Tag: Mandatory Minimums
Tag: Mandatory Minimums
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The Importance of a Narrowly-Tailored Safety Valve
In the United States, there are criminal statutes which require sentences known as mandatory minimums sentences that are the lightest penalty a judge may give for a particular crime. Since…
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A Balanced Approach
Maryland Senate Bill 1005, colloquially known as the Justice Reinvestment Act, became law on May 18 with Governor Larry Hogan’s signature after passing the Maryland House of Delegates by an overwhelming…
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Iowa Passes Series of Criminal Justice Reforms
Iowa recently became another state to tackle criminal justice reform. Governor Terry Branstad on May 12, 2016 signed into law a criminal justice reform package that provides more leniency…
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Oklahoma Passes Four Criminal Justice Reform Measures
Oklahoma policymakers are well aware of the challenges facing the Sooner State’s criminal justice system, which include laying claim to the second-highest incarceration rate in the country. Legislators have concentrated on…
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New Report Shows Benefits of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing Reform at State Level
State prison systems have been unsuccessfully scrambling to keep pace with the increasing number of inmates since the 1980s. Many penal facilities throughout the country are significantly over-capacity and draining…
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California’s Golden Opportunity on Sentencing Reform
California Governor Jerry Brown has proposed a ballot initiative that aims to alleviate the state’s overcrowded prisons. Brown’s proposal will reduce the prison population by hastening prison release programs…
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Pew Notes a Number of States Are Examining Growing Prison Populations
The United States currently has the “highest incarceration rate in the world” and many states are examining ways in which to reduce their prison population. For example, Maryland,…
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Presidential Candidates Highlight Criminal Justice Reform
ALEC supports reducing incarceration rates by providing alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent, low-risk offenders. Furthermore, ALEC favors alternatives to mandatory minimums for offenders who meet certain criteria by giving greater sentencing discretion to judges.
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Justice Safety Valve Act
Model Policy {Title, enacting clause, etc.} {Section 1.} Title. This Act shall be known as the Justice Safety Valve Act. {Section 2.} Sentencing. (A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law,…