TAMPA, Fla. — Stricter punishments could be put in place for juvenile offenders if one Florida bill becomes law.
Representative Berny Jacques said House Bill 1181 is a robust package geared towards holding minors accountable. The bill increases penalties involving gun crimes.
“One of the biggest parts is it upgrades minor in possession of a firearm from first-degree misdemeanor to now a third-degree felony. It also adds that any kind of dangerous gun crime offense will make sure a youth is held in detention before they have their adjudicatory hearing,” Rep. Jacques said.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri supports this bill. He said the number of guns on the streets is increasing and many aren't even old enough to have them.
The sheriff references a shooting last Christmas where he says a 14-year-old killed his sister.
“He goes over and puts a bullet in her, tears up her insides, kills her and leaves her dead in the driveway,” Sheriff Gualtieri said.
Jacques calls the current statutes a slap on the wrist, but Jessica Richardson said punishment isn't the solution. She thinks a felony on a child's record will set them up for failure.
“They are going to be able to be charged as an adult if the prosecutor wants to do that,” Rep. Jacques said.
Robinson founded the nonprofit Pleadthe8th when she moved to Florida a couple of years ago.
“A significant portion of the bills this session increase punishments,” Richardson said.
HB1181 will also crack down on contraband. If passed, it would be a second-degree felony.
“I'm not okay with children being sent to prison for a t-shirt or some food that's not okay,” Richardson said.
She said this bill doesn't address the root issue, preventative programs will.
“90 percent of kids that go into the prison have some sort of mental health issue, trauma or abuse,” Richardson said.
Bills like this worry her as a parent.
“Kids make mistakes,” Richardson said.