The Sentencing Project has issued a new report on the state
of criminal justice reform across the country.
The report, The State of
Sentencing 2015, was written by Nicole D. Porter, Director of Advocacy Sentencing. The findings include:
New Sentencing Laws: At least 12 states authorized new sentencing laws or
modified policy practices to address prison population growth. Nebraska
lawmakers abolished the death penalty; Connecticut reduced criminal penalties
for certain drug offenses; and Oklahoma’s governor directed parole officials to
establish a sentence reduction policy for persons sentenced to certain
mandatory penalties.
Mandatory sentencing
reform: Maryland, Oklahoma and North Dakota authorized sentencing judges to
depart from mandatory minimums in certain circumstances. These reforms
generally allow a departure from statutory mandatory minimums based on the
nature of the crime, mitigating circumstances, defendant’s character, and the
defendant’s chances of successful rehabilitation.
Probation and parole:
Lawmakers in at least six states – Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Montana,
Texas, and Utah – modified policies relating to community supervision. Included
among the law changes is statutory guidance designed to reduce returns to
prison for technical probation and parole violators.
Collateral
consequences: Officials in at least 14 states authorized changes in policy
and practice to the collateral impacts of a conviction. Notably, officials in
California restored voting rights to 60,000 people on probation supervision and
Kentucky reinstated voting rights to an estimated 100,000 citizens. Also,
Alabama lawmakers eliminated the federal lifetime ban on food and cash
assistance for persons with felony drug convictions, while Texas officials
modified the ban on food assistance. Other reforms included authorizing fair
chance hiring policies – “Ban the Box” -- for persons with criminal records in
at least five states. offenses; and Oklahoma’s governor directed parole officials
to establish a sentence reduction policy for persons sentenced to certain
mandatory penalties.
To read the full report CLICK HERE
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1 comment:
This is so wonderful to hear now if I can only get my nephew before the parole board in MI. He has been in prison almost 31 years, sentenced at 17 for breaking and entering and criminal sexual conduct.
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