DeSantis tightens punishments for drug, sex crimes in ‘law and order’ legislation
Jenny Goldsberry
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Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) unveiled new “law and order legislation” meant to crack down on crime, namely drug and sexual offenses.
The new legislation will tack on mandatory life sentences to convicted child rapists and those who attempt to distribute fentanyl in the form of candy. Fentanyl is already a schedule one drug per Florida law, but now $1 million in penalties will be sought when the drug is found in the form of candy, whereas other drugs are only liable for $500 fines.
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Juries will also no longer have to come to a unanimous vote on the matter of the death penalty, but simply reach a supermajority, according to the new legislation. The option to give the death penalty to convicted child rapists will also be explored.
The governor is allocating $20 million toward efforts to intercept fentanyl and $5 million more to general trafficking interception efforts. Florida has intercepted enough trafficking crimes to add up to 200 felony charges, nearly 40 human smuggling charges, 66 drug charges, and more than $625,000 worth of illicit drugs seized last year alone.
Law enforcement will also be required to report missing person cases to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The Florida Supreme Court will also consider the governor’s petition to establish a uniform bond schedule for all state courts to follow.
“Other states endanger their citizens by making it easier to put criminals back on the street. Here in Florida, we will continue to support and enact policies to protect our communities and keep Floridians safe,” DeSantis said. “Florida will remain the law and order state.”
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“I applaud Gov. Ron DeSantis for leading the fight against the woke, socialist cash bail reform in Miami-Dade County,” freshman Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) said of the legislation. “Liberal elites want to implement bail reform in my home county of Miami-Dade, and I look forward to working together with Gov. DeSantis to combat soft-on-crime policies that endanger our community’s public safety.”
Crime in Florida has hit a 50-year record low, per DeSantis, with year-over-year crime in Florida down nearly 10%. Murder is down 14%, burglary is down 15%, and robbery is down 17%, according to the governor’s office.