Ohio Prosecutors Propose Elimination of Some Mandatory Prison Sentences

Ohio criminal prosecutors are backing a plan to eliminate some mandatory prison sentences for trafficking and possessing chemicals for the manufacture of drugs, the Columbus Dispatch reported March 24.

The changes proposed by http://www.ohiopa.org/  Ohio prosecutors will amend “tough-on-crime” laws from the 1980's and 1990's. They also proposed reducing some non-drug crimes — like assaulting a school teacher, administrator, or school-bus operator — to misdemeanors from felonies.

The plan would also give judges greater flexibility to send second-time drug offenders to drug treatment rather than back to prison.

“There is a little bit different view on drug offenses than there was 20 years ago when many of these laws were enacted,” said John Murphy, executive director of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association.

Possession or trafficking of a kilogram of powder cocaine and 20 kilograms of marijuana would still result in a mandatory prison sentence, said David Droll, head of the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission.