Committee reviews HP 79 to create "second look" sentencing procedure for long‑term inmates

The Corrections & Institutions Committee on April 10 reviewed HP 79, the proposed "Second Look Sentencing Act," a bill that would allow an incarcerated person serving at least 15 years to petition the sentencing court for a reduction of the person's term of imprisonment.

Ben Novogratzky, legislative counsel with the Office of Legislative Council, told the committee the bill "proposed to create a procedure under which an incarcerated person serving a term of imprisonment of at least 15 years who has served at least that amount may petition the sentencing court for a reduction of the person's term of imprisonment" and walked members through the bill's findings, procedures, expedited timelines and eligibility criteria.

The bill would add a new section to Title 13, authorizing petitions for people who: were sentenced to a term of imprisonment of at least 15 years, have served not less than 15 years, and meet additional eligibility and procedural requirements. Under the draft, the Department of Corrections must provide written notice of the act to the incarcerated person, the sentencing court, the prosecutor's office and the Office of the…