ORLANDO, Fla. — Sending a message to “career criminals” and repeat violent offenders. That’s the goal of a new “Career Criminal Unit” created at the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

Now, attorneys are volunteering to push sentencing enhancements forward in provable felony cases.

Previously, it was up to the individual assistant state attorneys to determine sentencing enhancements.

These new enhancements impose harsher penalties.

They allow the judge to sentence someone beyond what the statute allows and increases or extends it to a maximum sentence, based on how often certain crimes were committed.

“It’s actually an extra duty on top of what we do every day,” said Jamie McManus, the Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney for the Ninth Circuit.

The team reviews incoming felony cases to make sure felony crime cases are screened for sentencing enhancements and figure out which cases may qualify for more than just minimum penalties.

It means looking at a defendant’s criminal history.

McManus is one of three attorneys forming part of the newly created “Career Criminal Unit.”

The hope of the new program is to seek a sentence that reflects not only the crime but also the criminal career of that person. 

It’s something criminal defense attorney Jose Rivas says will have a direct effect on defendants.

“This is going to affect individuals who have been released from prison,” he said. “At the beginning of the case, when the individual is charged, the state is going to make a determination whether they’re going to be seeking the enhancement.”

He says these enhancements will mean an increase in the minimum penalties and likely, a lot more work, caseload and depositions on both sides.

“What used to be the maximum, for example, a third degree felony, five-year maximum, now is the minimum,” Rivas said. “Under this new team, they will seek a lot more cases to enhance the penalty, which means it’s a lot greater risk for anyone that’s arrested.”

Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney Andrew Bain says they chose experienced attorneys for this unit

“It doesn’t take them a long time to get through the process of reviewing cases for enhancements, and so it allows us to be multifaceted in how we’re using our staff,” he said.

The process starts soon after an arrest.

“So, when somebody is charged with a felony crime that qualifies, that’s when the unit kicks in, to review the person’s criminal record review,” said Bain.

McManus says it’s important that people who are continuing to victimize others get the message. 

“With the availability of sentencing enhancements, some of them actually required, we’re able to ensure that if you’ve come through the system multiple times, that there will be an end that there will come a time that, that was your last offense,” she said.

The goal is to protect the community and preserve public safety.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that we can continue to separate those that tend to harm our community and commit violent acts,” said Bain.

The state attorney says sentencing enhancements are a crucial tool against repeat offenders.

“These are people that are intended on harming our community, either by destroying property, taking property from people or hurting killing and maiming people,” said Bain.

Florida Statute mandates each state attorney’s office establish a career criminal prosecution unit.

Certain offenses, such as burglary, robbery, carjacking and firearm offenses, would qualify for different categories of enhancements.

Florida statutes 775.084 and 775.082 describe the enhancements and offenses subject to enhanced penalties.

Ruben Saldaña, a consultant for Orange County’s Credible Messengers Movement and a life coach, says he understands the reason behind State Attorney Andrew Bain’s new career criminal unit.

Orange County says credible messengers may be former criminal gang members who work directly with underserved and disenfranchised youth as unique mentors.

“He’s just doing his job, which is enforcing the laws that are already in place,” said Saldaña. “To me, the cure is prevention before detention. Let’s start changing the narrative. Let’s get to these young minds.”

Saldaña spent 19 years in prison after being sent there, at 16 years old.

“At a very young age, I was also labeled a career criminal,” he said.

Saldaña recounts he needed several second chances and believes harsher penalties don’t change criminal behavior.

“A criminal does not give a damn. You’re not going to scare criminals with triple enhancements. They don’t care, a criminal is doing this in the act of desperation,” said Saldaña.

Overall, he’s calling on those caught in the criminal justice system to seek support, and he’s calling on the community for more grassroots organizations with credible messengers.

Spectrum News reached out to Former State Attorney Monique Worrell for comment about whether a similar program was in place under her leadership.

“Under the Worrell administration, we had a violent crime unit that targeted repeat offenders and had bi-weekly meetings with the major law enforcement agencies and the U.S. attorney’s office to tackle this issue. These units and practices accomplished what’s set out in the statute, and across the state, you’ll see other offices responded similarly,” said Worrell in an email to Spectrum News on Friday, June 28.