HB 169 has already passed the House and is now in the Kentucky Senate Judiciary Committee. Rev. Kent and the leaders of the Kentucky Council of Churches, Justice Youth Advocates, several prosecutors and the KY Judges association oppose this bill. It may well increase gang participation rather than prevent it and exacerbate racial biases in the justice system. It will be heard at 11:00am Tuesday, May 27.
This bill essentially does these things; it moves up some misdemeanor offenses to felonies, it changes the identification of gangs from five members to three members, it makes a person serve 85% of their sentence, it puts more youth offenders into the judicial system and it allows for unreliable informants.
All of these things will create a criminal justice maze with few ways out, eventually destroying families and communities. If you would like to read more about this, there are several blogs and newspaper articles in the Louisville Courier Journal that includes contributions from experts such as local Lexington child psychologist, Dr. Kerby Neill, and Alpha League (a program that works at deterring gang participation in Lexington) founder and educator, Christian Adair M.Ed.: (If You Hate Gangs, Don’t Support this Bill). Op eds in other Kentucky newspapers are forthcoming.
Please call today and tomorrow morning:
KY Legislative Message Line: 1-800-372-7181
Leave a message for “Senate Judiciary Members, and Senate Leadership.” Phone messages are preferred since they are placed directly on the legislators desk. Tell them you strongly oppose HB 169 because it is vague, could be racially divisive, and is likely to create gangs by increasing incarceration times where people get associated with criminal groups. Diversion programs are proven to work. Harsher sentences are not proven to deter gang violence and are very costly to the state.
If you are able, please consider making a personal appearance at the Judiciary Meeting, tomorrow 11:00am, Capitol Annex Building. Check the message boards once inside for the hearing room. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early.
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