A bill in the Oregon Legislature proposes major reforms to the state's criminal justice system. House Bill 2002 is a sweeping measure that would scale back the system's reach, from limiting what offenses send a person to jail, to reforming mandatory minimum sentences, to reducing the number of people on parole. Shannon Wight, deputy director of the Partnership for Safety and Justice, one of the groups that requested the bill, said the changes are needed. "Those are the part of the bill that actually kind of shrink the system, limit its impact because we know it's grown too big," Wight contended. "It's become like the mental health default, the addiction default." Wight pointed out the bill came together in the wake of George Floyd's death. She emphasized it would save money to be reinvested in things like culturally-specific services. Other groups involved in the effort include the Latino Network, Coalition of Communities of Color, and Red L
OR Bill Proposes Big Shift in Criminal Justice publicnewsservice.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from publicnewsservice.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Reviewing Measure 11: Advocates seek reform, prosecutors argue it works fine
Oregon s landmark mandatory sentencing law, Measure 11, is about to go under scrutiny by state legislators this week. Advocates of criminal justice reform have four bills that would change the way those convicted of serious crimes are sentenced.
The first of those bills, House Bill 2002, has a public hearing scheduled in the House Committee of Judiciary on Tuesday.
But Oregon s District Attorneys Association is determined to fend off the bills, saying in a recent report Measure 11 continues to protect communities, provides justice to victims and issues reasonable sentences to the state s most violent offenders based on conduct, not color.
Voters support Measure 11 but open to reducing some sentences, poll finds bendbulletin.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bendbulletin.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.