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Working group proposes cutting most misdemeanor jail terms to six months and adjusting fines
Summary
A working group recommended reducing maximum jail terms for most misdemeanors to six months and lowering many fines to $750, while preserving higher penalties for select offenses; supporters said the change promotes consistency and judicial discretion, while prosecutors warned it could reduce tools for deterrence and victim protection.
Representative Chastick, who chaired the odd-numbered chapters working group, told the committee the group prioritized consistency and judicial flexibility when it reviewed Title 6. "There was a consensus that we should reduce the penalties for most misdemeanors ... down to a maximum of 6 months in prison or eliminate the prison term and make it a fine-only kind of offense," he said, adding that some misdemeanors would remain one-year offenses because of their seriousness.
The group also recommended adjusting fines: for many misdemeanors a $750 cap was proposed as a compromise point. Several members questioned the choice to lower rather than index fines for inflation. Senator Colton asked about the logic of lowering the $1,000 cap to $750; Chastick replied the group sought a consistent middle ground across disparate existing penalties. Prosecutors and some members urged caution, saying reduced monetary ceilings may weaken deterrence and remove prosecutorial leverage.
