Floridians for Criminal Justice Reform (FCJR), a Broward County based grassroots group concerned with issues negatively affecting our criminal justice system in Florida, is hold a “Candlelight Vigil” in front of the Broward County Main Jail.

FCJR planned this event in response to the article published by the Miami Herald on February 14, 2007 titled “Auditors to Study Broward Jail Overcrowding” by Nikki Waller.

FCJR has invited ordinary citizens, members of religious organizations, as well as members of local and national non-profit groups to join together “as one voice” to demonstrate our shared concern about the dire state of Florida’s criminal justice system.

Reforming Florida’s criminal justice system into a system that is truly just, humane, cost-effective and free of racial bias will not be an easy task. The numerous problems with our current system involve complex issues. Current laws, policies, and procedures need to be reformed. There is entrenched resistance to criminal justice reform. There are people and organizations that have a vested interest in keeping the status quo and continuing to grow the prison population in Florida.

We are joining together in peaceful assembly to communicate to our Lawmakers (and the other branches of our Government) that we demand real reform in Florida. We ask that Governor Crist order the creation of a non-partisan, independent “Criminal Justice Reform Committee” that will examine our current criminal justice system (in its entirety) and make recommendations. And further, we ask the Governor to ensure that the Committee’s recommendations are actually implemented and not ignored.

The two main messages of this Vigil will be:

1) Why are our Prisons so FULL? Bad People or Bad Policies?

2) A Broken Justice System Cannot Be Fixed By More Prisons

For more information, contact Chrystal Weaver at fl_cjr@yahoo.com or (954) 483-1972.