FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Nicole Reigelman House Democratic Communications Office Phone: 717-787-7895 Fax: 717-783-6839 Email: nreigelm@pahouse.net	State Rep. Harold James D-Philadelphia www.pahouse.com/james

James introduces plan to abolish mandatory minimum sentences

HARRISBURG, July 3 – State Rep. Harold James, D-Phila., has introduced legislation aimed at saving the state millions in Department of Corrections costs.

James, a leader in the General Assembly on crime and justice issues, said his bill would abolish mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent crimes.

The legislation (H.B. 1606) would help to relieve prison overcrowding and also reduce expenditures brought on by rising costs for incarceration, James said.

James noted that small-time drug offenders often receive drug treatment and have a better chance of not becoming repeat offenders when referred to a drug rehabilitation program rather than spending time behind bars.

“There is widespread support for revised guidelines for sentencing,” James said. “Twenty-five other states have recently instituted new guidelines regarding mandatory minimum sentencing and it is time for Pennsylvania to join them.”

James said that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy and the American Bar Association are among supporters of a plan to abolish mandatory minimum sentences for many crimes.

Similar legislation has been introduced by James in the past. The bill has been referred to the Judiciary Committee, on which James serves.

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