It is a bill that hits home for at least two families in this area.
It has been almost 6 months since WSBT first sat down with Chris Clippinger and Traci Winston. The two women had a lot to talk about after their family members were murdered by men who they say should have still been in prison.
"Because as victims we get no reprieve from the life sentence we've been served," said Clippinger on September 5, 2012.
Steven Clippinger is Chris's brother in law. Police say Steven, a convicted felon, took a gun to his brother Matthew's house, and shot Matthew and his wife Lisa while their children were inside the home. It happened in June of 2012. His trial is in April.
And Traci is the sister of Trina Winston. Trina was killed in August 2012 by her husband Tarrrance Lee – a convicted felon. He has sentenced to 65 years in prison for Trina's murder.
Chris and Traci believe the murders never should have happened. That is because both Steven Clippinger and Tarrance Lee were convicted murders who got out of prison early on good behavior.
"The worst of the worst – the people at the top – they're going to serve more time," said Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) this week.
"We've also reduced the credit time you can earn for getting a college degree from four years to two," said Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Danville), the author of the bill.
According to WSBT's sister station, WISH-TV, the bill part of a comprehensive effort to rewrite sentencing guidelines that would also reduce sentences for some lesser crimes and eliminate prison overcrowding. The emphasis, however, is on keeping sociopaths locked up.
The bill passed unanimously in committee and will be voted on by the entire house next week.
