State
of Florida
Office of the State Attorney
16th Judicial Circuit
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Office of the State Attorney 16th Judicial Circuit
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Criminal Justice System Overview Employment Opportunities |
March 3, 2005 Spring Break Court was created in Key West in 1991 by leaders of the judiciary and law enforcement community. “Our purpose was twofold,” said J. Jefferson Overby, Chief Assistant State Attorney to Mark Kohl. Then Chief Judge of the circuit, Overby helped develop the diversion program. “Spring Break Court benefited both our court system and our young visiting offenders.” Overby explained that hundreds of misdemeanor cases each spring -- such as using bogus ID’s to obtain alcoholic beverages and disorderly intoxication -- flooded an already saturated court system. Most of the offences were committed by young vacationers who “exercised poor judgment,” rather than by hardened criminals. SBC siphons those cases away from the regular court system into a parallel judiciary process. It handles those vacationing offenders who acknowledge their guilt; those contesting charges against them can elect to go though the regular courts. Felonies or violent crimes are not eligible for spring break court consideration; neither are second-time offenders. For its part, the Monroe County State Attorney’s office has agreed not to pursue more serious sentences for wayward spring breakers. “We believe that most of the kids who have committed spring break misdemeanors are good kids who have made an isolated mistake,” said State Attorney Mark Kohl. “We want them to learn from that mistake, but not to leave Key West with the burden of a criminal record.” Lawbreaking spring breakers must appear at 8:00 AM at Old City Hall – hangovers notwithstanding. SBC is in session seven days a week and arrest warrants are issued for no-shows. The errant vacationers may then choose to pay fines and court costs of $230 or to perform eight hours of community service -- usually cleaning the beaches and streets littered by their fellow vacationers. Most choose to work. Offenders are issued orange jumpsuits and served a boxed jail lunch during their service. Overby recalls the days when the orange Monroe County Corrections tee-shirts became such sought-after “badges of honor” that spring breakers went to great lengths to keep them. Jumpsuits are now carefully accounted for at the end of every shift. Whether they choose to pay or to work, spring breakers who meet the terms of SBC are not convicted of a crime – allowing them to avoid legal fees and return trips to Key West for court dates. They also leave town without the unhappy souvenir of a criminal record. They do, however, have an arrest record which they may petition the court to seal. |
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Last modified:
10/23/07
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