Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 2, 1994 TAG: 9403020152
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: WARREN FISKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Allen said his advisers need more time to prepare for overhauling criminal sentencing and to detail the expected cost.
"We want to present members with the full plan all at once and have them vote it up or down on its merits," the governor said.
Allen's pledge to abolish Virginia's "liberal, lenient parole system" was the centerpiece of his campaign last fall and, in the minds of many analysts, a key reason for his overwhelming victory.
The governor planned to offer his general concepts at the special session this spring, waiting until next winter's regular session to seek approval of specifics.
Allen said he decided it would be wiser to combine the work at one session. "The main point is to focus everyone's attention on the issue," he said.
Allen faced the possibility of distractions had he convened the special session in May. Some lawmakers are seeking to delay until the special session final approval of up to $160 million in state subsidies for the Disney America theme park.
Several Republican lawmakers said the governor is reluctant to chance tying consideration of ending parole with financing for the theme park, although delaying the parole session is no guarantee.
The House version of the Disney financing package requires reapproval, either next year or at a special session this year.
Republicans said fragmenting consideration of the parole issue between this spring and next winter could give opponents time to pick apart sensitive aspects of the plan. "There's a lot of chance for mischief if we start separating this plan," said Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach.
One area of contention will be cost.
The Department of Corrections has estimated that eliminating parole could cost the state $3.6 billion over 10 years. Allen has said the figures are vastly inflated. He said ending parole would require $650 million in prison construction and $119 million a year in upkeep.
Allen wants to end the broad discretion that Virginia judges have in sentencing violent criminals and replace it with a system of mandatory sentences similar to a scheme used by the federal government.
Allen will seek shortened maximum sentences for violent crimes, but longer minimum and average sentences. He would stop parole, but allow inmates to reduce their prison terms by one-third for good conduct.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.