The State budget may be the worst it has been in recent years, with cuts across the board to necessary mental health and other public services. Lawmakers continue to work hard to find ways to balance the budget, while still serving the citizens of the State. One of the most talked about areas of reform is in the criminal justice system, where it has been argued that incarceration is not always the best way to deal with crime. Not all crimes are violent and not all defendants benefit from spending time behind bars. A large push is being made to reclassify certain crimes, so the offender is not sent to jail as part of their sentence. This will help with the prison overcrowding problem, as well as get the accused into rehabilitative programs aimed at education and reducing the chance of a repeat offense. We look forward to a resolution to this issue, and on continuing to bring you the latest updates as progress is made.

For more information, contact us online today www.hostylaw.com or by calling the office at (405) 235-4040.