PleadThe8th Advocates for Juvenile Justice Reform in Florida

Tampa, Florida- 11/10/23-

PleadThe8th is advocating for a pivotal bill in the upcoming Florida legislative session, targeting amendments to §921.1402 to ensure equitable sentence reviews for all youth incarcerated in Florida. This bill represents a significant step toward aligning the state's justice system with constitutional and human rights standards.

The proposed legislation comes in response to stark disparities revealed by recent data: individuals incarcerated for crimes committed as children prior to 2014 serve an average of 23.49 years, compared to an average of 10.72 years for those sentenced post-2014. Florida currently houses over 2,600 that were children at the time of their crimes, ranking 3rd in the country. PleadThe8th's efforts highlight the urgent need to address these excessive sentences that lack the possibility of review.

Florida's juvenile offender review laws are selective and inequitable, allowing only a subset of young offenders the opportunity for review hearings. The definition of a "juvenile offender" under Florida law excludes individuals under 18 who committed crimes prior to July 1, 2014, raising concerns about equal treatment. While those who committed offenses after this date or that received life sentences have the right to review hearings, those with term-of-years sentences before July 1, 2014, do not share the same privilege. The absence of parole in Florida amplifies the impact of this disparity.

“The data is irrefutable and demands action. These pre-2014 terms of years sentenced kids, now adults, are doubly disadvantaged, facing both excessively long sentences and a lack of review opportunities afforded to post-2014 cases. This is not just an issue of excessive punishment; it's a matter of fundamental fairness and hope," stated Founder of PleadThe8th, Jessica Richardson.

Terrence Graham, the organization's honorary co-founder, whose landmark United States Supreme Court case inspired the Eighth Amendment's application to juvenile sentencing, remains incarcerated. Despite his incarceration and eligibility for a sentence review, Graham is a staunch advocate for this reform. "My fight is for those who have been forgotten, for those who are serving time on a scale that defies logic and justice," Graham states. "This bill is about children having fair punishments and everyone being treated equally."

PleadThe8th has received an outpouring of support from community members and bipartisan support from legislators. The organization's advocates have been meeting with lawmakers to educate them about the bill's importance and to solidify backing for the upcoming session.

For more information on this critical issue and the proposed amendments, please visit our website at www.pleadthe8th.com.

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PLEADTHE8TH is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for criminal justice reform, with a specific focus on addressing the challenges of youth incarceration.