Reason: 20 Years in Prison for Florida Man Who Swiped $600 Worth of Cigarettes

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Florida needs sentencing reform, and a case documented last year by former Reason Foundation Director of Criminal Justice Reform Lauren Krisai shows why. In December 2015, Latasha Wingster stole less than $15 worth of wine coolers from Walmart, but due to two prior petty theft convictions, her third offense was classified as a felony. As a result, Wingster was sentenced to two years behind bars.

Spellman's case isn't as egregious as that one, but Krisai, who now works at the Justice Action Network, says it reflects the same set of policy failures. "Instead of getting him the help he needs—whether that's mental health treatment, drug treatment, or other social services—he's been sentenced to serve 20 years in prison for a petty, nonviolent offense," she says. She adds that "while other states have started reforming their sentencing laws and focusing on alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders, Florida hasn't budged."

https://reason.com/2018/09/24/20-year-prison-sentence-for-florida-man/