Florida
Contact Information
No Place for a Child is a campaign that seeks to end the prosecution of children as adults in Florida – where more children are sent to adult prisons than in any other state. No Place for a Child is a diverse, nonpartisan coalition of organizations committed to bringing changes to Florida that have proven to be more effective for young people and the public.
Legislation
Bill Number: HB 7125
Type of Reform
Transfer Reform - This Act eliminated statutory exclusion (“mandatory direct file”) in Florida.
Year: 2019
Reports
Destined to Fail: How Florida Jails Deprive Children of Schooling (2018)
This report by the Southern Poverty Law Center details how many jails and school districts across Florida – which prosecutes more children as adults than any other state – fail to meet state and federal obligations by providing little to no education when children are locked up in adult facilities.
No Place for a Child: Direct File of Juveniles Comes at a High Cost; Time to Fix Statutes (2016)
This report by the James Madison Institute examines the financial cost of Florida’s “Direct File” law, finding that it is less expensive, and in the interests of public safety and fairness, to end the practice.
Branded for Life: Florida’s Prosecution of Children as Adults under its “Direct File” Statute (2014)
This report by Human Rights Watch is based in interviews with over 100 youth and family members of youth charged as adults by Florida prosecutors. It documents the harms caused by this practice and recommends that decisions to transfer children to the adult court should be made by judges.