Kaia Rolle was quietly sitting and listening to a school administrator read her a story before two Orlando police officers zip tied and arrested her. After watching the officer bodycam footage that was released yesterday, Senator Randolph Bracy (D-Ocoee) was dismayed by the scene and noted: “It is shocking that no existing law prevented this unnecessary response to childhood misbehavior. No six-year old should be handcuffed and taken away from school in the back of a police car.”
In response to this incident among many others, Senator Bracy has introduced SB 578: Juvenile Justice which prohibits arresting children under the age of 12 and prevents them from being charged with a crime. Since 23 other states in our union already have laws establishing a minimum age for arrest, Senator Bracy strongly supports Florida taking action in bringing this reform to the criminal justice system.
Senator Bracy also mentioned: “It was heartbreaking to watch this young six-year old girl pleading for help and asking for a second chance as she was being arrested. The trauma this caused Kaia and her family is something nobody should ever have to go through.”
