| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Summary: SB 549 would impose a new minimum sentence penalty of 25 years for engaging in organized crime. This bill would increase the amount of time an inmate convicted of engaging in organized crime must serve before becoming eligible for parole to one-half of the sentence. This bill would prohibit the release of an inmate serving a sentence for engaging in organized crime to community supervision.
Analysis: SB 549 contains penalty enhancements that are not guaranteed to deter organized crime. Penalty enhancements do not always have a significant deterrent effect. However, individuals who engage in organized crime, depending on the crime committed, should receive a substantial punishment. This bill does not directly fall under any of our liberty principles, and we remain neutral.