When the South Florida Sun-Sentinel checked on how the Jimmy Ryce law was working -- the one that allows the state to detain violent sex offenders who are deemed a continuing threat to society --the reporters found a crisis. The state had released hundreds of predators who quickly struck again.
"The breakdown reflects a public safety disaster of epidemic proportions," the Sun-Sentinel editorial states.
It's not clear why state officials backed off on enforcing the law; the acting administrator of the Department of Children and Families said she will look into it. But this situation calls for an independent fact-finding commission, the newspaper said, and the governor and Legislature should see to it.