A Polk County sheriff took aim at lawmakers Tuesday morning — suggesting early release for non-violent offenders was a bad idea.
"Here’s your sign, legislators. When you start talking to me about low-level, nonviolent crimes— gag me with a spoon. That’s BS," Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
He was announcing the capture of Stanley "Woo Woo" Mossburg.The 35-year-old is suspected of a Winter Haven double homicide.
Grady pointed out, while making his comments about lawmakers, most of Mossburg’s prior offenses were considered non-violent.
The sheriff’s words fall on the same day Florida Democrats promoted a bill that would let nonviolent, first offenders out early if they’ve earned enough time for good behavior to complete 65% of their sentence.
Sponsor— Rep. Dianne Hart— said it would save the state a ton of money that could be reinvested in helping inmates. “We’ll save closer to a $1 billion in five years. That is real money that we need in our corrections to create opportunity for folk to be prepared to go home.”
Hart, a Democrat, was confident there was enough bipartisan support to get the bill through Senate. She was uncertain about the House— where tough-on-crime Republicans hold a larger margin.
