Miami, January 26. Florida’s governor, Republican Ron DeSantis, announced this Thursday that he would promote reforms aimed at fighting crime and drug trafficking during the state’s next legislative session, and remarked that he is working to ensure that jury Unanimity is not necessary to impose the death penalty.
DeSantis took advantage of an event organized by the Miami Police Charitable Association to promote the “Preserving Law and Order in Florida” initiative aimed at making the state in the southeastern United States more secure.
Today’s announcement comes days after he went public with his goal that Florida no longer requires a unanimous jury to impose the death penalty.
In 2017, Florida’s then-governor Rick Scott signed a law that harmonized state law with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed the death penalty by simple majority vote “unconstitutional” and requires unanimity. it occurs. of the jury.
DeSantis mentioned TODAY the case of Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland (Florida) in February 2018, and recalled that the inmate was able to avoid the death penalty because The jury failed to reach a consensus.
Republicans said they did not believe justice was served in the case, so they promised to work with the state legislature to reform that rule.
DeSantis insisted that Florida was a “law and order” state, noting that, in his opinion, using social services to fix crime problems was a “disastrous” effort in other parts of the country, Instead of letting the police do that work. ,
He said that what happened in other states would never happen in Florida while he was in office.
DeSantis also explained how Florida is working to increase penalties for fentanyl drug traffickers and improve border security.
The governor highlighted the drop in crime rates throughout Florida by 2022, in addition to ensuring that crime is at its lowest level in 50 years.
“In general, crime is down about 10% year-over-year, homicide 14% and robbery 15%,” he said, while in the specific case of Miami, he said, between 2020 and 2021 There was a decrease of 15%. To fall another 38% in the first half of 2022.
He highlighted the goal of reforming Florida’s death penalty statute to ensure that those convicted of the most heinous crimes are punished accordingly.
Regarding the current fentanyl crisis that plagues the entire United States, he called for additional penalties when the drug looks like candy, including possession, sale, or a first-degree felony.
Those who commit this crime will face life imprisonment and a fine of one million dollars.
He speculated that Florida’s bail laws would be strengthened, making those eligible for release prior to a first appearance before a judge eligible.
Other legislative changes include requiring convicted child rapists to serve life in prison and making them eligible for the death penalty.
In addition, the punishment for offenders who commit offenses of a sexual nature would normally be harsher.
Finally, law enforcement will be required to report missing and unidentified persons to the National Missing Persons System.
Currently, they are only required to report it to the Florida Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center.
