
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 15, 1995                   TAG: 9503150068
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

JUDGES FEAR REACTION TO GUIDELINES

Virginia judges are worried that when they follow the state's new sentencing guidelines, the public will think they are being soft on crime.

The staff of the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission has held seminars in recent weeks to teach circuit judges about the guidelines, which apply to felonies committed since Jan. 1.

At a meeting Monday, commission director Richard Kern said judges think much of the public knows only that the new sentencing system ended parole and stiffened sentences for violent criminals.

But the judges realize ``that four out of five people who are going to be sentenced under this system'' are going to get what appear to be more lenient sentences, Kern said. That is because the new guidelines are based on the terms actually served by inmates from the years 1988 through 1992.

In those years, because of parole and other reductions, a five-year sentence for selling crack cocaine might have netted just one year behind bars. To comply with the new guidelines, a judge will have to impose a one-year sentence.

The difference is that the inmate will serve at least 85 percent of any sentence imposed and, therefore, there is more truth in sentencing.

The full sentencing range for a given crime remains on the books, and a judge can deviate from the sentence called for in the guidelines where circumstances warrant it.

Gov. George Allen made a brief appearance at the meeting Monday and promised a public education effort on the new guidelines.

by CNB