By Robert Grant March 4, 2024 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A new federal lawsuit against the City of Jacksonville argues an ordinance meant to crack down on panhandling is instead unconstitutional. “They’re not bums. They’re people. They just need a little help,” Sean Cononie, founder of The Homeless Voice, said. It’s why he started the paper, […]
Homeless aid group sues Jacksonville over law barring panhandling by roads, intersections
By Steve Patterson March 1, 2024 A homelessness nonprofit is suing to stop enforcement of a Jacksonville law banning panhandling in intersections and major roadways, arguing it violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment free-speech guarantees. “The ordinance has effectively banned requesting donations and distributing literature throughout vast portions of city sidewalks and streets,” says a court filing by attorneys […]
Miami moves to repeal panhandling ban and settle with homeless resident
By Joshua Ceballos February 22, 2024 A Miami man experiencing homelessness is set to receive a $45,000 settlement from the City of Miami — and his lawsuit may lead to the repeal of a city law his attorneys and others have called “unconstitutional.” Miami commissioners authorized the city to settle a federal lawsuit with 66-year-old Willie […]
Homeless Man Set to Secure $45K Settlement Over Miami Panhandling Arrests
By Alex DeLuca February 15, 2024 The Miami City Attorney’s office has arranged for a $45,000 payout to a homeless man who sued the municipality over his arrests under an unconstitutional panhandling law. After lifelong Miami resident Willie White was arrested twice last year under the city’s 2010 ordinance prohibiting “soliciting, begging, or panhandling” in […]
FJI Client visits the Florida Legislature to Advocate for Change with Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System
The mother of Tristin Murphy and FJI client, Cindee Murphy, appeared before the Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice hearing on mental health and criminal justice. Watch below to hear more about Cindee’s advocacy.
Miami homeless man sues city in federal court, calls panhandling ban ‘unconstitutional’
By Joshua Ceballos December 28, 2023 Willie White was arrested three times in the last seven months by Miami police for the same charge: panhandling in downtown Miami. White is 66 years old and homeless. At least two times when he was arrested, he was holding out a plastic cup and asking for money near a […]
FJI participates in Give Miami Day and hopes to raise $75,000 with your help!
Give Miami Day is on November 17, 2022! Mark your calendar and join us for this day of mass philanthropy. Your generous support is vital in allowing us to continue our mission of serving poor and disenfranchised residents throughout Florida. Here are two meaningful ways that you can increase your impact leading to Give Miami Day: […]
Jacksonville agrees to stop requiring sex offenders to post “no candy” signs at Halloween
by Andrew Pantazi September 22, 2022 This Halloween, the city of Jacksonville will stop enforcing a local ordinance that required registered sex offenders to post a “no candy or treats here” sign every year. The city agreed to stop enforcing the law in response to a federal lawsuit it faced challenging the law’s constitutionality. The lawsuit had cited […]
Florida’s troubled prison system wants to shut down lawyer-to-inmate phone calls that can reveal cruel and illegal conditions
Florida’s troubled prison system wants to shut down lawyer-to-inmate phone calls that can reveal cruel and illegal conditions By Noreen Marcus,FloridaBulldog.org Florida prison officials want to change a rule to keep lawyers from talking to inmates who may need their help; the new rule would place inmates who could be defense witnesses completely out of earshot. […]
3 Brevard County registered sex offenders file federal lawsuit against county
Finch Walker – Florida TodayView Comments Published 12:56pm Three Brevard County registered sex offenders are plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the county, alleging violation of their First Amendment rights when they could not attend public County Commission meetings because doing so “would place them within 1,000 feet of a school and they feared being arrested and […]
Florida prisons will soon have more disability accommodations
HANNAH CRITCHFIELD – Aging and seniors reporter Published Dec. 2 Here’s what that means for the state’s aging incarcerated population. Change is coming for members ofFlorida’s aging incarcerated population who live with disabilities. The Florida Department of Corrections and Disability Rights Florida have reached a settlement following allegations that the state prison agency was failing to […]
City of West Palm Beach considering removal of panhandling restrictions
Steve King, Reporter WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Panhandling could soon be legal in West Palm Beach, as the city commission gets ready to discuss rolling back restrictions. The city commission will discuss possibly repealing the city’s panhandling ordinance, which makes it unlawful to panhandle or solicit in certain areas, during Monday’s meeting. Go to […]
FJI awarded $10,000 by The Foundation for Improvement of Justice
FJI is excited and honored to share that we were awarded the Paul H. Chapman Award from The Foundation for Improvement of Justice. The Award recognizes significant accomplishments that improve the justice system and can serve as an effective model for others. The Award includes the Paul H. Chapman Gold Medal, a check for $10,000, […]
Judge Says Fort Lauderdale’s Anti-Panhandling Law Treads on First Amendment
A federal judge has put a hold on Fort Lauderdale’s anti-panhandling law, rejecting the city’s attempt to paint beggars as a public-safety hazard. The nine-year-old ordinance prohibited panhandlers from asking for money in public parks, near sidewalk cafés, and in the vicinity of businesses and ATMs, among other places. Panhandling in the restricted areas was […]
‘Do You Have Some Spare Change?’ Panhandlers Gain Ground in Suit Against Fort Lauderdale Over Constitutional Issues
In South Florida, a federal district judge ordered the City of Fort Lauderdale to pause its panhandling ordinances because they are likely unconstitutional restrictions on free speech, as they violate the first amendment. And U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman, in issuing the preliminary injunction against the city from enforcing its two panhandling ordinances, put […]
ACLU alarmed, seeks to overturn ruling on Boynton mom filming police
Journalism organizations and civil rights groups are joining forces to overturn a West Palm Beach appeals court decision that they claim could block the press and the public from videotaping police. Raising the specter of cellphone footage that captured George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police, ACLU attorneys on Friday urged the 4th District Court of Appeal […]
A Bill Limiting Youth Solitary Confinement In Florida Failed This Year. Here’s What The Practice Entails
What sticks most with Catherine Jones is the darkness. At night, when the sun no longer streamed through the small window of her isolation cell, the cockroaches would come out. Alone, tucked away in the corner of her cell, she’d beg the guard outside to keep her lights on through the night. Some would. Some […]
Judge tells Florida prison system: You can’t harass inmates just for complaining
A federal judge granted a protective order on Monday to inmates suing the Florida Department of Corrections and its secretary, Mark Inch, for what they say are unconstitutional isolation practices. The inmates — housed in isolation at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution, Florida State Prison, Lowell Correctional Institution and the Reception and Medical Center, a prison […]