Idaho would end mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes under one of three bills introduced Monday in the state Legislature that would bring other sweeping changes to drug laws, the Times-News reports. Another would make changes to civil asset forfeitures, narrowing the scope of when certain property can be seized when connected to drug cases and adding some additional protections for property owners. The third would allow heroin dealers to be charged with second-degree murder if a customer overdoses and dies, writes Times-News reporter Nathan Brown.

Boise Democrat Ilana Rubel and Nampa Republican Christy Perry’s proposal to get rid of mandatory minimums provoked the most debate. Rep. Greg Chaney, R-Caldwell, said he views changing the law as giving judges the flexibility to decide whether they are dealing with notorious Mexican drug kingpin “el Chapo” or a teenager who made a mistake.

“I don’t see this as weakening our stance on drugs,” he said. “I see this as recognizing there are human beings who make some really stupid choices.” You can read Brown’s full report here.

Idaho has mandatory minimum sentences ranging from one to 15 years in prison for crimes involving marijuana, cocaine, meth and heroin. Rubel and Perry’s bill would leave the current maximum sentences — which can be life for some of these drugs — in place, but would get rid of the mandatory minimums, Brown reports. Judges could still impose the current minimums in cases where they think they are appropriate, Rubel said, but they could also take the circumstances into account and impose lesser sentences in cases where they think a less harsh sentence is justified.

“We are spending over $7 million a year currently incarcerating people under these nonviolent mandatory minimum sentences,” she said.

Aside from drugs, Rubel said, the only other crimes in Idaho with mandatory minimum sentences are murder, repeated sexual molestation of a child and causing grievous bodily injury when driving under the influence. 

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