A series of new Florida laws is taking effect on Wednesday, bringing several changes to the state’s criminal justice system.
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The new laws address everything from domestic violence to artificial intelligence to tougher restrictions on convicted sex offenders.
July 1 brought a wave of new laws in Florida, including tougher penalties for people convicted of domestic violence who go on to commit similar crimes again.
“Now, what we are going to see is individuals who have just one prior case are going to be dealing with felony sentences and exposures and significant prison time,” Erick Cruz said.
The goal is to deter future violence, like the tragedies that have rocked South Florida, where entire families have been killed
“Totally preventable. A miscarriage of justice,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
Another new criminal law signed by the governor is Missy’s Law.
It will require people convicted of certain violent crimes to be taken into custody immediately after a guilty verdict or plea, which will eliminate the possibility of remaining free on bond while awaiting sentencing.
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The law was passed after 5-year-old Missy was allegedly killed by her stepfather, who had been convicted of a sex crime, but was released on bond before he was sentenced.
“It forces the judge in serious cases to remand the person, to take the person into custody even though their cases face sentencing or pending the appeal,” Cruz said.
A new law will also restrict child sexual predators and offenders from living near public swimming pools, including those at apartment complexes and government facilities.
And as artificial intelligence continues to evolve, a new law will also go after those caught with AI-generated child porn.
These are some of the laws that are taking effect, and here are 11 more that you should know about.
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