Pleadthe8th

09/29/2025

05/14/2025

A reminder during National Police Week:

Police contact of any kind is not innocuous. Most police killings start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.

05/08/2025

5/8/2025 Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Muniz: "Maybe someone needs to rethink how that statute should be written."
▶ 11 years later and still no action from the Florida legislature.
▶ The issues with § 921.1402 – the law meant to review sentences for those incarcerated as juveniles – are undeniable.
▶ It’s time for the legislature to act.

05/08/2025

Now: SC2024-0380 Corey B. Johnson v. State of Florida
Begins at 9:00 a.m.

This case challenges an appellate court’s decision about the constitutionality of sentencing a juvenile defendant to consecutive life sentences. The Fourth District Court of Appeal certified conflict with a decision of the Second District Court of Appeal.

Case summaries for today's cases can be found here:https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/News-Media/Case-Summaries-Schedule/May-2025-Summaries

04/16/2025

Today, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Florida’s parole system is constitutional—despite the fact that only 1% of juvenile lifers are granted parole yearly.

The Court’s decision continues to uphold a system that offers hope in theory but none in practice. And while they may justify it with legal technicalities and claim it’s not a sham—we see it clearly for what it is:

A sham. And a greenlight for Florida to keep ignoring growth, maturity, and redemption.

The discrepancy between Atwell resentencings and FCOR hearings: 98 were released in just 2 years by the courts—yet FCOR has only released 24 in the past 13 years.

📜Ruling: https://media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/files/202310858.pdf

02/03/2025

We recently attended the Florida Commission on Offender Review hearing for J.D., who has been incarcerated for 32 years for a crime committed at just 15 years old—yet Florida’s parole system continues to ignore his rehabilitation and maturity.

Florida’s parole system for juveniles is broken—it exists on paper but does not provide a meaningful opportunity for release, despite the U.S. Supreme Court repeatedly stating that maturity and rehabilitation must be considered for youth.

Yet instead of considering Joseph’s decades of growth, his clean record for 17 years, and his rehabilitation efforts, they focused only on his original crime at age 15.

🎧 Take 20 minutes to listen to the hearing and see for yourself.
📲 Watch now— https://youtu.be/13j5mgjEAWo

https://youtu.be/13j5mgjEAWo

Florida’s parole system for juveniles is broken—it exists on paper but does not provide a meaningful opportunity for release based on maturity and rehabilita...

01/31/2025

They call it 'life with parole,' but in Florida, parole is just an illusion—something that exists on paper, not in reality. This is why Florida’s parole system for juveniles is being challenged in federal court and why parole-eligible youth must be included in the juvenile review law.

A system that never actually grants parole is unconstitutional. Where is the meaningful opportunity for release based on maturity and rehabilitation? The law must change to ensure all children—whether sentenced to parole or not—have a fair second chance.

01/01/2025

Goodbye 2024, hello 2025! 🎆 Happy New Year! 🎇

12/25/2024

Wishing you peace, hope, and joy this holiday season 💙

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas Eve & Happy Holidays 🎄🎇🎁🎅🏽

12/16/2024

🚀 Your current situation is not your final destination.

12/03/2024

Today is Giving Tuesday, the biggest donation day of the year! Want to take part in this day of generosity? Your support helps us reform Florida’s system for those incarcerated as children. Every contribution makes an impact! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽⚖
💙Donate: pleadthe8th.com/donate
💙CashApp: $pleadthe8th