NATL: State of Sentencing 2007

The State of Sentencing 2007 is a new report from the Sentencing Project that highlights positive changes in criminal justice policy made by state governments across the country. Eighteen states passed some kind of criminal justice reform legislation in 2007. The most common reform was the creation of oversight committees or commissions to investigate sentencing policies, crime, prisons and to make recommendations for reform.

Other states passed legislation that reformed sentencing laws. Nevada repealed some of its mandatory sentencing enhancements and New Jersey abolished the death penalty. Some states like California, Hawaii and Washington expanded re-entry services.

The report also offers overall recommendations to state governments such as repealing mandatory minimum sentences and investing in re-entry programs and prison oversight. You can read the full 30 page report on the Sentencing Project’s web site.

This news brief is based on the report The State of Sentencing 2007. If the link is broken, check the Sentencing Project’s web site.