APRIL 2024
BUILDING STRONGER
SAFER CITIES
Avoiding Dangerous Policy Off-Ramps
to Secure Florida’s Future Success
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 3
Imagine driving on the highway. The wide-open road is in front of you and your future is bright.
With a full tank of gas, you are on course to successfully reach your destination. Along the
way, there will be many potential “off-ramps” that will take you off course, waste money, and
expose you to danger. Staying focused on the road, while avoiding known detours and exits, will
mitigate harm and ensure a successful path ahead.
Tragically, in many states and cities around our nation, leaders have made policy decisions that
drove their communities off the path of economic prosperity and security into crime-ridden
despair and ruin. Once thriving cities have been forced off the path of success by damaging
and ill-informed decisions to decriminalize crime, defund police, refuse prosecution, not hold
juveniles accountable, and undermine support for law enforcement.
As we try to grow to a top ten global economy by 2030 and as the nation focuses on crime in
their communities, Florida is getting it right. Florida remains committed to securing our future
success by adopting sound policies to combat crime and disorder. State leaders have rejected
the call for policies that promote chaos and instability in our cities. Florida is the third largest
state in the nation with approximately 23 million people. We expect to add 2.8 million more
residents, 1.35 million new jobs, 40 million more annual visitors, and approximately 2.5 million
more drivers on our roads by 2030. Safe communities are paramount to ensure we can meet this
growth. This report outlines the proven policy detours that threaten the safety and economic
stability of communities – serving as both a warning and a road map to stronger, safer cities.
4 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
Decriminalizing Crime
Legalizing Stealing
Some criminal justice reforms, like eliminating bail, have made it easy for shoplifters to escape
accountability, responsibility, and punishment. Some jurisdictions have not stopped there. Instead,
they have taken actions that have in eect decriminalized shoplifting. For example, California
passed Proposition 47, which significantly increased the thresholds for felony prosecution of
shoplifting and theft. According to a 2015 Washington Post story, the result was what San Diego’s
Police Chief called a “virtual get-out-of-jail-free card.”
1
Such law changes were not limited to
California alone. The resulting damage from such destructive policies resulted in store closings,
workers losing jobs, and citizens losing a local source of goods. The damage caused a downward
spiral and flight from urban cities, which reduced tax revenues and further eroded necessary
county and city services and degraded the quality of life.
2
The damage from laws like Prop 47 was not limited to repeatedly arresting the same criminals
with little to no consequences. Instead, criminal groups created a new business model,
organizing rings to profit o the newly relaxed laws. For example, in 2021, organized shoplifting
and flash mob thefts across the country caused businesses $94.5 billion in losses.
3
That number
jumped 15.8% in 2022 to $112.1 billion.
4
Large-scale thefts by organized groups have increased,
and stolen merchandise is sold to fund other crimes such as guns, drugs, and human tracking.
Eight of ten retailers reported an increase in violence against employees in 2021. The same study
identified the top cities aected by retail crime as Los Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland, Houston,
New York, and Seattle. Retailers in these cities are plagued by unprecedented levels of theft and
rampant crime in their stores. 49% of respondents reported that shoplifters are “much more”
violent and aggressive compared with one year ago, 72% reported an increase in average value
per incident in areas that increased felony thresholds, and 67% reported initiatives to reduce or
eliminate cash bail have caused an increase in repeat oenders.
5
One recent example saw brazen daytime thefts at Gucci stores across California. Thieves stole
$900,000 worth of jewelry in Los Angeles
6
and $100,000 worth of handbags in Costa Mesa.
7
One
suspect involved in the theft of $50,000 worth of goods at a Gucci store in San Jose, California
was wanted in Nevada for a string of armed robberies and an attempted murder.
8
Retail thieves
are not limiting their target to high-end stores. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Home Depot,
and Walgreens have also been targeted. Even after implementing protection measures aimed at
reducing theft, retailers have been forced to take more drastic measures. Citing rampant theft and
1 The Washington Post (Oct. 10, 2015). A ‘Virtual Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free Card’ A new California law to reduce prison crowding keeps one addict out of jail, but not
out of trouble. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2015/10/10/prop47/
2 New York Post (Oct. 16, 2023). “Don’t make Walmart workers fight crime: Boot out the pols who killed public safety.” https://nypost.com/2023/10/16/
dont-make-walmart-fight-crime-boot-out-killer-leftist-politicians/
3 David Johnson (2023). The rising toll of organized retail crime. National Retail Association. https://nrf.com/blog/rising-toll-organized-retail-crime
4 https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/retail-crime-accounted-over-112-billion-industry-losses-2022-according
5 David Johnson (2023). The rising toll of organized retail crime. National Retail Association. https://nrf.com/blog/rising-toll-organized-retail-crime
6 James Callery (Aug 2, 2023). Shocking moment gang of nine robbers dash out of the Gucci store in Century City clutching thousands of dollars worth of luxury
bags and clothes as security guards watch on. Daily Mail.
7 Nathaniel Percy (Aug 17, 2023). $100,000 in handbags stolen in mob theft at South Coast Plaza. https://www.ocregister.com/2023/08/17/100000-in-handbags-
stolen-in-mob-robbery-at-south-coast-plaza/
8 Hope Sloop (Oct 11, 2023). “Moment five suspects force their way past a guard and into a California Gucci store for smash-and-grab robbery of $50K in
merchandise: One suspect nabbed.” https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12364183/Shocking-moment-gang-nine-robbers-dash-Gucci-store-Beverly-Hills-
clutching-thousands-dollars-worth-luxury-bags-clothes-security-guards-watch-on.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12619591/california-gucci-store-robbery.html
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 5
Porch Pirates Not Welcome in Florida
The Florida Legislature cracked down once again on organized retail theft during
the 2024 legislative session and went a step further this year to put a swift stop to
porch piracy. HB 549 by Representative Bob Rommell and Senator Jay Trumbull
lowers the threshold for stealing packages from people’s front porches from $100 to
$40. Under the new law, if a package thief steals a package from a person’s home
valued at $40 or more, that person will now face a third-degree felony. These porch
pirates represent a growing epidemic of criminals that steal packages from Floridians’
doorsteps, hurting both Floridians and retailers.
The bill also increases penalties for criminals that make coordinated thefts and repeat
oenders. Under HB 549, if a person participates in a retail theft with five or more
individuals that person will face a third-degree felony. Anyone who organizes these
types of thefts, including “smash-and-grabs,” through social media will face a second-
degree felony, and repeat oenders or those committing theft with a firearm will now
face a first-degree felony charge.
While other states continue to make policy decisions that relax enforcement of
these types of crimes, Florida has made it unequivocally clear, in Florida, you will
be held accountable.
6 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
violence, Target announced they would close nine stores in New York City, San Francisco, Seattle,
and Portland, Oregon by the end of 2023.
9
In 2019, Florida increased its felony theft threshold, though not to the same high dollar threshold as
California. Unlike California and other states, Florida enacted a series of laws to deal with criminals
committing repeated thefts and organized groups committing retail theft. Additionally, the state, led
by the Attorney General, proactively fought organized retail theft. For example, the Attorney General
launched the Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange, a first-of-its-kind, statewide task force and a
new interactive database to help spot trends, identify suspects, and take down massive, organized
retail theft rings. That sensible approach prevented the spiral seen in California and other states.
Legalizing All Drugs
Some states have decriminalized drugs as part of criminal justice reform. For example, in
February 2021, Oregon enacted what was a first-in-the-nation law that decriminalized the
possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine, and other illicit drugs. Under Oregon’s law,
possession of such drugs was no longer punishable by jail time and carried penalties more akin
to a trac ticket.
10
The result of decriminalization was that people in Oregon could not live their
day-to-day lives without encountering open-air drug markets.
11
Unlike Oregon or even states that have legalized marijuana recreationally, Florida has taken a
dierent approach. Florida has taken actions to target drugs that are causing the most harm,
like fentanyl, and those who distribute drugs and cause Floridians’ deaths. In 2022, the Florida
Legislature passed HB 95, which increased the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for
tracking fentanyl. It also added methamphetamine to the list of drugs that, if it caused death,
could be the basis of a felony murder charge. It also increased the penalties for selling controlled
substances near a substance abuse treatment facility.
In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 365 and HB 1359. HB 365 changed the causation standard
for when the distribution of certain controlled substances caused an overdose death. HB 1359 created
a new oense for those who trac fentanyl using methods that target children and young adults.
At the same time, Governor Ron DeSantis and the First Lady launched Coordinated Opioid Recovery
(CORE), which is a comprehensive approach that expanded every aspect of overdose response and
treats all primary and secondary impacts of substance use disorder.
12
Additionally, Attorney General
Ashley Moody launched substance abuse resources
13
and a program to ensure law enforcement and
other first responders have ready access to the lifesaving drug Naloxone.
14
The legislature in successive
sessions has provided historic substance abuse treatment funding,
15
which has been augmented by
the historic $3 billion recovery that Florida’s Attorney General recovered from opioid litigation.
16
9 Lisa Fickenscher and Carl Campanile (Sept.26, 2023). Target to close 9 stores — including NYC location — citing ‘theft’ and employee ‘safety.’ NY Post.
https://nypost.com/2023/09/26/target-to-close-9-stores-citing-theft-and-employee-safety/
10 CNN (Mar. 8, 2024). “Oregon governor to sign bill re-criminalizing possession of certain drugs into law.” https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/politics/
oregon-drug-laws-recriminalization/index.html.
11 AP News (Nov. 19, 2023). “Oregon’s first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law is facing pushback amid the fentanyl crisis.” https://apnews.com/article/
oregon-drugs-decriminalization-pushback-bb209e6ba9835c69f95b093c8ee00279.
12 Oce of the Governor. Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE): https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/opioid-response/CORE.html.
13 Oce of the Attorney General. Dose of Reality Program: https://doseofrealityfl.com/.
14 Oce of the Attorney General. Helping Heros Program: https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/video-attorney-general-moody-launches-helping-
heroes-provide-free-naloxone-florida.
15 Clickorlando.com (July 3, 2023) “Florida budget Oks Largest mental health funding yet, but more to do, experts say.” https://www.clickorlando.com/news/
local/2023/07/03/florida-budget-oks-largest-mental-health-funding-yet-but-more-to-do-experts-say/.
16 Tampa Bay Times (May 5, 2022). “Florida and Walgreens reach $683 million opioid settlement.” https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2022/05/05/florida-
and-walgreens-reach-683-million-opioid-settlement/.
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 7
Defunding the Police
In addition to decriminalizing crime, activists have sought to defund law enforcement. In June
2020, activists utilized George Floyd’s death to spark a call for defunding the police. In response,
New York City slashed its police budget by $1 billion. New York City was not alone as Los Angeles
and Austin cut their police budget by $150 million each. San Fransico reduced its budget by $120
million, and many other cities also cut their budgets.
17
The result of such cuts was predictable -
crime increased.
In June 2021-June 2022, New York City saw an increase of 31% in overall crime driven by a 41%
rise in grand larceny, a 36% uptick in robbery, and a nearly 34% increase in burglary.
18
Other cities
saw similar increases.
19
In addition to increased crime, the defund police movement caused law
enforcement morale to plummet. There were ocer shortages as ocers quit and retired in droves,
and response times and crime rates increased. Indeed, in Austin, police stang is so bad that 911
calls for property crimes are being redirected to 311 for a non-police response.
20
Florida again took the opposite approach. In 2021, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1. Among
many things, HB 1 created a process to stop cities from being able to defund municipal police
agencies. Prior to HB 1, Florida law already created a process for the Governor and Cabinet to
decide budget disputes between counties and their sheris, preventing or limiting counties from
defunding law enforcement. Moreover, as discussed below, Florida increased funding to law
enforcement. The defund the police movement never took root in Florida, and the disastrous
damage that it caused elsewhere did not materialize here.
17 Forbes (Aug. 13, 2020). “At Least 13 Cities Are Defunding Their Police Departments.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/08/13/at-least-13-
cities-are-defunding-their-police-departments/?sh=776f7bda29e3
18 Fox News (July 7, 2022). “New York City overall crime increases 31% while incarceration conservation rate stoops to 18%.” https://www.foxnews.com/us/
new-york-city-overall-crime-increases-31-while-incarceration-conservation-rate-stoops-18
19 CNN (May 25, 2021). “Defund the police encounters resistance as violent crime spikes.” https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/25/us/defund-police-crime-spike/index.html.
20 New York Post (Mar. 3, 2023). “Cops quit woke Austin in droves, plunging Texas City into crisis: “If you’re conservative, it’s a hostile place.” https://nypost.
com/2023/03/03/cops-quit-woke-austin-tx-in-droves/.
8 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
Rogue Prosecutors
While defunding police and decriminalizing crime are significant o-ramps, some activists
in recent years have targeted elected prosecutors as a means of criminal justice reform.
21
Prosecutors play a crucial role in the criminal justice system. Armed with prosecutorial discretion,
they determine which cases will be prosecuted and when sentencing enhancements will be
added based on an evaluation of the facts of each case. Prosecutors have a duty to enforce
the law, and, in doing so, they are instrumental in protecting citizens and communities from
dangerous oenders. However, not all prosecutors believe that they must enforce the law when
the facts meet the crime. Some prosecutors think that they do not need to prosecute entire
classes of crimes or people, require bail, or add sentencing enhancements.
These prosecutors have increasingly been referred to as “rogue prosecutors” by some since their
primary focus is not to enforce the law, punish criminal oenders, and protect citizens. Instead,
rogue prosecutors undermine the criminal justice system by doing their job to the extent that it
only comports with their personal and political views. Our justice system, however, is not set up to
be dictated by a prosecutor who believes that they have the power to decide what laws should
be enforced.
22
The policies of rogue prosecutors encourage lawlessness, harm law-abiding residents, drive
residents and businesses out of cities, and demoralize the police.
23
Thankfully, citizens, including
local business leaders, are starting to question these policies. Many are fleeing higher crime,
and some businesses are closing their doors. Voters are beginning to revolt, recalling some
rogue prosecutors, pushing back against radical reform eorts, and passing ballot proposals that
restore common sense policing.
24
The most prominent rogue prosecutors are in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, St. Louis, Austin, and Boston. Many more follow the movement’s reckless ideals. They
often argue that most misdemeanors should not be prosecuted and push for the elimination
of cash bail. They usurp the role of the legislative branch of government, which has led to a
revolving-door criminal justice system where oenders—sometimes even violent oenders—are
released back to the streets where police ocers are discouraged from making arrests.
25
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón faced public outrage and complaints
against his soft-on-crime approach. His policies led to a pronounced increase in dramatic
smash-and-grab robberies that continue to climb. Recently, 50 thieves stormed a Nordstrom
store and stole $100,000 worth of goods. The Los Angeles Police Department figures show a 13%
increase in burglaries and a 42% increase in thefts. Even Gascón’s sta feel unsafe after an
21 Politico (Aug. 30, 2016). “George Soros’ quiet overhaul of the U.S. justice system.” https://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/george-soros-criminal-
justice-reform-227519.
22 Fryer, Daniel (2020). Race, reform, and progressive prosecution. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. 110 (4). https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.
edu/jclc/vol110/iss4/4
23 Smith, Zack and Charles Stimson (2022). Rogue progressive prosecutors promote lawlessness not reform. https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/
commentary/rogue-progressive-prosecutors-promote-lawlessness-not-reform
24 New York Post (March 6, 2024). San Francisco voters break ‘doom loop’ of woke policy failures. https://nypost.com/2024/03/06/opinion/san-francisco-voters-
get-tough-on-crime-and-public-disorder/
25 Smith, Zack and Charles Stimson (2022). It’s not just rising crime: Rogue prosecutors are a huge problem. https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/
commentary/its-not-just-rising-crime-rogue-prosecutors-are-huge-problem
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 9
employee was attacked walking to her car after work.
26
His oce has a staggering backlog of
10,000 cases, and nearly half of the voters supported a recall eort in 2022.
27
Chesa Boudin, the District Attorney of San Francisco from 2020 to 2022, claimed the death
penalty was racist and immoral. He pledged to end cash bail, and his refusal to prosecute thefts
with a value less than $950 led to an epidemic of brazen shoplifting cases by criminals who knew
they would not be prosecuted. As a result, Walgreens closed 17 stores and Target closed stores
early because they could not sustain the retail theft and the resulting high financial losses.
28
Rachel Rollins, a former Boston district attorney elected in 2018, pledged to decline to prosecute
shoplifting, thefts less than $250, burglary, receiving stolen property, drug crimes, and resisting
arrest. In a policy document to her sta, Rollins directed the elimination of bail and that “instead
of prosecution, these cases should be outright dismissed prior to arraignment or…treated as
a civil infraction.”
29
She was forced to resign as a U.S. Attorney, a position she held for just 16
months after the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) inspector general opened an ethics investigation
and found she violated federal regulations, numerous DOJ policies, her Ethics Agreement, and
applicable law. A separate report conducted by the U.S. Oce of Special Counsel concluded her
conduct was an extraordinary abuse of authority that threatened to erode public confidence in
the integrity of federal law enforcement actions.
30
By refusing to prosecute entire categories of crime and supporting no cash bail, rogue
prosecutors have drawn the attention and ire of constituents and lawmakers. George Gascón
faced a recall eort, and legislators at both the state and federal levels have introduced or
passed legislation in response to the trend. Texas enacted a law that went into eect on
September 1, 2023, that allows for the removal of prosecutors who do not enforce certain laws.
Federally, Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee,
introduced the Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act to require district attorneys (DAs) to report
violent crimes that they fail to charge criminals with committing. The legislation responds to
rogue prosecutors who decline to prosecute murder, aggravated assault, robbery, rape, burglary,
motor vehicle theft, arson, and other serious crimes. Additionally, Byrne-Jag funds, or federal
justice funding, would be prohibited from being distributed to a state or local government that
authorizes no cash bail for firearm oenses.
31
Florida has not been immune from this phenomenon, but our governors have prevented the
policies of rogue prosecutors from taking root. As one of many examples, when a state attorney
refused to seek the death penalty in any murder case, including the murder of a police ocer
and a pregnant woman, the then Governor reassigned all first-degree murder cases.
32
The Florida
Supreme Court armed the Governor’s authority to do so.
26 New York Post. Liberals turn back on woke LA prosecutor George Gascon as smash-and-grab robberies soar. (August 14, 2023).
https://nypost.com/2023/08/14/liberals-turn-their-backs-on-los-angeles-da-george-gascon/
27 Noa Hal (May 24, 2023). Woke Los Angeles DA George Gascon has a staggering backlog of 10,000 cases and scores of prosecutors have quit over
complaints he is ‘authoritarian’ and ‘toxic.’ Daily Mail. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12120211/Los-Angeles-DA-George-Gascon-staggering-backlog-
10-000-cases.html
28 Recall of Chesa Boudin in San Francisco shows rogue prosecutor movement for failure it is (June 9, 2022). https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/
commentary/recall-chesa-boudin-san-francisco-shows-rogue-prosecutor-movement
29 Rachael Rollins Policy Memo. March 2019. https://www.suolkdistrictattorney.com/s/The-Rachael-Rollins-Policy-Memo.pdf.
30 Henry Kerner (May 17, 2023). Letter to the President. Report of prohibited political activity. https://osc.gov/Documents/Hatch%20Act/Reports/Report%20of%20
Prohibited%20Political%20Activity%2C%20Rachael%20Rollins%20%28HA-22-000173%29.pdf
31 Prosecutors Need to Prosecute Act of 2023, Senate Bill, 118th Congress, 2023. https://www.kennedy.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/4/9/49229d41-451f-
4d0e-8f4f-c147f974781d/3EDAD3B1E41417B00A93C13E1F5114C5.all23104.pdf
32 NPR (Apr. 3, 2017). “Florida Governor Pulls Murder Cases From Prosecutor Who Shuns Death Penalty.”
10 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 11
The Revolving Jailhouse Door
Another significant policy o-ramp that criminal justice reform activists push is the elimination
of cash bail, commonly referred to as “no cash bail,” as a means to reduce jail populations. The
purpose of bail is to ensure that those charged with a crime return to court. Cash bail, according
to reform advocates, is discriminatory since “it often means that wealthier defendants get
released while poor defendants have to stay in jail.”
33
Data, however, show that jail populations
were decreasing prior to reform eorts. Nationally, from 2007 to 2017, jail admission decreased
19% and the jail incarceration rate declined 12%.
34
In 2017, Cook County’s (Chicago) Chief Judge eliminated cash bail and skewed data to assert
pretrial release for most crimes did not increase crime.
35
However, contrary to the Chief
Judge’s claim, an academic study found that no cash bail led to a substantial increase in crimes
committed by pretrial releasees in Cook County. The study found that released defendants
charged with committing new crimes increased by 45%, and the number of pretrial releasees
charged with committing new violent crimes increased by an estimated 33%. Also, prosecutors
were forced to drop a substantial number of aggravated domestic violence cases because
batterers were able to more frequently obtain release and intimidate their victims into not
pursuing charges. The study’s findings call into question whether the bail reform measures
implemented in Cook County were eective. Because Cook County’s procedures are cited
as state-of-the-art and have been implemented in many parts of the country, Cook County’s
experience suggests that other jurisdictions may similarly be suering increases in crime due to
bail reform.
36
Crime and disorder are very real problems. Eliminating bail and other reform measures have
predictably failed when the level of crime continues to increase and there are visible signs of
disorder that inform the public’s perception of how safe streets really are. This is clearly illustrated
in a 2020 poll that showed 59% of respondents said no cash bail is a bad law.
37
In 2023, Florida went in the other direction and strengthened the system of bail by passing HB
1627. Under this new law, Florida now requires violent or repeat oenders to see a judge before
they can receive a bond. It also requires detention hearings for violent oenders, requiring a
judge to determine if a defendant should remain in jail prior to conviction. Finally, it stopped local
courts from establishing no bond policies, mandating a uniform, and statewide bond schedule for
non-violent crimes to be set by the state Supreme Court. The bill did all that while making clear
that just being poor would not cause an oender to unnecessarily remain in jail as it allowed
courts to create programs for non-violent, non-repeat oenders and allowed courts to reconsider
bond if someone cannot meet financial requirements.
33 Fair and Just Prosecution. Addressing The Poverty Penalty and Bail Reform. https://fairandjustprosecution.org/issues/addressing-the-poverty-penalty-and-bail-reform/.
34 Bureau of Justice Statistics (2019). Jail Inmates in 2017. https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/jail-inmates-2017.
35 Smith, Zack and Charles Stimson (2023). Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers are Destroying America’s Communities. Bombardier Books.
36 Cassell, Paul and Richard Fowles (2020). Does bail reform increase crime? An empirical assessment of the public safety implications of bail reform in Cook
County, Illinois. S.J. Quinney College of Law. https://dc.law.utah.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1189&context=scholarship
37 Mangual, Rafael (2020). “Reforming New York’s Bail Reform: A Public Safety-Minded Proposal.” https://manhattan.institute/article/reforming-new-yorks-bail-
reform-a-public-safety-minded-proposal#notes
12 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
Juvenile Accountability
In recent years, activists also targeted the juvenile justice system as an area needing reform and
sought to decriminalize wrongful juvenile behavior. Cities like Chicago, New York, and numerous
locations in California took non-enforcement of certain crimes when committed by juveniles to
the extreme.
38
The result was an increase in violent juvenile crime,
39
including, in at least one city,
an increase of 74% in juvenile gun crimes.
40
Such results were predictable. Research, as well as common sense, tells us that children need
boundaries as well as appropriate consequences when misbehavior occurs. When a juvenile
commits a crime and realizes there are no real consequences for their criminal behavior, many times
the child commits more crimes or escalates their criminal behavior to more serious oenses. Finding
balance in addressing juvenile crime is important. Research does suggest that, when possible, a
rehabilitative approach rather than criminal sentencing for juvenile oenders can be eective. The
harsh reality is that some juvenile oenders—particularly those who commit violent crimes—present
a public safety risk that cannot be overlooked or handled by decriminalizing their wrongful behavior.
During the last three legislative sessions, Florida enacted a better, more balanced approach.
Sheris have advocated for, and the legislature has delivered, a series of reforms aimed at
ensuring the juveniles that present the most risk of harm to the public are treated accordingly as
to detention and rehabilitative eorts.
First, in 2022, the Florida Legislature passed HB 7029 that now allows judges to decide whether to
place a juvenile who has committed serious crimes in secure detention for more than the current
21-day time limitation after conducting a hearing and making written findings. Filling this gap in the
current law will make sure that juveniles are not released back into their communities where they
can commit additional crimes before their hearing. Additionally, the law increased the electronic
monitoring program by allowing, not requiring, law enforcement to supervise any court-ordered
electronic monitoring of juveniles on supervised release. Sheris are now partnering with the
Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) to supervise juveniles placed on electronic monitoring, helping
to create a more robust electronic monitoring system across the state. This initiative is keeping
communities safe as a force multiplier to the department by having deputies quickly respond when
a juvenile on electronic monitoring breaks curfew or other supervision violations by having a deputy
safely intervene at night and on weekends when the department’s sta is not on duty. An additional $1
million was also included in the state budget for DJJ to increase electronic monitoring statewide.
Then in 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 1465. That bill addressed gun crimes among
juveniles to help close loopholes in the current law by ensuring that juveniles who are charged
with a gun crime are held in secure detention until they see a judge and that juveniles who
are charged with possessing a firearm will be subject to longer lengths of detention to more
appropriately and timely address behavior. The bill also allows a judge to order a juvenile to be
held for more than the current 21-day max so that juveniles who are charged with an oense
involving a firearm are not released back out onto the streets before the disposition of their case.
38 The Imprint (Oct. 31, 2018). “California, L.A. Agree: Locking Up Young Children is ‘Nothing Good for Nobody.” https://imprintnews.org/featured/l-a-diversion-
minimum-age/32638.
39 CBS News (May 24, 2023). “Surge in violent juvenile crime has Oakland residents on edge.” https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/surge-in-violent-
juvenile-crime-has-oakland-residents-on-edge/.
40 ABC10 (Jan. 16, 2024). “Sacramento County District Attorney’s oce seeing increase in juvenile crime.” https://www.abc10.com/article/news/crime/
sacramento-county-das-oce-sees-increase-juvenile-crime/103-46d97ea0-d863-4829-9987-f5a38b626dd1.
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 13
Lastly, during the 2024 legislative session, HB 1181 passed. That law tackled the dangerous
mix of juveniles and illegal firearms by creating swift and proportionate consequences so that
delinquent and dangerous behavior is timely addressed. Specifically, HB 1181 authorizes a court
to commit a juvenile to a minimum amount of time in a residential program for a misdemeanor
violation of unlawful possession of a firearm. Prior to the bill, that consequence was optional. HB
1181 will now also require a court, if a minor is found to have committed the oense of unlawfully
possessing a firearm three or more times, to adjudicate the minor delinquent and commit the
minor to a DJJ residential program. This is not only the best course of action for the overall safety
of the community, but also for the redirection and rehabilitation of juveniles who have repeatedly
been found in possession of a firearm.
Furthermore, HB 1181 will now require a court to consider, rather than use, the results of DJJ’s
risk assessment instrument in deciding whether to continue to detain a juvenile and creates a
presumption that a juvenile must be held in secure detention if the court finds probable cause
that he or she committed specified oenses involving the use or possession of a firearm. This will
be an important change in current practice and give judges more flexibility and support to hold
juveniles who may be at risk of committing violent acts.
Finally, HB 1181 will require a juvenile who is adjudicated delinquent by a court for committing any
oense or attempted oense involving a firearm to be placed on conditional release for one year
following his or her release from a juvenile commitment program. It also prohibits a court from
withholding adjudication if a juvenile previously had adjudication withheld for specified oenses
and requires a court to adjudicate such a juvenile delinquent and sentence the juvenile to a DJJ
residential program. This change makes certain that juveniles who are repeatedly being arrested
with firearms are held accountable and not continuously run in and out of the juvenile justice system.
Supporting Law Enforcement
While criminal justice policy and prosecutors are incredibly important to public safety, leader-
driven public support for law enforcement can also increase and enhance public safety. In many
areas of our nation, the protests and riots after George Floyd’s tragic death in the summer of
2020 caused a sweeping decline in public sentiment toward law enforcement. Morale among law
enforcement ranks plummeted, contributing to a 279% increase in voluntary resignations among
ocers nationwide.
41
By September of 2020, nearly nine out of every ten law enforcement
agencies reported stang shortages.
42
Many ocers in certain cities felt they lacked support
from their political leadership and the community to do their job and keep citizens safe. The
National Police Association reported that ocers in “larger urban areas…don’t feel so supported
and in fact, they feel vilified.”
43
Florida took a dierent approach, and the State Legislature introduced a slew of bills to support
law enforcement, recruit new ocers, and keep local government from defunding the police.
These measures were priorities of the Governor and Attorney General and passed with
41 Mourtgos, Scott, Adams, Ian, and Nix, Justin (2021). Elevated Police Turnover following the Summer of George Floyd Protests: A Synthetic Control Study.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354172594_Elevated_Police_Turnover_following_the_Summer_of_George_Floyd_Protests_A_Synthetic_Control_Study.
42 WTSP 10 Tampa Bay (2020). Study finds 86% of police departments experiencing stang shortages. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/study-finds-86-
of-police-departments-experiencing-shortages/67-cd4f8f7c-1d5e-4840-b0b4-53614530249e
43 ABC 3340 (2022). ‘They feel vilified’: Law enforcement frustrated by lack of support, former ocer says. https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/they-feel-vili-
fied-law-enforcement-frustrated-by-lack-of-support-former-ocer-says-national-police-association-fraternal-order-of-police-violence-shootings-sgt-betsy-smith
14 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
overwhelming support. Changes included across-the-board pay raises for ocers, new recruit
bonuses, relocation grants, training grants, first-time home buyer assistance, and more.
In 2021, the Florida Attorney General launched a nationwide initiative to recruit qualified ocers
to Florida from states where leadership did not support law enforcement.
44
The “Be A Florida
Hero” comprehensive law enforcement recruitment tool houses an interactive map showing open
law enforcement career opportunities across the state. The Attorney General also partnered with
the Florida Sheris Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association to host a nationwide law
enforcement jobs fair in all 50 states.
45
As a result of heightened recruitment eorts, legislative changes, and the overwhelming support
from state leaders, more than 4,000 new ocers received Florida’s Law Enforcement Recruitment
Bonus.
46
Nearly a fourth of the new recruits moved to Florida from out-of-state with 340 coming from
Illinois, California, and New York. While other states are slow to respond to the law enforcement
exodus, Florida is leading the way in supporting law and order and recruiting ocers who do not feel
supported. Florida leaders often publicly state that Florida is “the most pro-law enforcement state in
the nation”
47
and many new recruits say they moved to Florida because “we are supported here.”
48
Florida continues to lead the nation in supporting law enforcement and creating incentives to
recruit new ocers. To avoid law enforcement stang shortages and ensure quick responses
to emergency calls and enough manpower to investigate crimes, state and local government
leaders must prioritize ocer morale and take proactive steps to incentivize service.
Those anecdotal examples and observations are supported by a recently conducted survey.
The Florida Sheris Association surveyed sheris in Florida and nationally to get their feedback
on crime. The survey was distributed by the National Sheris Association and Major County
Sheris of America and was conducted between November 16-30, 2023. A total of 148 responses
were received: forty-seven from Florida sheris and 101 nationally, from 17 dierent states.
44 Oce of Florida Attorney General News Release (2021). Attorney General Moody Launches Nationwide Law Enforcement Recruitment Initiative: Be A Florida
Hero. https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/nationwide-leo-initiative-be-florida-hero-launched-ag-moody
45 Oce of Florida Attorney General News Release (2023). Attorney General Moody Announces Launch of Nationwide Law Enforcement Recruitment Eort.
https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/nationwide-law-enforcement-recruitment-eort
46 Oce of Florida Governor News Release (2024). Governor Ron DeSantis Awards 4,000th Law Enforcement Recruit Bonus. https://www.flgov.com/2024/01/30/
governor-ron-desantis-awards-4000th-law-enforcement-recruit-bonus/#:~:text=Each%20of%20the%204%2C000%20law,%2C%E2%80%9D%20said%20
Governor%20Ron%20DeSantis.
47 Villages-News (2023). Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation. https://www.villages-news.com/2023/04/22/florida-is-the-most-pro-law-
enforcement-state-in-the-nation-2/
48 Oce of Florida Attorney General News Release (2023). To Kick O National Police Week Attorney General Moody Launches New Program Highlighting
Ocers Who Moved To Be A Florida Hero. https://www.myfloridalegal.com/newsrelease/kick-national-police-week-attorney-general-moody-launches-new-pro-
gram-highlighting
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 15
Sheris were asked to respond to the following questions:
1. Over the last 12 months, do you believe violent crime in your state has increased, decreased,
or stayed about the same?
2. Over the last 12 months, do you believe violent crime in your jurisdictions has increased,
decreased, or stayed about the same? This question included an open text box for
respondents to explain their response.
3. Are you satisfied with the prosecutorial decisions of the prosecutor in your jurisdiction?
Yes, No, Not sure.
4. Do the laws in your state allow for the removal of prosecutors who do not enforce certain
laws? Yes, No, Not sure.
5. Has the Governor of your state generally supported law enforcement requests for funding?
Yes, No, Not sure.
6. Has the Governor of your state mostly supported law enforcement requests for legislative
changes? Yes, No, Not sure.
7. An open text box was included for additional comments.
The survey did not ask respondents to include any identifying information other than their state
and the size of their jurisdiction. The survey provides a snapshot of the respondent’s perception
of crime and their satisfaction with their local prosecutor and governor.
In Florida, sheriffs believe violent crime in the state (Chart 1) has either decreased (40%)
or stayed about the same (31%). Only 22% felt violent crime in their county had increased
(Chart 2). Most sheriffs (72%) are satisfied with their local State Attorney (Chart 3). Finally,
every Florida sheriff believed the Governor has supported requests for funding and legislative
changes (Charts 4 and 5).
The results are very different nationally. Seventy-four percent believed violent crime had
increased in their state (Chart 1), and just 2% believed it had decreased in their jurisdiction
(Chart 2). Nationwide, sheriffs were split on satisfaction with their local prosecutor (Chart 3).
They were also evenly split regarding the support they receive from their Governor for funding,
with less than half responding in the affirmative (42% in Chart 4), and just 40% felt their
Governor supported requests from law enforcement for positive legislative changes (Chart 5).
16 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
Decreased
Decreased
Stayed the Same
Stayed the Same
Increased
Increased
CHART 1
Do You Believe Violent Crime in Your State Has Increased, Decreased or Stayed the Same During the
Last 12 Months?
CHART 2
Do You Believe Violent Crime in Your County (Jurisdiction) Has Increased, Decreased or Stayed the
Same During the Last 12 Months?
Florida
Other States
Florida
Other States
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
40%
2%
22%
74%
31%
22%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2%
47%
51%
31%
47%
22%
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 17
Florida
Other States
Yes
No
CHART 3
Are You Satisfied with the Prosecutorial Decisions of the State Attorney/Prosecutor in Your Jurisdiction?
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
46%
72%
44%
28%
Yes
CHART 4
Has the Governor of your State Generally Supported
Law Enforcement Requests for Funding?
Florida Other States
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
42%
100%
Yes
CHART 5
Has the Governor of your State Mostly Supported Law
Enforcement Requests for Legislative Changes?
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
40%
100%
18 | BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION
Conclusion
Many Americans are fleeing cities that have implemented criminal justice reform policies partly
due to the rapid rise of violent crime.
49
Of the 13 cities with the highest violent crime rate, 10 are
led by criminal justice reform activists. These 10 cities had an average violent crime rate of 1,285
per 100,000 in 2022, far exceeding the national rate of 380 per 100,000. All but two of these
cities saw a population decline.
50
Some elected leaders in this country are sending a clear message that prosecuting criminals and
protecting people are not high priorities and have implemented the dangerous policies described.
As Doug Collins, a former U.S. representative from Georgia, astutely said “across the country,
individual judges and prosecutors have mistaken their personal, rogue ideas for righteous criminal
justice reform. Misguided action, however well-intended, will invariably result in tragedy.”
51
Thankfully, in Florida, we have elected leaders in the Governor, members of the Cabinet, and
the State Legislature who have ensured Florida does not take detours by falling for the fallacy
that less law enforcement can lead to less crime. As the research and recent survey data show,
these are decisions that lead to well-established o-ramps from the successful road of economic
prosperity and community stability.
49 Bickerton, James (Apr 20, 2023). Crime is Making Americans Flee Democratic States. Newsweek.
50 US Census Bureau American Community Survey Population (2024). Data analyzed by Florida Sheris Research Institute.
51 Doug Collins (Jan 18, 2022). Conservatives must lead way on cash bail reform. https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/01/18/conservatives-must-lead-way-on-cash-
bail-reform/.
BUILDING STRONGER SAFER CITIES | FLORIDA SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION | 19