Public Safety

One of the core responsibilities of state government is keeping the people of Florida safe from the threat of crime. We can do that by putting more law enforcement officers on our streets and combating important public safety issues like gang violence, Internet sexual predators, illegal drug distribution and domestic violence.

Darrin McGillis Commitment

• I will keep the most dangerous criminals off of the streets by proposing an amendment to the Florida Constitution that will mirror federal bail laws and permit pre-trial preventive detention based on public safety concerns.

• I will make our streets safer and reduce recidivism by more aggressively enforcing stricter prison terms for violent offenders and requiring drug rehabilitation and vocational training for non-violent drug offenders.

• I will create new programs that provide alternatives to gang membership, facilitated by community groups, faith-based groups, and other local institutions.

• I will change parole law to ensure violent offenders serve their entire period of imprisonment.

Making Our Communities Safer

Darrin McGillis has always been a strong supporter of Florida's law enforcement community.

A McGillis administration will pursue an aggressive legislative agenda that will put more police officers on our streets, combat gang violence, illegal drug distribution and Internet sexual predators.

Darrin's Safe Neighborhoods and Communities program focuses on efforts to combat these critical concerns of the public.

Safe Neighborhoods and Communities Program

More Police Officers on Our Streets

• Putting more law enforcement officers on our streets by increasing state funding for local law enforcement positions

• Increasing the salary and benefits of Florida's law enforcement professionals

Combating Gang Violence

• Providing additional funding for Florida's Regional Gang Task Forces

• Increasing penalties for people involved in gang violence

• Implementing programs to divert young people from gangs and get them involved in positive alternatives

• Enhancing penalties for gang related crimes

Combating Internet Sexual Predators and Child Pornography

• Providing additional funding for Florida's Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and expanding these task forces to other regions of the state,

Ending the Cycle of Illegal Drug Abuse

• Implement effective programs to rehabilitate habitual abusers from drug dependence and help integrate them back into society

• Crackdown on prescription drug abuse and close loopholes that allow illegal online drug purchases

Protecting Women and Children at Home

• Increasing penalties for acts of domestic abuse that are committed in the presence of a minor

• Mandatory counseling for persons convicted of domestic abuse

• Mandatory incarceration for persons convicted of stalking or the violation of a restraining order

Crimes Against the Elderly

• As Governor, Darrin will advocate for additional min-mandatory sentences against those who prey on the elderly, while at the same time making sure that elderly victims who have been scammed of their life savings have an expedited resolution in criminal court cases. If the offender has the ability to pay restitution immediately, the Courts should allow plea deals that protect the public and help the victim. An elderly victim needs restitution immediately

• Elderly Crime Prevention Information Click here

Cannabis (Marijuana)

In the below NBC News clip Darrin is quoted for being in support of legalizing marijuana (personal use amounts). This is true, except that Darrin replaces the current law with a fine of five ($5,000) thousand dollars versus being arrested, charged and convicted of a criminal offense.

This will only apply to personal use amounts, and any person caught with amounts that are not personal use amounts will face Felony arrest and conviction.

The goal is to take the resources of professional Law Enforcement away from what is a minor criminal offense and fine those caught with personal use amounts $5,000 - we can use the money collected to put more Law Enforcement officers on the streets to combat the very serious illegal drug distribution problem we have in Florida.

Make no mistake Darrin is for stiff prison terms for any person selling drugs to minors and persons less than 21 years of age, including the sale of marijuana. If you sell drugs to kids in Florida, you will go to jail for a very long time under a McGillis administration.

It's time for commonsense laws and to help our Law Enforcement professionals get properly funded.

We must declare a War on illegal drug distribution in the State of Florida.

War Against Child Sexual Predators

We must protect Florida’s children from sexual predators

As Governor I will seek to make all child sexual assaults committed by any one over the age of 21-years-old against any child under 18-years-old, a capital offense.

Prosecutors need the death penalty on the table to get plea deals for life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In child sex crimes prosecutors are faced with vulnerable victims who either can’t or won’t testify against a sexual predator (a child rapist). In almost all cases a child victim will be traumatized further by having to recount the horrific crime. Sometimes the evidence is not as strong as the prosecutor would like.

As Governor I will give prosecutors in Florida the tools they need to keep a child rapist behind bars for life and when warranted the tools to seek a death sentence.

As Governor, all sexual assault (rape) of any adult person in Florida, the offender will face a min-mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

As Governor, no bail (no bond) will be permitted on all cases of sexual assault (rape) were the suspects DNA is found on or near the victim.

As Governor, no plea deals for sexual predators which does not include voluntary castration. If the offender is indigent the state will pay for the castration of those convicted sexual predators who voluntarily seek help.

As Governor, Darrin will prohibit probation or parole transfers into Florida, in which the person was convicted in the sending State of a sex crime.

As Governor, Darrin will advocate legislation that will make it a felony to enter the State of Florida while having a unresolved criminal charge for a sex crime outside the State of Florida.

Geraldo Rivera says it best, If you are innocent of wrong doing, you will submit to a Police polygraph examination, innocent people fully cooperate with law enforcement. The fact is innocent people do not refuse a polygraph examination.

It’s time to get serious about ridding our streets of sexual predators.