Administrative Order No. 2-55.0

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR HARDEE, HIGHLANDS AND POLK COUNTIES, FLORIDA

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2-55.0

IN RE: "JIMMY RYCE ACT" CASE ASSIGNMENT AND REPORTING

WHEREAS the "Jimmy Ryce Involuntary Civil Commitment for Sexually Violent Predators’ Treatment and Care Act," Chapter 98-64, Laws of Florida, was passed by the 1998 Florida Legislature; and

WHEREAS this act is effective January 1, 1999; and

WHEREAS this act provides for a judicial determination of whether there is probable cause that a person is a sexually violent predator; and

WHEREAS this act provides for the examination of a person committed by the court, at least once every year or more frequently at the court’s discretion, to determine if it is safe for the person to be at large and that the person will not engage in acts of sexual violence if discharged; and

WHEREAS this act provides for additional trials if a court determines there is probable cause that it is safe to release a person previously committed under this act; and

WHEREAS this act will result in significant demands on judicial time and resources to conduct these probable cause hearings, trials and examinations;

IT IS ORDERED that:

1. The Clerks of the Court for Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties are hereby DIRECTED to establish procedures for reporting judicial workload arising under this act, using the attached form and submitting a copy each quarter to the Office of the State Courts Administrator; and

2. The clerks of court are directed to compile the necessary data required on the form for all cases arising under the "Jimmy Ryce Act." All such cases coming before the courts from January 1, 1999 to the date of this order shall be included in the first quarterly report for 1999, which shall be filed with the office of the State Courts Administrator on April 15, 1999 with a copy also being provided to the Trial Court Administrator.

3. Subsequent reports shall be filed quarterly, no later that the 15^th day of the month subsequent to the reporting period.

4. The clerks of court are directed to maintain an audit trail of the case numbers of all cases initiated pursuant to the "Jimmy Ryce Act."

5. These reporting procedures will be utilized to report from January 1, 1999 until December 31, 1999 in lieu of reporting this data through the Summary Reporting System.

DONE AND ORDERED on this 5th day of May, 1999.

CHARLES B. CURRY
Chief Judge

Distribution:
All Circuit and County Judges
Clerk of the Court - Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties
Office of the State Attorney

Download the attached form in Acrobat PDF format. (PDF: 18 KB / 2 pages Ryce)