SHORTER SENTENCES FOR VIOLENT FELONS?
January 10, 2012
STATE REP. CHRIS GARRETT FAVORS LOCKING UP VIOLENT OFFENDERS
On January 5, 2012, State Representative Chris Garrett wrote a Guest Opinion in the Portland Tribune with the title, "Make Smarter Use of Tax Dollars." He was referring to his work on the Governor's Commission on Public Safety and their recommendation to revise Oregon's sentencing guidelines. Initially, I was worried he was advocating for shorter sentences for violent offenders and repeat property offenders until I read the following words from paragraph three of his guest opinion:
"The drop in Oregon’s crime rate since 1995 is among the largest in the nation, and this is in part because we are doing a better job locking up violent and repeat offenders for longer periods of time. That is something that should not and will not change."
This language is clear to me, and I hope the Governor appoints Representative Garrett to any future Governor's Commission on Public Safety. His stance on the selective use of longer incarceration periods for violent felons and repeat offenders, and that it will not change, coincides with the position of the Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance and the voters of Oregon. Voters in Oregon have strongly supported mandatory minimum sentences for violent felony offenders and presumptive prison sentences for repeat property offenders.
OAA SUPPORTS MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES
Why does the Oregon Anti-Crime Alliance support mandatory minimum sentences for violent felony offenders and repeat felony property offenders? In short, because they work to make us all safer. More specifically, they provide a sentence that is proportional to the crime committed rather than the weak sentences of the 1989 sentencing guidelines; victims feel the justice system works when there is an adequate penitentiary sentence; and incarceration works to reduce crime in our communities (the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission estimates that 25% to 35% of the crime reduction since 1995 is due to incarceration).
OAA SUPPORTS ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION
The OAA also supports alternatives to incarceration such as probation and treatment for drug and alcohol addiction as well as mental health courts. There are many non-violent felony offenders who should be managed in the local communities and they are. As a former long-time district attorney, I know prosecutors around this state use and recommend alternatives to incarceration on a daily basis. In fact, only 23% of convicted felons ever go to prison. 77% stay locally, and are managed in the community where they committed their crimes.
If the Governor decides to set up another Public Safety Commission, I hope Rep. Chris Garrett will fight for his position to continue to incarcerate violent felons and repeat property offenders.
Doug Harcleroad, Senior Policy Advisor
