You put the most violent people in prison for a long time. The nonviolent property offenders below the incarceration line on the sentencing grid are punished at the community level. Topeka police Lt. Sidwell noted that forgery, another property crime, was becoming one of the department's biggest problems and was growing quickly. The burglar then uses the checks and credit cards, he said.
Forgery is one of the lowest level crimes on the Kansas sentencing grid.
And from what I hear from them, I think they feel the penalties for property crimes should be stiffened. We're saying they're not going to be incarcerated in a state correctional facility. You look at someone writing checks and yes, that's wrong, and it does cost society because of insurance, but it's not a threat to one's person. Tombs had her own encounter with crime during the 1997 Christmas season when a burglar kicked in the door of her home and stole her Christmas gifts. Yes, I was angry.