The Maryland Senate unanimously passed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill Thursday, despite debate that amendments had limited the legislation’s scope and effect.
The Justice Reinvestment Act aims to reduce Maryland’s prison populations, corrections spending and recidivism rates by refocusing correctional resources on “serious and violent offenders,” according to a legislative analysis.
Provisions of the bill would limit punishments for technical violations of parole and alter maximum penalties for some drug offenses. The bill also establishes an administrative parole process for nonviolent offenders who have served one fourth of their sentences and meet certain requirements.
Sen. Michael Hough, R-Carroll and Frederick, called the bill the largest reform of the state’s criminal justice system in a generation, citing a shift toward drug treatment for people with addiction, a dramatic reduction in the use of mandatory minimums for drug crimes and the elimination of the disparity between penalties for crack and powdered cocaine.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Lexie Schapitl over at the CNS Maryland