Committee debates H.379 'second look' resentencing after 15 years; judges, defenders call for clearer criteria

The House Corrections & Institutions Committee heard extended testimony on H.379 on April 22, a bill that would create a statutory "second look" process allowing incarcerated people who have served at least 15 years to petition the sentencing court for a resentencing review.

The bill's review trigger, eligible petitioners, and courtroom procedures dominated the session as the committee sought detail from Department of Corrections staff, the judiciary and the defender general about who would qualify, who could file, and how courts and agencies would manage the workload.

The Department of Corrections' policy director, Isaac Dano, said the department used internal data to estimate the bill's immediate reach. "We asked our data team to look at the individuals in custody as of today, who have served at least 15 years ... it's a hundred and 4," Dano told the committee. Dano and DOC staff also reviewed the range of existing release mechanisms — furloughs, medical furlough, parole, presumptive parole, probation and related pathways — to explain where a statutory second-look process would fit.

Judicial concerns centered on process and timing. Chief Superior Judge Tom (name not…