SB 1321: Felonies: crimes committed while on mandatory supervision.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2016-02-19
Existing law generally requires that felonies punishable by imprisonment in a county jail be punished either by the term described in the underlying offense or by a term of 16 months, or 2 or 3 years if the term is not specified. Existing law requires an executed sentence for these felonies to be punished in state prison if the defendant has a prior or current felony conviction for a serious or violent felony, is required to register as a sex offender, or is convicted of a crime for which the white collar crime enhancement is imposed as part of the sentence.
Existing law authorizes a court, when sentencing a person to county jail for a felony, to commit the person to county jail for either the full term in custody, as specified, or to suspend the execution of a concluding portion of the term selected at the courts discretion. Under existing law, this period of suspended execution is supervised by the county probation officer and is known as mandatory supervision.
This bill would require an executed sentence for a felony to be punished in state prison if the defendant committed the felony while he or she was under mandatory supervision.
(a)(1)The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose of imprisonment for crime is punishment. This purpose is best served by terms proportionate to the seriousness of the offense with provision for uniformity in the sentences of offenders committing the same offense under similar circumstances. The Legislature further finds and declares that the elimination of disparity and the provision of uniformity of sentences can best be achieved by determinate sentences fixed by statute in proportion to the seriousness of the offense as determined by the Legislature to be imposed by the court with specified discretion.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Legislature further finds and declares that programs should be available for inmates, including, but not limited to, educational programs, that are designed to prepare nonviolent felony offenders for successful reentry into the community. The Legislature encourages the development of policies and programs designed to educate and rehabilitate nonviolent felony offenders. In implementing this section, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is encouraged to give priority enrollment in programs to promote successful return to the community to an inmate with a short remaining term of commitment and a release date that would allow him or her adequate time to complete the program.
(3)In any case in which the punishment prescribed by statute for a person convicted of a public offense is a term of imprisonment in the state prison or a term pursuant to subdivision (h) of any specification of three time periods, the court shall sentence the defendant to one of the terms of imprisonment specified unless the convicted person is given any other disposition provided by law, including a fine, jail, probation, or the suspension of imposition or execution of sentence or is sentenced pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1168 because he or she had committed his or her crime prior to July 1, 1977. In sentencing the convicted person, the court shall apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council. The court, unless it determines that there are circumstances in mitigation of the punishment prescribed, shall also impose any other term that it is required by law to impose as an additional term. Nothing in this article shall affect any provision of law that imposes the death penalty, that authorizes or restricts the granting of probation or suspending the execution or imposition of sentence, or expressly provides for imprisonment in the state prison for life, except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d). In any case in which the amount of preimprisonment credit under Section 2900.5 or any other law is equal to or exceeds any sentence imposed pursuant to this chapter, except for the remaining portion of mandatory supervision pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h), the entire sentence shall be deemed to have been served, except for the remaining period of mandatory supervision, and the defendant shall not be actually delivered to the custody of the secretary or to the custody of the county correctional administrator. The court shall advise the defendant that he or she shall serve an applicable period of parole, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision, and order the defendant to report to the parole or probation office closest to the defendants last legal residence, unless the in-custody credits equal the total sentence, including both confinement time and the period of parole, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. The sentence shall be deemed a separate prior prison term or a sentence of imprisonment in a county jail under subdivision (h) for purposes of Section 667.5, and a copy of the judgment and other necessary documentation shall be forwarded to the secretary.
(b)When a judgment of imprisonment is to be imposed and the statute specifies three possible terms, the choice of the appropriate term shall rest within the sound discretion of the court. At least four days prior to the time set for imposition of judgment, either party or the victim, or the family of the victim if the victim is deceased, may submit a statement in aggravation or mitigation. In determining the appropriate term, the court may consider the record in the case, the probation officers report, other reports, including reports received pursuant to Section 1203.03, and statements in aggravation or mitigation submitted by the prosecution, the defendant, or the victim, or the family of the victim if the victim is deceased, and any further evidence introduced at the sentencing hearing. The court shall select the term which, in the courts discretion, best serves the interests of justice. The court shall set forth on the record the reasons for imposing the term selected and the court may not impose an upper term by using the fact of any enhancement upon which sentence is imposed under any provision of law. A term of imprisonment shall not be specified if imposition of sentence is suspended.
(c)The court shall state the reasons for its sentence choice on the record at the time of sentencing. The court shall also inform the defendant that as part of the sentence after expiration of the term he or she may be on parole for a period as provided in Section 3000 or 3000.08 or postrelease community supervision for a period as provided in Section 3451.
(d)(1)When a defendant subject to this section or subdivision (b) of Section 1168 has been sentenced to be imprisoned in the state prison or county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) and has been committed to the custody of the secretary or the county correctional administrator, the court may, within 120 days of the date of commitment on its own motion, or at any time upon the recommendation of the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings in the case of state prison inmates, or the county correctional administrator in the case of county jail inmates, recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and resentence the defendant in the same manner as if he or she had not previously been sentenced, provided the new sentence, if any, is no greater than the initial sentence. The court resentencing under this subdivision shall apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council so as to eliminate disparity of sentences and to promote uniformity of sentencing. Credit shall be given for time served.
(2)(A)(i)When a defendant who was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense for which the defendant was sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole has served at least 15 years of that sentence, the defendant may submit to the sentencing court a petition for recall and resentencing.
(ii)Notwithstanding clause (i), this paragraph shall not apply to defendants sentenced to life without parole for an offense where the defendant tortured, as described in Section 206, his or her victim or the victim was a public safety official, including any law enforcement personnel mentioned in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3, or any firefighter as described in Section 245.1, as well as any other officer in any segment of law enforcement who is employed by the federal government, the state, or any of its political subdivisions.
(B)The defendant shall file the original petition with the sentencing court. A copy of the petition shall be served on the agency that prosecuted the case. The petition shall include the defendants statement that he or she was under 18 years of age at the time of the crime and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the defendants statement describing his or her remorse and work towards rehabilitation, and the defendants statement that one of the following is true:
(i)The defendant was convicted pursuant to felony murder or aiding and abetting murder provisions of law.
(ii)The defendant does not have juvenile felony adjudications for assault or other felony crimes with a significant potential for personal harm to victims prior to the offense for which the sentence is being considered for recall.
(iii)The defendant committed the offense with at least one adult codefendant.
(iv)The defendant has performed acts that tend to indicate rehabilitation or the potential for rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, availing himself or herself of rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programs, if those programs have been available at his or her classification level and facility, using self-study for self-improvement, or showing evidence of remorse.
(C)If any of the information required in subparagraph (B) is missing from the petition, or if proof of service on the prosecuting agency is not provided, the court shall return the petition to the defendant and advise the defendant that the matter cannot be considered without the missing information.
(D)A reply to the petition, if any, shall be filed with the court within 60 days of the date on which the prosecuting agency was served with the petition, unless a continuance is granted for good cause.
(E)If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the statements in the petition are true, the court shall hold a hearing to consider whether to recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and to resentence the defendant in the same manner as if the defendant had not previously been sentenced, provided that the new sentence, if any, is not greater than the initial sentence. Victims, or victim family members if the victim is deceased, shall retain the rights to participate in the hearing.
(F)The factors that the court may consider when determining whether to recall and resentence include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i)The defendant was convicted pursuant to felony murder or aiding and abetting murder provisions of law.
(ii)The defendant does not have juvenile felony adjudications for assault or other felony crimes with a significant potential for personal harm to victims prior to the offense for which the sentence is being considered for recall.
(iii)The defendant committed the offense with at least one adult codefendant.
(iv)Prior to the offense for which the sentence is being considered for recall, the defendant had insufficient adult support or supervision and had suffered from psychological or physical trauma, or significant stress.
(v)The defendant suffers from cognitive limitations due to mental illness, developmental disabilities, or other factors that did not constitute a defense, but influenced the defendants involvement in the offense.
(vi)The defendant has performed acts that tend to indicate rehabilitation or the potential for rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, availing himself or herself of rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programs, if those programs have been available at his or her classification level and facility, using self-study for self-improvement, or showing evidence of remorse.
(vii)The defendant has maintained family ties or connections with others through letter writing, calls, or visits, or has eliminated contact with individuals outside of prison who are currently involved with crime.
(viii)The defendant has had no disciplinary actions for violent activities in the last five years in which the defendant was determined to be the aggressor.
(G)The court shall have the discretion to recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and to resentence the defendant in the same manner as if the defendant had not previously been sentenced, provided that the new sentence, if any, is not greater than the initial sentence. The discretion of the court shall be exercised in consideration of the criteria in subparagraph (B). Victims, or victim family members if the victim is deceased, shall be notified of the resentencing hearing and shall retain their rights to participate in the hearing.
(H)If the sentence is not recalled, the defendant may submit another petition for recall and resentencing to the sentencing court when the defendant has been committed to the custody of the department for at least 20 years. If recall and resentencing is not granted under that petition, the defendant may file another petition after having served 24 years. The final petition may be submitted, and the response to that petition shall be determined, during the 25th year of the defendants sentence.
(I)In addition to the criteria in subparagraph (F), the court may consider any other criteria that the court deems relevant to its decision, so long as the court identifies them on the record, provides a statement of reasons for adopting them, and states why the defendant does or does not satisfy the criteria.
(J)This subdivision shall have retroactive application.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding any other law and consistent with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), if the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings or both determine that a prisoner satisfies the criteria set forth in paragraph (2), the secretary or the board may recommend to the court that the prisoners sentence be recalled.
(2)The court shall have the discretion to resentence or recall if the court finds that the facts described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) or subparagraphs (B) and (C) exist:
(A)The prisoner is terminally ill with an incurable condition caused by an illness or disease that would produce death within six months, as determined by a physician employed by the department.
(B)The conditions under which the prisoner would be released or receive treatment do not pose a threat to public safety.
(C)The prisoner is permanently medically incapacitated with a medical condition that renders him or her permanently unable to perform activities of basic daily living, and results in the prisoner requiring 24-hour total care, including, but not limited to, coma, persistent vegetative state, brain death, ventilator-dependency, loss of control of muscular or neurological function, and that incapacitation did not exist at the time of the original sentencing.
The Board of Parole Hearings shall make findings pursuant to this subdivision before making a recommendation for resentence or recall to the court. This subdivision does not apply to a prisoner sentenced to death or a term of life without the possibility of parole.
(3)Within 10 days of receipt of a positive recommendation by the secretary or the board, the court shall hold a hearing to consider whether the prisoners sentence should be recalled.
(4)Any physician employed by the department who determines that a prisoner has six months or less to live shall notify the chief medical officer of the prognosis. If the chief medical officer concurs with the prognosis, he or she shall notify the warden. Within 48 hours of receiving notification, the warden or the wardens representative shall notify the prisoner of the recall and resentencing procedures, and shall arrange for the prisoner to designate a family member or other outside agent to be notified as to the prisoners medical condition and prognosis, and as to the recall and resentencing procedures. If the inmate is deemed mentally unfit, the warden or the wardens representative shall contact the inmates emergency contact and provide the information described in paragraph (2).
(5)The warden or the wardens representative shall provide the prisoner and his or her family member, agent, or emergency contact, as described in paragraph (4), updated information throughout the recall and resentencing process with regard to the prisoners medical condition and the status of the prisoners recall and resentencing proceedings.
(6)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the prisoner or his or her family member or designee may independently request consideration for recall and resentencing by contacting the chief medical officer at the prison or the secretary. Upon receipt of the request, the chief medical officer and the warden or the wardens representative shall follow the procedures described in paragraph (4). If the secretary determines that the prisoner satisfies the criteria set forth in paragraph (2), the secretary or board may recommend to the court that the prisoners sentence be recalled. The secretary shall submit a recommendation for release within 30 days in the case of inmates sentenced to determinate terms and, in the case of inmates sentenced to indeterminate terms, the secretary shall make a recommendation to the Board of Parole Hearings with respect to the inmates who have applied under this section. The board shall consider this information and make an independent judgment pursuant to paragraph (2) and make findings related thereto before rejecting the request or making a recommendation to the court. This action shall be taken at the next lawfully noticed board meeting.
(7)Any recommendation for recall submitted to the court by the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings shall include one or more medical evaluations, a postrelease plan, and findings pursuant to paragraph (2).
(8)If possible, the matter shall be heard before the same judge of the court who sentenced the prisoner.
(9)If the court grants the recall and resentencing application, the prisoner shall be released by the department within 48 hours of receipt of the courts order, unless a longer time period is agreed to by the inmate. At the time of release, the warden or the wardens representative shall ensure that the prisoner has each of the following in his or her possession: a discharge medical summary, full medical records, state identification, parole or postrelease community supervision medications, and all property belonging to the prisoner. After discharge, any additional records shall be sent to the prisoners forwarding address.
(10)The secretary shall issue a directive to medical and correctional staff employed by the department that details the guidelines and procedures for initiating a recall and resentencing procedure. The directive shall clearly state that any prisoner who is given a prognosis of six months or less to live is eligible for recall and resentencing consideration, and that recall and resentencing procedures shall be initiated upon that prognosis.
(11)The provisions of this subdivision shall be available to an inmate who is sentenced to a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h). For purposes of those inmates, secretary or warden shall mean the county correctional administrator and chief medical officer shall mean a physician designated by the county correctional administrator for this purpose.
(f)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (h), any allegation that a defendant is eligible for state prison due to a prior or current conviction, sentence enhancement, or because he or she is required to register as a sex offender shall not be subject to dismissal pursuant to Section 1385.
(g)A sentence to state prison for a determinate term for which only one term is specified, is a sentence to state prison under this section.
(h)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision where the term is not specified in the underlying offense shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or two or three years.
(2)Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for the term described in the underlying offense.
(3)(A)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), where the defendant (A) has a prior or current felony conviction for a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 or a prior or current conviction for a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, (B) has a prior felony conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense that has all the elements of a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 or a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, (C) is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 290) of Title 9 of Part 1, or (D) is convicted of a crime and as part of the sentence an enhancement pursuant to Section 186.11 is imposed, an executed sentence for a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision shall be served in state prison.
(B)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), if the defendant committed the felony offense while on mandatory supervision, an executed sentence for that felony shall be served in state prison.
(4)Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent other dispositions authorized by law, including pretrial diversion, deferred entry of judgment, or an order granting probation pursuant to Section 1203.1.
(5)(A)Unless the court finds that, in the interests of justice, it is not appropriate in a particular case, the court, when imposing a sentence pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), shall suspend execution of a concluding portion of the term for a period selected at the courts discretion.
(B)The portion of a defendants sentenced term that is suspended pursuant to this paragraph shall be known as mandatory supervision, and, unless otherwise ordered by the court, shall commence upon release from physical custody or an alternative custody program, whichever is later. During the period of mandatory supervision, the defendant shall be supervised by the county probation officer in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures generally applicable to persons placed on probation, for the remaining unserved portion of the sentence imposed by the court. The period of supervision shall be mandatory, and may not be earlier terminated except by court order. Any proceeding to revoke or modify mandatory supervision under this subparagraph shall be conducted pursuant to either subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 1203.2 or Section 1203.3. During the period when the defendant is under that supervision, unless in actual custody related to the sentence imposed by the court, the defendant shall be entitled to only actual time credit against the term of imprisonment imposed by the court. Any time period which is suspended because a person has absconded shall not be credited toward the period of supervision.
(6)The sentencing changes made by the act that added this subdivision shall be applied prospectively to any person sentenced on or after October 1, 2011.
(7)The sentencing changes made to paragraph (5) by the act that added this paragraph shall become effective and operative on January 1, 2015, and shall be applied prospectively to any person sentenced on or after January 1, 2015.
(i)This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2017, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that is enacted before that date, deletes or extends that date.
SEC. 2.Section 1170 of the Penal Code, as amended by Section 2 of Chapter 378 of the Statutes of 2015, is amended to read:1170.(a)(1)The Legislature finds and declares that the purpose of imprisonment for crime is punishment. This purpose is best served by terms proportionate to the seriousness of the offense with provision for uniformity in the sentences of offenders committing the same offense under similar circumstances. The Legislature further finds and declares that the elimination of disparity and the provision of uniformity of sentences can best be achieved by determinate sentences fixed by statute in proportion to the seriousness of the offense as determined by the Legislature to be imposed by the court with specified discretion.
(2)Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Legislature further finds and declares that programs should be available for inmates, including, but not limited to, educational programs, that are designed to prepare nonviolent felony offenders for successful reentry into the community. The Legislature encourages the development of policies and programs designed to educate and rehabilitate nonviolent felony offenders. In implementing this section, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is encouraged to give priority enrollment in programs to promote successful return to the community to an inmate with a short remaining term of commitment and a release date that would allow him or her adequate time to complete the program.
(3)In any case in which the punishment prescribed by statute for a person convicted of a public offense is a term of imprisonment in the state prison, or a term pursuant to subdivision (h), of any specification of three time periods, the court shall sentence the defendant to one of the terms of imprisonment specified unless the convicted person is given any other disposition provided by law, including a fine, jail, probation, or the suspension of imposition or execution of sentence or is sentenced pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1168 because he or she had committed his or her crime prior to July 1, 1977. In sentencing the convicted person, the court shall apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council. The court, unless it determines that there are circumstances in mitigation of the punishment prescribed, shall also impose any other term that it is required by law to impose as an additional term. Nothing in this article shall affect any provision of law that imposes the death penalty, that authorizes or restricts the granting of probation or suspending the execution or imposition of sentence, or expressly provides for imprisonment in the state prison for life, except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d). In any case in which the amount of preimprisonment credit under Section 2900.5 or any other provision of law is equal to or exceeds any sentence imposed pursuant to this chapter, except for a remaining portion of mandatory supervision imposed pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (h), the entire sentence shall be deemed to have been served, except for the remaining period of mandatory supervision, and the defendant shall not be actually delivered to the custody of the secretary or the county correctional administrator. The court shall advise the defendant that he or she shall serve an applicable period of parole, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision and order the defendant to report to the parole or probation office closest to the defendants last legal residence, unless the in-custody credits equal the total sentence, including both confinement time and the period of parole, postrelease community supervision, or mandatory supervision. The sentence shall be deemed a separate prior prison term or a sentence of imprisonment in a county jail under subdivision (h) for purposes of Section 667.5, and a copy of the judgment and other necessary documentation shall be forwarded to the secretary.
(b)When a judgment of imprisonment is to be imposed and the statute specifies three possible terms, the court shall order imposition of the middle term, unless there are circumstances in aggravation or mitigation of the crime. At least four days prior to the time set for imposition of judgment, either party or the victim, or the family of the victim if the victim is deceased, may submit a statement in aggravation or mitigation to dispute facts in the record or the probation officers report, or to present additional facts. In determining whether there are circumstances that justify imposition of the upper or lower term, the court may consider the record in the case, the probation officers report, other reports, including reports received pursuant to Section 1203.03, and statements in aggravation or mitigation submitted by the prosecution, the defendant, or the victim, or the family of the victim if the victim is deceased, and any further evidence introduced at the sentencing hearing. The court shall set forth on the record the facts and reasons for imposing the upper or lower term. The court may not impose an upper term by using the fact of any enhancement upon which sentence is imposed under any provision of law. A term of imprisonment shall not be specified if imposition of sentence is suspended.
(c)The court shall state the reasons for its sentence choice on the record at the time of sentencing. The court shall also inform the defendant that as part of the sentence after expiration of the term he or she may be on parole for a period as provided in Section 3000 or 3000.08 or postrelease community supervision for a period as provided in Section 3451.
(d)(1)When a defendant subject to this section or subdivision (b) of Section 1168 has been sentenced to be imprisoned in the state prison or county jail pursuant to subdivision (h) and has been committed to the custody of the secretary or the county correctional administrator, the court may, within 120 days of the date of commitment on its own motion, or at any time upon the recommendation of the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings in the case of state prison inmates, or the county correctional administrator in the case of county jail inmates, recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and resentence the defendant in the same manner as if he or she had not previously been sentenced, provided the new sentence, if any, is no greater than the initial sentence. The court resentencing under this subdivision shall apply the sentencing rules of the Judicial Council so as to eliminate disparity of sentences and to promote uniformity of sentencing. Credit shall be given for time served.
(2)(A)(i)When a defendant who was under 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the offense for which the defendant was sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility of parole has served at least 15 years of that sentence, the defendant may submit to the sentencing court a petition for recall and resentencing.
(ii)Notwithstanding clause (i), this paragraph shall not apply to defendants sentenced to life without parole for an offense where the defendant tortured, as described in Section 206, his or her victim or the victim was a public safety official, including any law enforcement personnel mentioned in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3, or any firefighter as described in Section 245.1, as well as any other officer in any segment of law enforcement who is employed by the federal government, the state, or any of its political subdivisions.
(B)The defendant shall file the original petition with the sentencing court. A copy of the petition shall be served on the agency that prosecuted the case. The petition shall include the defendants statement that he or she was under 18 years of age at the time of the crime and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the defendants statement describing his or her remorse and work towards rehabilitation, and the defendants statement that one of the following is true:
(i)The defendant was convicted pursuant to felony murder or aiding and abetting murder provisions of law.
(ii)The defendant does not have juvenile felony adjudications for assault or other felony crimes with a significant potential for personal harm to victims prior to the offense for which the sentence is being considered for recall.
(iii)The defendant committed the offense with at least one adult codefendant.
(iv)The defendant has performed acts that tend to indicate rehabilitation or the potential for rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, availing himself or herself of rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programs, if those programs have been available at his or her classification level and facility, using self-study for self-improvement, or showing evidence of remorse.
(C)If any of the information required in subparagraph (B) is missing from the petition, or if proof of service on the prosecuting agency is not provided, the court shall return the petition to the defendant and advise the defendant that the matter cannot be considered without the missing information.
(D)A reply to the petition, if any, shall be filed with the court within 60 days of the date on which the prosecuting agency was served with the petition, unless a continuance is granted for good cause.
(E)If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the statements in the petition are true, the court shall hold a hearing to consider whether to recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and to resentence the defendant in the same manner as if the defendant had not previously been sentenced, provided that the new sentence, if any, is not greater than the initial sentence. Victims, or victim family members if the victim is deceased, shall retain the rights to participate in the hearing.
(F)The factors that the court may consider when determining whether to recall and resentence include, but are not limited to, the following:
(i)The defendant was convicted pursuant to felony murder or aiding and abetting murder provisions of law.
(ii)The defendant does not have juvenile felony adjudications for assault or other felony crimes with a significant potential for personal harm to victims prior to the offense for which the sentence is being considered for recall.
(iii)The defendant committed the offense with at least one adult codefendant.
(iv)Prior to the offense for which the sentence is being considered for recall, the defendant had insufficient adult support or supervision and had suffered from psychological or physical trauma, or significant stress.
(v)The defendant suffers from cognitive limitations due to mental illness, developmental disabilities, or other factors that did not constitute a defense, but influenced the defendants involvement in the offense.
(vi)The defendant has performed acts that tend to indicate rehabilitation or the potential for rehabilitation, including, but not limited to, availing himself or herself of rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programs, if those programs have been available at his or her classification level and facility, using self-study for self-improvement, or showing evidence of remorse.
(vii)The defendant has maintained family ties or connections with others through letter writing, calls, or visits, or has eliminated contact with individuals outside of prison who are currently involved with crime.
(viii)The defendant has had no disciplinary actions for violent activities in the last five years in which the defendant was determined to be the aggressor.
(G)The court shall have the discretion to recall the sentence and commitment previously ordered and to resentence the defendant in the same manner as if the defendant had not previously been sentenced, provided that the new sentence, if any, is not greater than the initial sentence. The discretion of the court shall be exercised in consideration of the criteria in subparagraph (B). Victims, or victim family members if the victim is deceased, shall be notified of the resentencing hearing and shall retain their rights to participate in the hearing.
(H)If the sentence is not recalled, the defendant may submit another petition for recall and resentencing to the sentencing court when the defendant has been committed to the custody of the department for at least 20 years. If recall and resentencing is not granted under that petition, the defendant may file another petition after having served 24 years. The final petition may be submitted, and the response to that petition shall be determined, during the 25th year of the defendants sentence.
(I)In addition to the criteria in subparagraph (F), the court may consider any other criteria that the court deems relevant to its decision, so long as the court identifies them on the record, provides a statement of reasons for adopting them, and states why the defendant does or does not satisfy the criteria.
(J)This subdivision shall have retroactive application.
(e)(1)Notwithstanding any other law and consistent with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), if the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings or both determine that a prisoner satisfies the criteria set forth in paragraph (2), the secretary or the board may recommend to the court that the prisoners sentence be recalled.
(2)The court shall have the discretion to resentence or recall if the court finds that the facts described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) or subparagraphs (B) and (C) exist:
(A)The prisoner is terminally ill with an incurable condition caused by an illness or disease that would produce death within six months, as determined by a physician employed by the department.
(B)The conditions under which the prisoner would be released or receive treatment do not pose a threat to public safety.
(C)The prisoner is permanently medically incapacitated with a medical condition that renders him or her permanently unable to perform activities of basic daily living, and results in the prisoner requiring 24-hour total care, including, but not limited to, coma, persistent vegetative state, brain death, ventilator-dependency, loss of control of muscular or neurological function, and that incapacitation did not exist at the time of the original sentencing.
The Board of Parole Hearings shall make findings pursuant to this subdivision before making a recommendation for resentence or recall to the court. This subdivision does not apply to a prisoner sentenced to death or a term of life without the possibility of parole.
(3)Within 10 days of receipt of a positive recommendation by the secretary or the board, the court shall hold a hearing to consider whether the prisoners sentence should be recalled.
(4)Any physician employed by the department who determines that a prisoner has six months or less to live shall notify the chief medical officer of the prognosis. If the chief medical officer concurs with the prognosis, he or she shall notify the warden. Within 48 hours of receiving notification, the warden or the wardens representative shall notify the prisoner of the recall and resentencing procedures, and shall arrange for the prisoner to designate a family member or other outside agent to be notified as to the prisoners medical condition and prognosis, and as to the recall and resentencing procedures. If the inmate is deemed mentally unfit, the warden or the wardens representative shall contact the inmates emergency contact and provide the information described in paragraph (2).
(5)The warden or the wardens representative shall provide the prisoner and his or her family member, agent, or emergency contact, as described in paragraph (4), updated information throughout the recall and resentencing process with regard to the prisoners medical condition and the status of the prisoners recall and resentencing proceedings.
(6)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, the prisoner or his or her family member or designee may independently request consideration for recall and resentencing by contacting the chief medical officer at the prison or the secretary. Upon receipt of the request, the chief medical officer and the warden or the wardens representative shall follow the procedures described in paragraph (4). If the secretary determines that the prisoner satisfies the criteria set forth in paragraph (2), the secretary or board may recommend to the court that the prisoners sentence be recalled. The secretary shall submit a recommendation for release within 30 days in the case of inmates sentenced to determinate terms and, in the case of inmates sentenced to indeterminate terms, the secretary shall make a recommendation to the Board of Parole Hearings with respect to the inmates who have applied under this section. The board shall consider this information and make an independent judgment pursuant to paragraph (2) and make findings related thereto before rejecting the request or making a recommendation to the court. This action shall be taken at the next lawfully noticed board meeting.
(7)Any recommendation for recall submitted to the court by the secretary or the Board of Parole Hearings shall include one or more medical evaluations, a postrelease plan, and findings pursuant to paragraph (2).
(8)If possible, the matter shall be heard before the same judge of the court who sentenced the prisoner.
(9)If the court grants the recall and resentencing application, the prisoner shall be released by the department within 48 hours of receipt of the courts order, unless a longer time period is agreed to by the inmate. At the time of release, the warden or the wardens representative shall ensure that the prisoner has each of the following in his or her possession: a discharge medical summary, full medical records, state identification, parole or postrelease community supervision medications, and all property belonging to the prisoner. After discharge, any additional records shall be sent to the prisoners forwarding address.
(10)The secretary shall issue a directive to medical and correctional staff employed by the department that details the guidelines and procedures for initiating a recall and resentencing procedure. The directive shall clearly state that any prisoner who is given a prognosis of six months or less to live is eligible for recall and resentencing consideration, and that recall and resentencing procedures shall be initiated upon that prognosis.
(11)The provisions of this subdivision shall be available to an inmate who is sentenced to a county jail pursuant to subdivision (h). For purposes of those inmates, secretary or warden shall mean the county correctional administrator and chief medical officer shall mean a physician designated by the county correctional administrator for this purpose.
(f)Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for purposes of paragraph (3) of subdivision (h), any allegation that a defendant is eligible for state prison due to a prior or current conviction, sentence enhancement, or because he or she is required to register as a sex offender shall not be subject to dismissal pursuant to Section 1385.
(g)A sentence to state prison for a determinate term for which only one term is specified, is a sentence to state prison under this section.
(h)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision where the term is not specified in the underlying offense shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or two or three years.
(2)Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision shall be punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for the term described in the underlying offense.
(3)(A)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), where the defendant (A) has a prior or current felony conviction for a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 or a prior or current conviction for a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, (B) has a prior felony conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense that has all the elements of a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 or a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, (C) is required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 290) of Title 9 of Part 1, or (D) is convicted of a crime and as part of the sentence an enhancement pursuant to Section 186.11 is imposed, an executed sentence for a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision shall be served in state prison.
(B)Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), if the defendant committed the felony offense while on mandatory supervision, an executed sentence for that felony shall be served in state prison.
(4)Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent other dispositions authorized by law, including pretrial diversion, deferred entry of judgment, or an order granting probation pursuant to Section 1203.1.
(5)(A)Unless the court finds, in the interest of justice, that it is not appropriate in a particular case, the court, when imposing a sentence pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2), shall suspend execution of a concluding portion of the term for a period selected at the courts discretion.
(B)The portion of a defendants sentenced term that is suspended pursuant to this paragraph shall be known as mandatory supervision, and, unless otherwise ordered by the court, shall commence upon release from physical custody or an alternative custody program, whichever is later. During the period of mandatory supervision, the defendant shall be supervised by the county probation officer in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures generally applicable to persons placed on probation, for the remaining unserved portion of the sentence imposed by the court. The period of supervision shall be mandatory, and may not be earlier terminated except by court order. Any proceeding to revoke or modify mandatory supervision under this subparagraph shall be conducted pursuant to either subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 1203.2 or Section 1203.3. During the period when the defendant is under that supervision, unless in actual custody related to the sentence imposed by the court, the defendant shall be entitled to only actual time credit against the term of imprisonment imposed by the court. Any time period which is suspended because a person has absconded shall not be credited toward the period of supervision.
(6)The sentencing changes made by the act that added this subdivision shall be applied prospectively to any person sentenced on or after October 1, 2011.
(7)The sentencing changes made to paragraph (5) by the act that added this paragraph shall become effective and operative on January 1, 2015, and shall be applied prospectively to any person sentenced on or after January 1, 2015.
(i)This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2016 | Introduced. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
| Feb 22, 2016 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23. |
| Feb 22, 2016 | Read first time. |
| Mar 3, 2016 | Referred to Com. on PUB. S. |
| Apr 1, 2016 | Set for hearing April 19. |
| Apr 20, 2016 | April 19 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 3. Noes 4. Page 3614.) Reconsideration granted. |
| Apr 20, 2016 | April 19 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 3. Noes 4.) Reconsideration granted. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2016 | [First] hearing set for [04-19-2016]: Failed passage in Committee. Reconsideration granted | Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety |
Passed |
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| Apr 19, 2016 | Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety |
Failed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| California District Attorneys Association | * Support | Apr 19, 2016 |
| Legal Services for Prisoners with Children | * Against | Apr 19, 2016 |
SENATE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
Senator Loni Hancock, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 1321 Hearing Date: April 19, 2016
Author: | Stone | ||
Version: | February 19, 2016 | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | Yes |
Consultant: | JM | ||
Subject: Felonies: Crimes Committed While on Mandatory Supervision
HISTORY
Source: Author
Prior Legislation: SB 443 (Emmerson) – failed passage in Senate Public Safety, 2013
SB 1441 (Emmerson) – failed passage in Senate Public Safety, 2012
AB 109 (Committee on Budget) – Ch. 15, Stats. 2011
AB 117 (Committee on Budget) – Ch. 39, Stats. 2011
ABx1 17 (Blumenfield) – Ch. 12, Stats. 2011
AB 116 (Committee on Budget) – Ch. 136, Stats. 2011
Support: California State Sheriffs’ Association; Crime Victims of California
Opposition: American Civil Liberties Union of California; California Public Defenders Association; Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
PURPOSE
The purpose of this bill is to require that a defendant convicted of any felony while on ”mandatory supervision” -- which is the community supervision piece of the “split sentence” felony punishment created by the 2011 Realignment Legislation -- serve his or her sentence in prison, not jail.
Current law generally provides that, for any person sentenced on or after October 1, 2011, certain felonies – those which by their statutory terms specifically so provide – are punishable by a term of imprisonment in a county jail, as specified. (Penal Code § 1170(h).)
Existing law authorizes the court, when imposing a sentence for a county jail-eligible felony, to commit the defendant to county jail as follows:
- For a full term in custody as determined in accordance with applicable sentencing law; or
- For a “split” sentence, which is a term determined in accordance with the applicable sentencing law, but where the execution of a concluding portion of the term selected in the court’s discretion is suspended and the defendant placed on mandatory supervision for the remaining unserved portion of the sentence. The period of supervision shall be mandatory and may not be earlier terminated except by court order. During the period when the defendant is under mandatory supervision, unless in actual custody, the defendant shall be entitled to only actual time credit against the term of imprisonment imposed by the court. (Pen. Code, § 1170, subd. (h)(5).
Existing law, in relevant part, provides that the court's authority to revoke, modify, terminate or change a previous order as to a person on mandatory supervision is subject to the following:
- Before any sentence or term or condition of probation is modified, a hearing shall be held in open court. The prosecuting attorney shall be given a two-day written notice and an opportunity to be heard on the matter, except as specified in domestic violence matters.
- If the sentence or term or condition of probation is modified, the judge shall state the reasons for that modification on the record.
- No order shall be made without written notice first given to the probation officer of the intention to revoke, modify, or change its order.
- The court may modify the time and manner of the term of probation for purposes of measuring the timely payment of restitution obligations or the good conduct and reform of the defendant while on probation. The court shall not modify the dollar amount of the restitution obligations due to the good conduct and reform of the defendant, absent compelling and extraordinary reasons, nor shall the court limit the ability of payees to enforce the obligations in the manner of judgments in civil actions. (Penal Code Section 1203.3, subd. (b)(1) to (5).)
Current law provides that where a defendant meets any of the following criteria, an executed sentence for a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision shall be served in state prison:
- the defendant has a prior or current felony conviction for a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7;
- the defendant has a prior or current conviction for a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5;
- the defendant has a prior felony conviction in another jurisdiction for an offense that has all of the elements of a serious felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 1192.7 or a violent felony described in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5;
- the defendant is required to register as a sex offender, as specified; or
- the defendant is convicted of a crime and as part of the sentence an enhancement pursuant to Section 186.11 is imposed. (Penal Code § 1170(h)(3).)
This bill would amend this provision to provide that if a defendant committed any felony offense while on mandatory supervision, an executed sentence for that felony shall be served in state prison.
RECEIVERSHIP/OVERCROWDING CRISIS AGGRAVATION
For the past several years this Committee has scrutinized legislation referred to its jurisdiction for any potential impact on prison overcrowding. Mindful of the United States Supreme Court ruling and federal court orders relating to the state’s ability to provide a constitutional level of health care to its inmate population and the related issue of prison overcrowding, this Committee has applied its “ROCA” policy as a content-neutral, provisional measure necessary to ensure that the Legislature does not erode progress in reducing prison overcrowding.
On February 10, 2014, the federal court ordered California to reduce its in-state adult institution population to 137.5% of design capacity by February 28, 2016, as follows:
- 143% of design bed capacity by June 30, 2014;
- 141.5% of design bed capacity by February 28, 2015; and,
- 137.5% of design bed capacity by February 28, 2016.
In December of 2015 the administration reported that as “of December 9, 2015, 112,510 inmates were housed in the State’s 34 adult institutions, which amounts to 136.0% of design bed capacity, and 5,264 inmates were housed in out-of-state facilities. The current population is 1,212 inmates below the final court-ordered population benchmark of 137.5% of design bed capacity, and has been under that benchmark since February 2015.” (Defendants’ December 2015 Status Report in Response to February 10, 2014 Order, 2:90-cv-00520 KJM DAD PC, 3-Judge Court, Coleman v. Brown, Plata v. Brown (fn. omitted).) One year ago, 115,826 inmates were housed in the State’s 34 adult institutions, which amounted to 140.0% of design bed capacity, and 8,864 inmates were housed in out-of-state facilities. (Defendants’ December 2014 Status Report in Response to February 10, 2014 Order, 2:90-cv-00520 KJM DAD PC, 3-Judge Court, Coleman v. Brown, Plata v. Brown (fn. omitted).)
While significant gains have been made in reducing the prison population, the state must stabilize these advances and demonstrate to the federal court that California has in place the “durable solution” to prison overcrowding “consistently demanded” by the court. (Opinion Re: Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants’ Request For Extension of December 31, 2013 Deadline, NO. 2:90-cv-0520 LKK DAD (PC), 3-Judge Court, Coleman v. Brown, Plata v. Brown (2-10-14). The Committee’s consideration of bills that may impact the prison population therefore will be informed by the following questions:
- Whether a proposal erodes a measure which has contributed to reducing the prison population;
- Whether a proposal addresses a major area of public safety or criminal activity for which there is no other reasonable, appropriate remedy;
- Whether a proposal addresses a crime which is directly dangerous to the physical safety of others for which there is no other reasonably appropriate sanction;
- Whether a proposal corrects a constitutional problem or legislative drafting error; and
- Whether a proposal proposes penalties which are proportionate, and cannot be achieved through any other reasonably appropriate remedy.
COMMENTS
- Need For This Bill
The author states:
Following the Proposition 47 changes and “realignment” individuals are allowed to serve their sentences for certain crimes in county jail. Mandatory supervision, which involves people serving “prison time” out of custody, is specifically encouraged within statute. An issue that has arisen is that once released to the public they reoffend immediately and then simply return to county jail. Recently, parts of Riverside County, specifically the Coachella Valley, have experienced in uptick in crime. Robbery and Aggravated assault are up by 3.2% and 8.3%, vehicle theft and larceny are up 14.1% and 10.5%, respectively. After speaking with the Riverside County DA’s office, Senator Stone became aware of a revolving door of criminals committing realigned felonies, being released on mandatory supervision, and reoffending.
The law is currently deficient in handling repeat offenders for certain offenses that allow for mandatory supervision as opposed to prison time. This bill is not designed to send people to prison for technical violations committed while on mandatory supervision, but is meant to strengthen our commitment to public safety by making sure that individuals who reoffend while on mandatory supervision with bona fide felonies will be sent to prison.
2. The Chief Probation Officers of California Report on Mandatory Supervision
Defendants are placed on mandatory supervision as part of a “split sentence” imposed pursuant Penal Code Section 1170, subdivision (h)(5). In a split sentence, the defendant serves the first portion of the sentence in a county jail. The second part of the sentence is served under supervision by the probation department in the community. By statute, consideration of alleged violations of the terms of mandatory supervision is made pursuant to the procedures and standards for alleged probation violations. Defendants who violate mandatory supervision are subject to a range of sanctions and outcomes.
The Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), in the winter of 2012, issued an explanation of and report on mandatory supervision.[1] As of that time, approximately 5,000 convicted felony defendants had received a split sentence that included a period of mandatory supervision upon release from jail.
CPOC argued that split sentences, including a period of mandatory supervision are effective:
The balanced approach of incarceration followed by a period of supervision using targeted interventions based on offender needs will do more to reduce recidivism than straight jail or incarceration sentences alone. National evidence supports the balanced approach of probation supervision as being more effective than a model focusing only on surveillance or only on therapeutic intervention to manage offender behavior. Realignment is an opportunity to get the balance right between incarceration and supervision for both of these populations.
Split sentences are an important public safety tool that is currently being underutilized in some areas of California. Plea bargaining and sentencing practices vary, but the research is clear that a period of supervision following incarceration, rather than just incarceration will lead to reduced recidivism. Probation Departments have the tools and experience with felony offenders to effectively balance community safety with rehabilitation. The Chief Probation Officers of California believe, based on years of research and experience that California citizens are better served with increased use of split sentencing.
3. Comparing Probation and Mandatory Supervision
Mandatory supervision is similar to probation in that the defendant is supervised by a probation officer, and the defendant’s release is subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the judge or the probation department. Like probation, the failure to comply with terms and conditions can result in the person being sent back to custody. However, the court cannot impose mandatory supervision until the judge denies probation and imposes a split sentence, not an alternative to an executed sentence.
There is another significant difference between probation and mandatory supervision: a defendant can refuse probation and instead choose to serve the sentence. (People v. Beal (1997) 60 Cal.App.4th 84, 87.) In contrast, a defendant does not have the right to refuse a split sentence requiring mandatory supervision. “Since the commitment under section 1170(h) generally is the equivalent of a prison sentence, the defendant need not agree to the terms and conditions of supervision in the same manner as a sentence involving a grant of probation.” (See Felony Sentencing After Realignment, by Judge Couzens (Ret.) & Justice Bigelow, June 2013, at p. 13 [discussing split sentences], <http://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/felony_sentencing.pdf>.)
4. Inmates Sentenced to Prison under this Bill would be Effectively Treated as Serious or Violent Offenders
Under criminal justice realignment, only defendants who have been convicted of a current or prior serious or violent felony, or who are required to register as sex offenders, serve executed jail felonies in prison. All other convicted defendants serve their terms in a county jail. Sentencing judges can impose on these defendants a split felony sentence, with a period of jail and a period in the community on mandatory supervision. A person on mandatory supervision who commits a felony must be sentenced to prison if the offense is serious or violent, or requires sex offender registration. Thus, persons on mandatory supervision who are subject to a realignment jail felony sentence could only have been convicted of a non-serious, non-violent, non-sex crime. The bill thus raises the issue whether a person who commits a non-serious felony on mandatory supervision should be treated as though he or she committed a serious felony.
The author’s statement argues that “once [persons on mandatory supervision are] released to the public they reoffend immediately and then simply return to county jail.” It is not clear whether this refers to judges revoking mandatory supervision and returning offenders to jail, judges imposing split executed felony sentences, including a period mandatory supervision, for new felonies committed on mandatory supervision, or judges imposing full executed felony jail terms on persons who commit new crimes on mandatory supervision. Where a judge imposes a full executed sentence under Penal Code Section 1170 (h), the defendant would be released no sooner than if he or she were committed to prison.
5. Punishment Issues Relevant to This Bill
It could be argued that a person who commits a crime on mandatory supervision after serving the custody part of a split felony sentence in a county jail should receive what would generally be considered the more punitive sentence of a term in prison, not jail. The use of criminal sentences to punish, rather than rehabilitate or incapacitate an offender, is described as “just deserts” in criminology. A 2002 article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology succinctly described the theory:
The theory of just deserts is retrospective rather than prospective. The punisher need not be concerned with future outcomes, only with providing punishment appropriate to the given harm. Although it is certainly preferable that the punishment serve a [deterrence] function… its justification lies in righting a wrong, not a … future benefit. The central precept… is that the punishment be proportionate to the harm. The task …is to assess the magnitude of the harm and to devise a punishment that is proportionate in severity, if not in kind. Kant (1952) recommended censure proportionate to a perpetrator’s “internal wickedness,” a quantity that may be approximated by society’s sense of moral outrage over the crime. (Why do We Punish?, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, (2002) Vol. 83, No. 2, 284–299, Carlsmith, Darley and Robinson.)[2]
6. Research on Specific Sentences as a Deterrent to Crime
Criminal justice experts and commentators have noted that, with regard to sentencing, “a key question for policy development regards whether enhanced sanctions or an enhanced possibility of being apprehended provide any additional deterrent benefits.
Research to date generally indicates that increases in the certainty of punishment, as opposed to the severity of punishment, are more likely to produce deterrent benefits.[3]
A comprehensive report published in 2014, entitled The Growth of Incarceration in the United States, discusses the effects on crime reduction through incapacitation and deterrence, and describes general deterrence compared to specific deterrence:
A large body of research has studied the effects of incarceration and other criminal penalties on crime. Much of this research is guided by the hypothesis that incarceration reduces crime through incapacitation and deterrence. Incapacitation refers to the crimes averted by the physical isolation of convicted offenders during the period of their incarceration. Theories of deterrence distinguish between general and specific behavioral responses. General deterrence refers to the crime prevention effects of the threat of punishment, while specific deterrence concerns the aftermath of the failure of general deterrence—that is, the effect on reoffending that might result from the experience of actually being punished. Most of this research studies the relationship between criminal sanctions and crimes other than drug offenses.
In regard to deterrence, the authors note that in “the classical theory of deterrence, crime is averted when the expected costs of punishment exceed the benefits of offending. Much of the empirical research on the deterrent power of criminal penalties has studied sentence enhancements and other shifts in penal policy. . . .
Deterrence theory is underpinned by a rationalistic view of crime. In this view, an individual considering commission of a crime weighs the benefits of offending against the costs of punishment. Much offending, however, departs from the strict decision calculus of the rationalistic model. Robinson and Darley (2004) review the limits of deterrence through harsh punishment. They report that offenders must have some knowledge of criminal penalties to be deterred from committing a crime, but in practice often do not.”[4]
Members may wish to discuss whether requiring that sentences for felonies committed on mandatory supervision be served in prison would deter supervised persons from committing felonies.
The authors of the 2014 report discussed above conclude that incapacitation of certain dangerous offenders can have “large crime prevention benefits,” but that incremental, lengthy prison sentences are ineffective for crime deterrence:
Whatever the estimated average effect of the incarceration rate on the crime rate, the available studies on imprisonment and crime have limited utility for policy. The incarceration rate is the outcome of policies affecting who goes to prison and for how long and of policies affecting parole revocation. Not all policies can be expected to be equally effective in preventing crime. Thus, it is inaccurate to speak of the crime prevention effect of incarceration in the singular. Policies that effectively target the incarceration of highly dangerous and frequent offenders can have large crime prevention benefits, whereas other policies will have a small prevention effect or, even worse, increase crime in the long run if they have the effect of increasing postrelease criminality.
Evidence is limited on the crime prevention effects of most of the policies that contributed to the post-1973 increase in incarceration rates. Nevertheless, the evidence base demonstrates that lengthy prison sentences are ineffective as a crime control measure. Specifically, the incremental deterrent effect of increases in lengthy prison sentences is modest at best. Also, because recidivism rates decline markedly with age and prisoners necessarily age as they serve their prison sentence, lengthy prison sentences are an inefficient approach to preventing crime by incapacitation unless they are specifically targeted at very high-rate or extremely dangerous offenders. For these reasons, statutes mandating lengthy prison sentences cannot be justified on the basis of their effectiveness in preventing crime.[5]
WOULD REQUIRING THAT SENTENCES FOR CRIMES COMMITTED ON MANDATORY SUPERVISION BE SERVED IN PRISON DETER PERSONS FROM COMMITTING SUCH OFFENSES?
-- END –
http://www.cpoc.org/assets/Realignment/issuebrief2.pdf ↑
http://www.colgate.edu/portaldata/imagegallerywww/184416d4-5863-4a3e-a73b-b2b6b86e7b60/ImageGallery/Carlsmith_Darley_Robinson_2002.pdf ↑
Valerie Wright, Ph.D., Deterrence in Criminal Justice Evaluating Certainty vs. Severity of Punishment (November 2010), The Sentencing Project (http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/Deterrence%20Briefing%20.pdf.) ↑
Id. at 132-133. ↑
Id. at 155-156 (emphasis added). ↑
Discussed in Hearing
Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):