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Sen. Elliott’s sentencing-equity bill prompts data review as prosecutors warn against undoing jury verdicts
Summary
Sen. Joyce Elliott introduced SB 378 to reduce disparities between long 1990s drug sentences and shorter post-2011 terms; proponents cited case examples and cost-savings while prosecutors urged caution, citing plea deals and jury determinations and asking the committee to review case files before any retroactive relief.
Sen. Joyce Elliott told the Senate Judiciary Committee she brought SB 378 to “try to bring some equity in sentencing,” arguing that drug sentences imposed in the 1990s were far longer than those applied after sentencing reforms in 2011 and that some people are serving punishments the legislature would not impose today.
Attorney Larry Froelich, testifying in support, cited specific examples to illustrate his point, saying, “we spent as of last year $596,000 punishing him for a hundred dollar offense,” and that similar cases have produced decades-long…
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