Criminal Justice & Correct Council
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CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CORRECTIONS COUNCIL 1999 Post-Session Resource Book The facts and data you need for developing public policy solutions that work. The Honorable John Thrasher, Speaker Representative Victor D. Crist, Chairman Criminal Justice and Corrections Council 402 South Monroe Street, 310 HOB Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 (850) 414-9784, Suncom 994-9784 Representative Victor D. Crist, Chairman Don Rubottom, Council Director Randy Havlicak, Chief Legal Counsel Tammie Peddie, Council Administrative Assistant Committee on Corrections Committee on Juvenile Justice 306 House Office Building 332 House Office Building Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 (850) 488-6333, Suncom 278-6333 (850) 487-0608, Suncom 277-0608 Representative Allen Trovillion, Chair Representative Sharon Merchant, Chair Representative Paula Dockery, Vice Chair Representative Lois Frankel, Vice Chair Joann Levine, Staff Director Lori Ager, Staff Director Johana Hatcher, Legislative Analyst Legislative Analyst Shirley Proctor, Administrative Assistant Lisa Cooper, Administrative Assistant Committee on Crime & Punishment Committee on Law Enforcement & 322 House Office Building Crime Prevention Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 320 House Office Building (850) 488-9685, Suncom 278-9685 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300 Representative Randy Ball, Chair (850) 414-6696, Suncom 994-6696 Representative Chris Smith, Vice Chair Representative Howard Futch, Chair David De La Paz, Staff Director Representative Ed Healey, Vice Chair Trina Kramer, Staff Attorney Kurt Ahrendt, Staff Director Marie Shortz, Administrative Assistant Allan Mortham, Legislative Analyst Alisa Smith, Administrative Assistant Florida House of Representatives John Thrasher, Speaker Criminal Justice and Corrections Council Representative Victor D. Crist Don Rubottom Chairman Council Director Dear Friend: On behalf of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Council, it is my pleasure to present you our 1999 Post-Session Resource Book. This valuable resource is designed to provide you with the information you need to craft public safety solutions for the 2000 Session. The Council includes the following House committees, all of which assisted the Council in producing this valuable publication: 1. Crime and Punishment Committee: Criminal law and sentencing policy. Oversight: State Attorneys, Public Defenders, Capital Collateral Regional Counsels, Justice Administrative Commission; 2. Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention Committee: Law enforcement officers, firearms, crime-prevention policy. Oversight: Department of Law Enforcement; 3. Corrections Committee: State prisons, corrections policy. Oversight: Department of Corrections, Parole Commission, and Corrections Commission; 4. Juvenile Justice Committee: Juvenile delinquency law and programs. Oversight: Department of Juvenile Justice. This is the third consecutive year the Council and its predecessor, the House Justice Council, has published the Post-Session Resource Book. The book describes and analyzes critical public safety issues, with useful information on crime rates and increased criminal punishment, state prisoners and their crimes and sentences, capital punishment delays, juvenile justice programs and juvenile offenders, law enforcement officers, their unions and salaries, and the crime they must fight. This publication includes an enlightening report produced by the Department of Corrections at the Council’s request entitled “Time Served By Criminals Sentenced to Florida’s Prisons: The Impact of Punishment Policies from 1979 to 1999.” The 1999 Legislature enacted many significant criminal justice reforms, including two landmark criminal sentencing laws: “Three-Time Violent Felony Offender Act,” and the “10-20-Life” legislation. New 1999 laws increased the penalty for minors possessing guns, enhanced juvenile justice programs, strengthened law enforcement officers’ protections, reorganized the Department of Corrections, increased penalties for the wrongful use of another person’s identification information, made purse-snatching robberies a felony, abolished the voluntary intoxication defense, and strengthened prosecutors’ authority to prosecute juveniles who repeatedly steal cars. Every one of these laws, and more, are summarized in this publication. I have also included appropriations data and an extensive directory of crucial justice agencies with a detailed listing of helpful Internet websites for your convenience. The political process depends on well informed and empowered citizens and Members. I sincerely believe that the Criminal Justice and Corrections Council’s 1999 Post-Session Resource Book can empower anyone who seeks to make Florida a safer state. As always, I look forward to serving you and working together to create a brighter future as we approach a new millennium. Sincerely, Representative Victor D. Crist, Chairman -- NOTICE -- This publication is available on the Legislature’s Online Sunshine website at: www.leg.state.fl.us/house/documents/jc-rpt99.pdf Members of the Florida Legislature and their staff can also access this publication through the FLED system. Information will be updated periodically. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS COUNCIL FACTS & FIGURES.......... 1 A. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT FACTS & FIGURES ......................................................3 1. Punishment of Crime in Florida, 1979-1999 .......................................................... 5 2. Changes to Florida’s Punishment Policy ................................................................5 3. 1999 Major Criminal Punishment Legislation .........................................................6 4. Convicted Criminals’ Punishment in Florida ...........................................................7 5. The Impact of Crime in Florida ................................................................................7 6. County Crime Rates and Likelihood of Crime Victimization ...................................8 7. Historical Overview of Index Crime in Florida .......................................................15 8. History of Violent Crime Rate in Florida................................................................16 9. National Index Crime Rate in 1997, by State........................................................19 10. National Violent Crime Rate in 1997, by State .....................................................20 11. Two Year Crime-Rate Comparison, by Florida Counties .....................................21 12. Domestic Violence is Increasing ...........................................................................26 a. Total Domestic Violence Offenses, 1992-1998.............................................26 b. Domestic Violence Offenses..........................................................................27 13. Statewide Prosecutor, Total Sentences & Fines ..................................................27 14. Circuit Courts - Statewide, Total Criminal Cases Filed ........................................28 B. TIME SERVED BY CRIMINALS SENTENCED TO FLORIDA’S PRISONS ..........29 1. All Crimes..............................................................................................................31 2. Violent Crimes ......................................................................................................36 3. Property Crimes ...................................................................................................45 4. Drug Crimes .........................................................................................................50 C. CORRECTIONS FACTS & FIGURES........................................................................53 1. Florida’s Prisoners: Their Crimes..........................................................................54 2. Florida’s Prisoners: Their Sentences ....................................................................57 3. Criminal Justice Est. Conference August 6, 1999 Supervised Populations.........59 4. Recidivism & Drug Possession Offenders............................................................60 5. Recidivism, by Race & Gender .............................................................................60 6. Incarceration Rates in Florida and Nationwide .....................................................62 a. 1999 Average County Jail Incarceration Rates .............................................63 7. Florida’s Prison Inmate Admissions......................................................................65 a. Percent of Inmate Admissions with Prior Prison Sentences .........................66 b. Percent of Total Inmate Population with Prior Sentences ............................66 c. Mandatory Sentencing Declining ...................................................................67 8. Habitual Offender Sentencing ...............................................................................68 9. Escapes from Florida Prisons ...............................................................................69 a. Total Inmate Escapes ....................................................................................69 10. Private Adult Prison Facilities in Florida................................................................69 11. Felons Serving Probationary Sentences ..............................................................70 12. Criminals Admitted to Probation & Other Non-Prison Sentences ........................70 13. Crimes Committed by Persons Serving Probation & Non-Prison Sentences ......71 14. Payments