With prison reform a must-do on the 2020 legislative agenda, the discussions about what that might entail are underway.
Among the proposals offered have been to take on sentencing reform, which in theory would lessen sentences for some crimes and potentially lessen the burden on overcrowded prisons. During an appearance on Huntsville radio’s WVNN, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed his skepticism of the effectiveness of tinkering with sentencing on the issue.
Marshall explained how sentencing was approached earlier this decade.
“What I would hope we’re doing is looking for ways to reduce recidivism for those that have been in the criminal justice system and going out,” Marshall said. “I think you’re foolish to say you don’t examine your current processes and find ways to do it better. I think prosecutors and law enforcement around the state are willing to do that. But we did significant changes to sentencing back in 2012. And that is, without getting in the weeds, with our sentencing guidelines making them basically mandatory with our judges. And so, we’ve taken away local discretion. I don’t know that is the greatest thing we could have done. But I think there are other ways other than the sentencing guidelines for us to be able to make a difference. And that’s something that’s being discussed right now.”
When asked about truth in sentencing, Marshall said that was a goal the state was striving to achieve, but he did not see it accomplished in the immediate future.
“We’ve never had truth in sentencing in Alabama,” he said. “Frankly, it was the idea during [former Alabama Attorney General William] Pryor’s time when we adopted sentencing guidelines that were voluntary to eventually have truth in sentencing. But on multiple occasions, the legislature has pushed back the date to where truth in sentencing would take place in Alabama. That’s why, you know, not only do we not have truth in sentencing, we were releasing people early on parole. It was a double problem.”
“My hope would be, consistent with what we see on the federal side, is that when somebody is sentenced that we typically know how long they’re going to be there,” Marshall continued. “I think it is something Alabama is going to address. My guess is that is not going to come any time soon.”
@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University, the editor of Breitbart TV and host of “The Jeff Poor Show” from 2-5 p.m. on WVNN in Huntsville.
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