Committee advances criminal justice reform bill
The Joint Judiciary Committee advanced a bill to keep probationers and parolees out of prison for minor violations in an effort to stem the rising number of inmates in Wyoming.
Following the death of a comprehensive criminal justice reform package during the last legislative session, the committee is trying a simpler bill to accomplish some of the same goals. Last week, they voted to sponsor a bill that would create a system of rewards and sanctions for parole and probation violators — new alternatives to revocation and reimprisonment, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Dan Kirkbride (R, Chugwater). Sanctions could include short jail stays designed to jar the offenders into rethinking their behavior, and mandatory substance abuse treatment if it’s clear drug or alcohol abuse drives the criminal behavior.
“Maybe that whole issue of criminal justice reform can be tackled in increments,” Kirkbride said.
The committee also killed a bill that would have eliminated a tool the parole board uses to reward inmates for exemplary behavior. Today, inmates have two ways they can shorten their sentences with good behavior while incarcerated.
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