Pulse check: Reform of the criminal justice in Georgia Lives | Opinion

It was an exciting time for justice reformers, but it couldn't take permanent. The deal was limited, and when he left the office and forwarded many other legislators, both Capitol insiders and outsiders quickly referred to the time of death in further reforms of the judiciary. Against this background, I caught up with MP Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen, who divided the chair of the committee, the criminal judicial invoices, and understandably takes a look at the claims on the dead reform of justice.

“If people didn't pay attention,” said Smith to me, “then they missed it because [criminal justice reform is] Healthy and lively. “He quickly has some successes since he has been in office, but only this year there are several laws of justice reform that deserve attention.

Under these, Smith referred to that of Rep. Stan Gunter, R-Blairsville, who also known as Georgia Survivor Justice Act, sponsored house in House Bill 582, and Smith reserves a high praise for it:

If they are adopted, the measure would enable the courts in cases in which accused have endured the family, family, dating or child abuse, a more comprehensive detentional. Simply expressed when abuse is forced to survive your tormentor or your perpetrator to deal with illegal activities, you can present evidence to reduce your punishment. It is not a file that has a weakness, but it aims to ensure that the judicial system does not wrongly punish the survivors.

This is only the tip of the iceberg this year. Senator Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, submitted Senate Bill 207, who should help rehabilitated people with a criminal register in order to receive mild professional licenses for work. With around 40 percent of Georgians who have a brand in their recording, this is an important step forward. “Do you have a red flag that appears in the background? [If so]They are relegated to minimum wages, ”complained Smith.

While Smith took into account the committee of the committee, taking criminal law bills into account, he also sponsored laws for the correction of the judicial system, including house bill 535. It is a Commonsense proposal that would enable the defendant to spend the time to combat withdrawal lists for his overall penalty. This helps to count the time that serves more consistently in the entire judicial system.

In the meantime, Rep. Bill Werkheiser, R-Glennville, the Bill 123 house, to ensure that the state does not carry out mentally handicapped people who have been convicted of capital crimes. This would represent a remarkable political shift, and these measures are more than just rewriting code, they are the legislator's passion for passion. Smith even admitted: “I shed a few tears when [House Bill 123] out of the committee. “

These legislative templates meanders through the legislative procedure and are changed the system if adopted. This shows that the reform of the criminal justice in the General Assembly is still the focus.

While people may have feared that the loss of deal was the deathal of the reform of the judiciary in Georgia against terms, this is clearly not the case despite a few challenges. “A few years ago, it seemed as if we were trying to put a pen on the balloon that was our criminal judicial reform that the Gov. deal said goodbye,” said Smith. “But I think you see that we still say goodbye to reforms in every session. He signed this in the law to governor Kemp's loan […] He was a good partner and his office was a good partner with us in relation to the reform of the criminal justice. “

For Smith, it is a particularly important obligation in the Peach state to continue to promote the reforms of the judiciary. “Georgia was founded as a criminal colony,” said Smith, “a place for the second chances. We really achieve what the spirit of this state – even in its colonial stature – should be?

Although not everyone includes the reform of the criminal justice, Smith is happy to give him advice: “You have to make sure that you do not scare the re -election from doing what is right.” Smith openly admits that there is still a lot to do, but he emphasizes: “[Criminal justice reform is] still living and good. This heartbeat runs quite steadily. “