PA: Mandatory minimum sentences are ‘unconstitutional,’ court says

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Locals charged with crimes involving drugs, guns or sex abuse could be due relief at sentencing, according to a high-court ruling.
A Pennsylvania Superior Court opinion has deemed mandatory minimum sentences “unconstitutional,” a ruling which could have major impact on countless cases here and across the state. Full Article

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So if we can get the registry classified as a punishment…could that undo AWA?

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This is fantastic! I only hope other states, including this one, will follow suit!

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Excellent decision! MM’s have become a coercive tool for DA’s to ramp up charges against defendants in order to get a plea and a conviction point for their resume. We need to rebuild a system with more discretion in evaluating the impact of the harm done with rational proportionality. I hope this decision goes viral.

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Hooray for the Pennsylvania superior court that ruled these draconian laws unconstitutional. District attorneys have too much power as it is and have misapplied this power across the board in order to gain convictions. It’s beyond me how Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman can even say “In the short term, this is a huge blow to public safety and will have widespread ramifications for the law-abiding citizens of this county.” I’m sure the judge would not have ruled in favor of the people without good reason. This needs to happen here in California.

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I am NOT a LAWYER but I have been saying this for years……..ISN’T Mandatory minimums a DIRECT VIOLATION of our Constitutions SEPARATION OF POWERS clause ?

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