Bill > S1492

This bill proposes several changes to the laws regarding the prosecution of children as adults in the state of Florida. The key provisions are: 1. Deleting the mandatory requirement for state attorneys to request a court to transfer and certify children of certain ages who commit specified crimes for prosecution as adults or provide written reasons to the court for not doing so. Instead, this is now at the discretion of the state attorney. 2. Revising the circumstances under which a state attorney may file an information (criminal charges) against a child, allowing them more discretion to do so for children aged 16 or 17 who are charged with a "forcible felony." 3. Changing the age requirement for children to be subject to the jurisdiction of the adult court system, from "any age" to "14 years of age or older" when charged with an offense punishable by death or life imprisonment. 4. Making various other changes to the sentencing options and procedures for children who are prosecuted as adults, such as authorizing (rather than requiring) a child to be sentenced as an adult in certain cases.

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https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1492