Nathan Deal’s unfinished business: Mandatory minimum sentences

Gov. Nathan Deal this week signed the final part of a criminal justice overhaul that’s stretched most of this decade. He hopes his successor will tackle another phase he couldn’t address.

After an emotional signing ceremony, the Republican said he hoped the winner of the November vote will keep the criminal justice council he formed to consider reducing or eliminating some mandatory minimum sentences.

“Those required years to serve were significantly increased in 2006 and they, in my opinion, were excessively long,” said Deal, adding: “That will be a heavy lift, it will be a difficult thing to do, but it’s time that we did that.”

He said among the changes lawmakers should consider is a reduction in the waiting period before convicted offenders are allowed to have the pardons and parole board review their sentences.

With little opposition, the Republican spearheaded legislation over his two terms that kept more nonviolent offenders out of prison, set up a system of accountability courts and poured more resources into rehabilitating prisoners. The last part, which he signed into law Monday, gives judges new flexibility to forgo cash bail for poor defendants.

The leading contenders running for governor have praised the overhaul, but Republicans have largely avoided talk of extending it.