Smart Justice for a Safer Florida

  • Editorial: Smart Justice

    By admin | On March 27, 2013 In Smart Justice in Florida

    Ocala Star Banner – March 27, 2013 Every year some 32,000 new inmates arrive at Florida Department of Corrections facilities. Almost half of them are non-violent offenders — and amazingly, for about 40 percent of them it is not their first trip to a state prison. Something, clearly is not working. State Rep. Baxley, R-Ocala, […]

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  • Press Release: Smart Justice Legislation Clears First Legislative Hurdle

    By admin | On March 20, 2013 In Smart Justice in Florida

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Smart Justice legislation, embodied in House Judiciary Chair Dennis Baxley’s Proposed Committee Bill on Reentry, was approved today in an overwhelming Judiciary Committee vote. The bill will accomplish three important objectives: target non-violent, 3rd degree felons who don’t traffic or sell narcotics with both in-prison and community-based behavioral health care treatment services; […]

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  • Editorial: Expanding drug court – Programs in Florida save money and lives

    By admin | On March 17, 2013 In Smart Justice in Florida

    Sarasota Herald-Tribune – March 17, 2013 Some government programs actually save money. Drug court is one of them. That’s the kind of value that may appeal to budget-minded Florida legislators, who are being asked to extend funding for so-called expansion drug court programs in some of the state’s largest counties. These programs — funded by […]

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  • Op-Ed: Tackling Corrections’ Deficit Problem, One Smart Idea at a Time

    By admin | On March 13, 2013 In Smart Justice in Florida

    NOTE: This op-ed (guest commentary) article appeared in several Florida publications in March 2013, including the Tallahassee Democrat, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Daytona Beach News Journal and SaintPetersBlog. By Barney Bishop III, President & CEO, Florida Smart Justice Alliance Recently two important developments occurred in the ongoing struggle to keep Floridians safe without breaking the bank. […]

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  • News: Drug Court Funding Urged

    By admin | On March 7, 2013 In Smart Justice in Florida

    News Service of Florida – March 6, 2013 A Senate panel was urged Wednesdsay to keep funding the state’s drug court program. The program started in 2009 and its federal funding ends on June 30, so the state court system is asking lawmakers for $5.8 million to keep it going. “My experience is that the […]

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