All,
SB 450 Jury Recommendations in Death Penalty Cases will be heard in its first committee on Monday. We need you to contact the legislators in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee below AND your own Senator to VOTE NO on this bill.
Our current law stipulates that a jury must reach a unanimous 12-0 decision for the death penalty. This bill would allow a
minimum of an 8-4 decision to render the death penalty in Florida. This is a problem for the following reasons:
Florida (and Alabama) sentence defendants to death at a much higher rate than the 27 other states that permit the death penalty;
Florida shamefully leads the nation with the most death row exonerations since 1973, meaning that we get it wrong the most and sentence innocent people to die;
90% of death row exonerations in Florida have been in cases that lack a unanimous jury;
It goes without saying that sentencing someone to die is a profound and irreversible decision in a criminal justice system that is riddled with errors. We should not get rid of safeguards in this process.
Please contact the following Senators on the Criminal Justice Committee AND your own Senator before Monday and tell them to VOTE NO on SB 450. We should maintain the unanimous 12-0 decision for the death penalty so that we continue to ensure that at least this literal life or death decision is administered in a fair manner.
Senator Jonathan Martin (R), Chair (850) 487-5033
Senator Jennifer Bradley (R), Vice Chair (850) 487-5006
Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R)—Bill Sponsor (850) 487-5011
Senator Keith Perry (R) (850) 487-5009
Senator Jason W. B. Pizzo (D) (850) 487-5037
Senator Tina Scott Polsky (D) (850) 487-5030
Senator Bobby Powell (D) (850) 487-5024
Senator Clay Yarborough (R) (850) 487-5004
Martin.Jonathan.web@flsenate.gov; Bradley.Jennifer.web@flsenate.gov; Ingoglia.Blaise.web@flsenate.gov; Perry.Keith.web@flsenate.gov; Pizzo.Jason.web@flsenate.gov; Polsky.Tina.web@flsenate.gov; Powell.Bobby.web@flsenate.gov; Yarborough.Clay.web@flsenate.gov
Thank you,
Jean Siebenaler
LEGISLATIVE CHAIR, DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S CLUB OF FLORIDA
CITRUS:
State Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R)
Ingoglia.Blaise.web@flsenate.gov
Tallahassee #: (850) 487-5011
District #: (352) 666-5707
Florida Senate District 11