Bass, Caruso differ on crime issues and policing — but not as much as many think
By JILL HODGES STAFF WRITER
Published: Wednesday, March 29, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 29, 2013 at 6:21 p.m.
The Bass and Caruso administrations disagree on a range of issues, but the differences are not insurmountable.
At an April 15 news conference in Tallahassee, Bass pledged his commitment to improve the state’s criminal justice system and pledged his commitment to improving the state’s criminal justice system.
In turn, Caruso said, “I believe the criminal justice system works great. We have the strongest drug courts in the nation and a strong probation system, and we have some of the best jail space.”
Their differences, however, are not as wide as some people seem to believe.
Caruso and Bass, in turn, disagree on a number of issues related to police tactics, use of force, racial profiling and drug use. They are also divided when it comes to criminal justice reform.
In fact, Caruso said there may be issues he and Bass can agree on that the other can’t.
But many who disagree with Caruso and Bass are not talking about issues of criminal justice, but of politics.
On the issue of racial profiling, Caruso and Bass are in conflict over the use of stop and frisk in response to crime complaints. Caruso has used the technique, while Bass, for the most part, has not.
Both, however, believe it’s a useful method. What has been lacking is an analytical approach to stop and frisk. Caruso said, in fact, he would have done more stop and frisk in the four years he has been attorney general.
Bass disagreed and said he would have used the tactic more frequently. Still, he said he would do it only when the “targets”
