Post by Logan on Apr 9, 2016 2:44:10 GMT -6
Appeals court rules longer sentences for gang members are unconstitutional
When the Tennessee General Assembly voted in 2012 to pass a new state law that automatically increased sentences for some criminal gang members, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said the move would "cut the heart out" of the city's worst gangs.
He and other Chattanooga leaders had championed the bill, which was designed to levy significantly heavier sentences against gang members who committed particular — and mostly violent — crimes.
But on Thursday, a Tennessee appeals court struck down a key part of the law and ruled that automatically increasing the sentencing range for a defendant solely because the person is a gang member is unconstitutional.
The court ruled the law would be acceptable if it specified that gang members would face enhanced sentences for gang-related offenses.
Read more: www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/apr/09/court-rules-against-gang-sentencing-law/359370/
When the Tennessee General Assembly voted in 2012 to pass a new state law that automatically increased sentences for some criminal gang members, Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield said the move would "cut the heart out" of the city's worst gangs.
He and other Chattanooga leaders had championed the bill, which was designed to levy significantly heavier sentences against gang members who committed particular — and mostly violent — crimes.
But on Thursday, a Tennessee appeals court struck down a key part of the law and ruled that automatically increasing the sentencing range for a defendant solely because the person is a gang member is unconstitutional.
The court ruled the law would be acceptable if it specified that gang members would face enhanced sentences for gang-related offenses.
Read more: www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/apr/09/court-rules-against-gang-sentencing-law/359370/