Heroin; manufacture, selling, etc., mandatory minimum sentence. (HB277)

Introduced By

Del. Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Manufacture, etc., of heroin; mandatory minimum sentence. Provides for an additional 10-year mandatory minimum sentence to be served consecutively with any other sentence upon a conviction for manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute heroin. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/01/2016Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101314D
01/01/2016Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/09/2016Impact statement from VCSC (HB277)
02/01/2016Impact statement from DPB (HB277)
02/16/2016Left in Courts of Justice

Comments

ACLU-VA Criminal Justice, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of Virginia opposes this bill. Among other things, mandatory minimum sentences: increase the effects of existing racial disparities in the criminal justice system, strip judges of the ability to make the sentence fit the crime, empower prosecutors to push defendants into bargaining away their constitutional rights, and unnecessarily increase the prison population. The ACLU of Virginia opposes legislation that would expand or increase mandatory minimum sentences.