Criminal and Juvenile Justice Measures Move in Senate

Three criminal and juvenile justice reform bills supported by the FCCB passed Senate committees on the first day of session.
 
SB 1032 (Perry) increases the amount of rehabilitation credits someone in prison can receive in order to reduce the term of sentence. This incentivizes those in prison to pursue degrees and certificates in addition to participating in programs that prepare them to return to society and reduce recidivism.
 
Two juvenile justice proposals filed by Senator Randolph Bracy also passed through committees. SB 474 would raise the minimum age at which a juvenile can be transferred to the adult criminal justice system through the process of direct file from 14 to 15 years old. Juveniles should be held accountable in the juvenile system for crimes they commit as it is better-structured to meet the needs of minors. However, raising the minimum age is an incremental step in the right direction. SB 626 prohibits children younger than seven years old from being arrested in Florida. Entitled the "Kaia Rolle Act," Senator Bracy filed this legislation in response to news of six-year-old Kaia being placed in zip ties, transported in a police vehicle, and fingerprinted after having a tantrum in an Orlando school last year. According to her grandmother's testimony in committee this week, Kaia is being treated for pediatric PTSD.