Florida’s prisons are more expensive than ever. What will the next governor do about it?
Here are some excerpts. To read the entire article, visit the link:
Even as crime rates and prison admissions have fallen over the past decade, ever-lengthening criminal sentences have left Florida prisons full of inmates and in need of a record $2.4 billion — a budget-busting challenge for the state’s next governor to resolve.
The Democratic candidates say the criminal justice system is broken and in need of fixing. All of them agree that judges need more discretion, that mandatory minimum laws need to be reformed, and private prisons should be eliminated.
This summer, there were 96,294 inmates in Florida’s prisons, and another 54,623 people sat in county jails on any given day. In 2017, 2,897 kids were sent to juvenile justice facilities. Florida’s incarceration rate is one of the highest in the country. More than seven out of every 1,000 residents were incarcerated.
In May, there were more than 51,000 inmates sitting in jail on any given day who had not been convicted.
Putnam’s (Republican) criminal policies are an outlier in the race. The agriculture commissioner has touted the endorsements of most of Florida’s sheriffs, the police unions and the state attorney general. In his policy paper, he promised to veto “any attempt to loosen criminal penalties on major drug traffickers and violent felons.” He also said he supports mandatory minimums and would “defend tough prison sentencing guidelines for all felony offenses.”
Gillum, King, Levine and Greene all said they’d support establishing a statewide sentencing commission to review the state’s criminal punishment code. The code hasn’t been overhauled in more than 20 years, when it was last changed to make it easier to send people to prison.
Those four candidates also all said they support bringing back parole to Florida. In the early 1990s, Florida stopped using parole, and it began requiring inmates serve at least 85 percent of their sentences. That sets Florida as having one of the harshest sentencing laws. In most other states, good behavior can allow inmates to get out earlier.
All of the Democratic candidates said they support restoring voting rights to people who have served their time for felony convictions.
All of the Democratic candidates have criticized private prisons.
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I don’t identify as Democrat or Republican. The less government involvement we have, the better for individual freedoms. However, it continually amazes me how Republicans have their heads so far up their *sses when it comes to law enforcement policies and military. It’s OK to step outside of your narrow-minded views of the world and consider looking at an issue from all angles. You have to be an idiot of a human being to see that improvements can be made, yet refuse to change your ways to allow those changes to propagate through the system. Maybe it should be recognized as a mental illness to see the world in an extreme narrow-minded way? I agree that violent offenses are the worst of the worst, but not ALL felonies are ‘horrific crimes’ and don’t need reform. Let’s stop putting possession of inappropriate images (felony) on the same level as Violently almost killing someone (felony) because they are WORLDS apart.
You are right, republicans are idiots. They have had control in florida for over 20 years!!!! Look at their report card. Absolute failure on so many issues there are too many to list. Small government…keep drinking the kool-aid!!!
” All of the Democratic candidates said they support restoring voting rights to people who have served their time for felony convictions. ”
Lets hope so. I would love a full restoration of my rights since I have long finished my sentence.
I used to vote Republican, But after reading this article and had experience hardships in the Florida State Department of Corrections myself 65%-85% prison sentence the first time then 110% the second time. If I ever get the chance to vote again I be voting Democratic because I lost all hope the Republican party. To me it seems they are about Money rather they helping those who vote for them
Being more about money is ALL politicians, regardless of party. They all start with good intentions and forget what paves the road to hell after a few years. That’s exactly why George Washington imposed term limits on himself, carried on traditionally until FDR and whatever amendment mandated it.
I have been a Republican all my life but I must admit I will not be upset to see some of the Republicans put out of office by a Democrat. I believe they will at least consider reason in their decision making process. With a policy to not recommend early release from probation regardless of 100% compliance with probation restrictions, I was assigned 20 years of additional probation for saying “Good Morning” on a public sidewalk in broad daylight. The boy and his parents spoke in my favor. What I did was violate a “Good Conduct” clause in my release order…all along I though being friendly to neighbors was good conduct…the ‘wicked witch’ on my street who saw it didn’t think so and reported it. Probation salivated! She still lives in her ‘castle’ and I say ‘Hello’ to her at every opportunity. In the meantime the probation for my ‘criminal act’ will expire in April…2029. I will be 84 years old and still planning to get my private pilot’s licence, my nitrox dive certification, drive to Alaska, and be an active member of the Warbird Museum restoring old aircraft. Life is a terrible thing to waste and I plan to live it right up to the time I take my last breath.
Problem I see with the dem. Party is they say one thing and then when elected do not follow thru . Who do you believe
I was always under the impression that Republicans stood for less government and fewer government intervention. It appears they have flipped and now want more government and more intervention while the Democratics want less government. What is going on here.
You have seen the light. Tell as many voters as possible!!!
BOTH parties stand for MORE government. That is why they do Not allow any other parties to be heard before the elections. They want to keep the current scheme going, keep the same ‘buddies’ in power. It’s as blatantly obvious as the sun. It saddens me that too many people prefer to be ‘Clueless’ to this as if picking the same two parties is going to fix the direction of where this country is heading. We have a LOT of fundamental issues as a country that are not being fixed. How can you fix anything when you allow Lobbying of politicians? It’s a God Damn joke what we’ve become.
95+ percent of politicians are failed lawyers and businessmen and not worth very much (in money terms) when they first get voted into office. Case in point – Obama. Had to finance a Happy Meal before he got elected to the Illinois State Senate. Believe it or not, “community organizing” is not a very lucrative profession. It’s a last resort for a newly licensed lawyer who can’t find a job or build a client base. Now he’s worth 7 or 8 figures and counting.
Who do you think make multimillionaires out of them? Certainly not constituents and their government salaries. It’s the lobbyists. And who are the lobbyists? Recently voted out politicians. Pretty vicious cycle…
Dustin commented….
” It’s the lobbyists. And who are the lobbyists? Recently voted out politicians. Pretty vicious cycle.”
Cue in Ron & Lauren Book.s
And the lobbyists are paid by BIG corporations, many of which are foreign companies. Paul Ryan, the current Speaker of the House, claims he is retiring so he can spend more time with his children. His kids are teenagers with no desire to have dad interfere in their social circle. The real reason he and several others are retiring is because they see that it’s time to cash in after delivering that huge tax break for corporations. I would bet that Mr. Ryan will have a job as a lobbyist or consultant waiting for him, paying him millions of dollars. No doubt Ron and Lauren Book are adept at funneling money from the private service providers they represent, to campaign donations for candidates who will support their crusade. We have the best government money can buy.
Gerald, I had hoped I would never have to admit it, but I’m afraid you’ve got it correct…best government money can buy.
And the worst part is that both sides are bought and paid for.