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Sponsors push truth‑in‑sentencing package; opponents cite racial and fiscal concerns
Summary
A group of bills (HB 389, HB 314 and HB 862) proposing higher mandatory minimum served percentages for repeat offenders drew support from sheriffs and prosecutors and opposition from criminal‑justice reform advocates who warned of disproportionate impacts and high costs.
Representatives Benny Cook, David Castillo and others presented a package of bills that they described as "truth‑in‑sentencing" legislation designed to reduce what they called a revolving door of repeat felony offenders.
Sponsors said current sentencing practice allowed people with multiple felony convictions to serve only a fraction of their statutory sentence because many earlier dispositions did not include a Department of Corrections commitment. The bills would change when mandatory minimum served percentages apply and would increase the minimum percentages for repeat offenders — for example raising requirements to 50% or 80% after successive convictions and in some proposals requiring 100% of…
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