Two weeks ago we applauded the efforts of Rep. Katie Edwards (D-Plantation) to reform the Criminal Justice system as it deals with juveniles in a logical and humane way. HB 783 will likely be given a hearing this coming week in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee. The legislation which as we outlined in our previous discussion provides remedies for juveniles in the Criminal Justice system. The legislation would restore the ability of judges in some cases to have a role in deciding which juvenile cases that are eligible for transfer to adult court should be tried there. Under current law, prosecutors have the sole discretion to decide which cases end up in adult court.
The legislation has a broad base of multi-ideological and bipartisan support. Multiple groups that are disparate in philosophy and thought are backing changes to the law. This includes the Southern Poverty Law Center and Human Rights Watch. Additionally, the conservative James Madison Institute has even issued a policy paper that calls for similar reforms. But for some lawmakers that isn’t good enough. We can report that a multiple legislators including a few Democrats are being swayed by State Attorney’s including the infamous conservative Angela Corey. Yes, that Angela Corey – of Marisa Alexander and George Zimmerman shame.
Some State Attorney’s love trying children as adults and don’t want the naturally fair checks and balances of the judiciary restored. They don’t want judges in certain cases to be able to have a degree of oversight in what cases go to adult courts. This sort of regressive thinking is part of what has made Florida a national laughing stock.
The question for progressive lawmakers sitting on the fence regarding this bill matter is how could any progressive lawmaker oppose needed pragmatic reforms to the way this state prosecutes juveniles? It is critically important that those lawmakers who claim to be compassionate and progressive consider why the advancement of this sort of legislation is sorely needed.
We will continue to track this bill and the back and forth related to it in the coming days.
The Florida Squeeze 
Just curious – what is disparate in the philosophies of the SPLC and HRW?
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That was while I was making a quick edit. Should make sense now.
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ust curious – what is disparate in the philosophies of the SPLC and HRW?
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Angela Corey is the worst!
Seriously though I have read the legislation and am shocked any Democrat would oppose it especially considering the sponsor is a conservative Democrat. NAMES PLEASE!
Must be this “law and order” crap again among otherwise liberal legislators in South Florida honestly.
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I’ll give you a good reason right off to oppose the bil – it allows minors 17 years and under, including FOURTEEN, to be charged as adults. The bill is a feel-good piece of garbage for the mind set of “we have to take what we can get.” Without legal comparison I would bet the bill is not consistent with SCOTUS decisions.
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So Diane, it’s better to keep the current system than make incremental reform?
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Tony, I did not receive a notice of your comment when you posted it. This issue is so important to me, and should be to all who believe in protecting children, that I will respond at this late time. This is not a situation where we should just accept “incremental reform.” I stand by my comment. Florida is light years behind in dealing with all criminal issues, including juvenile. Just as I see with environmentalists, “progressives” so often take the approach of asking for something small in hopes they won’t be denied. You don’t go into negotiations with the lowest terms you will accept. You ask for as much as you can make a good argument. Juvenile justice is too hot an issue to treat it like a progressive issue. Further, recent US Supreme Ct decisions reflect the progress made in understanding the lack of mental capacity in children to understand their crimes and ramifications. Common sense would tell you that no 14 year old should be treated/tried as an adult.
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Children are just that, children, & need to be treated & helped as children – not adults, not children prisons where they are abused. We need an overhaul of our criminal system that is creating huge populations of felons. We (USA) have the highest % of our population in prison of any country. Clearly it isn’t working.
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Dorothee, you are absolutely right. The National Prison Rape Elimination Commission has found that “more than any other group of incarcerated persons, youth incarcerated with adults are probably at the highest risk for sexual abuse.” Research also shows that youth are 36 times more likely to commit suicide in an adult jail than in a juvenile detention facility.
This problem could be somewhat alleviated if Florida would comply with the Prison Rape Elimination Act, but our leaders won’t. And just this week, Congress eliminated the only incentive in the law that would entice them to do so.
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[…] featured Rep. Katie Edwards important Criminal Justice bill, HB 783 on this site multiple times. This is an […]
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Reblogged this on e-Roll Call Magazine.
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[…] 783, the progressive Criminal Justice reform legislation sponsored by Rep. Katie Edwards (D-Plantation) advanced through the Criminal Justice Committee […]
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