ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange-Osceola public defender Robert Wesley announced Tuesday morning in a press conference outside the Orange County Courthouse that he seeks to end "low-value arrests" and large, court-ordered fines against the homeless and others who can’t afford to pay them.
Wesley discussed the case of hospice patient Larry Thompson, 61, whom his office represents. Thompson was arrested for failing to pay court costs for a 2010 traffic charge, he said.
The Orange County Jail wouldn't accept Thompson due to his physical condition, so was sent to a hospital, where he was supervised by jail guards, Wesley said.
Raw: News conference on low-value arrests
Wesley said arrests such as Thompson's waste taxpayer dollars and law-enforcement and jail resources.
Five homeless people were arrested Tuesday morning for not paying court costs and each is now under mental health holds, Wesley said.
Their medical care and housing and court costs will now exceed the amount of money they owed, he said.
Wesley calls on community leaders within the criminal justice system to prioritize arrests.
"We need to have a justice system that works and that is cost efficient," Wesley said. "And you just can't go spend whatever it takes to get anybody for any reason."
WFTV
