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Kansas considering getting tougher on repeat drunk drivers

By Douglas A. Berman

This new piece from the Kansas City Star, which is headlined "Kansas considers sending repeat drunken drivers to prison," showcases my concern with state laws that are unduly lenient on drunk driving and also the appeal of technocorrections in this arena.  Here are excerpts: Some Kansas lawmakers want to send repeat DUI offenders to prison, but that won?t be easy with the state?s budget problems and prisons that already are overcrowded. Under newly proposed legislation, a fourth drunken driving conviction would mean prison time.  Currently a year in county jail ? not state prison ? is the longest sentence regardless of whether an offender has four convictions or 40.... Not everyone thinks the state can afford the changes.  Men?s prisons are already overcrowded, and Kansas struggles to fund education and basic services...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on January 18, 2011 (boomark / email).