|
Newsbrief:
Connecticut
Democrats
to
Propose
Sentencing
Reforms
9/12/03
The Hartford Courant reported
Tuesday that Democratic state legislators will propose major sentencing
reforms during a special session next month in order to reduce the number
of prisoners and the size of the state's $577 million prison budget.
Earlier this year, Democratic legislative leaders failed to pass a similar
measure, instead caving in to Republicans, who did not want to bring the
issue to a vote.
A draft proposal of the legislation
made available to the Courant calls for:
-
Mandatory parole for most offenses
and early parole for others.
-
Elimination of mandatory minimum
sentences for drug offenses and certain other nonviolent crimes.
-
Reduction in the sentencing
disparity between crack and powder cocaine.
-
The judicial branch and parole
board to submit plans to reduce by 25% the number of parolees sent back
to prison for technical violations, such as failing a drug test or missing
a meeting with the parole officer.
According to the most recent
statistics from the CT Dept. of Correction (http://www.doc.state.ct.us/report/stat20030701.htm),
nearly 3,000 of the state's 19,000 prisoners are drug offenders.
Another 2,293 were serving time for parole violations. Connecticut
taxpayers shell out $72.73 per prisoner per day to keep them there.
-- END --
|
Issue #302, 9/12/03
Oops! -- "Killer
Ecstasy" Study Retracted, NIDA Credibility on the Line, RAVE Act Still
Law |
Marijuana
as Budget Saver? Study Looks at Implications of Legalization in Massachusetts |
Current Action
Alerts: Medical Marijuana, Plan Colombia, HEA, Ashcroft's Attack
on Judicial Discretion |
Perry Fund
Accepting Applications for 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 School Years, Providing
Scholarships for Students Losing Aid Because of Drug Convictions |
Newsbrief:
Human Rights Watch Calls California's Anti-Syringe Laws a Violation of
Human Rights, Details Police Harassment of Exchanges |
Arianna Huffington
Speaks at UC Berkeley SSDP-Volunteer-Organized Event |
Newsbrief:
Tommy Chong Sentenced to Nine Months on Bong Charges |
Newsbrief:
This Week's Corrupt Cops Story |
Newsbrief:
West Africa Drug War -- Business As Usual, Except for the Lizards |
Newsbrief:
Canadian Cities Federation Stays Firm in Support of Cannabis Decrim |
Newsbrief:
New Mexico Church Wins Ruling in Ayahuasca Case |
Newsbrief:
Pakistani Prison Officials Call for Different Treatment of Drug Offenders |
Newsbrief:
Dutch Government Seeks to Ban Cops from Enjoying Coffee Shops |
Newsbrief:
Connecticut Democrats to Propose Sentencing Reforms |
The Reformer's
Calendar
|
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