March 19, 2024

Press Release

Florida overcriminalization costs taxpayers, hurts public safety

Special Report from Florida TaxWatch

| 4/9/2014

Florida could save significant corrections costs by reducing prison sentences for nonviolent offenders, according to data analysis in a new report from Florida TaxWatch. The report, Overcriminalization In Florida, calls for the state to review options to reduce the prison population through downgrading offenses and implementing alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent, level one and two offenders.

"Florida's criminal justice system can do more to improve public safety beyond locking up all offenders," said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, the independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy research institute and government watchdog. "Nearly half of Florida's new prison admissions are nonviolent offenders charged with third-degree felonies, the lowest offense on the felony severity chart. Florida would be safer by rehabilitating these offenders without having them spend time in costly prisons, or crime colleges, where they are detained with dangerous, violent criminals."

Over-criminalization in Florida The report calls for a review of third-degree felony offenses to determine if Florida is overcriminalizing certain low-level offenses. The report suggests that some third-degree felonies could be downgraded to misdemeanors, which still result in significant punishments for offenders while reducing taxpayer burden.

"The punishment should fit the crime and the cost," said Dan McCarthy, Director of the TaxWatch Center for Smart Justice. "Florida could save millions of dollars and improve public safety by reducing our nonviolent prison population through alternative adjudication."

Florida's prison population has increased by more than 400 percent in the last 35 years, though the state population has grown by slightly more than 100 percent. Currently the state has 1.5 million felons, but the state's crime rate is at its lowest point in more than 40 years.

"As the state's crime rate continues to fall and prison population rises, policymakers should work to implement sentencing reform that reflects this change," added McCarthy.

Read the full report here: "Over-Criminalization in Florida - An Analysis of NonViolent Third-degree Felonies."


Florida Tax Watch

Florida TaxWatch is a statewide, non-profit, non-partisan research institute that over its 33-year history has become widely recognized as the watchdog of citizens' hard-earned tax dollars.  Its mission is to provide the citizens of Florida and public officials with high quality, independent research and education on government revenues, expenditures, taxation, public policies and programs and to increase the productivity and accountability of Florida state and local government. Its support comes from homeowners and retirees, small and large businesses, philanthropic foundations, and professional associations. On the web at www.FloridaTaxWatch.org.

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