Opinion ID: 2538196
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The 10-20-Life Statute

Text: Section 775.087, Florida Statutes, commonly referred to as the 10-20-Life statute, provides for mandatory minimum sentences for offenders who possess or use a firearm in some manner during the commission of certain crimes. As explained by this Court, in enacting the 10-20-Life statute, the Legislature has very clearly mandated that it is the policy of this State to deter the criminal use of firearms. McDonald v. State, 957 So.2d 605, 611 (Fla. 2007). This mandate is underscored by the widespread promulgation of the 10-20-LIFE law beyond mere statutory notice, through television commercials, posters, and other forms of advertising. Id. To that end, the statute requires the imposition of a mandatory minimum sentence where a firearm is possessed or used during the commission of certain enumerated crimes, including murder and attempted murder. § 775.087(2)(a)(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (2004). The mandatory minimum sentences differ depending on whether the defendant possessed the firearm, discharged the firearm, or discharged the firearm and inflicted death or great bodily harm. If the defendant possessed a firearm during the commission of an enumerated offense, he or she shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years unless the enumerated offense is aggravated assault, possession of a firearm by a felon, or burglary of a conveyance; if so, the defendant shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of 3 years. § 775.087(2)(a)(1), Fla. Stat. If the defendant discharged a firearm during the commission of an enumerated offense, he or she shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of 20 years. § 775.087(2)(a)(2), Fla. Stat. The statutory provision at issue in this case involves the situation where the defendant discharged a firearm that resulted in death or great bodily harm, and provides: Any person who is convicted of a felony or an attempt to commit a felony listed in sub-subparagraphs (a)1.a.-q., regardless of whether the use of a weapon is an element of the felony, and during the course of the commission of the felony such person discharged a firearm or destructive device as defined in s. 790.001 and, as the result of the discharge, death or great bodily harm was inflicted upon any person, the convicted person shall be sentenced to a minimum term of imprisonment of not less than 25 years and not more than a term of imprisonment of life in prison. § 775.087(2)(a)(3), Fla. Stat. (emphasis added). [4] Subsection (2)(b) provides that the mandatory minimum sentences in subsections (2)(a)(1), (2)(a)(2), and (2)(a)(3) do not prevent a court from imposing a longer sentence as authorized by law in addition to the mandatory minimum sentence and that the defendant is not eligible for early release or gain time prior to serving the minimum sentence: Subparagraph (a)1., subparagraph (a)2., or subparagraph (a)3. does not prevent a court from imposing a longer sentence of incarceration as authorized by law in addition to the minimum mandatory sentence, or from imposing a sentence of death pursuant to other applicable law. Subparagraph (a)1., subparagraph (a)2., or subparagraph (a)3. does not authorize a court to impose a lesser sentence than otherwise required by law. Notwithstanding s. 948.01, adjudication of guilt or imposition of sentence shall not be suspended, deferred, or withheld, and the defendant is not eligible for statutory gain-time under s. 944.275 or any form of discretionary early release, other than pardon or executive clemency, or conditional medical release under s. 947.149, prior to serving the minimum sentence. § 775.087(2)(b), Fla. Stat. Subsection (2)(c) addresses the situation where the minimum terms of imprisonment mandated in subsection (2) either exceed or are less than the sentences that could be imposed under section 775.082, section 775.084, Florida Statutes (2004), or the Criminal Punishment Code in chapter 921, Florida Statutes (2004): If the minimum mandatory terms of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this section exceed the maximum sentences authorized by s. 775.082, s. 775.084, or the Criminal Punishment Code under chapter 921, then the mandatory minimum sentence must be imposed. If the mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment pursuant to this section are less than the sentences that could be imposed as authorized by s. 775.082, s. 775.084, or the Criminal Punishment Code under chapter 921, then the sentence imposed by the court must include the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment as required in this section. § 775.087(2)(c), Fla. Stat. Subsection (2)(d) clearly states that it is the intent of the Legislature to punish those offenders who possess or use firearms to the fullest extent of the law: It is the intent of the Legislature that offenders who actually possess, carry, display, use, threaten to use, or attempt to use firearms or destructive devices be punished to the fullest extent of the law, and the minimum terms of imprisonment imposed pursuant to this subsection shall be imposed for each qualifying felony count for which the person is convicted. The court shall impose any term of imprisonment provided for in this subsection consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed for any other felony offense. § 775.087(2)(d), Fla. Stat.