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Resolution 2022-32020RESOLUTION NO. 2022-32020 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES THAT, TO DATE, HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CITY ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR THE CITY TO BECOME THE PRIMARY ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROSECUTION OF THE FOLLOWING STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, NAMELY BATTERY, INDECENT EXPOSURE AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. WHEREAS, on September 25, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2017-30023, which authorized the City Attorney's Office to commence the in- house prosecution, by and through a City municipal prosecution team, of those individuals exclusively charged with violating the City's criminal ordinances; and WHEREAS, the Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office (the "Miami -Dade SAO") continues to be the prosecutorial entity responsible for the prosecution of those offenders arrested for the commission of all felony, misdemeanor, and/or County ordinance violations committed in Miami - Dade County; and WHEREAS, due in part to its reputation as an internationally -renowned tourist destination and the constant heavy influx of tourists and other visitors, the City continues to contend with many criminal, quality of life offenses being committed within its jurisdictional bounds; and WHEREAS, the commission of misdemeanor and municipal ordinance offenses adversely impact residents' quality of life and tourists' vacation experience, and continue to generate an inordinate number of issues and complaints from the City's residents, visitors and business establishments; and WHEREAS, some of those misdemeanor offenses which most adversely affect the City's residents, visitors and businesses include battery (excluding domestic battery cases, which would continue to be prosecuted by the Miami -Dade SAO as the County has more available resources to appropriately adjudicate domestic battery cases as to the offender and assisting the victim), indecent exposure and criminal mischief; and WHEREAS, in order to acquire greater control and discretion regarding the prosecution of those identified misdemeanor offenses occurring in the City, and to relieve the Miami -Dade SAO of some of its prosecutorial burden, the City desires to become the entity responsible for the prosecution of those specified State law misdemeanor offenses (excluding domestic battery cases, as referenced previously herein); and WHEREAS, Florida caselaw has established that a municipality may enact an ordinance which creates an offense against municipal law for the same act that constitutes an offense against State law; and WHEREAS, Florida law has further established that a municipality, by ordinance, may adopt State misdemeanor statutes by specific reference or by general reference, such as that contained in an ordinance making it unlawful to commit, within City limits, any act which is (or shall be) recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor; and WHEREAS, the City has adopted, pursuant to Section 70-1 of the City Code, that it is unlawful for any person to commit within the City any act that is (or shall be) recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor and that the commission of such acts is forbidden; and WHEREAS, prior to commencing the prosecution of these three (3) delineated misdemeanor offenses, the City Attorney's Office and City Administration will have to coordinate such effort, and implement a plan to do so, in conjunction with the various stakeholders including, but not limited to: the Judiciary of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami -Dade County, the Miami -Dade SAO, the Miami -Dade County Public Defender's Office, the Miami - Dade Clerk of the Courts, and the Florida Department of Corrections. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, hereby approve an expansion of the City's municipal prosecution program to ensure the vigorous prosecution of certain State law misdemeanor offenses that, to date, have been prosecuted by the State Attorney's Office; and directing the City Attorney's Office and City Administration to implement a plan for the City to become the primary entity responsible for the prosecution of the following State law misdemeanor offenses, namely battery, indecent exposure and criminal mischief. PASSED and ADOPTED this ATTEST: 4 02o day of January, 2022. JAN 2 5 2022 Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk Dan Gelber, Mayor (Sponsored by Commissioner Steven Meiner) 1 IHCOh1''�0RAT F.D APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE; &. FOR EXECUTION Ir C fCity Attorney � „J Date Resolutions - R7 M MIAMI BEACH COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission FROM: Commissioner Steven Meiner DATE: January 20, 2022 SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF 'THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES THAT, TO DATE, HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND DIRECTING THE CITYATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CITY ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT PLAN FOR THE CITY TO BECOME THE PRIMARY ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROSECUTION OF THE FOLLOWING STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, NAMELY BATTERY, TRESPASS, ' DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM, INDECENT EXPOSURE, AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. ANALYSIS I'd like to place this item on the December 8, 2021 City Commission meeting agenda for consideration of the attached Resolution, which sets forth the pertinent details of the item. SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA N/A. Pursuant to Section 2-12 of the City Code, the implementation of Resolutions R7 O and R7 P would collectively require an expenditure of funds, estimated in the approximate amount of $75,000 for a municipal prosecutor position, and $55,000-$60,000 for a legal assistant position, not including City's standard overhead/fringe benefit costs. Applicable Area Citywide Is this a "Residents Right to Know" item, pursuant to City Code Section 2-141 No Legislative Tracking Does this item utilize G.O. Bond Funds? No Page 865 of 1313 Commissioner Steven Meiner ATTACHMENTS: Description D Resolution. Page 866 of 1313 Agenda Item R-7 M --- Date City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139 www.miamibeachfl.gov COMMISSION MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Dan Gelber Members of the City Commission Alina T. Hudak, City Manager Rafael A. Paz, City Attorney FROM: Commissioner Steven Meiner DATE: January 20, 2022 SUBJECT: RESOLUTION APPROVING AN EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM The purpose of this memorandum is to explain the rationale for why the City of Miami Beach Prosecutors should be responsible for prosecuting the misdemeanor criminal offenses of battery, indecent exposure, and criminal mischief. City Prosecutors In 2018, Miami Beach created a Municipal Prosecution position to handle criminal municipal violations. All other misdemeanor offenses are handled by the State Attorney's office (SAO). All felonies are handled by the SAO as required by State law. A successful prosecution can lead to various results, including jail time, a fine, probation or a pre- trial diversionary program (training or rehabilitation). A prosecution though means something more than arrest and immediate dismissal which has become the norm. Impact of Misdemeanor Crimes on Residents and Businesses Misdemeanor offenses have a huge impact upon the City's residents, businesses and visitors. Equally important, misdemeanor crimes left unchecked often lead to additional crime including more serious crimes. Moreover, pursuant to Florida law, misdemeanor offenses such as battery and criminal mischief become felonies if an offender has been previously convicted of one (1) or more such offenses. Moreover, Florida has a habitual offender law but is only applicable with four adjudications within a twelve-month period. Without prosecution there can be no adjudication. In the absence of prosecution, wherein some type of diversionary program to assist the offender with social services such as substance abuse or mental health treatment, probation, incarceration or fine, the criminal justice system merely becomes a "revolving door" of arrest and release. A "revolving door" system of criminal justice effectively serves neither the community nor the Commission Memorandum - Resolution — The City Becoming the Primary Entity Responsible for the Prosecution of Certain State Law Misdemeanor Offenses January 20, 2022 Page 2 offender. Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office Miami -Dade County consists of 34 separate municipalities and Miami Beach is the only municipality in the County to handle the prosecution of those individuals charged with violating the City's criminal ordinances. Regrettably, the City continues to experience a large number of visitors, tourists and other persons entering the City, and some residing within, who commit criminal misdemeanor and quality of life offenses. The Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office (the "Miami -Dade SAO") remains the prosecutorial entity responsible for the prosecution of those offenders arrested in Miami Beach for the commission of all felony, misdemeanor, and/or County ordinance violations. This includes City ordinance violations if charged in conjunction with any State or County law violations. The Miami -Dade SAO essentially has prosecutorial responsibility for all crimes, in all municipalities, throughout the entire county, and misdemeanor offenses are typically prosecuted by young, relatively new and inexperienced Assistant State Attorneys ("ASAs"). Additionally, the turnover and number of ASAs who may handle any given misdemeanor case can be two, three or more. The high-level of turnover and ASA inexperience was highlighted in a Law360 article just last week (January 12, 2022) wherein State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle was quoted. The story is the same at the Office of the State Attorney in Miami -Dade County, where more than 80 attorneys left in 2021. To fill the gaps, attorneys with less experience have been handed more serious matters for which they might not be ready, according to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. "It's almost like asking a medical student to do major surgery," she said. "For a victim, how many lawyers do you need assigned to your case? How many years do you have to have your case reset? Victims really suffer." Fernandez -Rundle said the primary reason departing prosecutors give her for leaving is salary. See article attached. Based on my research of the approximately 52 misdemeanor battery and criminal mischief cases handled by the SAO in January 2021, 37 different prosecutors were assigned to these cases. Crime and Prosecution Statistics Consistent with a Resolution adopted by our Commission, the Miami Beach Police Department ("Police Department") provided me with information regarding those individuals arrested in the City for a portion of 2021. Utilizing this arrest data, I then reviewed the case disposition outcomes for each misdemeanor arrest for battery, indecent exposure, and criminal mischief in the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers Comprehensive Case Information System ("CCIS") for the period of January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2021. The information and statistics referenced below are based on my search. Using data for the first quarter of 2021 gives a large Commission Memorandum - Resolution — The City Becoming the Primary Entity Responsible for the Prosecution of Certain State Law Misdemeanor Offenses January 20, 2022 Page 3 enough sample size to determine to what extent arrests are being prosecuted. Moreover, since there is often a several month lag in case disposition, using data from early last year was the best way to ensure we have a clear picture of how the arrest was resolved from a prosecution standpoint. Finally, to ensure the accuracy of the data I compiled I asked our legal department to conduct an audit of my findings. The legal department did not tell me in advance the methodology they would use and ultimately audited every third arrest and used the publicly - accessible Miami -Dade County Clerk of the Courts - Criminal Justice Online System to conduct its searches. This is a different database than the CCIS I used. Our legal department found almost identical results to mine with very few deviations which I adopted for the purpose of these results. Although I believe, as does our legal department, that the data is accurate and highly reflective of the case dispositions, case outcomes themselves are subject to discrepancies based upon information which has been improperly captured (at inception), input incorrectly, mistakenly interpreted, or inaccurately read, reviewed and/or reported herein. The statistics collected paint a telling picture: Battery Misdemeanors for 1st Quarter 2021 Total Arrests 191 Unavailable To Be Counted* 26 Applicable Count 165 Not Prosecuted** 119(72%) Prosecuted*** 46(28%) Criminal Mischief Misdemeanors for 1st Quarter 2021 Total Arrests 28 Unavailable To Be Counted* 5 ADDlicable Count 23 Not Prosecuted** 10(43%) Prosecuted*** 13(57%) * 26 arrests were not available to be counted for a number of reasons, including the individual arrested was found mentally and physically unfit to stand trial, fugitive warrant, juvenile, and case was not publicly available. ** A non -prosecution includes an arrest that was not prosecuted, dropped or abandoned and administratively dismissed. *** Prosecution includes a pre-trial diversionary program, filed charges, a court adjudication or court withholding adjudication. **** There were 4 arrests for indecent exposure in the 1 st Quarter of 2021. It is not unique for a City to handle the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes committed within its jurisdiction, while the state attorney handles the felony prosecutions. The City of Ft. Lauderdale is a prime example: https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/government/departments-a-h/city-attorney-s- office/city-prosecutors. Phoenix, Arizona (https://www.phoenix.gov/law is another example. Commission Memorandum - Resolution — The City Becoming the Primary Entity Responsible for the Prosecution of Certain State Law Misdemeanor Offenses January 20, 2022 Page 4 To that effect, Florida law has established that a municipality such as the City of Miami Beach may enact an ordinance which creates an offense against municipal law for the same act that constitutes an offense against State law. Florida law also provides that (as the City has already done) a municipality may, by ordinance, adopt State misdemeanor statutes by specific reference or by general reference, such as that contained in an ordinance making it unlawful to commit, within City limits, any act which is (or shall be) recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor. Therefore, the City possesses the requisite legal authority to proceed with the in- house prosecution of misdemeanor offenses, as the City has already made State law misdemeanors offenses against municipal law. Accordingly, in order to remediate crime and acquire greater control and discretion regarding the prosecution of certain misdemeanor offenses occurring in the City, and to relieve the Miami -Dade SAO of some of its prosecutorial burden, the City should become the entity responsible for the prosecution of the State law misdemeanor offenses of battery,' indecent exposure, and criminal mischief. 1 Excluding domestic battery cases, which would continue to be prosecuted by the Miami -Dade SAO as the County has more available resources to appropriately adjudicate domestic battery cases as to the offender and assisting the victim. RESOLUTION NO. 2022 - A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES THAT, TO DATE, HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CITY ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR THE CITY TO BECOME THE PRIMARY ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROSECUTION OF THE FOLLOWING STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, NAMELY BATTERY, INDECENT EXPOSURE AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. WHEREAS, on September 25, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2017-30023, which authorized the City Attorney's Office to commence the in- house prosecution, by and through a City municipal prosecution team, of those individuals exclusively charged with violating the City's criminal ordinances; and WHEREAS, the Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office (the "Miami -Dade SAO") continues to be the prosecutorial entity responsible for the prosecution of those offenders arrested for the commission of all felony, misdemeanor, and/or County ordinance violations committed in Miami - Dade County; and WHEREAS, due in part to its reputation as an internationally -renowned tourist destination and the constant heavy influx of tourists and other visitors, the City continues to contend with many criminal, quality of life offenses being committed within its jurisdictional bounds; and WHEREAS, the commission of misdemeanor and municipal ordinance offenses adversely impact residents' quality of life and tourists' vacation experience, and continue to generate an inordinate number of issues and complaints from the City's residents, visitors and business establishments; and WHEREAS, some of those misdemeanor offenses which most adversely affect the City's residents, visitors and businesses include battery (excluding domestic battery cases, which would continue to be prosecuted by the Miami -Dade SAO as the County has more available resources to appropriately adjudicate domestic battery cases as to the offender and assisting the victim), indecent exposure and criminal mischief; and WHEREAS, in order to acquire greater control and discretion regarding the prosecution of those identified misdemeanor offenses occurring in the City, and to relieve the Miami -Dade SAO of some of its prosecutorial burden, the City desires to become the entity responsible for the prosecution of those specified State law misdemeanor offenses (excluding domestic battery cases, as referenced previously herein); and WHEREAS, Florida caselaw has established that a municipality may enact an ordinance which creates an offense against municipal law for the same act that constitutes an offense against State law; and WHEREAS, Florida law has further established that a municipality, by ordinance, may adopt State misdemeanor statutes by specific reference or by general reference, such as that contained in an ordinance making it unlawful to commit, within City limits, any act which is (or shall be) recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor; and WHEREAS, the City has adopted, pursuant to Section 70-1 of the City Code, that it is unlawful for any person to commit within the City any act that is (or shall be) recognized by the laws of the State as a misdemeanor and that the commission of such acts is forbidden; and WHEREAS, prior to commencing the prosecution of these three (3) delineated misdemeanor offenses, the City Attorney's Office and City Administration will have to coordinate such effort, and implement a plan to do so, in conjunction with the various stakeholders including, but not limited to: the Judiciary of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in and for Miami -Dade County, the Miami -Dade SAO, the Miami -Dade County Public Defender's Office, the Miami - Dade Clerk of the Courts, and the Florida Department of Corrections. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, hereby approve an expansion of the City's municipal prosecution program to ensure the vigorous prosecution of certain State law misdemeanor offenses that, to date, have been prosecuted by the State Attorney's Office; and directing the City Attorney's Office and City Administration to implement a plan for the City to become the primary entity responsible for the prosecution of the following State law misdemeanor offenses, namely battery, indecent exposure and criminal mischief. PASSED and ADOPTED this ATTEST: Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk day of January, 2022. Dan Gelber, Mayor (Sponsored by Commissioner Steven Meiner) VA APPROVED AS TO FORM & LANGUAGE & FOR EXECUTION V Ir 22 , (City AttorneyA� Dote Fla. Prosecutors, Public Defenders Seek Raises For Attorneys - Law360 Fla. Prosecutors,, Public Defenders Seek Raises For Attorneys Share us on: By 1/17/22, 4:22 PM Law360 (January 12, 2022, 3:45 PM EST) -- Florida's public defenders and state attorneys are asking the Legislature to "stop the bleeding" with a 20% raise for their attorneys after unprecedented turnover and recruitment difficulties due to the skyrocketing cost of living in the state, particularly in Miami. Starting salaries that are among the lowest in the country, combined with double-digit cost -of -living increases in metro areas, have led to churn that prosecutors and public defenders say is untenable and is leading to serious disruptions in the administration of justice. "At this point, we're dealing with what feels like an amputation," Miami -Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez said. "We need to stop the bleeding, and we feel that the 20 to 25% will at least be a tourniquet." Martinez said he lost 55 attorneys in 2021 and has been able to replace only 42 of them. That's compared to just 24 attorneys who quit the office in 2017. While Martinez, who has been the elected public defender since 2008, is accustomed to people moving on after a few years, the biggest difference now is how many are leaving after less than a year in the office. The median tenure for the office is now 2.8 years, down from just under four years. They leave not just for private practice, where the salaries are greater, but https://www.law360.com/florida/articles/1454168/fia-prosecutors-pu...b2212&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=florida Page 1 of 4 Fla. Prosecutors, Public Defenders Seek Raises For Attorneys - Law360 1/17/22, 4:22 PM also for the federal public defender's office, where the starting salaries are tens of thousands of dollars higher and regular pay increases are built in every few years, according to Martinez. The churn of attorneys means clients and cases are constantly being reassigned, and training new attorneys becomes a full-time job, he said. It harms clients and creates a "demoralizing and emotionally draining" situation for the attorneys who remain, who must add new cases to their already heavy workload, according to Martinez. The story is the same at the Office of the State Attorney in Miami -Dade County, where more than 80 attorneys left in 2021. To fill the gaps, attorneys with less experience have been handed more serious matters for which they might not be ready, according to State Attorney Katherine Fernandez - Rundle. "It's almost like asking a medical student to do major surgery," she said. "For a victim, how many lawyers do you need assigned to your case? How many years do you have to have your case reset? Victims really suffer." Fernandez -Rundle said the primary reason departing prosecutors give her for leaving is salary. "They say, 'I love what I'm doing, I thought I could make ends meet, but I can't afford it,"' she said. "They tell you this sometimes through tears, that they don't really want to go. But at the same time, they didn't take a vow of poverty." And they are dealing with double-digit increases in the cost of living in South Florida, caused in part by the pandemic -fueled increase in migration to the https://www.law360.com/florida/articles/1454168/fla-prosecutors-pu...b2212&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Florida Page 2 of 4 Fla. Prosecutors, Public Defenders Seek Raises For Attorneys - Law360 1/17/22, 4:22 PM Sunshine State. Miami has seen some of the biggest increases in the country, with a 25.7% year -over -year increase in single-family home rents, according to property information firm CoreLogic. The average rent in the city for a one -bedroom apartment now tops $2,100, according to apartment rental company Zumper. Starting minimum salaries for state attorneys and public defenders are set by the Legislature at about $50,000 per year. According to a National Jurist article in November comparing starting assistant district attorney salaries in various metro areas around the country, Miami ranked above only Oklahoma City, where starting prosecutors earn $42,400. And while the state -provided benefits are good, many of these young attorneys arrive laden with student debt. Martinez pointed out that excellent benefits are irrelevant when applying for a loan to buy an apartment or a house. "What banks look at is, what is your base salary?", Martinez said. "These attorneys don't see the way out to be able to buy an apartment or buy a house. They just don't have the time to wait it out." Both Martinez and Fernandez -Rundle said the problem is not confined to Miami. Other metro areas in the state have also seen more churn in their offices than usual because of rising rents and insufficient salaries. But even rural areas are having difficulty as well, they said, because though the cost of living might be lower, higher salaries could help them recruit candidates more effectively. "All across the state, we're all suffering together," Fernandez -Rundle said. "Some of us at a higher degree. But everyone's suffering." https://www.law360.com/florida/articles/1454168/fla-prosecutors-pu...b2212&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=florida Page 3 of 4 Fla. Prosecutors, Public Defenders Seek Raises For Attorneys - Law360 1/17/22, 4:22 PM Martinez said he hoped for an across-the-board raise now and then later on, once the situation has stabilized, he would like to see cost area differentials, like those given to Florida Highway Patrol officers who get additional money if they work in higher -cost areas. "We're not asking for something that's not already being given to certain departments around the state," he said. Martinez said local legislators have always been supportive, and he is hopeful they will be able to persuade leadership that this is an important issue. "We think there is a good possibility that they're going to do it, and we feel that there is money to be able to do it," Martinez said. --Editing by Robert Rudinger. For a reprint of this article, please contact reprints@law360. com. https://www.law360.com/florida/articles/1454168/fla-prosecutors-pu...b2212&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=florida Page 4 of 4 City Attorney's Office - Municipal Prosecutors I City of Fort -Lauderdale, FL 1/17/22, 6:37 PM City Attorney's Office - Municipal Prosecutors boo South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Telephone: 954-828-4553 - Facsimile: 954-468-1550 The City Prosecutor's Office is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal violations of the City's code of ordinances, as well as a number of state misdemeanors and county ordinance violations. The number of cases presented to our office by the arresting agency determines our workload. Therefore, close inter -agency coordination is required to ensure that proper arrests are being made. When cases are presented to the City Prosecutor's Office for filing, each case is reviewed and a determination is made as to whether to prosecute the case. There are generally four ways that a case, once filed, may be disposed of. by plea agreement, nolle prossed, verdict at trial, or dismissal. Other responsibilities of the City Prosecutor's Office include: • Review and make filing decisions on all municipal ordinance arrests. state misdemeanor and county ordinance violations presented to the office. • Review case filing and intake from citizens and victims requesting municipal cases to be filed on alleged violations of the law not occurring in a police officer's' presence. • Represents the City at all first appearance hearings on municipal ordinance arrests. • Represents the City in all County Court arraignments on all City prosecutions. • Represents the City at all calendar call hearings and plea negotiations. • Trial attorney for all criminal prosecutions in County Court cases filed by the City. • Represents the City on municipal/misdemeanor appeals and violation of probation hearings. • Seeks to recover costs of prosecutions through jail -time sentences, fines, court costs, bond estreatures and community service work programs. • Assist in the confiscation of evidence and destruction of contraband. • Recover restitution on behalf of victims in municipal prosecutions. • Assisting in regulating and ensuring compliance in community service work programs. • Represents the City at mental health court proceedings, misdemeanor drug court and veteran court proceedings. https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/government/departments-a-h/city-attorney-s-office/city-prosecutors Page 1 of 2 City Attorney's Office - Municipal Prosecutors I City of Fort Lauderdale, FL 1/17/22, 6:37 PM • Supervise and assist legal interns as part of local law schools clinical programs. • Assist in collection efforts to recoup Public Defender fees. • Meet with witnesses, prepare for and represent the City on all prosecutions before the Nuisance Abatement Board. • Files conflict counsel lien forms on City Public Defender cases. The City Attorney's Office is not authorized to provide legal advice to the general public. Please see our community legal resources page for suggested sites of entities that may be able to assist with your legal needs. https://www.tortlauderdaIe.gov/government/departments-a-h/city-attorney-s-office/city-prosecutors Page 2 of 2 Law Department City of Phoenix Law Department Cris Meyer City Attorney 1/17/22, 6:39 PM rnyPHX 11 V&DownloadApp The Law Department is comprised of two sections, the City Attorney's Office, which handles representing the City in civil matters, and the City Prosecutor's Office, which handles the prosecution of misdemeanor crimes committed in Phoenix. City Attorney's Office j The City Attorney's Office (Civil Division), represents the City in civil lawsuits and provides advice to the Mayor, City Council, City management and each of the City departments. The City Attorney's office reviews all resolutions, ordinances (city laws), and contracts. I City Prosecutor's Office The City Prosecutor's Office (Criminal Division) is responsible for prosecuting misdemeanor offenses, handling approximately 45,000 cases per year. The Prosecutor's Office also provides information and resources for crime victims and witnesses, those facing barking dog or neighborhood issues, and information on our diversion programs, specialty courts, and more. https://www.phoenix.gov/law Page 1 of 4 Law Department Learn More... Crime Victim Services Barking Dog Information Frequently Asked Questions City Prosecutor's Office City Attorney's Office Contacts City Attorney's Office i Phoenix City Hall ' 200 W. Washington St., 13th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 PHONE: 602-262-6761 FAX: 602-732-2768 City Prosecutor's Office 300 W. Washington St., 8th Floor Phoenix, AZ 85003 PHONE: 602-262-6461 FAX: 602-262-7052 TRS: 7-1-1 Friendly HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday Videos 1/17/22, 6:39 PM https://www.phoenix.gov/law Page 2 of 4 Law Department M Phoenix City Hall 200 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85003 Map Main 602-262-3111 Water/Sewer/City Services Bill 602- 262-6251 TTY 711 Phone Directory 0 Contact Us About Phoenix 1/17/22, 6:39 PM https://www.phoenix.gov/law Page 3 of 4 Law Department 1/17/22, 6:39 PM https://www.phoenix.gov/law Page 4 of 4 MIAMI BEACH City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov Office of the City Clerk Tel: 305-673-7411 January 27, 2022 State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle Miami -Dade State Attorney's Office 1350 NW 12th Avenue Miami, FL 33136 Dear State Attorney Fernandez Rundle, Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2022-32020: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, APPROVING AN EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL PROSECUTION PROGRAM TO ENSURE THE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES THAT, TO DATE, HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED BY THE STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE; AND DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND CITY ADMINISTRATION TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR THE CITY TO BECOME THE PRIMARY ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROSECUTION- OF THE FOLLOWING STATE LAW MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, NAMELY BATTERY, INDECENT EXPOSURE AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. (Sponsored by Commissioner Steven Meiner) This Resolution was passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commissioners of the City of Miami Beach on January 20, 2022. - Respectfully, Ra ael E. Granado City Clerk c: Commissioner Steven Meiner