Video & Transcript Research : 'nonviolent felons'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Thu Feb 19, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • petty misdemeanor misdemeanor nonviolent petty misdemeanor misdemeanor and<01:29:20.880> nonviolent
  • petty misdemeanors, and nonviolent class C felonies.
  • Nonviolent does not mean nonharmful.
  • Nonviolent does not mean nonharmful.
  • It's a nonviolent felony. 12 him go.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs recessed briefly for a joint hearing, then reconvened and took up House Bill 2494, which would limit warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations, require officers to document arrest justification, expand citation-in-lieu-of-arrest use, and direct the Judiciary to create a standardized citation form. The chair also outlined hearing procedures and testimony time limits. Committee members later received an overview from the Policing Project about national trends in expanding citation use. Testimony was divided. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Office of the Public Defender, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and the Policing Project, argued the bill would reduce unnecessary arrests and pretrial detention, lessen jail overcrowding, save law enforcement time, and reduce harms such as job loss, housing instability, family disruption, and recidivism. They also said the bill preserves officer discretion through public-safety and flight-risk exceptions, and several supporters urged the committee to adopt a standardized citation form despite the Judiciary’s request for a delayed implementation date. Opposition came from the Department of the Attorney General, the Judiciary, county prosecutors, Honolulu Police Department, and other individuals. They argued the bill would unduly restrict law enforcement discretion, create administrative and data-processing problems, and make it harder to identify repeat or habitual offenders because of changes to citation information and fingerprinting. The Judiciary requested implementation no earlier than January 1, 2028 and said the citation form would need major changes. Opponents also warned the bill could increase litigation, suppress evidence, and not meaningfully reduce overcrowding because most jail populations are held on felony matters. The chair reported 14 testimonies in support, 21 in opposition, and one with comments; no vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Criminal Jurisprudence Mar 18th, 2025

Criminal Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • Felon in possession of a weapon, how are you eligible for a PR bond? You're a habitual felon.
  • It's not necessarily for nonviolent offenses.
  • Now, I get the felon possession thing. I actually.
  • that are on probation or parole, felon. that have an immigration detainer and felons that have two prior
  • Magistrates gave. 2,208 PR bonds for felons.
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Judiciary Committee Jun 17th, 2026

Judiciary Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're looking at maybe a nonviolent... Sex offense. Again, same thing.
  • We're looking at maybe a nonviolent offense that's not directly public safety related.
  • So 20% or 25% you can see based on violent or nonviolent in that formula.
  • So first of all, you have DOCR chooses whether the crime was violent or nonviolent.
  • So you go up and you look at the current offense's nonviolent factor base. Okay?
Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence honoring a deceased member, then approved the April minutes. The first major presentation was from Chelsea Florey of Child and Family Services on the Diversion Task Force and related grant programs created with one-time funding from HB 1012. She reported that five of six proposals were funded, with youth diversion services operating in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, and a Red River Children’s Advocacy Center program focused on problematic sexualized behavior. Members discussed barriers such as staffing shortages, voluntary family engagement, service fatigue, and the need for better coordination, broader outreach, and possible changes to diversion eligibility rules so low-level cases can remain in diversion longer. Several legislators pressed for more practical system changes and clearer service navigation, while Florey said the task force is trying to build a service array or hub and is leaning on the Children’s Cabinet for broader recommendations. The committee then heard from North Dakota Lottery Director Thomas Lawler, who gave an operational overview and biennium report. He described the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, Pick and Click subscriptions, Players Club membership, and revenue distribution. For the 2023-25 biennium, about $67 million in tickets were purchased, with roughly $16.2 million transferred overall, including money for the general fund, drug task force grants, and compulsive gambling prevention and treatment. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether the amount is set by statute. A lengthy presentation followed from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation on criminal justice data connectivity and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that North Dakota’s jail, court, HHS, and correctional systems use multiple separate databases that do not communicate in real time, requiring manual cross-checks and staff communication. He said the department is exploring a centralized hub or other integration approach, but noted challenges with identifiers, vendor contracts, confidentiality, and cost. Robin Schmolenberger then updated the committee on a Medicaid data-sharing project with HHS, saying monthly application assistance is now occurring in correctional facilities and that automated bi-directional data exchange is expected in late 2026 to help suspend and reactivate Medicaid coverage and identify former foster care youth. Members also discussed parole, probation, transitional housing, and the need for better real-time notifications and clearer data definitions. The committee also received an update from county representatives on the 24/7 sobriety program, including a recent attorney general opinion that if a court waives 24/7 fees, sheriffs may use the cheaper twice-daily breath test or urine testing instead of SCRAM bracelets or drug patches. Finally, Bruce Johnson of the Racing Commission presented on an audit report, acknowledging serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, grant documentation failures, a breeders fund eligibility reversal, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has already changed its procedures by tracking fund limits monthly, requiring grant applications and itemized reports, enforcing breeders fund rules as written, and routing purchases through procurement with written contracts. The committee asked follow-up questions throughout but took no formal votes on these presentations.
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, February 13, 2026

Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:
  • A felon cannot hold office of honor or profit unless rights are restored.
  • > of<00:15:36.639> honor<00:15:36.959> or felon cannot hold office of honor or felon
  • <00:16:12.079> or against convicted um violent felon or against convicted um violent felon
  • That’s a that could allow a 35-year-old to rape a 13-year-old and it’s nonviolent.
  • 13year-old and it's nonviolent. So, 13year-old and it's nonviolent.
Bills: SF0082
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session-Day 18, March 3, 2026-AM

Wyoming Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So nonviolent felonies would be possession of marijuana greater than three ounces.
  • It takes that same category of people, one-time nonviolent felons, and restores the remainder of their
  • A felon. This was a political vote by a management audit committee. It wasn't an interim topic.
  • A felon. This was a political vote by a management audit committee. It wasn't an interim topic.
  • A felon. This was a political vote by a management audit committee. It wasn't an interim topic.
Keywords: 916, all
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Corrections Apr 2nd, 2025

Corrections

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're going to call up Jay Gum, Foreign felons himself, and you're testifying against the bill.
  • It's supposed to say forgiven felons. Well, it doesn't say that, and we're not judging.
  • Jay Ann Gum, and I am representing myself and the organization that I'm the president of Forgiving Felons
  • between the ages of 17 and 25 or part of our felony special specialty court programs where they were nonviolent
  • We know those youthful, nonviolent offenders.
Bills: HB153
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Apr 9th, 2025

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also adds to allow a person that has been convicted of a nonviolent offense, as defined in section
  • But this is if it's nonviolent. Yeah, but class C felonies is still a big deal.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Committee Jun 17th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're looking at maybe a nonviolent offense that's not directly public safety related.
  • So 20% or 25%, you can see based on violent or nonviolent in that formula.
  • So first of all, you have DOCR choosing whether the crime was violent or nonviolent.
  • So you go up and you look at the current offense's nonviolent factor base. Okay?
  • Our system is now built to allow a 15-time felon to serve 0% for an aggravated assault.
Summary: The committee opened with a moment of silence for a deceased member, then approved the April minutes and heard a presentation from HHS on the Diversion Task Force and related youth services grants. Chelsea Florey described the $750,000 one-time appropriation from HB 1012, the five awarded grants, and how programs in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, and Minot are using the funds for youth diversion, including school-based groups, physical activity, and services for problematic sexual behavior. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, family engagement, service silos, and whether diversion eligibility rules are too rigid; Florey said the task force is focused on better coordination, broader education about available services, and possible changes to diversion criteria, with the Children’s Cabinet likely to drive broader recommendations. The committee then received a North Dakota Lottery biennium report from Director Thomas Lawler, who reviewed the lottery’s history, games, retailer commissions, player programs, and revenue distribution. He reported about $67 million in ticket sales for the 2023-2025 biennium, about $16.2 million transferred overall, including roughly $13.6 million to the general fund, plus transfers to drug task force and compulsive gambling funds. Members asked about the compulsive gambling allocation and whether it is set by statute. Next, the Department of Corrections presented on criminal justice data sharing and reentry. Adam Anderson explained that jails, courts, DOCR, HHS, and other entities use separate systems with limited interoperability, making real-time communication largely manual. He outlined possible hub or point-to-point IT solutions, but noted cost, vendor, identifier, and data-definition challenges. Robin Schmolenberger followed with an update on a Medicaid data exchange project between DOCR and HHS to suspend and reactivate inmate Medicaid coverage automatically and improve care coordination, with full bi-directional exchange expected in fall 2026. The committee also heard from county representatives on 24-7 sobriety program fees and an AG opinion allowing local sheriffs to use cheaper testing options when courts waive fees. Finally, the North Dakota Racing Commission reviewed a troubling audit. Bruce Johnson acknowledged serious findings involving overspending from the promotion fund, missing grant documentation, a reversed decision on breeders fund eligibility, and repeated procurement violations. He said the commission has begun corrective actions, including monthly tracking of the promotion fund cap, stricter grant documentation, written procurement procedures, and clearer eligibility rules in condition books. Members pressed him on how the overspending occurred, whether the commission board would impose consequences, and whether statutory clarification is needed on the promotion fund limit and related spending rules.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill restores Second Amendment firearm rights to nonviolent felons after five years with an Moved
  • So, as I understand this right, if a Florida citizen was convicted of 3FO felonies, nonviolent felonies
  • The bill would if they are nonviolent felons and after five years of serving their time and doing the
  • So, just to clarify, hush money payments would be considered nonviolent That I don't know about hush
  • firearm and others who don't have access can't get their record expunged are stuck being a convicted felon
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Criminal penalties for what is not only protected speech, but what is oftentimes nonviolent conduct that
  • As a felon for the rest of their lives.
  • Rather than punishing citizens for nonviolent conduct, we should be encouraging this type of conduct.
Keywords: 1184, house, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • to increase the criminal penalties for what is not only protected speech, but what is oftentimes nonviolent
  • Holding officers accountable and protesting in fear of being stamped as a felon for the rest of their
  • lives, rather than punishing citizens for the nonviolent conduct, we should be encouraging this type
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

PSM-HHS, PSM DEFER Public Hearings 02-07-2025

Public Safety and Military Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • They have nonviolent crimes, and they have not been sentenced, and therefore don't find that the jails
  • So it would not take pre-trial misdemeanants and put them with convicted felons in the prison, okay?
  • with misdem meance and put them with misdem meance and put them with convicted<00:09:10.040> felons
  • > the<00:09:11.600> prison<00:09:12.600> okay<00:09:13.000> so convicted felons
  • in the prison okay so convicted felons in the prison okay so we're<00:09:13.360> only<00:09:13.680
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: On the deferred agenda, the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs took up SB 1364, which makes emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and SB 1452, which relates to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act. The chair recommended both measures pass with amendments, including technical corrections and a committee-report effective date of July 1, 2077. For SB 1364, the amendments included specified general fund and transfer fund amounts for DAGS, the Judiciary, and the Department of Law. For SB 1452, the chair said the bill was being corrected to fix a drug-name error that had been replicated from a federal mistake. Both recommendations were adopted by vote, with Senator Dort excused. The committee then discussed SB 1612, a joint measure on fitness to proceed that would require and appropriate funds for a five-year pilot program involving the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Health, with interim and final reports to the Legislature. Testimony was mixed: the Judiciary and Department of Health were supportive, while the Office of the Public Defender and the Disability Rights Center opposed it, arguing it conflicted with best practices and the Clark consent order, and that people found not fit to proceed must be sent to the state hospital. DCR said its main concern was that the bill would still require patients to be housed in its facilities, which it said are not rehabilitative and are already strained by staffing shortages and limited access. The bill’s author argued the proposal was meant to create joint custody and reduce the high cost of state-hospital placement, but the committee did not take final action in the portion provided. In the joint hearing with Health and Human Services, the committees heard SB 1322, a broad rewrite of the state mental health code. The Attorney General supported the measure as a comprehensive cleanup and modernization effort, but many testifiers raised concerns. Queen’s Health System and Hawaii Health Systems Corporation supported the concept but warned about emergency-room impacts and asked for amendments; IHS supported the bill with a caveat about assisted community treatment procedures; and the Public Defender, Disability Rights Center, and others opposed parts of it, citing due process, privacy, HIPAA, counsel rights, liability immunity, and the reduction of an involuntary-treatment panel from three clinicians to one psychiatrist. The hearing also covered SB 951 on child protection, where the Department of Defense supported the bill and proposed technical amendments and MOUs with military components to clarify reporting and coordination procedures; DHS and the Attorney General said they were still working through possible changes. Finally, SB 228 on excited delirium was heard, with the Public Defender and Disability Rights Center supporting the bill and arguing the term has been misused and that better police de-escalation training is the real solution.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Mar 18th, 2025

Alabama Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • If we're looking at nonviolent offenders and reducing the prison census, that's one way to do it.
  • But I just want to make sure that your legislation states that it has to be nonviolent; they cannot be
  • Be nonviolent; they cannot be violent offenders.
  • We’re talking about only nonviolent offenders here.
  • The DA must agree for any nonviolent criminal offender to be diverted from prison to a trial judge-run
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary C May 5th, 2026

Judiciary C

Transcript Highlights:
  • Eligibility is limited to nonviolent, non-sex offense defendants.
  • Eligibility is limited to non-violent, non-sex offense, Eligibility is limited to nonviolent, non-sex
  • I mean, obviously, this is only, it's limited to nonviolent. Yes, sir. It's correct.
  • But the line for the health care costs for those nonviolent... A lot of those folks are just sick.
  • This is to help us manage those nonviolent offenders.
Keywords: 974, senate, all
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary C May 5th, 2026

Judiciary C

Transcript Highlights:
  • Eligibility is limited to nonviolent, non-sex offense defendants.
  • Eligibility is limited to non-violent, non-sex offense, Eligibility is limited to nonviolent, non-sex
  • I mean, obviously, this is only—it's limited to nonviolent, non-sex offense.
  • But the line for the health care costs for those nonviolent... A lot of those folks are just sick.
  • This is to help us manage those nonviolent offenders.
Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard House Bill 1033, which expands the definition of critical infrastructure to include airports, heliports, spaceports, aerospace facilities, certain government and military sites, and oil and gas platforms. Supporters said the bill is part of a broader effort to position Louisiana for aerospace and defense investment, while opponents from the Sierra Club warned that repeatedly broadening critical infrastructure could chill protest and free-speech activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then heard House Bill 1034, which authorizes local officials to declare temporary protection zones for public safety for up to 72 hours, with one extension. The sponsor and the Department of Economic Development said it would be a tool for aerospace and defense projects and other public-safety needs; ACLU testimony raised concerns about notice, property rights, and possible impacts on public waterways. The bill was also reported favorably. The committee next considered several criminal justice bills. House Bill 51, barring post-conviction bail for defendants convicted of aggravated offenses against children, and House Bill 55, limiting public disclosure of juror information to protect juror privacy, both received broad support and were reported favorably. House Bill 635, aimed at protecting Louisianians from transnational repression by foreign governments through penalty enhancements for underlying crimes, was supported by a national security advocate and reported favorably. House Bill 133, increasing penalties for students who commit attacks on teachers or other students, was amended to address juvenile procedure and exceptionalities; teachers testified about serious injuries they suffered, while the ACLU and criminal defense lawyers raised concerns about mandatory minimums and individualized sentencing. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also heard House Bill 676, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals, or “body brokering,” in the substance-use treatment industry. The sponsor and Blue Cross Blue Shield representatives described schemes that steer vulnerable patients into fraudulent treatment arrangements for profit; the bill was reported favorably. House Bill 159 created a Caddo Parish pilot program for pretrial home incarceration with electronic monitoring to reduce jail overcrowding. The sheriff said the jail is far over capacity and that the program would be limited to nonviolent, non-sex-offense defendants with risk assessments, court approval, and behavioral-health check-ins. Witnesses supported the concept but urged tighter liability language; the committee adopted an amendment and reported the bill with amendments. House Bill 106, dealing with unauthorized administration of melatonin to children in child care settings, was reported favorably. Later, the committee amended and reported House Bill 108, which changes juror qualifications to exclude people convicted of crimes of violence or sex offenses from criminal juries, after opponents argued it would unnecessarily bar citizens from jury service. House Bill 784, a cleanup bill on sex offender registration and notification, was amended and reported with technical changes. Senate Bill 388, which removes a trigger clause tied to a border compact and authorizes review of state contracts for foreign-adversary benefit, was amended and reported. Finally, House Bill 772, a bail-procedure reform requiring accurate mailing and electronic notice information and consolidating notice rules, was presented as a fairness and efficiency measure and had support from the bail industry and prosecutors; the transcript ends before final action on that bill.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

JHA Public Hearing - Thu Feb 5, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST

Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • You want to make the people who have the smallest amounts in their possession felons.
  • felons. That's what you want us to do. felons. That's what you want us to do.
  • so that they're ultimately not a felon. so that they're ultimately not a felon.
  • They can get a deferral so that they're ultimately not a felon.
  • ,<01:24:27.600> but wouldn't be treated as a felon, but wouldn't be treated as a felon, but
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and ground rules from Chair David Tarnas, including a request for two-minute testimony limits, clear speaking, Zoom etiquette, and respectful conduct. The first measure taken up was HB 2062, relating to gun violence prevention, which would appropriate funds for enforcement of gun violence protective orders and for public awareness campaigns. Judiciary submitted written testimony recommending technical changes to clarify that it does not enforce laws and instead should be funded for personnel to process temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders; the Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill and said it is well positioned to conduct public education. Support also came from county and advocacy witnesses, including Moms Demand Action, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, HGEA, and a retired police officer, while opposition testimony argued the measure raises due process and Fifth Amendment concerns and that education, not enforcement, should be the focus. The chair noted 37 testimonies in support, 103 in opposition, and three comments; no vote was taken in the portion provided. Testimony on HB 2062 emphasized both public safety and constitutional concerns. Supporters described the bill as a way to increase awareness of an existing legal tool, prevent suicides and shootings, and help law enforcement and the public understand gun violence protective orders. Opponents, including gun owners and firearms groups, argued that red flag laws can be abused, lack due process, and should not be expanded through state funding. A county neighborhood safety witness suggested an amendment to allow public, private, and nonprofit consultants to assist with training and implementation. Members asked a few questions, but the agencies with written testimony were not present, so the chair referred members to their submissions. The committee then moved to HB 2061, relating to firearms, which appropriates money for the state gun buyback program and requires at least two buyback events in each county. Written support was noted from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaii County Council, the County of Kauai Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, with the latter emphasizing that buybacks are voluntary prevention tools that can reduce risk before crises escalate. Opposition came from the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, SDM Training Group/Bows and Bullets, and others; one witness argued buybacks are ineffective, costly, and can be vulnerable to misuse or black-market diversion, and suggested a year-round surrender option instead. The committee heard additional support from a retired police officer and from a gun violence survivor with Students Demand Action, but no final action or vote was taken in the excerpt provided.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight Mar 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight

Transcript Highlights:
  • that I don't know and we have questions in but this basically restores Second Amendment rights to nonviolent
  • felons after they have served their time, their sentences, and a period of time with no other issues