by Kathleen Haughney
The News Service of Florida
The state’s court system could see an $8 million increase under a budget proposed by Gov. Charlie Crist Friday, a major boost to the state’s judiciary, which has been overburdened with budget cuts and an increased caseloads in the past few years.
The governor included $5.2 billion for public safety in his proposed budget, including $2.4 billion for corrections, $608 million for juvenile justice and $459.8 million for the state court system.
“It isn’t fun to invest in prisons, but it sure is important to do,” Crist said.
The entire justice system has been struggling under budget cuts over the past few years. Sen. Victor Crist (R-Tampa) told members of the Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations Committee a few weeks ago that they were likely looking at “unprecedented cuts” to the system.
The court system, along with the Florida Bar and members of the business community, have been lobbying lawmakers hard over the past year to fund the court system more thoroughly. According to the Office of State Trial Court Administrator, the trial courts saw 4.6 million cases last year, an increase of 13 percent from two years ago.
The courts were largely spared in last year’s budget, but the growing caseload has been particularly hard for the courts to manage. Chief Justice Peggy Quince released an opinion last year saying the courts needed 68 new judges to meet the demand created by the rising number of cases. She will release an update on that number this spring.
The state is looking at about a $3 billion shortfall for the upcoming year. The governor has proposed trust fund sweeps and a variety of other measures to balance the budget, but there’s no guarantee that lawmakers will sign on.
Several agency officials released statements of support following Crist’s budget roll out, praising the increases he suggested, despite the uncertainty of what the actual budget may look like by the end of the legislative process.
The proposed corrections budget includes $3.19 million to open three re-entry centers in Baker, Miami-Dade and Gadsden counties, as well as $9.8 million for a female reception center with a mental health unit in Marion County and $6 million to address prison maintenance issues.
“I’m particularly pleased that Governor Crist has recommended funding for the operation of three re-entry centers, which will ultimately save millions by reducing recidivism by probationers and inmates alike,” said Corrections Secretary Walt McNeil in a news release. “Currently, one of every three inmates released from state prison returns within three years. These re-entry centers will go a long way to reduce that recidivism rate by providing inmates and offenders with the tools to get an education, learn a trade, curb their substance abuse and become productive citizens upon release.”
The Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Committee and its House counterpart will both be meeting on Thursday to take up the governor’s budget recommendations and continue with a number of other budget exercises, including looking at member priorities and cost savings alternatives.