Florida’s Cassie Carli Law: Enhancing Safety for Child Custody Exchanges
Named in memory of a mother who was allegedly kidnapped and killed by her child’s father during a child custody exchange, Florida’s Cassie Carli Law was enacted this month to enhance the safety of such exchanges for parents.
The Cassie Carli Law mandates that county sheriffs designate a section of their parking lot where parents can meet to exchange their children. These locations can be court-ordered for individual couples but are also available for voluntary use. Criminal defense attorney Jose Rivas describes these spots as “a safe haven to come in, exchange the child, and feel safe, in case there is any kind of event or dispute.” The sites are under 24-hour surveillance to ensure security and eliminate disputes over what transpired.
Named after a 37-year-old Florida mother who was allegedly kidnapped and killed by her child’s father following a custody exchange in 2022, the law aims to significantly reduce risks during these emotionally charged situations. Morgan Cardinal, a lawyer at the nonprofit Community Legal Services, highlights its importance, particularly for domestic violence survivors her organization assists. Cardinal, also the director of advocacy for Community Legal Services, points out that the nonprofit has supported over 1,000 domestic violence survivors in a single year, many involving child custody cases. She sees the law as a crucial step forward, acknowledging that violence, intimidation, or threats often occur in domestic relationships.
Under the Cassie Carli Law, each designated safe exchange location must be accessible 24/7, have adequate lighting, feature a purple light, and continuously record video. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has established such a location in the north parking lot of its Central Operations Building on Colonial Drive in Orlando, with child custody safe exchange signs installed since May.
Cardinal emphasizes that these safe spaces are vital for the safety of both children and parents. The courts can mandate that parents meet in neutral spaces, and this law formalizes these spaces at sheriff-monitored facilities, making their upkeep the sheriff’s responsibility. Cardinal’s agency actively informs clients about the new law, viewing it as a substantial advancement in protecting those who have experienced domestic violence and need a secure place for custody exchanges.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office also uses these safe custody exchange locations for e-commerce exchanges, promoting them as secure places for various transactions. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office has similarly established safe exchange zones, ensuring these areas, while not staffed, are under constant video surveillance to provide a secure environment for families.
In Atlanta, family law attorneys could see significant impacts from laws like Cassie Carli’s. The introduction of designated safe exchange locations offers an additional layer of protection and peace of mind for their clients, particularly those dealing with high-conflict custody disputes or domestic violence. An Atlanta Family Law Attorney can advise their clients to use these secure areas, reducing the risk of confrontations and providing documented evidence of exchanges if disputes arise. This added security could streamline custody cases and ensure safer environments for families navigating difficult legal battles.
Atlanta’s family law policies differ from Florida’s in several ways. While Florida has implemented statewide measures like the Cassie Carli Law to ensure safe custody exchanges, Georgia’s approach is more localized, with individual counties having their own protocols and resources for handling custody disputes. Georgia does not have a specific law mandating designated safe exchange zones with sheriff’s oversight, which means that the security and availability of such locations can vary widely across the state. Atlanta attorneys often rely on local police stations or community centers for safe exchanges, which might not have the same level of surveillance or accessibility as Florida’s designated areas. This difference highlights the need for a more unified approach in Georgia to provide consistent and secure options for families statewide.
