DeSantis proposes ‘anti-crime’ reforms, aims to ease jury margin for death penalty

Published Jan. 26, 2023, 2:37 p.m. ET | Updated Feb. 17, 2023

Gov. Ron DeSantis announces 'Preserving Law & Order' proposals, Miami, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announces 'Preserving Law & Order' proposals, Miami, Fla., Jan. 26, 2023.

MIAMI (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced capital punishment reform, bond reform, and fentanyl crackdown as part of his proposals to “preserve Law & Order” in Florida Thursday.

DeSantis announced he would work with state lawmakers to prevent one juror from being able to stop a capital punishment sentencing. The governor’s announcement is in response to the Parkland killer receiving a sentencing instead of the death penalty.

“One juror should not be able to veto that and I just don’t think justice was served in that case,” he explained.

The governor announced additional penalties on fentanyl and other drug-related crimes when the drug looks like a piece of candy. The governor said it would be a first-degree felony to possess, sell or manufacture fentanyl or other controlled substances to look like candy. There would be a mandatory life sentence and $1 billion penalty if children are being targeted.

“They will jam fentanyl into almost anything nowadays, so they’ll actually do it and make it look like candy,” DeSantis said. “And we’re going to take action against this because this is really targeting our youngest and most vulnerable kids.”

DeSantis wants the minimum sentence for all child rapists as life in prison without the possibility of parole and reforms to reinstate capital punishment for those crimes. Part of the proposal also includes making those who attempted sexual misconduct crimes, including sexual batter, ineligible for gain time.

The governor wants to limit who is eligible for release prior to the first appearance. He shared a story of a woman who kept committing crimes after being arrested and released time-after-time. He also wants to make sure a judge is the ultimate decision maker when it comes to detention.

“If you are charged with something that’s really serious, I think that the expectation should be that you remain until your first appearance. We’re going to make sure that judges are the ultimate decision maker when it comes to detention,” he said.

The administration plans to petition the Florida Supreme Court to establish a uniform bond schedule that all state courts must follow. In an effort to keep dangerous criminals out of communities, he wants a detention hearing to be held prior to trial for dangerous criminals.

In an effort to combat human smuggling, the governor wants $5 million dedicated to continue statewide interdictions, which the administration said has so far led to 200 felony charges, including nearly 40 human smuggling charges. It also requires law enforcement to report missing people to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.

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