Switch to ADA Accessible Website
Orlando Criminal Lawyer

Florida’s Dangerous Prisons Still Costing Taxpayers Too Much

Jail2

We’ve previously discussed some of the corruption and abuse issues that plague Florida’s justice system. The Florida Department of Corrections is the largest agency in the state, with a budget of $2.3 billion each year. Still, in spite of all this spending, Florida prisons have experienced a number of high-profile abuses, deaths, and disturbances: incidents linked to sexual abuse at women’s prisons, drug-related deaths at unprecedented levels, federal civil rights investigations, widespread violence on the juvenile facilities, and more. In fact, earlier this month (September), one prisoner was allegedly strangled by his cellmate and then had his eyeballs and ears removed. Prison officials reportedly never knew about it until the perpetrator allegedly walked into the cafeteria wearing the cellmate’s body parts.

Why is this happening? One possibility is that, because the state locks up so many prisoners, they cannot possibly invest in enough quality control measures and guards to keep the prisons running smoothly. In addition, just this last summer, the Florida Department of Corrections—finding itself with a $79 million shortfall—decided to gut substance abuse and mental health treatment programs. This arguably does not make sense.

Some States Running Towards Progress, While Florida Acts Absurdly

Meanwhile, other states are already taking steps towards criminal justice reform; specifically, Alaska, Minnesota, and Texas have already started passing laws that will reduce prison population numbers, do away with excessive sentencing guidelines, reduce recidivism, and/or reclassify certain drug offenses. 

We Need To Change the Basics

As highlighted in a recent Tampa Bay Times editorial, Florida prisons are in strong need of some significant criminal justice reforms, especially as we spent more and more money on housing prisoners, arguably without any corresponding, visible positive benefits to society.

How can we accomplish this? Here are a few suggestions:

  • Lighten prescribed sentencing, which fails to take into account any extenuating circumstances, nuances, or much-needed flexibility and discretion from judges;
  • Reflect that we understand the difference between those who have used drugs and those who engage in massive drug distribution in both charging and sentencing;
  • Raise the felony threshold for thefts;
  • Work to take advantage of electronic monitoring and work release programs; and, ultimately;
  • Understand that we have more of our state citizens in prisons than 40 of the other states, and it isn’t doing us any good.

Ultimately, we need to recognize that throwing people in prison and ignoring them is both and unproductive and costly.

Contact Our Florida Civil Rights & Criminal Defense Attorneys Today To Find Out More

It is unacceptable that justice is denied to millions each year sentenced to serve time in Florida prisons, and it is criminal that many of them have to deal with significantly dangerous conditions once they arrive there.

If your civil rights have been violated in a Florida corrections facility, contact one of our civil rights and criminal defense attorneys at the Baez Law Firm today to find out how we can help.

Resources:

miamiherald.com/news/special-reports/florida-prisons/article218386225.html

tampabay.com/news/politics/Romano-Florida-s-dangerous-prisons-costing-us-more-than-money_171869467

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
Miami

Miami Office

1200 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1410
Miami, FL 33131
Office: 305-999-5100
Fax: 305-999-5111
Orlando

Orlando Office

250 N Orange Ave, Suite 750
Orlando, FL 32801
Office: 407-705-2626
Fax: 407-705-2625

Email Us

Fields Marked * Are required

DISCLAIMER: Completing and submitting this form or otherwise merely contacting The Baez Law Firm or any individual at the firm will not establish an attorney/client relationship. Our firm cannot represent you until we determine that there would be no conflict of interest and that we are otherwise able to accept representation of your case. Please do not send any information or documents until a formal attorney/client relationship has been established through an interview with an attorney and you have been given authorization in the form of an engagement letter with The Baez Law Firm. Any information or documents sent via this form or otherwise prior to your receipt of an engagement letter will not be treated as confidences, secrets, or protected information of any nature. Submitting information regarding your potential case will not bar The Baez Law Firm from representing or continuing to represent a person or entity whose interest are adverse to your in condition with your case.

protected by reCAPTCHA Privacy - Terms
Please review the highlighted fields. They are required.
DISCLAIMER: This website contains information about The Baez Law Firm that includes testimonial statements from persons who are familiar with the firm's services. The testimonials shown are not necessarily representative of every person's experience with us. Testimonials from every client are not provided. As no two situations or persons are identical, the facts and circumstances of your situation may differ from those for which testimonials are shown. This website also includes information about some of the past results that we have obtained for our clients. Not all results are provided, and the results shown are not necessarily representative of all results obtained by us. No two situation are exactly alike; every person's situation is unique and the outcome for each person depends on the individual facts.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
MileMark Media - Practice Growth Solutions

© 2015 - 2024 Baez Law Firm. All rights reserved.
This law firm website and legal marketing are managed by MileMark Media.

Contact Form Tab Contact Form Tab