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Business Community Joins Call for Fewer Prisons For years, a coalition of interests, including clergy, advocates for people with substance abuse problems, minorities and just plain old-school liberals have argued – mostly in vain – that locking up more and more prisoners for longer periods wasn't necessarily the best way to fight crime. Politicians, meanwhile, heard loud and clear from voters that they were fed up with crime, and have, for the better part of the last decade anyway, mostly preferred a lock ‘em up approach. But now something has changed, and the calls for trying to help prisoners who leave the system avoid coming back by giving them substance abuse treatment and other rehabilitative help are getting a new hearing. Change sought in Florida prison systemqA movement among powerful Florida leaders to overhaul the state's prison system is gaining steam as lawmakers grapple with shrinking resources. Florida judges seek ways to ease congestion in courts caused by flood of foreclosures With Florida accounting for one of every six foreclosures in the country and legislators showing little interest in addressing the crisis, a handful of judges are exploring ways to keep borrowers and lenders out of an increasingly congested court system. |
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The Collins Center finds smart solutions to important issues facing the people of Florida and the nation. We are independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit and passionately committed to lasting results. For information on our history, successes in the area of public policy and Collins Center leaders, visit our Press Center. If you would like to subscribe to our Email Newsletter, send an email to info@collinscenter.org. |
 Coalition for Smart Justice Established Concerned citizens explore a more effective criminal justice system In the interest of public safety, fiscal responsibility, and criminal justice effectiveness, the Florida Coalition for Smart Justice – a group of concerned citizens representing a wide spectrum of Florida's political, business, and social landscape – has opened a conversation to explore better ways to achieve a safer, more just, and more effective criminal justice system that will have the desired outcomes of less crime, less public costs, and greater rehabilitative effect on offenders. Smart Justice Coalition News, Articles and Other Publications Please visit often to view the latest news on the Smart Justice Coalition, as well as other articles and publications. We will also continue to update this web site with other resources related to the Coalition and its activities. Foreclosure Mediation Program - News, Articles and Other Publications For homeowners, lenders, mediators and others interested in the Collins Center's Foreclosure Mediation program, this section will be used to post the latest news articles and updates. Please check back often. Coalition for Smart Justice Background and Objectives The Coalition seeks to both identify and achieve safer and healthier communities for Florida's citizens as a result of an improved criminal justice system. For more information on the coalition background and objectives, click here. Collins Center Foreclosure Mediation Program Program to Help Homeowners and Lenders Prevent Foreclosures Florida's 1st Judicial Circuit Court (serving the four counties of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton) and the 19th Judicial Circuit Court (serving Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and Indian River counties) have designated the Collins Center for Public Policy to manage their Residential Foreclosure Mediation program. The Collins Center is working with a number of Circuit Courts throughout Florida who may also establish and implement a Managed Mediation program that would assist homeowners, lenders and the Courts prevent foreclosures, and that would permit homeowners to stay in their homes. |
