News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: March 13, 1997 Contact: Senator Rick Halford 907/465-4958

Halford’s "Truth in Sentencing" Act Passes Senate
To Strengthen Victims Rights

Juneau -- The Alaska State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 67 today. The "Truth in Sentencing Act of 1997," sponsored by Senator Rick Halford (R-Chugiak) would require judges, at the time of sentencing, to provide a more honest and accurate assessment of how long a criminal will be imprisoned.

"The judge should have to look the victims, and their families, straight in the eye and let them know the actual amount of time a criminal will serve," said Halford. "Victims, their families, and the public have a right to know when a criminal will be back on the street."

The current sentencing system is deceptive and does not live up to the Victim’s Rights Amendment to the Alaska Constitution. With mandatory parole provisions and time off for good behavior, the stated sentence imposed by the judge is almost never what the criminal actually serves. Recent examples show us that a child killer sentenced to five years could spend only three years behind bars, and a child sex abuser sentenced to over 100 years can be out after only sixteen.

"After the pain of the original criminal act, as well as that endured during the trial, the victim and their family often view the final sentencing with a sense of relief and closure," said Halford. "It is cruel and unfair to mislead a victim or their family into believing that a criminal will actually serve the amount of time to which they are sentenced."

Senate Bill 67 mandates an honest appraisal of how long a criminal will actually be in prison. It will require judges to issue a written and oral statement, at the time of sentencing, that explains the approximate minimum amount of time a criminal can serve after all the sentence reductions.

By bringing the state into compliance with the federal truth in sentencing guidelines, Senate Bill 67 will also bring in up to $650,000 of federal funds for prison facilities.

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