More Issues in the Sunshine State
Systemic Challenges in Florida's Justice and Correctional Systems
List of Services
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Charging Children as AdultsList Item 1
Florida prosecutes more kids as adults than any other state in the country. Florida has prosecutorial direct file with no judicial review.
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Sentencing Youth Above Mandatory Minimums
Courts sentence children ABOVE mandatory minimums. Children should be sentenced to the lowest permissible punishment, not above sentencing guidelines and above mandatory minimums.
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Sentencing Youth Above Scoresheet Guidelines
Courts sentence children ABOVE sentencing guidelines scoresheets. Children should be sentenced to the lowest permissible punishment, not above sentencing guidelines and above mandatory minimums.
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85% of SentenceList Item 2
You must serve 85% of sentence. Florida has one of the highest percentages of time that must be served in the country.
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Ambiguous Laws
Florida laws are ambiguous. s.775.082 states that those under 18 are entitled to reviews pursuant to s.921.1402, yet s.921.1402 requires one to have committed the crime on or after July 1, 2014.
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NO ParoleList Item 3
Florida has no parole as this was abolished in 1983.
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Inequitable Juvenile Review MechanismsList Item 4
Florida has no review of sentence for all juvenile offenders. Florida only allows "some" kids a review.
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Changing Court Rulings
Courts change rulings. Florida courts rule in favor of term sentences violating Eighth Amendment rights due to a lack of review mechanism, then reverse that decision years later.
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Racial Disparities
Racial disparities are vast. Blacks receive approximately 60% longer sentences than Whites. Some Judges have a 200-400% sentencing spread in sentencing Blacks to longer punishments than whites.
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Florida Department of Corrections: State of Crisis
A new report on the future of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), the third-largest state prison system in the country, says $2.2 billion is needed to address immediate needs.
Florida prisons under-staffed by nearly 30 percent
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/florida-prisoners-inches-away-from-emergency-release
Prison town economies suffer due to Florida corrections crisis
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/crisis-in-corrections/prison-town-economies-suffer-due-to-florida-corrections-crisis
Florida Prisons Face Ongoing Staff ... - Prison Legal News
https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2021/aug/1/florida-prisons-face-ongoing-staff-shortages-due-low-pay-and-long-hours/
Crisis in Corrections - ABC Action News
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local-news/i-team-investigates/crisis-in-corrections
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No Air Conditioning
Florida prisons have NO air conditioning. Do you know how hot it gets in Florida in the summer? Inhumane.
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Increased Canteen Prices
A new contract between the Florida Department of Corrections and Keefe Commissary Network has increased the costs of snack food and toiletries sold inside prisons.
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High Cost of Phone Calls
The high cost of phone calls result in many not remaining in contact with their loved ones. A 30-minute call is about $6.
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Cost to Send Emails
Electronic mail costs money to send. Emails that are free to us, cost the incarcerated and family members money to send.
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Disconnected Calls
Phone calls are often abruptly disconnected for no reason. GTL/ViaPath Technologies are not held accountable nor resolved the issue after numerous complaints.
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Communication Delays
It often takes days and weeks to send/receive emails. Everything must be sent electronically, which often takes day or weeks for an email to arrive.
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Retaliation & Abuse
- The incarcerated are fearful of asking FDOC staff questions due to staff retaliation.
- If family members contact FDOC staff regarding their loved one, the incarcerated may be subjected to retaliation of violence or confinement.
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Inhumane Treatment
The Department of Corrections staff treat the incarcerated inhumanely. FDOC staff exhibit rudeness and disrespect to visitors and even lawmakers that unexpectedly visit.
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Lack of Programs & Classes
"Inmate Idleness." The incarcerated are not getting the rehabilitative and educational programs they need to aid in preventing recidivism.
FDOC does not have enough staff to teach classes.
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Inconsistent Rules in Facilities
Rules and procedures within the FDOC are inconsistent between institutions. Facilities state, "they have discretion" to implement what they please.
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Disregard of Chapter 33 Rules
FDOC staff often disregard Chapter 33 rules by stating, "I'm just doing what my boss told me to do." Many newer staff have no idea what the rules of Chapter 33 are.
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Lack of Reform
The Department of Corrections is in a state of crisis with thousands of staff shortages, but Florida's Governor and lawmakers feel the solution is MORE money to the DOC and continually increasing punishments, rather than reforming their broken, unjust, unfair, and racist judicial system.
Youth Incarceration in Florida
Read court rulings and more about the injustices youth face in Florida.
Read more about the injustices youth face in the criminal justice system across the United States.
