|
|---|
Newshawk: Herb
Pubdate: Sun, 06 Jul 2008
Source: Clarion-Ledger, The (Jackson, MS)
Copyright: 2008 The Clarion-Ledger
Contact: http://www.clarionledger.com/news/about/letters.html
Website: http://www.clarionledger.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/805
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?159 (Drug Courts)
DRUG COURTS: A BETTER MOUSETRAP?
Gov. Haley Barbour signed a bill into law earlier this year to
restore common sense to sentencing in the criminal courts - making
some 7,000 inmates eligible for parole by relaxing sentencing guidelines.
Senate Bill 2136 relaxed the state's so-called 85-percent rule,
passed in an ill-advised moment in 1994 when the Legislature took the
federal government's "get tough on crime" challenge and raised it.
The so-called "Truth in Sentencing" law was the result of a
nationwide push for tougher sentencing, and Mississippi lawmakers
responded. This newspaper supported the law. Famous last words: It
seemed like a good idea at the time.
[Remainder snipped]
MAP posted-by: Steve Heath
| Prev | US OR: Petitions Slide Through Legal Loophole | Get The Facts DrugWarFacts.org |
|---|---|---|
| Next | US MS: OPED: Judge: Drug Court Works |