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                                    Playbook For Change? States Reconsider Mandatory Sentences

      

                    
          
    Playbook for Change? States Reconsider Mandatory Sentences
“Since 2000, at least 29 states have taken steps to roll back mandatory sentences, with 32 bills passed in just the last five years. Most legislative activity has focused on adjusting penalties for nonviolent drug offenses through the use of one or a combination of the following reform approaches: 1) expanding judicial discretion through the creation of so-called “safety value” provisions, 2) limiting automatic sentence enhancements, and 3) repealing or revising mandatory minimum sentences. In this policy report, Vera’s Center on Sentencing and Corrections summarizes state-level mandatory sentencing reforms since 2000, raises questions about their impact, and offers recommendations to jurisdictions considering similar efforts.” This report contains these sections: introduction; background; new approaches to mandatory sentences; the impact of reforms; research and policy considerations; and future directions.Accession Number
              027905

  Download Links
          Read more on VERA.org

  Publication Year
              2014

  Length
              28 pages

  Authors
          Ram Subramanian
          Ruth Delaney

  Sources
          Vera Institute of Justice (New York NY)
Tags
    Mandatory sentencing
          State legislation
          Legislation Return to top

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