Parental Status in Sentencing (H 7652, S 2162)

We strongly supported legislation which would require the consideration of the statute of a defendant as a parent at their sentencing, and allow for the presentation of a "family impact statement" as a component of the sentencing process. We noted that this legislation is compassionate in its recognition not only that a strong familial structure encourages rehabilitation and prevents recidivism, but that instituting the procedures contained in the legislation can prevent the harmful, reverberating effects that incarceration has on both the incarcerated individual and their children and family members.