Teamsters Challenge to Reinstate Home Visits of Probationers

Teamsters Local 2011 has filed a legal challenge to restore the requirement that probation officers visit the homes of certain criminals on probation.

Ron Silver, the Teamsters attorney, called the personal contact the main way probation officers monitor offenders.

We know that home visits are critical to keeping our citizens safe, whether its in their home, at work or at school. The safety of our citizens is paramount, Silver stated in a release.

The Florida Department of Corrections on Feb. 29 suspended officers visits to offenders homes and treatment providers until June 30, the end of the current fiscal year.

The state department, noting a $79 million budget shortfall, announced probation officers would continue to make random visits to sex offenders and murderers, but not the home offenders convicted of unspecified lower-level crimes.

The Teamsters argue the suspension breaks Florida law and endangers Floridas communities.

If the State of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings deems the challenge valid, a hearing would be held within 30 days.