Fla. Gov. Says Sentencing, Not Treatment Cuts, Cause of Prison IncreasesAugust 22, 2003
Research Summary
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said an increase in drug prisoners is a result of stricter sentencing guidelines in some counties, not funding cuts in treatment programs, the St. Petersburg Times reported Aug. 20.Bush said the cuts in treatment are "too recent" to have affected the growth in the prison population.
"I'm reasonably satisfied that there was no impact on the lack of drug treatment in prison having an impact on crimes in the street until the summer of 2002," said James McDonough, Bush's drug-policy coordinator. "The better explanation is the variations in the criminal justice system -- the different habits of prosecutors and judges."
Although Florida violent crime was at a 30-year low from March through June, the inmate population surged during the time period.
Hillsborough County accounted for nearly 40 percent of the growth. Hillsborough State Attorney Mark Ober attributed the increase to the county's mandatory-minimum sentencing laws.
"We've got over a million people in Hillsborough County, and we have growing pains," Ober said. "The more people you have, the more crime that's going to be committed."
COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE: