Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2005
Source: Virginian-Pilot (VA)
Copyright: 2005, The Virginian-Pilot
Contact:  http://www.pilotonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/483
Author: Christina Nuckols, The Virginian-Pilot
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing)

CANDIDATE WANTS TOUGH PENALTIES FOR NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS

RICHMOND -- Steve Baril, a lawyer seeking the GOP nomination for attorney 
general this year, said Monday that he wants to toughen criminal sentences 
for nonviolent offenders.

Baril said defendants convicted of stealing and drug offenses too 
frequently avoid jail time. He said he was uncertain how much it would cost 
to put more non violent criminals behind bars, but he noted that they 
represent 85 percent of all prosecutions in Virginia.

Tough-on-crime measures frequently have large price tags. For example, the 
General Assembly this year rejected a proposal to impose five-year 
mandatory sentences on all convictions for cocaine sales after learning 
that the measure would require as many as four new prisons during six 
years, inflating the corrections budget by $85 million annually.

Baril criticized the state's sentencing guidelines, used by judges to 
ensure consistent punishments across the state for specific crimes.

He said the guidelines ignore penalties recommended by juries, typically 
harsher than those imposed in bench trials.

Richard P. Kern, director of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, 
said his agency considers all penalties, including those in jury trials, 
then weeds out the toughest and most lenient sentences so that the 
guidelines represent a mid-range.

Baril's opponent for the nomination is Del. Robert F. McDonnell, R-Virginia 
Beach. McDonnell said the guidelines are being revised this year to ensure 
fairness, but he said the system is generally successful in imposing the 
harshest penalties on the most dangerous criminals.

He said judges are free to exceed the guidelines when tougher penalties are 
merited.

Baril spoke at a luncheon fund-raiser. Campaign staffers said they hoped to 
raise more than $250,000 at the event.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager