SENTENCING FIX

As highlighted in an April 4 editorial, Gloria Van Winkle and Paul
Goseland both are serving life in Kansas prisons for possession of
small amounts of cocaine under outdated "three strikes"
mandatory-minimum rules.

Some good news last week: Corrections officials entered court motions
to reduce the sentences for both inmates, which would make them
eligible for parole this year.

At the same time, it's unclear how many other nonviolent, drug-related
offenders are serving longer sentences than needed for justice to be
served.

A thorough review of the prison population, as well as sentencing and
inmate classification guidelines, is needed before the state
undertakes expensive new prison construction projects.