News from the Senate Majority

Alaska State Legislature

Wendy Lindskoog, Senate Majority Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801-1182
Phone: 907/465-4582
http://www.akrepublicans.org
Broadcast Actualities: 800/478-6540

For Immediate Release: January 29, 1997 Contact: Senator Rick Halford 907/465-4958

The Public Has a Right To Know

Truth in Sentencing Act Introduced Wednesday

Juneau -- As part of the Republican-led Majority’s commitment to make Alaska’s neighborhoods safe, Senator Rick Halford (R-Chugiak) introduced the Truth in Sentencing Act of 1997 Wednesday mandating judges to fully disclose required sentence reductions at the time of sentencing.

"Victims, their families and the general public deserve to know how much time a criminal is actually required to spend behind bars," said Halford.

Halford noted automatic credit for "good time" and mandatory parole provisions virtually guarantee that the actual time served will be significantly less than what the judge hands down at the time of sentencing.

"Senate Bill 67 will require judges to issue a written and oral statement at the time of pronouncement disclosing the minimum time a convicted felon is actually expected to serve," said Halford. "SB 67 will help make the public aware that ten years rarely, if ever, means ten years in our legal system.

"The public has the right to truth in sentencing." Halford said.

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