January 31, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ — If you have been accused of committing a crime in Florida, you likely already know that there could be serious consequences. But, you may not be aware of the overwhelming scope of Florida’s prison system. Even as crime rates are at the lowest level in decades, Florida is seeing a booming prison population. If you are facing charges for drug crimes, you are particularly at risk for a lengthy prison sentence and in special need of a strong legal defense. Mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes blamed for prison surge According to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, the crime rate in Florida has fallen to the lowest level in 41 years. Nonetheless, the state’s prison population is spiking. At the outset of 2014, Florida’s prison population was 102,225. Florida Department of Corrections projections put the prison population at 106,793 by the middle of 2017. Such an increase would cost the state an additional $58 million.
With crime low, Florida is still locking up those who get convicted of crimes for long periods of time.