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a nonprofit organization for children's rights
(Please note that a similar letter has been e-mailed to every Florida State Senator on April 25, 2005 by "Haley's Rights".)
SENT VIA E-MAIL
April 25, 2005
Senator Nancy Argenziano
311 Senate Office
Building
404 South Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: 850-487-5017
Re: Sexual offenders and predators in the State of Florida
Dear Senator Argenziano,
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Jacques Bobrowsky, President and Founder of Haley’s Rights, a nonprofit organization for children’s rights. We are advocates for children’s rights, namely promoting public awareness for children’s rights in the criminal courts as a watchdog group. I formed Haley’s Rights in 2001; a year after my former wife killed my daughter and only child.
I was extremely touched as I saw your tears on the news in regards to Jessica Lunsford. I had the same reaction when I heard what happened.. The new policy purposed for sexual offenders and predators is definitely a step in the rights direction. However, the problem which needs closer attention is the outrageous plea deals often given to defendants in crimes against children. When a person is guilty of sexual battery on a child under 12 years of age and receives probation where sentencing guidelines call for life in prison, that is a problem. A ninth grade teacher molested two 9 year old girls in aftercare and received 5 years probation. A Pastor arrested on 200 counts of sex crimes on a child under 12, including sexual battery receives probation. But if he is good, he can terminate his probation after 2 years probation. I have quite a list of cases that we have monitored in Florida for which we possess supporting documentation, where plea deals were completely unjustified.
The reality is that Judges in the State of Florida have too much power in regards to sentencing for crimes against children and often impose probation if it’s the defendants’ first offense. Some State Attorney’s do not even give priority to these cases. There needs to be a mandatory sentence for certain crimes against children, regardless if it’s a defendants’ first offense. If you spent some time sitting in courtroom, as I have, you would not believe what is going on in our state.
When you look at children, you are actually gazing into the eyes of future parents, teachers and senators, even our next president. Shouldn’t we treat them as such?
Very truly yours,
Jacques Bobrowsky, President and Founder
Haley’s Rights
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