SAO Community Council

 

“Creating opportunities for accessibility to this office has been a top priority of my administration. I’m thrilled to work with this team of civic leaders as ambassadors of criminal justice for the benefit of Hillsborough residents.” – State Attorney Andrew Warren

Continuing its ongoing work to build trust between our community and our justice system, the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office is accepting applications to join the office’s Community Council. This group of 20 people, made up of Hillsborough County residents and representatives from key organizations, will engage directly with the office’s senior leaders and get an in-depth look at how prosecutions are handled and decisions are made. 

Members of the Council will meet with SAO representatives every other month for candid discussions—providing feedback from the community on justice issues and learning information from SAO staff on the policies and programs that shape how cases are prosecuted. Council membership is a two-year commitment and members are expected to share their ideas and concerns about how the justice system impacts their communities and organizations.

“Transparency builds trust,” Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren said. “We are in the middle of a nationwide moment, with historic opportunities to improve our justice system. The Community Council lets us bring in more voices, so we can understand what’s affecting people in our communities—and at the same time, give them a window into the work we’re already doing to create a safer, stronger Hillsborough County.”

The Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office prosecutes criminal cases on behalf of the State of Florida in Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit. With 130 innovative attorneys and 150 dedicated support staff serving in locations in Downtown Tampa and Plant City, the office is effectively the largest law firm on Florida’s west coast, handling more than 55,000 cases a year. The office’s mission is to build a safer community while promoting justice and fairness for everyone.

The office’s first Community Council served from 2018-2020 and explored the office’s entire approach to promoting public safety, from how prosecutors prepare for high-profile trials to programs that divert first-time juvenile offenders away from the downward spiral of the justice system.

Community members can apply now by filling out the online application for the State Attorney’s Office Community Council for 2021–2023. If you have any questions, please email [email protected]. The application deadline is Thursday, May 13, 2021.

ROLE

Members of the council serve as a liaison between the State Attorney and the community by:

  • being a proactive voice for the community in which they live or the organization they represent;
  • becoming knowledgeable about and disseminating accurate information to the community on policy, procedures, and functions of the State Attorney’s Office to increase understanding and awareness;
  • bridging the gap and bringing awareness to the achievements and concerns of the community; and
  • providing resourceful information that supports building a safer, stronger Hillsborough while promoting justice and fairness.

Council members must support the mission of the Hillsborough State Attorney’s Office.

MEMBERSHIP

Council members are selected at the sole discretion of the State Attorney’s Office. Members should be leaders and representatives of their communities within Hillsborough County or knowledgeable representatives of their respective organizations, and preference is given to a diverse membership that represents the many different communities and geographic locations within Hillsborough County. Applicants are subject to a background check.

To remain active, members must:

  • reside in Hillsborough County or be a current member and representative of an organization that served Hillsborough County; and
  • attend at least four meetings within each calendar year.

The State Attorney’s Office has the right, at its sole discretion, to remove any member or organization from the Council, change the membership composition, change the number of members, and make any other changes to the Council membership.

Members cannot send alternates in their stead unless the alternate has submitted an application and received approval from the State Attorney’s Office. Former members can re-apply for membership at any time.

SCHEDULE

The Council’s planned schedule is below, meeting every other month on the fourth Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. Meetings will be in a hybrid format—where members can attend in-person, masked and socially distant, in the large SAO auditorium at 419 N. Pierce St. in Downtown Tampa or virtually in the same meeting via Zoom. Meeting plans will adjust based on pandemic safety protocols in the future.

Planned State Attorney’s Office Community Council Meetings for 2021–2023

2021 Dates

May 25, 2021

July 27, 2021

September 28, 2021

November 16, 2021 – date adjusted for Thanksgiving

2022 Dates

January 25, 2022

March 22, 2022

May 24, 2022

July 26, 2022

September 27, 2022

November 15, 2022 – date adjusted for Thanksgiving

2023 Dates

January 24, 2023

March 28, 2023

 

Join our E-Newsletter using the form below:


Translate »