So far, the joint conference committee has initially agreed to reduce a mandatory minimum 15-years-to-life sentencing statute to three to 10 years.

Passage of the deal is contingent on changing the state's mandatory sentencing laws for drug offenders who commit low-level "B" felonies. Currently, an individual charged with a B felony who has no prior nonviolent felony convictions automatically receives at least 4-1/2 to 9 years in state prison.

About 5,000 inmates are serving time for B felony drug offenses, more than double the number sentenced for A-1 and A-2 drug felonies.

The conference committee remains split on whether B-level drug offenders should be directed to treatment instead of prison, and if district attorneys should lose their authority to reject diversion of offenders to treatment programs.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by joe dupont on 20 Oct 08 08:34 AM EDT

The law should include a break for turning in your drug dealer. Ad campaigns should say :"If you are going to do drugs, you better know who your supplier is.. because you may have to turn him or her in.

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