Our Clay County Crime Fighters In Action

If that same senior citizen went in there with a gun and started shooting would you have wrote the same.

Keystone, That is a no brainer, of course I would not have written the same, but no gun or weapon was involved.  A weapon taken to  the scene would indicate pre meditation. 

I would suggest they make a great investment in a mental health court and program for the county.

As reported: Through specialized training of law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and mental-health and substance-abuse counselors, a special system is set up to handle nonviolent defendants with mental illness.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101806/nen_5601752.shtml

Bellebaily,

Are you repeating hearsay information or where you present during this arrest? It’s easy to repeat hearsay information and hearsay information usually grows the more it is passed along. Are you saying that because there were no witnesses for the elderly gentleman and he was not taking his bipolar medication that he should have not been arrested? If so the guy that was arrested for car burglary the other night should be let go because there were no witnesses on his behalf? Serial killers have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and failed to take their medication. So we should excuse them for murder? Determining the mental capacity of a defendant that committed an alleged crime is for the courts and a court appointed Psychiatrist to determine. Law enforcement officers on the scene do not make those decisions and if it is obvious that a defendant is suffering from some type of mental health issue that is addressed at the jail and behavioral health services are called. The questions regarding medications and illnesses are handled in the jail at booking. You referenced the citizen was harassed. There is a complaint process the citizen can access to file a complaint. You referenced the citizen has an attorney, I am sure the attorney knows the process. When adults are arrested law enforcement is not obligated to call relatives this only applies to juveniles.  

Now that is out of the way, you say there needs to be a leadership change in Clay County. How would leadership change incidents or scenes that are fluid and changing in seconds? Do you expect that leadership you elect to be Johnny on the spot on every incident?

HEARSAY  HEARSAY  HEARSAY  HEARSAY  HEARSAY

Angela please don't get on your soap box again.

Magnum it's not a soap box it's an advocate.

It's hard to deny the stats:

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that at midyear 2005 more than half of all prison and jail inmates had a mental health problem, There are a rising number of mentally ill inmates, who have been left without treatment in crowded jails because the state’s psychiatric beds are full.  Florida Partners in Crisis (FPIC, 2004) reports that Florida’s local jails have become the largest public psychiatric hospital, housing over 10,000 offenders with mental illnesses, many of whom are low level offenders. There are more than 4 times as many people with mental illnesses in Florida jails than in state psychiatric hospitals (NAMI, 2004).

Sheriff Seagraves seems to understand about leadership and true ways to cut cost to the citizens in his community. Nassau is a small county with big leadership with goals.

Florida ranks 49th nationally for mental health spending and treatments. I wonder where it ranks in officer's training and dealing with the mentally ill.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042208/met_270732226.shtml

Angela,

You can land the plane. The runway is clear.

Nutty or not nutty it don't matter.

Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

If a person is mentally ill, and allowed to live with the general poplutation, they must follow the same laws we all do. It's not my job, or my neighbors job to make sure they are taking their meds and stay off my property.

This seems to me to be another half story spun out into the outer limits, geared toward bashing the very people that give their lives to protect us. 

I am tired of hearing excuses like, oh he has a mental problem, or he had a bad child life for crimes being commited.

The bottom line is this person should have been taking his meds, and should not have treaspased, he only has himself to blame.

I think it would be fair to say most folks would say Charles Manson is a nut, and he is right where he belongs.

TRUTHHURTS

Please go to

http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer

and sign the petition for the Fair Tax Bill. Tell Congress to pass this Bill.

clip u sent me!!!

to bad we can't do that.  

Let's try these numbers.

Prisoners with mental illness cost the nation an average of nearly $9 billion a year (NAMI, 2004).

Nice rebate check to the taxpayers. We may even be able to spend some of that money on education. The State of Florida would rather spend 22k per year to house a person. Instead of 4k to send them through a program (ready4work) to work. They will spend money to build prisons and cut funding on education.

Then we insult them by calling them nutty.

Fact: Mental illnesses are disorders of the brain that disrupt a person's thinking, feelings, mood, daily functioning and ability to relate to others. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are brain disorders that often result in a diminished capacity for coping with the ordinary demands of life.

Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or socioeconomic status. They are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or a poor upbringing.

It is important to notice that these brain disorders are largely treatable.

You know I think this elderly man with bipolar deserves to spend some time with Manson for that horrible heinous crime of trespassing.

Why should we just discriminate against those with mental illnesses? Maybe we should start on those with diabetes because sometimes when they are having problems they can act out too. Even get disoriented and could even commit the heinous crime of trespassing too. 

Florida an it's ranked 49th in the nation. Well we are about at the same place in education too.

I think both of you have a point...Angela is right, but Truth is too. If a person commits a crime and truly has mental illness then this should be taken into consideration. But too many criminals are using that excuse for their actions. Just look at the Jessica Lungsford case. He tried to use that excuse for kidnapping, sexual attack and then putting her in a plastic garbage bag and burying her alive. Can you honestly say that he had no idea what he was doing? This is why so many people think the way they do about mental illness and commiting criminal offenses.

Angela, I think if you check with our local law enforcement agencies, officers do get training in dealing with individuals with mental illness. Sometimes it is not always put into practice during an incident, depending on the situation.

Truth..I also agree with your opinion, don't do the crime if you can'tdo the time!! You may want to add...if you don't have the money for an expensive lawyer to defend you. lol

John Couey is a convicted rapist and murderer. He's the type person that needs to be put in jail. He had a history of sexual offenses and was a registered offender when this happened.. These are the type people who should have priority and be kept in prison. If he had been in prison this incident would not have happened. Mr. Couey is more than likely sitting in Starke on death row where he needs to be.

I would say the same for the young lady that was killed at the vet clinic on Wells Road and her attacker who was running the streets.

I was not talking about those type people. I was talking about low level offenders who take up space in the county and state jails at a huge cost to the taxpayers. Florida’s local jails have become the largest public psychiatric hospital in the state.

Diversion programs have low recidivism rates and lower cost to the taxpayers. This opens up space for the offenders who need to be put in jail and never let out. These individuals are not just released in the community but monitored through the courts and placed in the appropriate type treatment at much lower cost and great success. If they do not complete the program they are sent to jail.

Although not formally part of the Mental Health Court, a very important aspect of the response to criminal justice and mental health issues is the initiation of CrisisIntervention Training (CIT) by the Sheriff’s Office. CIT is increasing used by law enforcement nationally and in Florida as a means to reduce incarceration of persons with mental illnesses.The training enables law enforcement officers to gain new skills, which improve officer response to individuals with mental illnesses, often in crisis situations. I think we lack training to meet the needs of these communities which was the reason for the starting of this blog.

Remember this blog was started on hearsay information and the author added some buzz words(senior citizen, dogs brought to the scene, officer harassing the senior citizen, what if it was your parent) to make it emotionally charged. We were lead to believe K-9 tracked a frail old man down. We have not read the official investigative police report, witness statements, or any newspaper article on the incident. So calm down everyone it will be ok. Law enforcement receives more mental health training than what you believe. Remember, its the courts that decide competency not the officer on the scene. The only exception would have been if it was obvious the man was mentally retarded he would have been held in a mental health center and a family member located.

Magnum I don't know if the blog is started in hearsay. I will say this would not be the first time I've heard of situations just like this that happen. Way too many times.

I will say that the information that I provided is not hearsay. I will tell you what else is not hearsay.

These individuals generally spend longer sentences in jail than people who have no mental illnesses. People such as sexual offenders and sexual predators who are in our neighborhoods and get out all the time.

Thanks to Mark Lunsford and his advocacy work that got laws passed that requires law enforcement to locate these people. As a matter of fact, didn't they just do a sweep and arrest several people in violation of their probation.

Fact over 300 people with mental illnesses were kept in jail in violation of the laws pass the 15 day waiting period under Governor Bush. While at the same time the legislators in Tallahassee was cutting funding to services for mental health. I didn't see Bush get arrested.

I have seen where the FBI has come in and is in the process of doing investigations currently. Hopefully in the State of Florida and not just in the Miami area.

What are the major legal differences between the terms "Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity" and "Guilty but Insane? 

not guilty by reason of insanity
n. plea in court of a person charged with a crime who admits the criminal act, but whose attorney claims he/she was so mentally disturbed at the time of the crime that he/she lacked the capacity to have intended to commit a crime. Such a plea requires that the court set a trial on the issue of insanity alone either by a judge sitting without a jury or by a jury. A finding of insanity will result in a verdict of "not guilty," but, if the condition still exists, it may result in incarceration in a mental facility for the criminally insane or confinement in a mental hospital. If the insanity no longer exists (temporary insanity), the judge has the option to require some psychological therapy, but the treatment varies from state to state. This is not the same as insane at time of trial and thus incompetent to stand trial, which will postpone trial (in all likelihood forever) pending recovery while the defendant is confined to a mental facility.
See also: incompetent insanity insanity defense not guilty temporary insanity 

insanity
n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior. Insanity is distinguished from low intelligence or mental deficiency due to age or injury. If a complaint is made to law enforcement, to the District Attorney or to medical personnel that a person is evidencing psychotic behavior, he/she may be confined to a medical facility long enough (typically 72 hours) to be examined by psychiatrists who submit written reports to the local superior/county/district court. A hearing is then held before a judge, with the person in question entitled to legal representation, to determine if she/he should be placed in an institution or special facility. The person ordered institutionalized at the hearing may request a trial to determine sanity. Particularly since the original hearings are often routine with the psychiatric findings accepted by the judge. In criminal cases, a plea of "not guilty by reason of insanity" will require a trial on the issue of the defendant's insanity (or sanity) at the time the crime was committed. In these cases the defendant usually claims "temporary insanity" (crazy then, but okay now). The traditional test of insanity in criminal cases is whether the accused knew "the difference between right and wrong," following the "M'Naughten rule" from 19th century England. Most states require more sophisticated tests based on psychiatric and/or psychological testimony evaluated by a jury of laypersons or a judge without psychiatric training. A claim by a criminal defendant of his/her insanity at the time of trial requires a separate hearing to determine if a defendant is sufficiently sane to understand the nature of a trial and participate in his/her own defense. If found to be insane, the defendant will be ordered to a mental facility, and the trial will be held only if sanity returns. Sex offenders may be found to be sane for all purposes except the compulsive dangerous and/or antisocial behavior. They are usually sentenced to special facilities for sex offenders, supposedly with counseling available. However, there are often maximum terms related to the type of crime, so that parole and release may occur with no proof of cure of the compulsive desire to commit sex crimes.

not guilty
n. 1) plea of a person who claims not to have committed the crime of which he/she is accused, made in court when arraigned (first brought before a judge) or at a later time set by the court. The choices of what one can plea are: guilty, not guilty, no contest, not guilty by reason of insanity, or incompetent to stand trial. 2) verdict after trial by a judge sitting without a jury or by a jury (unanimous decision in all but two states, which allow a verdict by only 10 of 12 jurors), stating that the prosecution has not proved the defendant guilty of a crime or that it believes the accused person was insane at the time the crime was committed. The accused cannot be tried again for the crime charged.

The major difference between "not guilty by reason of insanity" and "guilty but insane".

Not guilty by reason of insanity is a plea for someone who commits a heinous crimes to be released to a mental institution. The law orders the judge to place the defendant in the "least restrictive setting" for treatment. If the defense can convince a jury that a defendant committed a crime while insane, he is committed to a hospital, then released when considered "cured."

"Guilty but insane" is a plea for someone who commits a heinous crime and is committed to a mental institution to receive mental treatment, followed by prison time.

The difference is the way the laws are written by the states. NGI pleas have a less than one percent change of a person winning in court. It is generally only used for heinous crimes such as attempted murder or murder. It is based off expert testimony and at the time the defendant committed the heinous crime they were insane.

John Hinckley Jr. was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 1981 attempted assassination of President Reagan and sentenced to a mental institution.

Andrea Yates did not get not guilty by reason of insanity and was sentenced to prison for killing her 5 children in 2001.

Angela,

It’s hearsay until supported by documents to prove other wise. Maybe in your spare time you can research and make a public records request of the case and provide accurate facts. Oh, by the way are you an attorney, paralegal, pro se attorney, or neither?

If bellebaily will supply a name I will look at the documents and research the information.

As far as your other question. My answer, I have the constitutional right to remain silent. Only a Judge can order me to answer questions.

 Angela,

Invoking your Fifth Amendment Right to my question is charming. Also a judge can not force you to answer a question that may incriminate you. So it’s obvious you are none of the above with the reply you gave.

Darn, and i thought with Read's last goofy blog, that Angela was Corey running for state attorney.  Guess not? 

Magnum, "Charming", that made me laugh a little.

Although, she did say a judge can order her to answer a question, she said nothing about anwering the question.

Magnum I never invoke my fifth amendment right above.

I have the right to remain silent concerning any questions asked of me. Not just those that might incriminate me.

The only time I can be forced to answer questions is by a Judge otherwise I can be found in contempt of court. However, as you say even they can not force me to answer any questions that might incriminate me.

However, it does not remove my right to remain silent to any question incriminating or not.

Foxx, my blog was not goofy.  Baxley understood it. I never said our Angela was Angela Corey and though we love him, I am also just as sure that our Magnumforce is not Clint Eastwood.

I thought the blog was slightly goofy, but then again, when have i composed a good one.  I just thought that for maybe a second, with angela's public record skills and her other than the thread second to last, legal knowledge, that we might of had a public servant seeking office in disguise.  Probably not, but the one thing she never opens her mouth about is personal info.?

Foxx there was nothing wrong with my answer second to the last. I never mentioned the fifth amendment. That was Magnum's statement not mine.

I as everyone else does have a right to remain silent. I'm under no obligation to answer any questions. Even if I was stopped by law enforcement the law only requires that I produce identification. There is no law that requires me or anyone else to answer any questions. Regardless if it incriminates me or not. I am under no obligation to answer any question.  

The only time I'm forced to answer questions is under the direction of a Judge. Refusing to answer a proper question is considered contempt of court.

Unless as Magnum says I invoke my fifth amendment right. Magnum being a law enforcement officer is accoustomed to the miranda rights. Which states you have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

Guess what you had the right to remain silent before they read the miranda warning.

If you can produce a law that says I'm required to answer any questions would you please post the FSS.

“My answer, I have the constitutional right to remain silent.” So you have chosen to invoke your Fifth Amendment Right to remain silent when you decided not to answer the question. I have never heard any one invoking the Fifth on a question that is not incriminating. You are playing the word game like a lawyer or a want a be lawyer. How exciting. I know you’re not a lawyer but here is some information for you. If you have a B.A. or a B.S. in political science or criminology with a GPA of 4.0 and can pass the LSAT you may get accepted to U & F. We need more lawyers!

Show me the FSS that requires me or anyone else to answer any questions regardless if it incrimnates me/them or not. I certain you are familiar with the FSS.

Hey the runway is clear come in for a landing and have a martini and chill. You stay on edge all the time. Kick back have some laughs and enjoy life.

Didn't think so.

Angela didn't you work as a reporter for TU? Now the dots are connected...didn't you have a problem with CCSO and filed a complaint that someone close to you wasn't treated fairly while incarcerated? Just a thought! I was wondering why all the bloggers thought you had such insight to the Clay County politics and the knowledge you had to research the internet. Didn't Cookie (Connie Goon) make some type of comment towards you in reference to your son being in the CCSO jail?

I've had more names on these blogs than sybil had personalities. The only thing I can say is don't believe everything you hear, don't believe everything you read, and always question what you see.

Maybe we shouldn’t worry about who Angela is but instead realize that if we ever need to know something, she might be the first one we would ask.  Let’s don’t scare her away.

No, I don’t think she scares easily.  I get the feeling that she makes and butters her own bread and isn’t beholden to anyone, therefore there is a freedom to take a stance when she wants to, without fear of anyone over her head. 

It wouldn't be so bad to have a person on your side that  is not easily intimidated.

Angela,

It’s too bad that you are so defensive all the time especially towards authority. I wonder why you have such hatred towards law enforcement. I can’t recall the last time I have ever seen you blog something positive about law enforcement. Just imagine this world with out law enforcement or military protection to protect our citizens. I don’t even know you and I would lay my life on the line and protect you if called to do so. What do we get in return from you? Constant criticism for how we do our job. You once blog that you have never had called on the police for assistance. Well, at some point you have had contact it shows in your hatred for the police. It is not a norm to dislike someone or something unless they have been taught to do so or had a bad experience. I will be the first to agree there are a few bad apples out there wearing the uniform. In time they are weeded out but it is unfortunate they get to do their damage before they are put on the high road. Remember the last perfect human that walked this earth was crucified thousands of years ago. We make mistakes and so do you. Have a great weekend.

I guess now I hate law enforcement. According to the blogs I hate golf carts, children, law enforcement and a host of all kinds of things.

Let's see Florida is a State that has extremely high recidivism rates. We have over 30,000 inmates who are discharged each year and over a quarter end up back in custody within 3 years. This rate of recidivism is unacceptably high and unacceptably expensive. Each time there is a new crime, there is a new victim which cost our communities. This is not exactly new news but Florida politicians need to make some changes instead of "tough on crime" they should be making sure past felons don't become future felons.

Let's see we had the Dept of Corruption instead of Corrections. We had the defunct Dept of Children and Family Services. We still haven't found some children.

We violate the constitutional right of every person found to be incompetent to stand trial. While our State shuts down all facilities and now has make the prison system the largest psychiatric hospital in the State of Florida. This is at a tremendous cost to the individuals, the counties, and the State.

What are our politicians doing finding ways to allow their friends to double dip at a high cost to the taxpayers. Of couse let's not forget the historical work on truck nutz.

With the system the way it is set up in Florida I would encourage everyone to get a weapons permit and protect yourself and your family. You will be a victim it will just be a matter of when.

Thanks Read44

Gottasayit I have never been a TU reporter past, present, or future. They are straddled with over 400 million dollars of debt and dwindling revenues. I would get out your pencil erase all the dots and start over.

You guys have a nice day.

The reason this blog was started. Here's an article linked. It's not just our area it's the State of Florida and they spend too much time wasting taxdollars.

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/061908/D91D3F7O0.shtml

Oh Angela please file your paper work and seek the office of Sheriff or State Attorney. We need your expertise so badly in the areas of rules of criminal evidence and mental health counseling. If we don’t get you in the courtroom or sheriffs office the whole dog gone place is going to crumble. If you won’t consider elected office at least apply to be a Deputy Sheriff. We could learn so much from your vast experience in these areas.

P.S. Maybe you can give us some inservice training on digging up public records.

I find you sarcastic remarks to be somewhat charming in an eerie sort of way.

Let's look at my post:

AdvocateSubmitted by Angela on Wed, 06/18/2008 - 7:38pm.People such as sexual offenders and sexual predators who are in our neighborhoods and get out all the time.Just reported:http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/062008/D91DQNPG0.shtml2 rapes in 2 days in Jacksonville. Women keep your eyes open it is dangerous out there on those streets.Have great weekend Magnum

Gottasayit,

I have some material for you to review when you’re not busy.  It will provide insight to issues and help you understand the position of some folks.

http://www.claycountygov.com/BCC/Minutes/2007/M102307bcc.pdf

http://www.claycountygov.com/BCC/Minutes/2008/M010808bcc.pdf

http://www.claycountygov.com/BCC/Minutes/2008/M012208bcc.pdf

http://www.claycountygov.com/BCC/Minutes/2008/M021208bcc.pdf

http://www.claycountygov.com/BCC/Minutes/2008/M031108bcc.pdf

http://www.claycountygov.com/BCC/Minutes/2008/M032508bcc.pdf

Man Arrested in Sex Crime at Shopping Center

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=112003&catid=15 

GO JSO!

Thanks to JSO as well.

I hope all the women on the blogs read this article. Getting in your automobile in a public place on a very busy road and intersection is a common senario for us all.

She pulled a knife from her console. If that had been a gun this would have been a different article. You are your first line of defense make it count. 

Kudos to the good samaritan!

AdvocateSubmitted by Angela on Tue, 06/17/2008 - 7:47pm, MyClaySun.com, Retrieved June 24, 2008

"Sheriff Seagraves seems to understand about leadership and true ways to cut cost to the citizens in his community. Nassau is a small county with big leadership with goals."

Sheriff Wants Animal Control

By earthmother - Sat, 12/15/2007 - 11:43am, MyNassuaSun.com, Retrieved June 24, 2008 

"So the sheriff wants to take over animal control because "his deputies are usually the first to respond..." His deputies are usually the first to respond in law enforcement cases involving severely mentally ill people who commit a "crime" such as loitering or trespassing too. He has not provided the training or incentives to ensure the mentally ill are treated properly and/or taken to appropriate community resources. He has not provided psychiatric care in the jail for the last eight months. This is the sheriff's legal duty. And now he wants to take over animal control? Must be an election coming up."

Clay County has had their share of animal control problems which has been discussed at lenght on the blogs. It appears Nassua County has problems there too.

This is an election year in Nassua County as well. As you say this is something placed on a blog by earthmother and is hearsay until proven otherwise.

Nassau County Sheriff's Office Detention Facility
Accredited June 10, 2008 in Coral Springs
Accreditation Manager: Ms. Lawanna Ware

Nassau County Jail just received this award concerning the jail. Now either the people doing the accreditation are a worthless group of people and do not provide the true information concerning the jail and it's policy and procedures. Or this is someone attempting to provide hearsay. But I think this would prove otherwise.