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." >>> Read More