child abuse

A federal appeals court upheld a Florida judge’s decision dismissing a lawsuit filed by the parents of a child who was sexually exploited by a stranger she met online.

Nearly two dozen men questioned Attorney General Ashley Moody’s staff about a program that will compensate them for brutality they endured at two notorious reform schools.

Men who suffered abuse decades ago at two former state reform schools have been coming to the Florida Capitol for 16 years seeking restitution. They may finally succeed this year.

The Senate is expected to pass the bill in the coming days. It would set up a process for victims who were abused by school personnel decades ago to apply for compensation.

House and Senate committees this week considered proposals that would allow the death penalty for anyone who sexually batters a child under the age of 12.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said he doesn’t think the current U.S. Supreme Court would uphold the 2008 decision ruling that barred the death penalty in rape cases.

The goal is to collect 500 bears and other stuffed animals in the course of the month.

A bill to compensate victims of the Dozier and Okeechobee reform schools passed its first Senate committee meeting.

The bill (SB 288), filed by Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, would create a certification process for victims of abuse at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys in Marianna and the Florida School for Boys at Okeechobee.

The move from keeping troubled families intact to placing the children in foster homes hasn't worked as advocates had hoped.