Florida
Let’s fix Florida’s cruel parole system
Florida’s
parole system is a farce. It systematically denies inmates constitutional protections and permits lots of the inmates ready for
parole
to die in jail. Some years, lower than 1% of the inmates eligible for parole are even given severe consideration to be launched.
That is morally unsuitable. Certainly, it’d even be described as “merciless and weird punishment,” as proscribed by the
Structure
.
Whereas most individuals won’t ever have a parole listening to — I had three — all of us have an concept of how the system must be performed. These beliefs come from the portrayals of parole hearings in motion pictures like The Shawshank Redemption. All of us keep in mind Morgan Freeman (because the character “Crimson”) standing in entrance of the parole board, pleading for his freedom. That by no means occurs in Florida. The truth is, inmates in Florida are usually not allowed to attend their parole hearings, a lot much less communicate for themselves. Paradoxically, the principles of parole in Florida particularly state no inmate ever deserves parole, and there aren’t any standards to attain parole. In Florida, parole is a grace given by the Florida Fee on Offender Evaluate. In Florida, parole is a subjective course of.
Chapter 23-21 of the Florida Administrative Code grants the FCOR final authority to grant or deny parole. The parole course of in Florida lacks any elementary equity. There’s a matrix that’s meant to judge inmates and parts of their crimes to find out a presumptive parole launch date. Some inmates attain these dates solely to have their date suspended, that means they continue to be in jail past the discharge date the FCOR’s analysis mentioned they need to be launched.
This brings me to my pal Stephen Cobourn.
We met in January 1989 at Hendry Correctional Establishment. I used to be 17 years previous with a model new life sentence for first-degree homicide. Steve was serving the eighth yr of a life sentence for second-degree homicide. We had much more in widespread, each of us are from Broward County and dedicated our crimes as youngsters. One distinction: I had a minimal of 25 years earlier than I used to be parole-eligible, and Steve was eligible already. In 1989, his parole date was 2001. He dedicated his crime in 1981, so he scored out to twenty years on the parole matrix. Steve and I have been at Hendry till 1992. We met up once more briefly in 1993. Then, we ended up within the Broward County jail collectively in 2017 as a result of we have been each eligible for re-sentencing as juvenile offenders.
I used to be shocked Steve was nonetheless incarcerated as a result of his parole date had been 2001. I requested if he bought into hassle and if his parole date was prolonged primarily based on that. He instructed me his parole date remained 2001 and was suspended. Steve stays in jail with little hope of being launched. Steve barely bought into any hassle whereas serving his sentence. FCOR’s refusal to grant him parole is predicated solely on parts of his crime. Steve was convicted of second-degree homicide — not the worst crime within the homicide class. Based mostly on the parole matrix, he scored 20 years. He has been an exemplary inmate throughout his sentence. But the FCOR won’t let him out.
There are extra inmates identical to Steve.
My opinion of Florida’s parole course of is clearly influenced by my private expertise. Throughout my preliminary parole interview in 2011, the inspecting officer beneficial a 2023 parole date and the FCOR as a substitute gave me a 2046 parole date. I used to be re-sentenced and launched in 2019, nearly three years in the past. If not for that, I’d have remained in jail for 27 extra years — simply as if my date was not suspended like Steve’s. That could be a stark distinction to the sentence a choose gave me.
In Florida, the variety of inmates receiving parole-eligible sentences was severely diminished in 1983, when parole was abolished for all however capital crimes. All the inmates who’re parole eligible have been locked up for at the very least 27 years. The FCOR way back outlived its effectiveness. The method is a farce. The workers are merely shuffling papers with little or no actual work being accomplished. It’s a waste of time and taxpayers’ cash. The FCOR must be defunded and the cash allotted for a extra helpful objective. Inmates nonetheless incarcerated ready on parole must be re-sentenced to a time period of years with an actual launch date. That is one thing which may work. That is one thing which may even be ethical.
Robert Lefleur is a former prisoner of the Florida Division of Corrections and a jail guide.
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Florida
FAMU football wins fourth straight Florida Classic vs Bethune-Cookman in nail-biter | Takeaways
FAMU football defeated Bethune-Cookman 41-38 in the Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. The Rattlers have won four straight Florida Classic over in-state rivals Wildcats.
Florida A&M football still reigns supreme over Bethune-Cookman.
The Rattlers defeated the Wildcats 41-38 before a crowd of 56,453 football fans at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. It was FAMU’s fourth straight year beating its in-state rivals, Bethune-Cookman.
FAMU outgained Bethune-Cookman 487-416. The Rattlers erased a 21-17 halftime deficit to claim the victory.
FAMU running back Thad Franklin Jr. starred for the Rattlers, carrying the football 26 times for 195 yards and three touchdowns. Franklin’s performance earned the Florida Classic’s Most Valuable Player Award.
FAMU football Thad Franklin Jr. runs all over Florida Classic rivals Bethune-Cookman
FAMU heavily relied on its rushing attack.
The Rattlers rushed 47 times for 305 yards.
Behind Franklin’s MVP outing, Kelvin Dean Jr. also was productive on the ground. Dean added 14 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson picked his spots, completing 15 of 21 passes for 182 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. His top target was wide receiver Quan Lee, who had five catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
FAMU football tested by Bethune-Cookman in Florida Classic
The Rattlers got a run their money with the Wildcats’ rushing attack.
Bethune-Cookman rushed 44 times for 183 yards. Dennis Palmer led the Wildcats with 37 carries for 178 yards.
Despite that, FAMU had bent but don’t break situations.
For example, FAMU held up Bethune-Cookman in a critical drive after the Rattlers threw an interception with 8:10 left. Nay’Ron Jenkins tackled Bethune-Cookman running back Palmer for a loss to turn the ball over on downs on 4th and 1.
The Rattlers had six tackles for loss and an interception which was caught by Jenkins.
FAMU football’s special teams gives up yardage, touchdown vs Florida Classic rivals Bethune-Cookman
The Rattlers’ special teams unit put the team in compromising situations.
Bethune-Cookman gained 123 yards on kickoffs on five returns.
Those returns pushed FAMU’s defense back in some situations.
On punts, the Rattlers gave allowed Wildcats punt returner Maleek Huggins to return a 51-yarder in the first quarter.
Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.
Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.
The No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels have reinserted themselves into the College Football Playoff conversation, but in order to remain there, they have to win their final two regular season games, beginning on Saturday against the Florida Gators.
The Rebels (8-2, 4-2 SEC) have won three straight games since their overtime loss to LSU in Baton Rouge on Oct. 12, and after a bye week that followed a huge win over the Georgia Bulldogs, Ole Miss appears to be as healthy as it’s been all season entering this game against the Gators.
Running back Logan Diggs (who looked like he might see his first action as a Rebel this week after suffering an ACL injury last season with LSU) will not suit up in this game, but wide receiver Tre Harris is returning, and the Ole Miss defensive line appears to have a clean bill of health, according to the latest injury report from the Southeastern Conference.
According to the current betting odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, Ole Miss is a 12.5-point favorite in Saturday’s game against Florida. Can the Rebels pull off the road win and remain in the CFP hunt? Follow along below for in-game updates from the contest in Gainesville set to kick off at 11 a.m. CT.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
PREGAME
As noted above, Ole Miss is rather healthy entering this contest, outside of the running back position. Wide receiver Izaiah Hartrup and running backs Henry Parrish Jr., Logan Diggs and Rashad Amos are listed as “out” in this contest, but no other Rebel made the latest injury report. That’s a good sign for Lane Kiffin’s team as it enters a hostile road environment.
It was also announced on Thursday night that Ole Miss will be using one of its road uniform combinations for the third time this season: powder blue helmets, white jerseys and white pants. This particular combination with the new white jerseys has only been worn twice all-time (both of which resulted in wins during the 2024 campaign).
You can view the uniform below modeled by cornerback Trey Amos.
Iced out on the road ❄️#DripInTheSip | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/4Pada6aYWg
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 22, 2024
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