SENATE BILL: Permanent Punishment Abolition Act (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SENATE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: NAME

1. This may be cited as the Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SECTION II: ABOLITION OF PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS

1. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry an indefinite or otherwise permanent sentence of prison
2. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry a prison sentence longer than 40 years in prison.
3. Judges may deny a prisoner's right to exit prison under parole if they find probable cause that the prisoner will make crimes again or will otherwise break his parole terms if released.
4. Prisoners over the age of 75 shall be given the option to finish the remainder of their sentence under home arrest instead of in prison. This shall not apply to prisoners convicted of terrorism or belonging to other illegal organizations; including but not limited to mafias and criminal gangs.

SECTION III: FURTHER ENCOURAGING BETTER USE OF PRISON SENTENCES
1. The Atlasian Congress herby encourages the regions to pass similar bills to this one for the reduction of prison sentences.
2. The Atlasian Congress hereby establishes that the main guiding principle of the justice system shall be rehabilitation and not punishment, and that all prisoners shall be given the support they need towards their reintegration in society after their prison sentences expire.

SECTION IV: ENACTMENT
1. This bill shall be enacted 1 week after passage

Sponsor: Tack50
Senate Designation: SR23:05

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Sponsor, go!

[Former President tack50]

Thank you Mr PPT!

This bill seeks to eliminate all forms of permanent punishment. The biggest thing here is the elimination of life imprisonment, as well as all prison sentences longer than 40 years. A 40 year sentence should be enough to release a young prisoner (who went to jail at age 20) around the age of 60.

The main guiding principles of this bill are 2 that I firmly hold:

1: The main objective of prison should be rehabilitation, not punishment. It is hard to argue that life imprisonment in any way actually encourages rehabilitation when prisoners can't get back rehabilitated into society. This principle is also enshrined in Section III of this bill.

2: Every prisoner, even the most hideous ones, deserves a second chance at actually fixing their life; and this requires letting them out of prison eventually.

This bill also adds a point allowing for house arrest for prisoners over the age of 75 except for crimes of terrorism and belonging to criminal gangs and mafias, where going home and meeting with gang members would be dangerous regardless.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I don't think going this is a good idea. I am in favor of rehabilitation and moving in that direction, but I think you need to maintain life imprisonment as a companion for those cases where that is appropriate. Presuming that the whole prison population is suitable for one approach I think is a dangerous mistake. Certainly there are cases where rehabilitation should be the objective, but I don't think that applies to all cases and precluding that as an option is a mistake in my opinion.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

While I believe that life imprisonment may be suitable for a small minority of those who are unable to contribute positively to society, I also believe that our justice system overuses life sentences for many people who may be rehabilitated.  Fundamentally, I share Pope Francis's sentiment that life without parole is, in effect, a "hidden death penalty", and that by denying a person the possibility of one day reentering society, we are condemning them very much in the same way as when we penalize someone with death.

As First Minister, I introduced the Maximum Sentencing Act which, in essence, co-opted Norway's model, eliminating life sentences for most crimes but still allowing for life sentences where appropriate, by requiring prion terms to be extended in five-year increments.  I would like to submit this amendment so that the federal process for granting release resembles that of Frémont:

Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SENATE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: NAME

1. This may be cited as the Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SECTION II: ABOLITION OF PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS

1. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry an indefinite or otherwise permanent sentence of prison
2. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry a prison sentence longer than 40 years in prison.
3. Judges may deny a prisoner's right to exit prison under parole if they find probable cause that the prisoner will make crimes again or will otherwise break his parole terms if released. Upon expiration of a maximum 40-year prison term, the court of original jurisdiction shall review convicts seeking release and decide whether release shall or shall not be granted on the basis of (a) the gravity of the crime for which they were convicted, and (b) whether the convict has shown positive signs of rehabilitation.  Prison terms may be extended indefinitely in five-year increments.
4. Prisoners over the age of 75 shall be given the option to finish the remainder of their sentence under home arrest instead of in prison. This shall not apply to prisoners convicted of terrorism or belonging to other illegal organizations; including but not limited to mafias and criminal gangs.
5. Current offenders who have served more than 40 years in prison shall be subject to mandatory review upon enactment of this act.

SECTION III: FURTHER ENCOURAGING BETTER USE OF PRISON SENTENCES
1. The Atlasian Congress herby encourages the regions to pass similar bills to this one for the reduction of prison sentences.
2. The Atlasian Congress hereby establishes that the main guiding principle of the justice system shall be rehabilitation and not punishment, and that all prisoners shall be given the support they need towards their reintegration in society after their prison sentences expire.

SECTION IV: ENACTMENT
1. This bill shall be enacted 1 week after passage

[Former President tack50]

Friendly.

To be honest I would oppose such an amendment irl, but I recognize the Scott amendment is a good compromise

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I don't support this bill as written.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has been adopted, any further amendments here.

[Former President tack50]

Motion for a final vote

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Motion for a final vote

Seconded.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I will open a vote in 24 hours if there's no objection.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

A final vote on the legislation is now open.  Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SENATE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: NAME

1. This may be cited as the Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SECTION II: ABOLITION OF PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS

1. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry an indefinite or otherwise permanent sentence of prison
2. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry a prison sentence longer than 40 years in prison.
3. Upon expiration of a maximum 40-year prison term, the court of original jurisdiction shall review convicts seeking release and decide whether release shall or shall not be granted on the basis of (a) the gravity of the crime for which they were convicted, and (b) whether the convict has shown positive signs of rehabilitation.  Prison terms may be extended indefinitely in five-year increments.
4. Prisoners over the age of 75 shall be given the option to finish the remainder of their sentence under home arrest instead of in prison. This shall not apply to prisoners convicted of terrorism or belonging to other illegal organizations; including but not limited to mafias and criminal gangs.
5. Current offenders who have served more than 40 years in prison shall be subject to mandatory review upon enactment of this act.

SECTION III: FURTHER ENCOURAGING BETTER USE OF PRISON SENTENCES
1. The Atlasian Congress herby encourages the regions to pass similar bills to this one for the reduction of prison sentences.
2. The Atlasian Congress hereby establishes that the main guiding principle of the justice system shall be rehabilitation and not punishment, and that all prisoners shall be given the support they need towards their reintegration in society after their prison sentences expire.

SECTION IV: ENACTMENT
1. This bill shall be enacted 1 week after passage

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye

[Former President tack50]

Aye

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

AYE

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

This has enough votes to pass.  Senators have 24 hours to change their vote.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Vote on Final Passage of the Permanent Punishment Abolition Act:

Aye (4): LT, NC Yankee, Scott and Tack50
Nay (0):
Abstain (0):

Didn't Vote (2): Devout and Pyro

This bill has passed the Senate and is sent to the VP.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SENATE BILL

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia in Congress assembled,

SECTION I: NAME

1. This may be cited as the Permanent Punishment Abolition Act

SECTION II: ABOLITION OF PERMANENT PUNISHMENTS

1. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry an indefinite or otherwise permanent sentence of prison
2. No federal crimes punishable according to federal laws may carry a prison sentence longer than 40 years in prison.
3. Upon expiration of a maximum 40-year prison term, the court of original jurisdiction shall review convicts seeking release and decide whether release shall or shall not be granted on the basis of (a) the gravity of the crime for which they were convicted, and (b) whether the convict has shown positive signs of rehabilitation.  Prison terms may be extended indefinitely in five-year increments.
4. Prisoners over the age of 75 shall be given the option to finish the remainder of their sentence under home arrest instead of in prison. This shall not apply to prisoners convicted of terrorism or belonging to other illegal organizations; including but not limited to mafias and criminal gangs.
5. Current offenders who have served more than 40 years in prison shall be subject to mandatory review upon enactment of this act.

SECTION III: FURTHER ENCOURAGING BETTER USE OF PRISON SENTENCES
1. The Atlasian Congress hereby encourages the regions to pass similar bills to this one for the reduction of prison sentences.
2. The Atlasian Congress hereby establishes that the main guiding principle of the justice system shall be rehabilitation and not punishment, and that all prisoners shall be given the support they need towards their reintegration in society after their prison sentences expire.

SECTION IV: ENACTMENT
1. This bill shall be enacted 1 week after passage

People's Regional Senate
Passed 4-0 in the Atlasian Senate Assembled,