Florida Correctional Institutions Population

Correctional Institutions’ Population in Florida

Introduction

Crimes such as murder, manslaughter, treason, arson, sexual offense, robbery with violence, war crimes, drug dealing, organ dealing, kidnapping, amongst others, are considered felonies since they are crimes of high magnitude. While battery, minor assault, theft, and petty offenses are mostly considered misdemeanors. In Florida, from the statistics shown in the link, it is visible that they did not value the need to punish offenders according to the weight of their offense and instead preferred to send them to rehabilitation or probation centers.

According to (Community Corrections Population, 2017), the population distribution shows white males are the highest in offense, followed by black men than women. They all fall under the middle age group of 30-40. Consequently, theft/fraud/forgery is the biggest crime, a sign that the community is filled with jobless people thus poverty. Manslaughter or murder are distinctively present in the community, although not as proficient as sexual offenses.

Whether violent crime offenders should go to probation officers or not should even be a question instead of a government directive and policy. Hence, no violent crime offenders should prison and serve long sentences to deter other want-to-be offenders. Probation officers are not in a position to rehabilitate a murderer or a sexual offender because they already possess “Actus Rea,” which will be a motivating factor for recidivism. Alternatively, first-time offenders, due to maybe self-defense or any other reason found conducive to the judge at the time of sentencing, could be taken to rehabilitation centers if perhaps they have addiction or mental instability issues. Moreover, a violent crime offender can be allocated work in the community under a probation officer to change their character (Minton, 2020).

Manslaughter and illegal handling of weapons crimes are crimes with jurisdiction in a high court under a judge. Consequently, in a study by Florida analysts, it was discovered that out of all offenders in prison, 30% were parole and probation violators; 56% were inmates sentenced for property offenses, while 41% were in for public order offenses. Thus, hard criminals when given a chance to change outside the demanding conditions of prison. Given the chance that I preside over such a case that involves manslaughter, which is murder conducted due to self-defense or without intention to kill. On the other hand, in Maruschak (2020), handling illegal weapons is a serious offense in Florida if the handler does not have a license. Thus, if this gun is to be used and cause harm to an individual, the owner is obliged and liable for arrest. Before sentencing any offender under the above categories to probation, i.e., in their presentencing investigation, I should be able to see their background history and know where this offender comes from, the database entered about the place and their history with correction. Although the social norm on incarceration should not have much say poon who is being imprisoned or not.

Moreover, the offender’s role in the crime is essential as the offender could be a third party or secondary offender in the whole offense. Thus, this can facilitate probation sentencing under a probation officer, who will ensure the court directives are followed to the latter. And should there be a violation of probation, the offender will be charged separately.

Moreover, whether the offender has been involved in criminal activities before also comes in handy. A recidivist cannot be probated since they are a threat to both society and themselves. It is mainly said that recidivists tend to influence other innocent individuals with “actus rea” and the rewards of crime and forget risks.