ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – There’s a connection between state Rep. Scott Plakon and Daisy, a 1-year-old bloodhound. She’s now part of the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office’s plan to expand their K-9 tracking programs. St. Johns County is growing, and the sheriff-elect said the Sheriff’s Office anticipates getting more of these calls for service, but it’s ready to embrace any technology that protects the community. The Sheriff’s Office has 500 kits available for families in the county, and it is actively training deputies on its use. You can call the Sheriff’s Office at 904-824-8304 for information on how to get one.

The bravery of one survivor was the driving force behind a new law that has removed the statute of limitations for sexual battery on a minor. These children are traumatized by this, said state Rep. Scott Plakon, who co-sponsored the new law bearing Donnas name. The statute of limitations for such crimes varied wildly depending on the age of the victim and the aggressor. That is the message to the offender that, that child is going to always have the right to come after them, Hedrick said. Accusations will still need to be backed by evidence, but it will provide some hope for justice for future victims.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s 42 locally operated domestic violence shelters are concerned about funding after the governor ordered an investigation into the statewide nonprofit that distributes money from the state to the local level. In 2004, lawmakers said funding for local shelters would be distributed by unnamed nonprofit. In 2012, they selected the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence to handle that responsibility. In that role, the organization was the sole conduit of $46 million in state funds circulated to local shelters. “The well-being of survivors of domestic violence depends on there being the strictest integrity at every level,” Baldwin said.