State of Florida Archives: on Crime
Aaron Bean:
Toughen laws against prostitution & sex trafficking
State Rep. Aaron Bean voted YES on HB1231, Prostitution Act (Passed House, 85-31)State government synopsis: Increases penalties for procuring minor for prostitution; revises provisions re sex trafficking; revises provisions prohibiting deriving
support or maintenance from earnings of prostitution; provides for payments to persons who provide information that materially assists law enforcement in investigation of specified violations leading to felony convictions or withholdings of adjudication.
Source: Florida state legislative voting records: HB1231
Apr 27, 2007
Al Lawson:
Smart justice for non-violent offenses: system isn't working
Safety: We must strengthen the initiative to prevent violent crimes. All too often North Floridians become victims in their own communities.
Our communities need to be safer, children and seniors need to be protected, and we need to take back our neighborhoods.
Smart Justice: As we look at criminal justice, we also have to look at "smart" justice for non-violent offenses. We have to re-evaluate the criminal justice system because the current path is not working.
Our resources are limited and need to be invested in policies that are proven to lower crime rates, reduce recidivism, and rebuild communities.
Source: 2016 Florida House campaign website AlLawson.com
Nov 8, 2016
Alexander Snitker:
Supports capital punishment
Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes? A: Yes.
Source: Florida Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Aug 11, 2010
Alexander Snitker:
Job-training, substance-abuse, & early-release for prisoners
Q: Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related training and job-placement assistance when released? A: Yes.
Q:
Do you support programs that provide prison inmates with substance abuse treatment?
A: Yes.
Q: Do you support reduced prison sentences for non-violent offenders
A: Yes.
Source: Florida Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Aug 11, 2010
Andrew Gillum:
Restorative justice programs to reduce teen recidivism
Gillum championed the opening of the first Tallahassee Teen Center, The Palmer Munroe Center, which serves as a safe haven for many area youth and operates a restorative justice program.
Restorative justice programs have shown significant success, compared to non-restorative measures, in improving victim and/or offender satisfaction, increasing offender compliance with restitution, and decreasing the recidivism of offenders.
Source: Wikipedia summary for 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race
Mar 11, 2017
Andrew Gillum:
Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter punishment reduces crime"?
A: Strongly Oppose
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Florida Governor candidate
Jun 15, 2018
Andrew Gillum:
Ban the box: re-entry of returning citizens into job market
Our Revolution announced its endorsement of Andrew Gillum for Governor of Florida. He is nominated by multiple Our Revolution local groups across the state including Our Revolution Northeast Florida, Progressive Sarasota, Progressive Democrats Of
America, Pinellas County Chapter, and Northeast Florida Democratic Progressive Caucus.Our Revolution's president said "Andrew Gillum has fought tirelessly for reforms like expanding social service funding, developing an advanced job retraining
program for underrepresented workers, and investing in community policing and re-entry programs."
Gillum is running for governor as a proud progressive candidate. As mayor, he implemented a ban the box policy to help returning citizens get jobs
[ex-offenders are not asked arrest history on employment applications], stood up to attacks on immigrant communities, and worked to reduce Tallahassee's carbon emission intensity.
Source: Our Revolution endorsement for 2018 Florida Governor race
Mar 22, 2018
Bernard DeCastro:
Founded gospel-based Florida Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition
His past is [not] perfect, but he has turned it around for the better. He founded the Florida Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition (www.feorc.org ), the Time for Freedom,
Inc, which is a non-for profit organization to help teach and preach the gospel to prisoners and helps to provide services for reentry to them.
Source: Florida 9/12 Candidate survey, 912candidates.org
Jun 30, 2009
Brian Mast:
Supports capital punishment & mandatory minimums
Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?A: Yes
Q: Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
A: Yes
Q: Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?
A: Yes
Source: Vote-Smart 2016 Florida Political Courage Test
Nov 8, 2016
Brian Moore:
Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime
Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Stricter punishment reduces crime"?A: Strongly oppose.ÿ We should separate the non-violent criminals from those responsible for physical violence.ÿ We should de-criminalize certain drug violations.ÿ
We should enhance our mental health system to address offenders during their youth and thereafter.ÿ
Our economic system has to assure a more equitable distribution of monetary benefits for all citizens if we are to reduce crime in our cities.ÿ
The privatization of prisons is costly, wasteful and ineffective, if not downright destructive to rehabilitation.ÿ We need to reduce the number of prisons in our society, and reform our penal system.ÿ
Source: OnTheIssues.org interview on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Apr 14, 2022
Charlie Crist:
Reimagine law enforcement; restore trust with police
He supported the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act
to reimagine law enforcement and restore trust between police and the communities they serve.
Source: 2021 Florida Gubernatorial campaign website CharlieCrist.com
May 5, 2021
Charlie Crist:
Supports 10-20-Life and Stop Turning Out Prisoners program
And we must also work together to address crime in our state, including gang activity.I was proud to launch the Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit in 2005 to thwart the actions of those who target our children.
Attorney General Bill McCollum has made fighting this crime a top priority.
Source: 2008 State of the State Address to Florida legislature
Mar 4, 2008
Charlie Crist:
Chain-Gang Charlie: reinstitute prison chain gangs
Crist has been doggedly reminding people: He says he is a pro-gun, anti-abortion, small-government conservative who worships Ronald Reagan.
He says he is against gay marriage, frugal (he pays off his single credit card every month) and despised by criminals (he once proposed that chain gangs be reinstituted, earning him the nickname Chain Gang Charlie).
Source: New York Times on 2010 Florida Senate debate
Jan 10, 2010
Edward Janowski:
Enforce existing sentences; eliminate other crimes
Q: Does stricter punishment reduces crime?A: There are certainly some crimes that need to have much stricter punishments, but even more importantly: Those punishments need to be carried out. The endless and expensive cycle of appeals is habitually
abused, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. Prison sentences for crimes that have don't have a long reaching impact on innocent peoples lives or substantial damages to society need to be eliminated and reduce the burden on our prison systems.
Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Florida Senate candidate
Mar 30, 2018
Jeb Bush:
Build more prisons; private contracts OK
Supports the following principles concerning prisons: - Increase state funds for construction of state prisons and for hiring of additional prison staff.
- Support contracting with private sector firms to build and/or manage state prisons.
-
Bush says, "While I favor contracting with private firms to build state prisons, I do not support privatization efforts that would cause job losses among or reduce the pay or benefits of Florida's current corrections officers."
Source: 1998 Florida National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998
Jeb Bush:
Alternative sentencing & rehabiliation acceptable
Supports the following principles concerning crimimals:- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
- Inform communities when a convicted sex offender moves into the community.
- Increase state funds for
programs which rehabilitate and educate inmates during and after their prison sentences.
- Bush says, "I support and have proposed additional funding to expand drug treatment programs for prisoners."
Source: 1998 Florida National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998
Jeb Bush:
Supports death penalty
Supports the following principles concerning violent crime:- End parole for repeat violent felons.
- Support the use of the death penalty.
-
Prosecute juveniles who commit murder or other serious violent crimes as adults.
- Maintain electrocution as Florida's method of execution.
Source: 1998 Florida National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998
Jeb Bush:
Stricter penalties for drug, sex, & gun offenses
Supports the following principles concerning crime penalties:- Strengthen penalties and sentences for drug-related crimes.
-
Strengthen penalties and sentences for sex offenders.
- Bush says, "I support stricter mandatory sentences for criminals who commit crimes with guns."
Source: 1998 Florida National Political Awareness Test
Jul 2, 1998
Jeb Bush:
Adopted Three-Strike Violent Felony Offender Act
Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature have worked together to adopt public-safety reforms such as 10-20-Life, the Three-Strike Violent Felony Offender Act, and the Habitual Juvenile Offender Accountability Act.
These initiatives and related laws passed in 1995-1997 have successfully reversed the lenient criminal-justice policies of the early 1990s. Thanks to the dedicated work of professional local and state law enforcement,
the Governor's leadership and the Legislature's criminal-justice policies, Florida's 2000, "Index Crime" rate was the lowest in 28 years. The 2000 index-crime rate, based on murder, forcible sex, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary,
larceny and motor vehicle theft, dropped 18% since January 1, 1999. This two-year decline in index-crime rates is the lowest ever recorded by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Source: Governor's web site, www.MyFlorida.com, "Initiatives"
Nov 7, 2001
Jeb Bush:
10-20-Life: Increase mandatory minimum sentences
Effective July 1, 1999, Florida Statutes shall be established to: - Increase to 10 years the minimum prison term for certain felonies or attempted felonies when the offender possesses a firearm or destructive device during commission of the offense
or flight therefrom
- Mandate a 20 year minimum term of imprisonment when the firearm is discharged
- Mandate a minimum term of imprisonment of 25 years to life in prison if someone is injured or killed
- Mandate a minimum term of 3 years for
possession of a firearm by a felon
- Mandate that the minimum term of imprisonment be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed
- Increase to 15 years the minimum prison term when the offender possesses a
semiautomatic firearm and its high-capacity detachable box magazine or a machine gun.
- Mandates that a person shall serve a 3-year prison sentence for aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer or person age 65 or older.
Source: Governor's web site, www.MyFlorida.com, "Initiatives"
Nov 7, 2001
Jeb Bush:
Symbol of crime needs a human face on it
Many political observers say that a particularly offensive Bush TV ad was the turning point of the campaign. The ad featured a mother whose 10-year-old daughter had been murdered in 1980, 14 years prior to the campaign. The killer had been sentenced to
death but never executed, because of appeals. The victim's mother said that her daughter's killer "is still on death row and we're still waiting for justice." She then said, "We won't get it from Lawton Chiles because he's too liberal on crime."
The ad, personally approved by Jeb, proved to be a disaster for his campaign. Chiles attacked Jeb directly for it: "All my political life I have supported the death penalty, as governor I have executed 8 men." He wagged his finger at Jeb and said: "You
knew [the ad] was false. And I am ashamed that you would use the loss of a mother in an ad like this."
Bush "seemed flustered by the force of Chiles's words and responded weakly that the symbol of crime needs a human face on it."
Source: Aggressive Conservatism in Florida, by Robert Crew, p. 8
Dec 11, 2009
Jeb Bush:
Passed Habitual Offender Accountability Act
Bush's first campaign against Lawton Chiles was dominated by his efforts to appeal to the "tough on crime" constituency and to portray his opponent as "soft."
Governor Bush continued to focus support for "get tough on crime" laws. These include a variety of mandatory sentencing laws such as the 10-20-Life Act, the
Three Strikes Violent Felony Offender Act, and the Habitual Offender Accountability Act, all passed in the glow of Bush's 1st-term victory.
Despite evidence that the 10-20-Life law had no effect on the state's crime rate (Stoddard, 2006) Bush continued into his last year in office to cite these laws as some of the primary accomplishments of his administration.
Source: Aggressive Conservatism in Florida, by Robert Crew, p. 72-73
Dec 11, 2009
John Rutherford:
Give law enforcement all tools and resources needed
Keep Our Community Safe: As a former Sheriff, John is uniquely qualified to address our crime problems and work to address the threat of terrorism.
John will fight to give law enforcement all of the tools and resources needed to prevent crime, improve community relationships, and keep our streets safe.
Source: 2016 Florida House campaign website VoteJohnRutherford.com
Nov 8, 2016
Lois Frankel:
Death penalty but also alternative sentencing
Frankel indicate support for these principles to address crime.-
Support the use of the death penalty.
- Implement penalties other than incarceration for certain non-violent offenders.
Source: Florida 1998 National Political Awareness Test
Nov 1, 1998
Marco Rubio:
Toughen laws against prostitution & sex trafficking
Rubio voted YES on HB1231, Prostitution Act (Passed House, 85-31)State government synopsis: Increases penalties for procuring minor for prostitution; revises provisions re sex trafficking; revises provisions prohibiting deriving support or maintenance
from earnings of prostitution; provides for payments to persons who provide information that materially assists law enforcement in investigation of specified violations leading to felony convictions or withholdings of adjudication.
Source: Florida state legislative voting records
Apr 27, 2007
Marco Rubio:
Collect DNA of those convicted of sexually deviant behavior
Life Without Exception for Sexual Predators- Expand the dangerous sexual felony offender law
- Expand DNA collection by 2012 to include all those convicted of felony offenses and those who have exhibited a propensity for sexually deviant behavior
through commission of specified misdemeanor offenses
- Enact laws to deny registered sex offenders and stalkers access to popular Internet networking sites
- Increase the risk and penalties for those engaged in the business of promoting sex crimes
-
Afford whistleblower status to everyone who reports sex crimes, even if they were involved in the act
- Increase funding for additional law enforcement resources to combat gang activities
- Increase the numbers of specialized prosecutors & gang-related
law enforcement officers, and establish training programs for them to develop better methods to combat gang and hate group activity
- Curb Endless Appeals by Convicted Felons
- Limit the time convicted felons have to appeal their sentences
Source: 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future by Marco Rubio
Nov 1, 2006
Mitt Romney:
To reduce black on black crime, get more moms and dads
Q: What are you going to do about black on black crime; the war in the inner city?A: Number one is to get more moms and dads. Number two, we've got to have better education in our schools.
And number three, we have to do a better job with our policing. And I was very proud that I added one state police class after another.
Source: 2007 GOP YouTube debate in St. Petersburg, Florida
Nov 28, 2007
Nikki Fried:
Supported posthumous clemency for Groveland Four
State Attorney Bill Gladson filed a motion to dismiss the indictments and set aside judgments and sentences of the Groveland Four, four Black men wrongfully accused of rape in 1949. Fried offered the following statement: "Today, our state is
one step closer to righteous justice for the four wrongly-accused men of Groveland. Before even taking office, I pledged to pursue the innocence of the Groveland Four as a member of Florida's Clemency Board."
Source: FDACS.gov on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race
Oct 26, 2021
Philip Levine:
Top-down & bottom-up audit of the Department of Corrections
Our state has almost 100K inmates and the highest voter disenfranchisement rate in the nation. Philip will conduct an extensive, top-down and bottom-up review and investigation of the Department of Corrections. It's time to audit the private prison
scheme to identify fraud that is costing taxpayers money, review the vetting of visitors, so it treats families with respect and dignity, and review and decriminalize minor offenses, so we don't clog our prison system with non-violent offenders.
Source: 2018 Florida Governor campaign website PhilipLevine2018.com
Oct 9, 2018
Rick Scott:
Signs death warrant for murderer
Gov. Rick Scott has signed a death warrant for the man convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering 9-year-old Jimmy Ryce on his way home from school almost 20 years ago. 46-year-old
Juan Carlos Chavez is scheduled to die by injection Feb. 12 for the Sept. 11, 1995, slaying.The boy was abducted after being dropped off by a school bus near his home in south Miami-Dade County.
Chavez took him back to his trailer, where he raped him. He held Jimmy captive for three hours before he shot the boy as he tried to escape.
The case horrified the state and led to the passage of the Jimmy Ryce Act.
It allows authorities to commit dangerous sexual predators to mental institutions once they have completed their prison terms.
Source: First Coast News on 2014 Florida gubernatorial race
Jan 2, 2014
Rick Scott:
Let's Keep Florida Safe: focus on reductions in crime
At least a half-dozen on-duty law officers in uniform took part in a re-election event Monday for Gov. Rick Scott despite Florida laws saying public employees must avoid political activity during working hours. A spokeswoman for Scott's campaign said
campaign officials made the nature of the event clear in all invitations and announcements but some of the officers present say they didn't get the message.Either way, the Tampa event provided Scott with a backdrop of uniformed law officers him as
local TV news crews filmed him talking about reductions in crime during his administration. The Florida Police Chiefs Association endorsed Scott on Monday.
The event was the kickoff of Scott's "Let's Keep Florida Safe" tour, the latest in a series of statewide tours Scott is holding on key issues. It was held at a store on Adamo Drive that sells law enforcement uniforms and other equipment.
Source: The Tampa Tribune on 2014 Florida gubernatorial race
Jul 7, 2014
Ron DeSantis:
Don't restore voting rights to former felons
Q: Support Amendment #4--a Florida initiative to restore voting rights to 1.6 million former felons, excluding murderers & sex offenders?Ron DeSantis (R): No. Opposes amendment.
Andrew Gillum (D):
Yes. "Floridians who have paid their debts deserve a second chance & should have a voice in our state's future. Our current system is a relic of Jim Crow."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Ron DeSantis:
Opposes insane fantasy of defunding law enforcement
Florida is a state dedicated to law and order. When riots broke out across the nation last year, we saw cities ruined by violent mobs. Law enforcement was targeted and lawlessness prevailed. This was not--and must never be--tolerated in the state of
Florida. We have proposed the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement reforms in the nation. We will not permit localities to jeopardize the safety of their citizens by indulging in the insane fantasy of defunding law enforcement.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature
Mar 2, 2021
Ted Yoho:
Support capital punishment
Q: Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
A: Yes.
Source: Florida Congressional Election 2012 Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2012
Val Demings:
Improve relationships between police & community
During her tenure as Chief of Police Val Demings reduced violent crime in Orlando by 40% She credits this unprecedented success to improved relationships between the police, community leaders, and the public they serve. Chief Demings created innovative
programs like Operation Positive Direction, a mentoring program that empowers at-risk students through tutoring, community service, and positive incentives. She also launched Operation Free Palms, a project focusing on rejuvenating
Orlando's most crime-ridden housing complex, the Palms Apartments. Collaborating with city officials and faith leaders, this initiative included increasing access to childcare, building playgrounds, a GED program, and job skills training
to improve the quality of life in Orlando's most distressed community. Chief Demings will bring this experience to Washington, helping to push policies that will reduce gun violence and create safer neighborhoods.
Source: 2016 Florida House campaign website ValDemings.com
Nov 8, 2016
Val Demings:
Police work should be about building communities
Asked whether she was a reformer during her time as chief, Demings responded, "Some of my predecessors certainly thought so. They told me that the community-oriented policing programs we were doing had 'nothing to do with police work.'
I disagreed. Building fair, safe, strong communities is exactly what police work can and should be."
Source: Politico.com e-zine on 2022 Florida Senate race
Jun 14, 2016
Val Demings:
Support police but we also have to deal with social ills
I believe sometimes there are moments before us when we just have to do what we know is right. You know, with politics aside, it may not be the most popular decision. It may not be the best decision for our, quote, "party." But we just do what's right.
Over 50 years ago, President Johnson looked at crime and policing in America. They concluded that we need to hire the brightest and the best policemen.
We need to make sure they have the proper training and equipment. But we also need to look at education. We need to look at substandard housing.
We need to look at substandard wages. We have got to deal with the social ills that cause decay in communities in the first place.
Source: National Public Radio on 2022 Florida Senate race
Sep 22, 2020
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023