Today, HB 1389 unanimously passed the House floor. This bill updates many facets of existing voyeurism statute. Representatives Hillary Cassel (D-Dania Beach) and Lindsay Cross (D-St. Petersburg) filed the House bill and Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book (D-Davie) filed its Senate counterpart, SB 1604, which is due to be heard on the Senate floor next.
Due to discrepancies in the law, alleged offenders repeatedly engaging in criminally voyeuristic behavior – whom, in many instances, face claims of perpetually doing so for months on end – are often charged with just one count of video voyeurism. Presented with this situation, Representative Cassel introduced HB 1389 to ensure that each instance of viewing or recording is counted as a separate offense. The bill also enhances penalties for voyeurs abusing positions of trust, such as parents and guardians.
Describing how the bill came to fruition, Representative Cassel explained, “When I first met Rachel Steele last summer and heard the story of her step-father recording her every day for nearly a year, I was sick to my stomach. His depravity was beyond comprehension. Florida Statutes should not gift loopholes to offenders of this sordid kind, which is why Senator Book and I felt compelled to do something – in order to make sure they’ll receive punishments more appropriately proportional to their heinous behavior.”
“Many predators, particularly those using digital spaces, go unscathed because they haven’t been caught. In the US, only 3% of predators are caught with a 1% conviction rate across the board. We must do better to protect our children and our community members. This bill is another tool that ensures that the punishment is commensurate with the crime,” added Representative Cross.
