Ocala Star Banner calls for Enhancements to Florida Criminal Justice System

07.23.12

An editorial in the Ocala Star Banner supports the Florida Innocence Commission’s finding that the state’s criminal justice system needs a bigger budget in order to function properly and prevent injustice. The Legislature has refused to consider any increase in spending to enhance the system.


Commission Chairman Belvin Perry, a circuit judge from Orlando, spelled it out: “The only thing the criminal-justice system has is the confidence that people have in it. The underfunding of this system in this state is going to lead us to a situation where people will look at the system and have no faith or confidence in it.”

Among its recommendations, the commission said that more money should be spent on DNA testing and preservation of evidence. Thirteen of the 297 people exonerated through DNA testing were wrongfully convicted in Florida. The commission’s report, released in June, promotes additional funding for public defenders and DNA testing.

 


Read the full editorial

.

 

Read more about the

Florida Innocence Commission

.

Leave a Reply

Thank you for visiting us. You can learn more about how we consider cases here. Please avoid sharing any personal information in the comments below and join us in making this a hate-speech free and safe space for everyone.

This field is required.
This field is required.
This field is required.

We've helped free more than 250 innocent people from prison. Support our work to strengthen and advance the innocence movement.