Two bills to weaken Measure 11 have work sessions
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 7th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – There are at least two attempts to weaken the mandatory minimum prison sentences Oregon voters have approved twice at the polls. Senate Bill 191 has been reported on frequently, but there is also Sen. Floyd Prozanski’s (D-Eugene) SB 401. Both of them have work sessions today before the Senate Judiciary and Measure 110 Implementation Committee.
Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus hopes lawmakers listen to heartfelt pleas from victims of violent crimes at a public hearing regarding SB 401.
“We’re constantly talking about a defendant and their rights, but what about a victim’s rights,” he wondered. “What Measure 11 does is it gives some form of finality and certainty to a victim.”
The only crime that would still carry a mandatory minimum sentence in Oregon would be murder if the bills pass. Primus said the lawmakers have no idea how victims of violent crimes need the certainty of a set sentence.
“When you say that that offender that committed attempted murder is going to have a specific, set amount of time for them to be in custody, that gives them (victims) certainty to know that they are safe for that amount of time,” he said.
