The Sentencing Project recently released a new report, The State of Sentencing 2011: Developments in Policy and Practice, which tracks policy reforms from 29 states. Written by JPI’s State Advocacy Coordinator Nicole D. Porter, The State of Sentencing provides readers with the latest policy reform measures in the areas of sentencing, probation and parole, collateral consequences, juvenile justice, and the death penalty.
The following highlights offer a sample of 55 reforms that been made last year:
Sentence modifications - Four states -- Connecticut, Ohio, Nebraska, and North Dakota -- established sentence modification mechanisms that allow correctional officials to reduce the prison sentences of eligible prisoners;
Drug offense reforms - Four states -- Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, and Ohio -- revised penalties for certain drug offenses and authorized alternatives to prison as a sentencing option in specified circumstances. In addition, Idaho and Florida expanded the eligibility criteria for drug courts in order to expand their impact.
Death penalty - Illinois abolished the death penalty, becoming the sixteenth state to eliminate the sentencing option;
Probation revocation reforms - North Carolina restricted the use of prison as a sentencing option for certain persons who violate the conditions of probation;
Juvenile offender sentencing reforms - Georgia authorized sentence modifications for certain juvenile defendants with felony offenses by allowing judges to depart from the statutory range when considering the youth’s background.
Nicole D. Porter can be contacted at nporter@sentencingproject.org by individuals or organizations seeking support in their efforts to bring about state policy reform.
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