Criminal Sentencing

The Senate took no action on a bill approved by the House that would have doubled the criminal penalties for various drug crimes if committed within 300 yards of a public college or university. In opposing the bill, the ACLU noted that the offenses already carry draconian penalties of 20 years to life. At the same time, the House took no action on a perennial and extraordinarily costly Senate favorite, significantly increasing the time many convicted offenders would have to serve before being eligible for parole.