"Two strikes" law fills FL prisons with lifers

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

In the mid 1990s, a slew of states passed "three strikes" laws allowing prosecutors to send persistent repeat offenders to prison for life — even for nonviolent felonies.

Yes, but: Florida went a step further in 1997 by passing an unusual "two strikes" law — the Prison Releasee Reoffender Act — that directs prosecutors to seek the max for someone who commits a felony within three years of leaving prison.

Why it matters: Florida, which abolished parole in 1983, now leads the nation — by far — in prisoners serving life without parole, according to an investigation by the Marshall Project and the Tampa Bay Times.

More than 13,600 people are serving life without parole in Florida — almost a quarter of the nationwide total.

Housing the for-life population cost Florida $330 million last year.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-strikes-law-fills-fl-112056234.html

Sounds like Florida took the "How stupid can you get challenge?"

[riversedge]

1. Geez! what next with FL!!!

[LiberalFighter]

2. How many avoided it because they had connections?

[Jerry2144]

3. Let's see

13,000 people who cannot vote, but would probably vote D, in Florida prisons counting towards Florida’s House allotment and redistricting. And these people are probably in for profit prisons.

Hmmm. Those two reasons, plus the obvious racism involved in that law, are why this will never get changed