Pubdate: Tue, 06 Mar 2001
Source: News-Times, The (CT)
Copyright: 2001 The News-Times
Contact:  333 Main Street, Danbury CT 06810
Fax: (203) 792-8730
Feedback: http://www.newstimes.com/edit/letters.htm
Website: http://www.newstimes.com/
Author: Robert White

MANDATORY SENTENCING REQUIRES NEW REFORMS

I am writing to ask you to support SB 1160, a bill to allow more 
judicial discretion in sentencing nonviolent offenders.

Mandatory minimums have not actually reduced sentencing discretion. 
Instead, control has simply been transferred from judges to 
prosecutors.

Prosecutors, not judges, determine whether to reduce a charge, 
whether to accept a plea bargain, and whether to reward a defendant's 
cooperation in a case against someone else. These decisions 
ultimately determine what the final sentence will be.

Please consider writing to your state senator and representative 
concerning SB 1160. This can be done online at www.mpp.org/CT (the 
Marijuana Policy Project).

Robert White
DANBURY
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