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Marco Rubio on Crime
Republican Florida Senator
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Black Lives Matter is a legitimate issue
When asked to comment on the Black Lives Matter movement, Rubio responded, "This is a legitimate issue. It is a fact that in the African-American community around this country there has been, for a number of years now, a growing resentment toward the way
law enforcement & the criminal justice system interacts with the community.""Look, I personally know people who are African American males--I have one friend who's been stopped in the last 18 months 8 or 9 different times," he continued. "Never got a
ticket for being stopped--just stopped. If that happened to me, after 8 or 9 times, I'd be wondering what's going on here. I'd be upset about it. So would anybody else."
"Some of this doesn't have government solutions, but it is something we need to
confront," he added. "Because you have a significant percentage of our population that feels that they are locked out of the promise of this country [because of a criminal justice record]--it is particularly troubling among young African-American males"
Source: DailyCaller.com reporting on The Kelly File interview
, Oct 1, 2015
False choice between rampant crime vs. overstretched prisons
Certain Roman Emperors had a practice of posting new criminal offenses so high up on columns in the Forum that subjects could not read them, nor hope to comply with them. This story is usually told as evidence of the madness and cruelty of those leaders.
As Americans, we deserve a criminal justice system that is neither mad, nor cruel, but fair and just--with criminal laws and regulations that are easy to understand and not prone to abuse.
Congress can begin the project of restoring a criminal justice system that both protects public safety and reflects our values as a free people.
We do not have to choose between the rampant criminality of the 1970s and
1980s and the overreaching criminal laws and overstretched prison resources we have today. Working together, those of us in government along with partners in civil society can work to restore an America characterized by liberty and law.
Source: Brennan Center for Justice essays, p. 98
, Apr 28, 2015
2000: Established West Miami's 1st bicycle patrol officers
With less than 2 years in office in West Miami, Rubio didn't have much of a record to run on. He had gotten some attention for establishing the city's 1st bicycle patrol officer. He called it the "cornerstone" of his campaign.
He had also showed an inkling of a trait that he would display many times as he climbed: rather than go to war with the people who opposed him politically, he tried to reason with them or bring them into his circle.
It wasn't an inviolable imperative, but there were many occasions when he sought to deal diplomatically with opponents
rather than pound them in public settings.
Source: The Rise of Marco Rubio, by Manuel Rogi-Franzia, p. 92
, Jun 19, 2012
25 years ago, sister's husband made many mistakes
Univision led the evening newscast with the Cicilia report. The 3 minute report also included an excerpt from Rubio's campaign letter, read on air: "Quite simply, the pursuit of this story and the targeting of the
Senator's relatives, who are private citizens, it outrageous," the campaign wrote. "When Senator Rubio's sister's husband was a younger man
25 years ago, it is a fact that he made many mistakes. He and his family have paid the price for them.This is not news. This is tabloid journalism." The Univision report bothered Rubio deeply.
But the story generated almost no buzz. The mainstream media mostly ignored it, and in the few placed where it was mentioned it was usually derided.
Source: The Rise of Marco Rubio, by Manuel Rogi-Franzia, p.210-211
, Jun 19, 2012
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
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
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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
Mandatory life sentence for repeat sex offenders
Convicted sexual criminals consistently display four times higher recidivism rates than those convicted of other crimes. Florida law enforcement officials currently collect DNA samples from people convicted of certain felony offenses. Florida has not
expanded the database to include samples from all convicted felons. However, many times those convicted of felonies have prior misdemeanor convictions that signal the likelihood that they will commit more serious crimes.[We should] toughen prison
sentences to keep Florida's children safe from sexual predators, and expand DNA collection to include all felony offenses and sexually deviant misdemeanors. Florida should expand the dangerous sexual felony offender law to that all second-time sex
offenders are subject to a minimum 20-year sentence. The act will also provide a mandatory life sentence for all third-time offenders. It will also allow misdemeanor sex offenses to be enhanced to felonies and apply the enhanced penalties to those crimes
Source: 100 Innovative Ideas, by Marco Rubio, p. 65-66
, Nov 1, 2006
Endless death row appeals hinder justice
Problem: Endless appeals by convicted felons postpone a sense of finality and erode public confidence in the judicial system. Even in the simplest of criminal cases, post-conviction litigation frequently continues for a minimum of 3 years.
In death penalty cases the post-conviction process averages 12 years, but in some cases it has consumed up to 20 years before a warrant is signed. With over 370 inmates on death row in Florida, delays of this nature hinder justice for the victims and
erode public confidence in Florida's criminal justice system. Very few inmates receive actual relief from the current cumbersome, time-consuming, and expensive process. Solution: Streamline the appeals process in criminal cases. Florida should create
a new, more efficient, less expensive process for reviewing criminal cases that instills more public confidence in the criminal justice system. This could be accomplished by limiting the time convicted felons have to appeal their sentences.
Source: 100 Innovative Ideas, by Marco Rubio, p. 74-75
, Nov 1, 2006
Death penalty for killing police officers.
Rubio co-sponsored death penalty for killing police officers
Congressional Summary: Makes the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations [when] the defendant killed or attempted to kill a person who is authorized by law:
- to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law;
- to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or
- to be a firefighter or other first responder.
- And that the person was killed--
- while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties;
- because of the performance of his or her official duties; or
- because of his or her status as a public official or employee.
Opposing argument: [Sen. Bernie Sanders, Oct. 13, 2015]: "Black lives matter. The African American community knows that on any given day some
innocent person like Sandra Bland can get into a car, and three days later she's dead in jail. We need to combat institutional racism from top to bottom, and we need major reforms in a broken criminal justice system. I intend to make sure people have education and jobs rather than jail cells."
Opposing argument: [ACLU of Louisiana, July 7, 2015]: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law that makes targeting a police officer a hate crime. Passage of such bills is a top priority for a national organization called Blue Lives Matter, which was formed in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. [A video captured] "police killing a black man who was minding his own business," says the director of ACLU-LA. But it was the civil rights of police officers that Edwards was concerned about, as if theirs were being routinely violated: "I'm not aware of any evidence that police officers have been victimized that would justify giving them special protection."
Source: Thin Blue Line Act 16-S2034 on Feb 9, 2015
Don't compromise community safety with sentencing reform.
Rubio voted NAY First Step Act
Congressional Summary:
- TITLE I--RECIDIVISM REDUCTION: establish a risk and needs assessment system to evaluate the recidivism risk of prisoners; to guide housing assignments; and to reward participation in recidivism reduction programs.
- TITLE II--BUREAU OF PRISONS SECURE FIREARMS STORAGE: allow federal correctional officers to securely store and carry concealed firearms on BOP premises outside the security perimeter of a prison.
- TITLE III--RESTRAINTS ON PREGNANT PRISONERS PROHIBITED: limits the use of restraints on federal prisoners who are pregnant or in postpartum recovery.
- TITLE IV--SENTENCING REFORM: reduces the enhanced mandatory minimum prison terms for certain repeat drug offenses.
Opposing press release from Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-1):: The reform sentencing laws in this bill may compromise the safety of our communities. Criminals convicted of violent crimes would have the opportunity to
achieve 'low risk' status and become eligible for early release. California already has similar laws in place--Propositions 47 and 57--which have hamstrung law enforcement and caused a significant uptick in crime.
Supporting press release from Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10):: S. 756 establishes a new system to reduce the risk that [federal prisoners] will commit crimes once they are released. Critically, S. 756 would not only implement these reforms to our prison system, but it also takes a crucial first step toward addressing grave concerns about our sentencing laws, which have for years fed a national crisis of mass incarceration. The bill is a 'first step' that demonstrates that we can work together to make the system fairer in ways that will also reduce crime and victimization.
Legislative outcome: Concurrence Passed Senate, 87-12-1, on Dec. 18, 2018; Concurrence Passed House 358-36-28, Dec. 20, 2018; President Trump signed, Dec. 21, 2018
Source: Congressional vote 18-S756 on Dec 20, 2018
Rated 45% by the NAPO, indicating a police-the-police stance.
Rubio scores 45% by the NAPO on crime & police issues
Ratings by the National Association of Police Organizations indicate support or opposition to issues of importance to police and crime. The organization's self-description: "The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police units and associations from across the United States. NAPO was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America's law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action, and education.
"Increasingly, the rights and interests of law enforcement officers have been the subject of legislative, executive, and judicial action in the nation’s capital. NAPO works to influence the course of national affairs where law enforcement interests are concerned. The following list includes examples of NAPO’s accomplishments:
- Enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act
- Enactment of the National AMBER Alert Act
- Enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
- Enactment of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
- Enactment of the Law Enforcement Officers' Safety Act (Right to Carry Legislation)
VoteMatch scoring for the NAPO ratings is as follows:
- 0%-50%: soft on crime and police issues;
- 50%-75%: mixed record on crime and police issues;
- 75%-100%: tough on crime and police issues.
Source: NAPO ratings on Congress and politicians 2014_NAPO on Dec 31, 2014
Page last updated: Jan 11, 2022