It is virtually impossible to engage with media without violent crime around the United States being a top story. High crime and violet crime areas are detrimental to local economies. It costs the local governments and the local citizens a tremendous amount of time and money. High crime areas generally experience a halt in growth and economic development. Big box businesses and local businesses start to close in these areas, due to vandalism, robbery, and a lack of community patronage due to safety concerns. Retail closings alone leave a lack of basic support services and loss of employment for the local citizens.These are the short-term effects as the crime factor also provides long term cost such as physical damage costs to property, inventory theft costs, possible higher physical and inventory insurance costs, and the citizen’s time to travel to other communities for groceries, dry goods and employment opportunities. Also local governments and law enforcement spend endless hours and funding to combat, prosecute and implement education and crime prevention methods. High crime and violent crime are both factors which will stagnate a local community. The recourse for stagnation is to pass and enforce laws which are tough-on-crime.
The Florida Legislature passed 3 bills and Governor Ron DeSantis has signed these bills into law representing Florida’s tough-on-crime policies. I have provided the highlights of the 3 bills below.
HB 1627
- “Requires the Florida Supreme Court to develop a uniform statewide bond schedule by the end of the year;
- Prohibits the chief judge of a judicial circuit from setting a lower bond amount for a criminal offense than the uniform statewide bond schedule;
- Authorizes the chief judge of a judicial circuit to set a higher bond amount for a criminal offense than the uniform statewide bond schedule;
- Prohibits a person from being released prior to his or her first appearance if he or she has been arrested for a particularly violent or heinous crime;
- Authorizes a court to revoke pretrial release and order pretrial detention if a defendant violates a condition of pretrial release;
- Adds manslaughter while driving and boating under the influence, trafficking fentanyl, extortion, and written threats to kill to the list of “dangerous crimes”;
- Prohibits a court from granting nonmonetary pretrial release at a first appearance hearing if a defendant is arrested for a dangerous crime and the court determines there is probable cause to believe the defendant committed the offense;
- Requires a state attorney, or a court on its own motion, to motion for pretrial detention if a defendant is arrested for a dangerous crime that is a capital felony, a life felony, or a first-degree felony and the court determines there is probable cause to believe that the defendant committed the offense;
- Requires a court to order pretrial detention of a defendant who is arrested for a dangerous crime if the court finds a substantial probability that the defendant committed the offense and that no conditions of release or bail will reasonably protect the community from risk of physical harm; and
- Authorizes any party to motion for reconsideration of pretrial detention if an alleged criminal is granted pretrial release and then new information comes to light suggesting pretrial detention is warranted.”
HB 1359 – Drug related crimes which targets children with drugs that look like candy.
- “Making those who traffic such substances eligible for a life sentence and imposing a minimum 25 year sentence and a $1 million penalty; and
- Making it a first-degree felony to possess, sell, or manufacture fentanyl and other controlled substances that resemble candy.”
HB 1297
“Impose the death penalty for those pedophiles who commit sexual battery against children under the age of 12. The Governor is prepared to take this law all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to overrule judicial precedents which have unjustly shielded child rapists from the death penalty and denied victims and their loved ones the opportunity to pursue ultimate justice against these most heinous criminals.”
Governor Ron DeSantis stated, “Florida is a law-and-order state with a 50-year record low crime rate and double-digit year-over-year decreases in murder, burglary, and overall crime.” “For three consecutive legislative sessions we have enacted tough-on-crime policies, and this year we are continuing to implement measures to protect our communities and keep Florida safe, with a particular emphasis on keeping criminals in jail and throwing the book at pedophiles.”
“In Florida, we stand for the rule of law, we back our blue, and we treat offenders as they should be treated — not as victims, but as criminals who deserve to be behind bars,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody.“That’s one of the reasons why we are the fastest growing state in the nation. I am grateful for Governor DeSantis’ strong leadership in advocating for, and signing, new laws that go after fentanyl traffickers and keep violent and repeat offenders behind bars to protect Floridians and our millions of visitors.”
Safeguarding our communities and their citizens and our next generation of children should be the forethought of all governments. The communities must also stand behind our law enforcement and our legal system teams and prosecutors which do not turn a blind eye to criminals or their criminal acts. Florida is not only known for The Free State of Florida, but also for The Tough-On-Crime Florida. Hope this informed you of the new laws and that concludes another issue of The Straight Truth with Mary Ann Hutton.