News (Media Awareness Project) - US SC: House, Senate Are At Odds Over Sentencing Bill |
| Title: | US SC: House, Senate Are At Odds Over Sentencing Bill |
| Published On: | 2002-03-08 |
| Source: | Charlotte Observer (NC) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-24 18:31:11 |
HOUSE, SENATE ARE AT ODDS OVER SENTENCING BILL
COLUMBIA - Three senators and three representatives drew battle lines
Thursday over a truth-in-sentencing bill -- revealing clear divisions
on crack-cocaine punishments and which crimes should be covered.
The House legislation, written by House Speaker David Wilkins,
R-Greenville, extends the current truth-in-sentencing law to all
convicts. It says they must serve 100 percent of their sentences, but
can reduce that time to 85 percent if they get work, education and
behavior credits. Under current law, that standard is applied to
crimes with sentences of 20 years or more.
The Senate altered that. It imposed the sentencing standard only on
major crimes involving sentences of 15 years or more, as well as on
three crimes carrying 10-year sentences: assault and battery of a
high and aggravated nature, criminal domestic violence and
third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Along the way, the Senate also agreed to lower penalties for crack
cocaine, making them consistent with state penalties for powder
cocaine. That change was crucial in getting black senators to allow a
vote on the bill.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, tried to
persuade Senate conferees to lower the sentencing threshold below 15
years to cover all felonies, but exclude misdemeanors.
"We had a tough enough time getting 15," said Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.
The state still hasn't determined the full cost of the
truth-in-sentencing on crimes calling for 20 years or more in prison,
he said.
Harrison, leading the House conferees, said he would have "a
difficult time getting a bill passed that lowered the penalty for
crack cocaine."
About 21 percent of people in prisons statewide are there for serious
drug offenses, according the Corrections Department. Among black men
and women, more than 27 percent are in prison on "dangerous drug"
offenses, according to the Corrections Department.
It is unclear how many are serving time for crack-cocaine convictions.
The conferees will take up the bill again Tuesday.
COLUMBIA - Three senators and three representatives drew battle lines
Thursday over a truth-in-sentencing bill -- revealing clear divisions
on crack-cocaine punishments and which crimes should be covered.
The House legislation, written by House Speaker David Wilkins,
R-Greenville, extends the current truth-in-sentencing law to all
convicts. It says they must serve 100 percent of their sentences, but
can reduce that time to 85 percent if they get work, education and
behavior credits. Under current law, that standard is applied to
crimes with sentences of 20 years or more.
The Senate altered that. It imposed the sentencing standard only on
major crimes involving sentences of 15 years or more, as well as on
three crimes carrying 10-year sentences: assault and battery of a
high and aggravated nature, criminal domestic violence and
third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
Along the way, the Senate also agreed to lower penalties for crack
cocaine, making them consistent with state penalties for powder
cocaine. That change was crucial in getting black senators to allow a
vote on the bill.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Harrison, R-Columbia, tried to
persuade Senate conferees to lower the sentencing threshold below 15
years to cover all felonies, but exclude misdemeanors.
"We had a tough enough time getting 15," said Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg.
The state still hasn't determined the full cost of the
truth-in-sentencing on crimes calling for 20 years or more in prison,
he said.
Harrison, leading the House conferees, said he would have "a
difficult time getting a bill passed that lowered the penalty for
crack cocaine."
About 21 percent of people in prisons statewide are there for serious
drug offenses, according the Corrections Department. Among black men
and women, more than 27 percent are in prison on "dangerous drug"
offenses, according to the Corrections Department.
It is unclear how many are serving time for crack-cocaine convictions.
The conferees will take up the bill again Tuesday.
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