NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers said a task force that was set to recommend sentencing changes had not reached out to them for input.
In a letter to the Governor's Task Force on Sentencing and Recidivism, Nashville defense attorney David Raybin said the lawyers' association believed the task force has been considering recommendations that would result in longer sentences and greater costs to taxpayers.
He also said the task force had been considering a panel to provide ongoing sentencing recommendations that has fallen short of what has actually been needed. Raybin said Tennessee has been needing a full-time sentencing commission to make recommendations to lawmakers about new sentencing proposals.
A spokeswoman for Governor Bill Haslam said the task force had still been doing its work and was set to make recommendations to the governor in the fall.
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