants to our community.
SAO Representatives provided valuable information to attendees on our programs and services.
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Community Outreach Representatives Janeen Jones and Luiz Martinez and JIM Volunteers Kamona Haggins, Janice Walker, Latasha Joseph, and Beverly Anderson participated in the Miami Central Alumni & Business Expo Day.
Representatives provided information regarding Internet Safety, the Child Support Program, Hurricane Preparedness, Victim Services, and on our upcoming “Second Chance” Seal or Expungement event.
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Harry C. Fisher,
Chief Information Officer
This month we highlight a distinguished member of our
SAO family.
We present our SAO Profile in Passion - Chief Information Officer Harry C. Fisher.
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