(Fifth Judicial Circuit, FL) Recently, an Orlando media outlet reported that the Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s non-arrest policy was influenced by the policy in the Fifth Judicial Circuit. To infer that their policy is comparable to mine is misleading. The policy utilized by our office was implemented during the height of Covid, following nearly a year of court closures. While there are some similarities between the two, this is an obvious and deliberate attempt by the State Attorney to provide cover after failing to collaborate with the law enforcement agencies in her circuit to arrive at a workable solution.
Every day, I am grateful for the close working relationships we have with the municipal agencies and sheriff’s offices throughout our circuit. We work closely with our law enforcement agencies, not against them. Our non-arrest policy is significantly more expansive than in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. This is particularly true when it comes to gun and violent crimes. More important than the scope of the policies, is the unreported fact that our policy specifically provides that if a law enforcement officer has any non-arrest case that they would like reviewed by our office, they are encouraged to contact our office. We do not turn down requests by law enforcement to review cases.
We also have on call prosecutors in all five of our counties, that are available to both citizens and law enforcement. These prosecutors are available to law enforcement 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This assures that we are available night or day to assist law enforcement with arrests, search warrants and many other types of legal matters. This is for all crimes, whether it be a second-degree misdemeanor or homicide.
Citizens in the Fifth Circuit also have a complaint form they can access on our website, making it possible to report a crime directly to our office, ensuring that there are no barriers, artificial or otherwise, that prevent our constituents from accessing our office. These complaints are reviewed by a prosecutor and entered in our case management system regardless of the severity of the alleged crime.
“Having a State Attorney who is tough on crime and committed to justice makes our job easier. It’s a true partnership. Our State Attorney’s office is available 24/7 to provide our deputies with any assistance they need. This kind of working relationship is how we keep our communities safer.”
-Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell.
“My deputies work hand in hand with our State Attorney to keep the people of Marion County safe because we recognize that, while we may not always agree, we share the common goal of public safety. Our relationship is grounded in trust and a desire to seek justice on behalf of the victims of crime.”
-Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods
We recognize that many who enter the criminal justice system do so only briefly, often for non-violent offenses. In those cases, we have a myriad of diversion opportunities that provide offenders with a second chance when appropriate, while still holding them accountable. However, every day we see repeat and violent offenders, with no desire to change their ways, who victimize our citizens and take advantage of the system. In the Fifth Circuit, we actively guard against that. From 2021 through 2023 we saw our total prison admissions rise from fourth in the state in 2021, third in the state in 2022, and second in the state in 2023. For the month of February, 2025, we were first in prison admissions for the entire state.
This office wins cases in court on behalf of our citizens and the state of Florida. If you are a repeat offender or a violent criminal, it is our obligation to remove you from society and send you to prison.
See below for a copy of our policy:
Published on 04/09/2025.