TALLAHASSEE – A new legislation that could guide to imposing the dying penalty on men and women who rape children under age 12 will get effect Sunday.
The controversial measure possible will draw lawful troubles, as U.S. Supreme Court and Florida Supreme Court precedents have barred loss of life sentences for rapists.
For the duration of a Could 1 bill-signing occasion in Brevard County, Gov. Ron DeSantis explained the measure is “for the security of little ones.”
“Sadly, in our society, we have really heinous intercourse crimes that are committed against youngsters less than the age of 12 decades aged,” DeSantis mentioned. “These are genuinely the worst of the worst. The perpetrators of these crimes are usually serial offenders.”
Judges would have the discretion to impose the loss of life penalty or sentence defendants to existence in prison. If fewer than eight jurors advocate demise, judges would have to impose daily life sentences.
The bill would influence what is acknowledged as the sentencing section of cases. Juries would nevertheless need to have to unanimously find defendants guilty of the crimes prior to the sentencing section would start off.
The evaluate was accredited 34-5 in the Senate and 95-14 in the Property.
In voting from the evaluate in April, Sen. Rosalind Osgood, D-Fort Lauderdale, said the monthly bill introduced her with a “quandary.”
“I really like young children, and I will do just about anything to shield them,” Osgood stated. “But I struggle from a faith perspective. If I think in my religion that God can redeem and help you save any person, then how do I guidance somebody getting the dying penalty? And I am just chatting about me. That is my wrestle. Which is my obstacle.”
Thanks for reading CBS NEWS.
Create your free account or log in
for more features.
