back to sheriff's office home page
 

PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION

Dear Citizens, In virtually every opinion poll and survey, public safety continues to be one of the primary concerns for the citizens of Florida. And that’s why I urge all residents to keep a keen eye on the legislative process that will be taking place soon in Tallahassee. As with all law enforcement agencies, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has a sacred duty to enforce the laws of the state. But while we enforce the laws, we don’t write them. That’s the job of the Florida Legislature. Each year, hundreds of new state laws are proposed in Tallahassee. Many of the legislative proposals are good laws designed to better protect the public and deserve our support. But in my view, some of the proposed laws that will be considered once the 2010 Legislative session gets under way in March would be detrimental to the safety and protection of our citizens and visitors. Two bad proposals would create opportunities to reduce sentences for young and older inmates. If passed, these measures would open the cell doors and put convicted criminals back out onto the streets to rob, injure and victimize more of our citizens. This is not what we need here in Florida. Senate Bill 484 is a particularly bad proposal that would grant early release to certain inmates 50-years-old or older as long as they have already served at least 25 years of their sentence. Quite obviously, anyone who has already served 25 years in prison has been convicted of an extremely serious crime, such as rape, robbery or assault. This is not the type of person we want roaming our streets again, and I strongly object to giving them a reduced sentence just because they’ve reached a certain age. They’re in prison to safeguard the public, and reducing their sentence would do an injustice to the suffering of their victims. This is a bill that deserves to be defeated. The same is also true for Senate Bill 184 and its House companion, House Bill 23. These bills would reduce the sentence of dangerous youthful offenders under certain circumstances. We’re not talking about minor, youthful mistakes. We’re talking about youthful offenders -- those 15 or younger at the time of their crime -- who’ve been convicted as adults to lengthy sentences due to the seriousness of their crimes. Early release would diminish the deterrent value of prison and result in more juvenile crime. Remember the bad old days in Florida, before inmates were required to serve at least 85 percent of their sentences? Back then, sentences were a joke, the revolving doors of justice let dangerous thugs out early and the crime rate soared. We must not turn the clock back on justice in Florida. I encourage you to read these proposed bills and make your voices heard. Ben F. Johnson, Sheriff

Related Correspondence

WE SUPPORT

Pardons/Restoration of Rights/Rosa Parks Act SB 826 (link) Methamphetamine Pharmaceutical Products/Sale SB 1050 (link) Collective Bargaining for Certain Public Employees HB 417 (link) SB 610 (link)   Medical Expenses of Inmates Paid by a County or Municipality HB 319 (link) SB 218 (link)   Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act HB 325 (link) SB 294 (link)   Pretrial Proceedings HB 89 (link) SB 300 (link)   Adult Protective Services HB 91 (link) SB 336 (link)   Sexual Offenders and Predators HB 119 (link)  SB 1284 (link)   Juvenile Justice HB 211 (link)   Disability Retirement Benefits SB 162 (link)   Required Advertisements and Public Notices HB 1381 (link) SB 376 (link)   Special Organized Crime Investigators SB 502 (link) State Child Abuse Death Review Committee SB 7002 (link)

WE OPPOSE

Expunging Criminal History Records HB 541 (link) Reason we oppose: We oppose any legislation that would create an automatic expungement of criminal records.

Parole for Adolescent Offenders HB 23 (link) SB 184 (link) Reason we oppose: These bills would reduce the sentence of dangerous youthful offenders, diminishing the deterrent value of prison and resulting in more juvenile crime.

Elderly Inmates HB 1515 (link) SB 484 (link) Reason we oppose: This bill would grant early release to certain inmates 50-years-old or older. Regardless of age, these inmates are in prison to safeguard the public, and reducing their sentence would do an injustice to the suffering of their victims and make our community less safe. Additionally, inmates who would be released under this bill would only be monitored electronically for one year and the families of the victims wouldn't be consulted during the review process.

Restraints/Use During Juvenile Proceedings SB 242 (link) Reason we oppose: This bill would reduce courtroom security throughout the state.

NOTE: Be sure to check back on this site. After the above bills are debated, we will be posting information on how our Legislators voted.

VOLUSIA LEGISLATORS CONTACT INFORMATION

Senator Carey Baker District Office: Senate District 20 301 West Ward Avenue Eustis, FL 32726-4024 (352) 742-6490 / (850) 487-5014 E-mail: baker.carey.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Anthony C. “Tony” Hill, Sr. District Office: Senate District 1 5600 New Kings Road, Suite 5 Jacksonville, FL 32209-2146 (904) 924-1646 / (850) 487-5024 E-mail: hill.tony.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Evelyn J. Lynn District Office: Senate District 7 536 North Halifax Avenue, Suite 101 Daytona Beach, FL 32118 (386) 238-3180 / (850) 487-5033 E-mail: lynn.evelyn.web@flsenate.gov

Senator John Thrasher District Office: Senate District 8 9485 Regency Square Boulevard, Suite 108 Jacksonville, FL 32225-8145 (904) 727-3600 / (850) 487-5030 E-mail: thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov

Representative Sandra “Sandy” Adams District Office: House District 33 2074 Winter Springs Boulevard Oviedo, FL 32765-9347 (407) 977-4020 / (850) 488-0468 Click here to e-mail

Representative D. Alan Hays District Office: House District 25 Suite C, 871 South Central Avenue Umatilla, FL 32784-9290 (352) 742-6441 / (850) 488-0348 Click here to e-mail

Representative Dorothy L. Hukill District Office: House District 28 Suite 1-A, 1398 Dunlawton Avenue Port Orange, FL 32127-8915 (386) 322-5111 / (850) 488-6653 Click here to e-mail

Representative Pat Patterson District Office: House District 26 Room 206, DeLand City Hall 120 S. Florida Avenue DeLand, FL 32720-5422 (386) 736-5100 / (850) 488-9873 Click here for e-mail

Representative Dwayne L. Taylor District Office: House District 27 732 Orange Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32114-4773 (386) 239-6202 / (850) 488-0580 Click here for e-mail

Representative Charles E. Van Zant District Office: House District 21 Suite 5, 3841 Reid Street Palatka, FL 32177-2509 (386) 312-2272 / (850) 488-0665 Click here for e-mail

back to sheriff's office home page

 

 

Comments or questions?
E-mail the