Opinion Editorial by Rep. Paul Renner
Pensacola News Journal
May 12, 2019
As state legislators, public safety must always be a top priority. Economic development and good jobs cannot exist where crime is rampant. Statewide, we enjoy a nearly 50-year low in our crime rate. Part of that is attributable to a tough approach toward high risk, violent offenders.
However, over the years the push to get tougher and tougher has also sent many low level, non-violent offenders to prison and reduced our flexibility for those who show promise for rehabilitation. Florida’s criminal justice system was due for reform.
In this legislation, we began our reform efforts with the goal that Florida have the best criminal justice system in the country. We judged every idea and proposed change based on three principles, each of which is necessary for a fair and effective criminal justice system:
Preserve Public Safety. We worked closely with law enforcement, state attorneys, victims’ rights groups, and advocates for criminal justice reform to ensure that our efforts would not disturb our historically low crime rate. Violent, career criminals deserve to be in prison and keeping them there keeps our streets safe.
Ensure Proportionality. A key part of a fair justice system is that the punishment fits the crime. In our reform, we have taken a new approach, so that we are not over-punishing low level, non-violent offenders that have a low risk to the community and a high chance of rehabilitation.
Strengthen the Rule of Law. At the core of what makes America special is the idea that you are judged by what you do, not by who you are. Our reforms give victims and criminal defendants more confidence that they will be treated justly and fairly. We have undertaken a statewide, data transparency effort that will allow us to ensure uniformity in how criminal defendants and victims are treated. The type of sentence someone receives should be based the seriousness of the crime, not on who they are, or the judge they happen to appear before.
Finally, this legislation supports current inmates to get ready for life after prison. This means more help for mental and substance abuse issues. The legislation also addresses the difficulty in finding meaningful employment once a felon is released from prison. Those who have paid their debt to society should be given the opportunity to receive training and obtain certifications or occupational licenses for everything from the construction trades to becoming a barber or cosmetologist. A good job is the best way to keep former felons on the right path and turn the page on the past.
I’m proud to say that we passed the biggest reform of our criminal justice system in a generation, yet everything we did was based on principles that we all share. For that reason, the bill passed with wide, bi-partisan support.
The Florida Sheriffs Association stated that this legislation is “real criminal justice reform that will help those returning to our communities,” and one national crime victims’ rights organization, the Alliance for Safety and Justice, shared that “by passing these reforms…Florida will stop cycles of crime, help victims heal and create safer communities.”
Once Governor DeSantis signs this important bill into law, Floridians can know that our communities will remain safe, our correctional facilities will be less crowded with non-violent offenders, inmates will have a path to employment that reduces the cycle of recidivism, and victims will enjoy additional help to address their needs.
State Rep. Paul Renner (R-Palm Coast) was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2015 and re-elected subsequently. He serves as chair of the House Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Appropriations Committee, Justice Appropriations Subcommittee and the Rules Committee. He is currently House Speaker-designate for 2022.