State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason) released the below statement following the signing of House Bill 3653, also known as the criminal justice reform bill:
“While there are some good ideas included in the criminal justice reform legislation, they are overshadowed by several negative key points contained in this bill and by the process in which it passed.
“I believe that if this bill had gone through an open and proper review process, there was potential for bipartisan compromise. Instead, House Bill 3653 was hastily pushed through the General Assembly in the final hours of lame duck session with little transparency.
“Reforms to our criminal justice system are too important to get wrong, which is why I cannot support the way this bill was created. I am disappointed by the Governor’s decision to sign it into law.”