Florida TaxWatch Study Urges Lowering Some Felonies to Misdemeanors

Pointing to a 400 percent growth in the states prison population over the last 35 years, Florida TaxWatch released a study on Wednesday which finds Florida could save significantly by cutting down on the incarceration of nonviolent felons. The study calls for a review of third-degree felonies, insisting some of those could be lowered to misdemeanors.

"Florida's criminal justice system can do more to improve public safety beyond locking up all offenders," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, on Wednesday. "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."

"The punishment should fit the crime and the cost," said Dan McCarthy, the 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.

"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.

The report can be read here.