Florida is known for being tough on crime. To that end, a couple of important state laws are designed to help ensure that people convicted of serious crimes serve the majority of their court-imposed sentence.
These laws prevent people from being released early for “good behavior” or for any reason other than some change in their case that warrants it.
The S.T.O.P. Act
Florida has what’s widely known as a “truth in sentencing” (TIS) law. It’s called the S.T.O.P (Stop Turning Out Prisoners) Act. It requires those sentenced to a state prison to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for release based on “gain time” (good behavior).
The “three strikes” law
Florida, like some other states, has what’s known as a “three strikes” law. Under Florida law, a person convicted of a felony who has had two prior felony convictions within five years gets a mandatory minimum sentence for the third offense.
Both of these laws, as well as various “mandatory minimum” sentencing requirements, are intended to prevent people who are “repeat offenders” from having the chance to reoffend. There’s some evidence that laws like this cut down on serious crime. They also leave judges, juries and corrections systems officials with less discretion to consider individual circumstances when sentencing someone or determining whether they qualify for early release.
What this means for those charged with a serious crime in Florida is that it’s important to work to avoid conviction or get a charge reduced to help avoid spending considerable time behind bars. Getting experienced legal guidance as soon as possible can be the most effective way to do that.
