A special thank you to Officer Hernandez and the Sanford Police department for inviting us to the Fighting Fraud event for seniors and to Attorney Strawcutter for generously volunteering to present on How to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones.

We are so grateful to have the opportunity to help the community in this way and are appreciative for the assistance from our pro-bono network!

Betsy graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Psychology. After graduation, she commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a nuclear launch control officer. She spent the next four years as a Missileer stationed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. After separating from service, and prior to law school, she worked for the Army Corps of Engineers as a realty specialist.

Betsy is now a 3L at Seattle University School of Law, and is happy to complete her final year of law school in her home state of Florida. Her past internship experience includes working for in-house counsel at the Allen Institute, a nonprofit bioscience research institute; providing legal aid to moderate income individuals with the Moderate Means program; and working as a Summer Law Intern with both the Department of Justice’s Commercial Litigation and Criminal Antitrust divisions. 

Betsy is excited to join the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society and immerse herself in community aid and outreach. You can find her visiting her family in South Florida or drinking a cafecito with her fiancé and her Great Dane, Bodhi!

We are so happy to have Bets join us this semester and look forward to her assistance with research, intake, and community outreach!

For Pro-Bono month this October, we are proud to announce our Learn Your Legal Rights mini series. We will be partnering with Seminole State College to broadcast six different presentations to all four campuses. We are grateful to Attorney Karl Burgunder, Attorney Zahra Manekia, Attorney Camy Schwam-Wilcox, Attorney Leandra Gallego, and Attorney Eric Trabin for volunteering to present.

This series will cover the following topics:

• "Learn Your Legal Rights" - Can the Police Search Your Car?
• "Learn Your Legal Rights" - What are the legal rights of unmarried parents of children in Florida?
• "Learn Your Legal Rights" - You've been in a Car Accident, Now What?
• "Learn Your Legal Rights" - Can I Seal or Expunge my Arrest Record
• "Learn Your Legal Rights" - What about my Service Animals or Emotional Support Animals? 
•  "Learn Your Legal Rights" - I rented a residence in Florida, Now What?

By Betsy Castro

Effective October 1, 2023, restrictions against dog breeds in municipal and public housing will be lifted.

SB 942 is an amendment to Florida Statute 767.14, which previously prohibited any local government from adopting ordinances that discriminated against certain dog breeds. The new amendment now includes language that applies to public housing authorities, and it also prohibits regulations against the weight and size of dogs, not just the breed.

Within this same amendment is the removal of an exemption for local breed-specific ordinances adopted before October 1, 1990. Miami, for example, passed an ordinance banning pit bulls in 1989 and has since been exempt from Florida Statute 767.14. However, SB 942 will now invalidate Miami’s ban on pit bulls.

This new law will not apply to private landlords or homeowners’ associations. Additionally, local government and public housing authorities remain authorized to adopt policies that address safety concerns caused by animals with a history of attacks, bites, or aggressive behavior.

To view the full bill, please click the following link.

To help residents get prepared for the impending hurricane season, there is a tax-free holiday on disaster preparedness supplies from August 26, 2023 to September 8, 2023.

We are excited to join the Sanford Police Department again this year for the Hispanic Outreach Festival. Staff members will be at Clifford McKibbin Jr. Memorial Park all afternoon on September 9th, meeting with residents and discussing the services available.

Come out and see us Saturday, September 9th from 12:00pm-5:00pm at 1155 E 25th St., Sanford, FL 32773

As a college student, there are already so many important things pressing on your mind like exam due dates, homework assignments, and juggling your personal responsibilities, the last thing you should have to worry about is an eviction or time-sharing issues. Our staff attorneys will be on campus every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 11:00am-3:00pm in order to help students address any legal concerns they have that may be affecting their ability to focus on graduation.

Location: 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford, FL 32771, Student Center Building, Room: SC260

Upcoming Dates:

September 14th

September 28th

October 12th

October 26th

November 9th

For more information email Camryn Williams at camrynw@scbalas.com

Don't let that arrest on your record prevent you from getting the job of your dreams. In partnership with Goodwill Industries, our office holds a workshop to learn from our experienced volunteer attorneys how to seal or expunge your record. This workshop takes place every first Wednesday of the month in-person at the Sanford Library and virtually every third Wednesday of the month via Zoom.

You may qualify if you had:

• Adjudication withheld or charges dropped
• AND never previously sealed or expunged your record

To check the list of disqualifying crimes, click here.

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO.: 23-31 SUPERSEDES 22-03

IN RE: ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS - RESCINDS ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER 22-03

The Bureau of Victim Compensation's brochure provides useful information for those within our communities that have fallen victim to such crimes. The resources provided are:

1. Toll-Free Victim Services Information and Referral Line 1-800-226-6667
2. Benefits Available
3. How to Apply
4. Qualification Guidelines for Applying
5. Information Need to Apply
6. Next Steps after a Claim is Submitted

To view the full brochure and get complete information please click here.

Also, to view a list of other resources available to victims of crime please click here.

Upcoming Events

September 6, 2023 - In-Person Sealing and Expungement Workshop

September 9, 2023 - Sanford Police Hispanic Outreach Festival

September 14, 2023 - Seminole State College Legal Advice Clinic

September 20, 2023 - Virtual Sealing and Expungement

September 21, 2023 - Veterans Free Legal Advice Clinic

September 28, 2023 - Seminole State College Legal Advice Clinic