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Panel advances broad penal code revisions after stakeholder-backed review, with restitution concerns raised
Summary
Judiciary and public defender representatives supported SB 27-21 to implement penal code review recommendations, including reducing certain drug residue offenses and shortening probation for some nonviolent felonies; victims’ advocates warned shorter probation could shift restitution burdens to victims and urged protections.
SB 27-21, which implements recommendations of a broad 2025 penal-code review committee, advanced after testimony from judicial staff, the public defender and multiple advocacy groups.
Jennifer Wong of the Judiciary staff and Hailey Chang of the Office of the Public Defender emphasized that the measure reflects extensive stakeholder deliberation, including judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, and victim advocates. “This was an expansive committee of stakeholders,” Wong said, noting the breadth of participation in drafting the recommendations.
Public Defender witnesses and victim‑advocacy groups diverged on some specifics. The public defender highlighted reductions such as making certain residue offenses misdemeanors and shortening probation terms for some class C felonies. Pamela Ferguson Bray of the Crime Victim Compensation Commission cautioned that shorter probation terms could make restitution collection harder for victims, urging statutory safeguards and clearer paths for victims to obtain payments.
Committee members said they would advance the bill with technical amendments and requested follow-up work to address restitution and victim-notification issues raised during testimony. The committee recorded a recommendation to pass with amendments; the measure will be revised to reflect those technical fixes and any victim‑protection language the committee adopts.
