Criminal Justice and Prison Reform Advocacy in Florida

Florida CURE is dedicated to creating a more just society through criminal justice reform. Our goals are to ensure jails and prisons are used only for those who must be incarcerated and that prisoners and communities have all the resources they need to move forward with full lives.

FL-CURE is the state chapter of the international criminal justice reform organization: Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants. We are a grassroots organization that operates from the vision of a more just society -- A society in which punitive incarceration is not the foremost method used for social reform. A society which is collectively dedicated to preventing the need for such an enormous criminal justice system. And a criminal justice system which utilizes the best practices available always seeks to increase the humanity of the society that it serves.

FL-CURE works through supporting progressive legislature in the Florida State Government and addressing opportunities for improved methods with the Department of Corrections. We are not an advocacy organization for individual inmate issues. We do not have the staff or resources to act in behalf of individual prisoners or families. We do listen to these issues in order to document an over all pattern that we believe we can address as a whole.

Our organization is currently in the process of expansion and we welcome the input and participation of any and all who feel a calling to become involved. Please contact the regional coordinators for local contact information.

STOP THE PRIVATIZATION OF FLORIDA'S PRISONS!!!

Florida Legislators are currently ramming through Prison Privatization bills SB2036 and SB2038, which would hand over 19 prisons in the South Florida Region to for-profit incarceration corporations.  Research has demonstrated that for-profit prison corporations provide no substantial improvements in prison conditions, economic efficiency, or the reduction of recidivism.  Prison Privatization does, however, leave the door wide open to corrupt corporate influence of public policy at a time when Florida desperately needs smart, comprehensive reforms of our criminal justice system.  We urge you to call your local senators immediately and voice your outrage at these irresponsible bills and demand reform rather than privatization!  Sign the petition and demand accountability of our legislators! http://fightforflorida.com/action/

Listen to broadcast of FL-CURE board member Prof. Roberto Potter's interview detailing case against prison privatization.

Revisit Florida's Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools!

Florida CURE is preparing for the 2012 legislative session. We encourage you to read the Advancement Project’s review of the Zero Tolerance Policies in Schools throughout Florida to learn about ways to close the schoolhouse to prison pipeline in our state. We are expecting the introduction of a bill for the 2012 session that will incorporate some of the suggestions of the Advancement Project’s report.

FLORIDA CURE MEETING, May 24, 2009