Gov. DeSantis Proposes Raising Minimum Penalty for Child Rapists to Life in Prison Without Parole

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), proposes raising the minimum punishment for certain crimes, including child-rape, as part his larger pitch. “anti-crime” His administration hopes to make legislation a reality during this legislative session.

DeSantis announced the proposal, which he believes will help build upon the Sunshine State’s low crime rate, on Thursday.

“Our crime rate is at a 50-year low. Overall crime [is] down nearly 10 percent year over year, murder down 14 percent, burglary down 15 percent, and robbery down 7 percent year over year,” DeSantis made the remarks during a press conference about the topic.

DeSantis stated that he was just in Philadelphia and that the city’s murder rate is at an all-time high. “levels they haven’t seen in decades.”

“Retail theft, all kind of burglaries, all this stuff, and that’s a direct result of the policies that they have embraced to go very soft on crime and to give the criminals the upper hand,” He said that Florida under his leadership will not make the same mistakes.

The governor touted some of the ways the state has already targeted crime —increasing the penalties for those dealing fentanyl and taking a stand against woke prosecutors — but he emphasized that his administration wants to “keep the momentum going.”

“And so we have a legislative session coming up, and we want to make sure that we cement our reputation as being a law and order state and take actions as necessary to help further protect the people of the state of Florida,” He spoke out, listing some of the reforms he proposed.

Some of these reforms include tougher penalties for most outrageous crimes. For instance, child rape would be punished with a minimum of life imprisonment without parole. This guidance, according to the governor, would also promote reforms. “reinstate capital punishment for these crimes.”

DeSantis also proposes tougher penalties to sex crime victims “expanding the list of crimes ineligible for gain time by adding all inchoate offenses (attempted crimes) of sexual misconduct, such as attempted sexual battery,” His office.

Further, the governor seeks to reform the state’s death penalty statute, reducing the number of jurors necessary to decide on a death sentence. At the moment, unanimous consent is required. It is a requirement that unanimous consent be obtained. The DeSantis administration aims to make it supermajority.

This proposal also contains penalties for drug-related offenses, such as fentanyl.

We are making efforts to protect law and order in Florida by increasing accountability for criminals, fighting human smuggling, and protecting Floridians against fentanyl. pic.twitter.com/PynRY1dRc0

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 26, 2023

WATCH Below is the Press Conference: