Personal insults peppered debate over a bill that would give Delaware judges more discretion on how to sentence habitual offenders.
Currently, those prosecuted as habitual offenders, who commit several separate felonies, are sentenced to the maximum penalty attached to the most recent crime they’re found guilty of – up to life in prison.
Under the proposal, judges would only have to sentence them to half of that penalty – depending on how many of their crimes could be considered violent.
Sen. Colin Bonini (R-Dover South) says those lighter jail sentences will hurt the communities offenders return to.
“Releasing criminals into areas already suffering with high crime is not the right thing to do and if that’s the answer then we’re asking the wrong questions,” Bonini said.
But bill sponsor Sen. Karen Peterson (D-Stanton) chalked it up to Bonini grandstanding for his gubernatorial campaign instead of trying to find a solution to Delaware's rigid sentencing guidelines.
“We can sound like ‘Trumpkins’ you know, ‘Hang them by their thumbs! Waterboard them!’ and all that nonsense, but all it’s done is dig us deeper and deeper,” Peterson said.
Other exchanges followed, with the bill eventually passing on a 14-6 vote.
House lawmakers will consider the bill next, with Gov. Jack Markell (D) promising to sign it should it hit his desk.
