Politics
Politics

House delays vote on sentencing legislation

By Bill Rankin
March 21, 2012

The House has delayed its vote on an overhaul of the state's criminal sentencing laws until Thursday.

House Bill 1176, approved Tuesday by the Special Joint Committee on Georgia Criminal Justice Reform, was expected to be considered Wednesday by the House. A top legislative priority of Gov. Nathan Deal, the bill would create new categories of punishment for various types of crimes, such as drug possession, burglary, theft, forgery and shoplifting, and it is intended to stem projected spending increases in prison spending.

About the Author

Bill Rankin has been an AJC reporter for more than 30 years. His father, Jim Rankin, worked as an editor for the newspaper for 26 years, retiring in 1986. Bill has primarily covered the state’s court system, doing all he can do to keep the scales of justice on an even keel. Since 2015, he has been the host of the newspaper’s Breakdown podcast.

Follow Bill Rankin on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Khristina Mondestin, left, owner of Beni Destiné jewelry, sells a necklace at her booth at the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace's annual Small Business Saturday event, Nov. 29, 2025 (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Georgia shoppers flock to local shops for Small Business Saturday

Atlanta shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday, an annual event created in 2010 by credit card giant American Express to encourage shopping local.

28m ago
OBITUARY

AME Bishop Reginald Jackson, religious and political leader, dies at 71

Jackson served for eight years as head of 500 African Methodist Episcopal churches in Georgia.

Georgia dismisses Trump election case, ending his last criminal prosecution

Fulton DA Fani Willis launched the investigation nearly five years ago saying Trump and his allies conspired to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.

The Latest

Khristina Mondestin, left, owner of Beni Destiné jewelry, sells a necklace at her booth at the Atlanta Beltline Marketplace's annual Small Business Saturday event, Nov. 29, 2025 (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Georgia shoppers flock to local shops for Small Business Saturday

28m ago

Georgia dismisses Trump election case, ending his last criminal prosecution

Fulton County taxpayers could be on the hook for millions as Trump case ends

Featured

Carleigh Knight (left) and her sister, Natalie Rogovin, look at Christmas ornaments while shopping at Kudzu Antiques + Modern in Decatur on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller

Metro Atlanta retailers hopeful for strong holiday season after chaotic year

Some independent retailers in metro Atlanta are entering this holiday season feeling battered by what they call a chaotic year.

$21B data center proposal aims to become one of Georgia’s largest

Trammell Crow Co. is planning a $21 billion technology campus for a 1,632-acre site along I-75 roughly 60 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

This metro Atlanta couple spearheaded a change in football helmets

Erin and Lee Hanson are the founders behind Guardian Sports, the company that makes the Guardian Caps worn by college football and NFL players.