(The Center Square) – More than three-dozen Wisconsin lawmakers want Gov. Tony Evers to pause his plan to cut sentences short for some criminals in the state.
Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, R-Hubertus, released the letter to the governor, saying crimes victims in the state need more time and more of a voice in the process.
“Many Wisconsinites are stunned that convicted cop killers are even being considered for commutation. Cases like Ted Oswald’s murder of Waukesha Police Captain James Lutz are exactly why so many families believed Wisconsin’s truth-in-sentencing laws finally brought certainty and finality for victims and their loved ones,” the lawmakers wrote.
Evers announced in April he is ending a pause in commutations in Wisconsin, and he is reviewing thousands of requests.
“It’s time for Wisconsin to join red and blue states across our country and finally move our justice system into the 21st Century by reforming our criminal justice and corrections systems to improve public safety, reduce the likelihood that individuals will reoffend when they enter our communities, and save taxpayer dollars in the long run,” the governor said in a statement.
Piwowarczyk said the governor’s announcement not only caught families off-guard, but has created a problem for what he called “overwhelmed” state and local prosecutors who are required to abide by Marcy’s Law that has protections for crime victims and their families.
“Victims and their loved ones deserve certainty, transparency, and respect from our justice system,” Piwowarczyk said. “Instead, families are being blindsided by commutation applications through social media posts and news reports. That is unacceptable. Wisconsin’s commutation process must put victims first, not reopen emotional wounds without proper notification or meaningful input.”
Piwowarczyk and the other lawmakers asked in their letter for a pause in commutations to allow lawmakers to:
● Create a robust public notification system and online tracking list for commutation applications;
● Extend victim notification periods to at least 90 days;
● Guarantee hearings that allow victims and families to be heard directly;
● Require full notification to district attorneys and sentencing judges;
● Remove all homicide offenders from eligibility for commutation consideration.
