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Pennsylvania sentencing commission urging repeal of school zone mandatory sentencing provisions

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this local article, the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing is"is recommending that legislators repeal the drug-free school zone mandatory sentences and let judges to determine the sentence based on already-existing guidelines that would include increased time." Here are more details: The commission said mandatory sentences are used inconsistently across the state, said Mark Bergstrom, executive director of the commission.  Some district attorneys invoke it every time. Others rarely use it, he said. In addition, there's no required link between the drug deals and the school zone, Bergstrom said. The zone extends 1,000 feet from the edge of the school property, so it includes people living blocks away. York County District Attorney Tom Kearney said his office determineswhether to invoke the mandatory sentence based on the facts of the case...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on July 11, 2010 (boomark / email).