Pubdate: Sun, 18 May 2003 Source: Montgomery Advertiser (AL) Copyright: 2003sThe Advertiser Co. Contact: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1088 MUCH WORK AHEAD FOR SENTENCING LAWS MOBILE -- Attorney General Bill Pryor told a meeting of Mobile lawyers that there's much work ahead on reforming Alabama's sentencing laws. Pryor told the Mobile Bar Association members Friday that state sentencing laws are in need of an overhaul. He said his office is working hard on the task. Pryor, 41, a Mobile Republican, said under the present system the time a criminal will serve on a sentence is only about one-third of his actual sentence. "Everyone feels frustrated by it," Pryor said. He said more rational sentences and deeper considerations for community-based and alternative sentencing programs, such as drug court, are essential in improving the state's costly and overcrowded penal system. While bills are pending before the Legislature that could bring about this sentencing reform, and which apparently stand good chances of becoming law, Pryor said, there is much work ahead. - --- MAP posted-by: Tom