Post by Logan on Apr 10, 2016 2:25:39 GMT -6
Maryland lawmakers are poised to vote on sweeping reforms to the state's criminal justice system in the final hours of their annual legislative session on Monday.
The Justice Reinvestment Act will push more low-level drug offenders into treatment, create an easier path for some inmates to be released sooner, limit the amount of time parole violators spend behind bars, remove some mandatory minimum sentences and allow people to expunge more convictions from their criminal record.
At the same time, the act also will create tougher sentences for second-degree murder and abuse that results in a child's death, and add a racketeering statute that could be used to prosecute gang members who distribute drugs.
Altogether, the series of changes is designed to reduce the prison population and save money that can be plowed into drug treatment and programs that keep people from landing back in jail.
Read more: www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-as-time-runs-short-lawmakers-continue-work-on-justice-reinvestment-20160409-story.html
The Justice Reinvestment Act will push more low-level drug offenders into treatment, create an easier path for some inmates to be released sooner, limit the amount of time parole violators spend behind bars, remove some mandatory minimum sentences and allow people to expunge more convictions from their criminal record.
At the same time, the act also will create tougher sentences for second-degree murder and abuse that results in a child's death, and add a racketeering statute that could be used to prosecute gang members who distribute drugs.
Altogether, the series of changes is designed to reduce the prison population and save money that can be plowed into drug treatment and programs that keep people from landing back in jail.
Read more: www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-as-time-runs-short-lawmakers-continue-work-on-justice-reinvestment-20160409-story.html