LWVUS BOARD NEEDS TO HEAR FROM US

In order for our Sentencing Policy to be recommended by the LWVUS Board to Convention 2012, they need to hear from us.
Please discuss Sentencing with your state and local Leagues during the National Program Planning process & recommend this concurrence to the Board on the submission form.

WHY CONCURRENCE?

League Rules allow Convention to adopt a local or state League's position providing that the position was adopted after study and consensus.

Rule 10 C. Provides for the Procedure for Concurrence at Convention:

1. Proposals for concurrence at convention may be moved for adoption at the Sunday plenary meeting.

2. Debate and action on proposals for concurrence motions shall take place at the same time as debate and action on proposed program. A two-thirds vote is required to adopt the concurrence statement.

ARGUMENTS FOR SUPPORTING ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT FOR APPROPRIATE OFFENDERS

ARGUMENTS FOR SUPPORTING ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT FOR APPROPRIATE OFFENDERS: Alternatives include drug and mental health courts, halfway houses and day reporting centers, restitution requirements, rehabilitative services, etc. They save taxpayers money. They keep offenders with their families and jobs, instead of in prison or jail with inmates convicted of violent crimes.

ARGUMENTS FOR OPPOSING MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES FOR DRUG OFFENSES

Harsh mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses have led to an overrepresentation of drug offenders in the criminal justice system, many of whom are low-level and nonviolent. Restoring judicial discretion in drug cases would allow judges to determine punishments that are proportional to the offenses committed. BACKGROUND: The United States has 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prisoners--it is the world's biggest jailer. More than half the growth in the prison population over the last 30 years is due to changes in sentencing policies that prioritize long, mandatory sentences, including for drug and nonviolent offenses. Mass incarceration has led to huge financial costs to taxpayers, and millions of ex-offenders who carry lifelong, daunting burdens of a criminal record after release. Moreover, appalling racial disparity pervades the criminal justice system, and excessively impacts communities of color. Please recommend concurrence with the two positions proposed above on your response form for the LWVUS so that the LWVUS and all chapters can address sentencing issues, which they cannot do now without undertaking individual state or local chapter studies, since the LWVUS has no position on sentencing except opposition to the death penalty.

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