Critics argue that Worrell’s lenient policies endanger vulnerable neighborhoods and public safety.
A recent article from the Sentinel pointed out that Worrell’s office drops more felony charges against minors than any other in Florida. It’s alarming to think that they’re nearly twice as likely to let violent felonies and gun charges slide. Just imagine how that affects families and community safety.
I remember a scary incident involving my daughter. She was charging her car when a guy next to her got threatened by another driver who pulled out a rifle and a pistol. Thankfully, the police caught the guy, but Worrell’s response was to reduce the charges and suggest a pretrial diversion. It felt like a slap on the wrist for something so serious.
I get wanting to be compassionate, but we can’t ignore that these folks have committed real crimes. When prosecutors go easy on criminals, it sends a message that crime doesn’t matter, leading to more lawlessness.
In my role at Dr. Phillips Charities, I see graffiti popping up on our buildings all the time. The City of Orlando has a program to tackle this, which is great, but what’s the point if Worrell won’t prosecute the vandals? We had a case where a witness identified a serial vandal, but the State Attorney dismissed it.
We invest a lot in our community, and it’s frustrating to see all that good work undermined by one person who won’t hold criminals accountable. It’s a tough situation for everyone trying to make Central Florida a better place.
