About 1,800 -- or one in five -- were arrested again, some within days of the determination that they were of "good moral character" and could be trusted to care for the state's most vulnerable residents.
Felons have been allowed to work in day care centers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes through an exemption system created by Florida legislators in 1985.
The system was meant to give those with a long-ago minor offense a second chance, but convicts with multiple prison stints and career criminals with records spanning decades sail through with little resistance -- 82 percent get an exemption.
Lucia Rivera, then 44, pleaded guilty in 1999 to aggravated assault and other charges for beating the girlfriend of her estranged husband and encouraging an accomplice to slice the woman's face with a knife. In 2005, she applied for -- and received -- an exemption from the state's Agency for Health Care Administration. In 2008, while working as the business manager at Avante in St. Cloud, Rivera was charged with stealing more than $36,000 from dozens of patient accounts. "Most of those people were bedridden, comatose," said Kathy Foust, a guardian for several victims. (Florida Department of Corrections)Full Article and Source:
Trust Betrayed: Exemptions Let Felons Watch Over Vulnerable
10 comments:
Wake up Florida citizens -- and RUN!
FL has one of the highest concentrations of seniors in the states.
This week's series has shown a bright light on the problems -- now let's see if Florida is going to do anything about it or if the state really doesn't care.
What gets me is this stuff goes on all the time and they know it.
And then when a good reporter comes out with it, those who have known all along get in line and act shocked and concerned.
Ha.
There needs to be a tidal wave of reform to Florida nursing homes.
And it needs to be now!
Think of the poor, helpless people exposed to these felons.
It makes my heart ache for them.
Pray for all our Florida elderly or disabled who are in nursing facilities.
There are felons in nursing homes as co-residents. Don't forget that. You don't know who is in the next room - or across the hall. Or even sharing the room.
And nursing homes are under no obligation to tell you.
These statistics shake me to the core.
I for one am bypassing Florida as a vacation spot. I don't want to get caught there accidentally.
WHAT? It's OK for these convicted felons to work close to the most vulnerable, the weakest members of society?
This is sick - sick - sick and shows the mentality of our leaders.
I hope the persons who are responsible for granting special permission end up with a truckload of x-cons caring for them when they are in need.
People with criminal minds, financial preadatros, rarely get fixed. They are: OPPORTUNISTS
Hey state leaders, do you know what that means? YOU are responsible for giving these felons another OPPORTUNITY to victimize those who cannot defend themselves.
I D I O T S!
I lost a wedding band during a hospital stay, and that alone was very painful.
People who steal must be punished and punished severely.
Why isn't there more screening and monitoring?
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