DeSantis Proposes Eligibility for Execution for Child Rapists, Stricter Penalties for Drug Crimes and More

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Thursday proposed a series of criminal justice reforms, including executing convicted child rapists and reducing the number of juries required to recommend the death penalty.

“We want to ensure that we maintain our reputation as a law and order state and take the necessary actions to continue to protect the people of the state of Florida,” DeSantis said Thursday at a Miami Police Benevolent Association event.

“Right now, our crime rate in Florida is at a 50-year low. Overall crime is down nearly 10% year-on-year, homicide down 14%, burglary down 15[%]and robbery down 7%,” he added.

DeSantis summarized the suggestions in a tweet Thursday afternoon.

Some of the proposed crime-fighting legislation “ensures that the minimum sentence for all child rapists is life in prison without the possibility of parole, and encourages reforms to reintroduce the death penalty for these crimes.”

Drug-related proposals include imposing additional penalties if the drug resembles candy and providing $20 million to support local law enforcement efforts such as: B. Fentanyl-specific strike teams.

DeSantis also proposed reducing the number of jurors required to recommend the death penalty. Instead of requiring unanimity, a jury with a majority of its members could recommend the death penalty.

In the case of Parkland, Florida school gunner Nikolas Cruz, the jury did not reach a unanimous decision and Cruz did not receive a death sentence. DeSantis said he believes justice has not been served in this case and that a single juror should not have the power to veto a death penalty recommendation.

DeSantis’ proposal also includes a series of measures aimed at keeping dangerous criminals out of communities. A proposal would limit who can be released before the person appears before a judge. Another would require a pre-dangerous crimes detention hearing.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody also spoke at the event, as did several law enforcement officials.

“Safe communities don’t happen by accident,” Moody said. She added that “drastic action” was needed given “the lethal potency.” [of fentanyl] coupled with the sheer volume that exists in our country and in this state.”

“Common sense doesn’t seem to be very common in many parts of this nation anymore, but it’s going to come first here in Florida,” Moody said, citing soft-crime policies in communities like Los Angeles, Portland, New York City. and Chicago. Moody claims that these policies can seriously endanger law-abiding citizens.

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