Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier answered the plea for assistance from Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Monique Worrell, sending prosecutors to address a 13,500 case backlog. Based on the backlog, State Attorney Worrell announced a soft-on-crime policy that prevents law enforcement from sending certain non-arrest cases to her office, including gun crimes and violent felonies.
“There is no excuse for non-prosecution policies that allow dangerous criminals to go free. The people of Orlando deserve better,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Other Statewide Prosecutors will help pick up the caseload of their colleagues and work longer days that may turn into long nights. But this is what public service is all about: doing what is right and bringing justice where it is due.”
The following prosecutors from the Office of Statewide Prosecution will assist the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit: Joni Gerrity, Lauryn Day, Jean Almonacy, Rebecca Addison, Rebecca Smith-Hameroff, and Taylor Chatting.
State Attorney Monique Worrell provided an update on the circuit’s non-arrest policy and welcomed additional prosecutors being deployed to support her office in clearing a 13,000 non-arrest case backlog. Worrell also continued to advocate for a long-term solution to the backlog of non-arrest cases beyond the temporary support that will be coming from the Florida Statewide Prosecutors office.
“I look forward to meeting with Nick Cox tomorrow and discussing how we will be working together to clear the 13,000 non-arrest case backlog here in the 9th circuit,” State Attorney Worrell said. “I also look forward to sitting down soon with area law enforcement to discuss additional collaboration on this policy. As I’ve said before, collaboration is critical to ensure the public safety of our community and remove violent offenders from the streets. Public safety should always be above politics, and while we know that this circuit receives more scrutiny because of politics, we have an obligation to work together and solve problems. So, I look forward to collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to put public safety above politics. And putting public safety above politics means being honest about the fact that this is a problem that was allowed to fester for several years. What we are advocating for today is an end to piecemeal politics that hasn’t fixed the problem. I believe by working together we can permanently fix the problem.”
State Attorney Worrell noted her intention to continue advocating for a permanent solution, including a request for an additional 13 prosecutors and support staff to assist with clearing the non-arrest case backlog. A permanent solution will ensure cases can be efficiently reviewed and prosecuted so that violent offenders do not remain at large in the community.
“We need a holistic approach which is why in my letter to the Attorney General I requested 13 prosecutors and support staff to both address the backlog and ensure that as cases continue to come in another backlog is not created,” State Attorney Worrell said. “It is vitally important that additional support is provided for the long-term because when those resources are not present for even a short period of time, the case backlog can escalate quickly. This was not a problem that started with Monique Worrell, this problem dates back to at least 2013 and four prior State Attorneys. I know it’s a good political talking point to try and make this about me as some continue to try to do, but this community deserves better than that. They deserve more than politics. They deserve results and that is exactly what I will continue to fight and advocate for.”
During the update, she also shared data providing historical context regarding non-arrest cases and backlogs as well as the origins of those cases in recent years. The shared data can be found here.
Monique Worrell represents the Office of the State Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit which serves Orange County and Osceola County in Central Florida.
