As Ohio state lawmakers discuss an 1,800 page criminal justice bill, advocates are pushing for things they say legislators can do to help both those who are victims of crime and their families as well as the people convicted of committing crimes.
Rukiye Abdul-Mutakalim’s son Suliman was shot in 2015 in Cincinnati. The 39 year old Navy veteran, known to many as "Sam", was shot after he left an ATM and then bought dinner to bring home to his wife. He was shot and left to die by a group of three men who stole his money and the food he was carrying.
One of the killers was 14 year old Javon Coulter; another was 17 year old Valentino Pettis. Police said a third man who was believed to be in his 20s was involved, but wasn't charged. Coulter was sentenced to 20 years. Pettis received a 14-year sentence.
Abdul-Mutakalim has against life sentences for young offenders, and said her son's young killers and others like them need lawmakers’ help.
“Change, improve our laws. You can do this. With recovery centers and services in our communities, all our communities. And my son is saying, please," Abdul-Mutakalim said.
Advocates are calling for funding for those trauma recovery centers as well as extended unpaid leave and housing protection for victims.
For offenders, the group wants shorter sentences for completing certain programs. and They’re also pushing for transition programs for people leaving prison.
That last item is in the criminal justice bill, Senate Bill 288, which would change the rules on denying release to those transition programs. It also would increase early release programs and would expand the ability to expunge records.
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