Progress Made In Talks On Mass. Sentencing Bill

State lawmakers are working on a compromise to the so-called "three strikes" bill that would deny parole to some repeat criminal offenders.

At a conference committee meeting on the legislation Friday, House Judiciary Committee chairman Eugene O’Flaherty indicated House members might agree to a compromise measure that would include reducing mandatory minimum sentences for some drug offenders and cutting the size of school zones where there are stronger penalties for drug dealers.

Leslie Walker, of Massachusetts Correctional Legal Services, says the compromise still needs work.

"The compromise is going to take a great deal of compromising to reduce the number of felonies that create the longer sentences," Walker said.

The bill would increase the felonies for which an offender can be sentenced to life in prison without parole. If conferees agree, the consensus bill would not be subject to amendments, only up or down votes in the branches.