Introduced Version






SENATE BILL No. 281

_____


DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL



Citations Affected: None (noncode).

Synopsis: Sentencing policy study committee. Establishes the 15 member sentencing policy study committee to evaluate sentencing laws and policies in Indiana as they relate to: (1) the purposes of the criminal justice and corrections systems; (2) the availability of sentencing options; and (3) the inmate population in department of correction facilities.

Effective: July 1, 2001.





Howard




    January 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.







Introduced

First Regular Session 112th General Assembly (2001)


PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts between statutes enacted by the 2000 General Assembly.

SENATE BILL No. 281



    A BILL FOR AN ACT concerning corrections.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

    SECTION 1. [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2001] (a) As used in this SECTION, "committee" refers to the sentencing policy study committee established by subsection (c).
    (b) The general assembly finds that a comprehensive study of sentencing laws and policies in Indiana is desirable in order to:
        (1) assure that sentencing laws and policies protect the public safety;
        (2) establish fairness and uniformity in sentencing laws and policies;
        (3) determine whether incarceration or alternative sanctions are appropriate for various categories of criminal offenses; and
        (4) maximize cost effectiveness in the administration of sentencing laws and policies.
    (c) The sentencing policy study committee is established to evaluate sentencing laws and policies in Indiana as they relate to:
        (1) the purposes of the criminal justice and corrections systems;


        (2) the availability of sentencing options; and
        (3) the inmate population in department of correction facilities.
The committee shall make recommendations to the general assembly for the modification of sentencing laws and policies and for the addition, deletion, or expansion of sentencing options.
    (d) The committee shall do the following:
        (1) Evaluate the existing classification of criminal offenses into felony and misdemeanor categories. In determining the proper category for each felony and misdemeanor, the committee shall consider, to the extent they have relevance, the following:
            (A) The nature and degree of harm likely to be caused by the offense, including whether the offense involves property, irreplaceable property, a person, a number of persons, or a breach of the public trust.
            (B) The deterrent effect a particular classification may have on the commission of the offense.
            (C) The current incidence of the offense in Indiana.
            (D) The rights of the victim.
        (2) Recommend structures to be used by a sentencing court in determining the most appropriate sentence to be imposed in a criminal case, including any combination of imprisonment, probation, restitution, community service, or house arrest. The committee shall also consider:
            (A) the nature and characteristics of the offense;
            (B) the severity of the offense in relation to other offenses;
            (C) the characteristics of the defendant that mitigate or aggravate the seriousness of the criminal conduct and the punishment deserved for that conduct;
            (D) the defendant's number of prior convictions;
            (E) the available resources and capacity of the department of correction, local confinement facilities, and community based sanctions; and
            (F) the rights of the victim.
        The committee shall include with each set of sentencing structures an estimate of the effect of the sentencing structures on the department of correction and local facilities with respect to both fiscal impact and inmate population.
        (3) Determine the long range needs of the criminal justice and corrections systems and recommend policy priorities for those systems.
        (4) Identify critical problems in the criminal justice and corrections systems and recommend strategies to solve the problems.
        (5) Assess the cost effectiveness of the use of state and local funds in the criminal justice and corrections systems.
        (6) Recommend a comprehensive community corrections strategy based upon:
            (A) a review of existing community corrections programs in Indiana;
            (B) the identification of additional types of community corrections programs necessary to create an effective continuum of corrections sanctions in Indiana;
            (C) the identification of categories of offenders who should be eligible for sentencing to community corrections programs and the effect that changes to the existing system of community corrections programs would have on sentencing practices;
            (D) the identification of necessary changes in state oversight and coordination of community corrections programs;
            (E) an evaluation of mechanisms for state funding and local community participation in the operation and implementation of community corrections programs; and
            (F) an analysis of the rate of recidivism of clients under the supervision of existing community corrections programs.
        (7) Propose plans, programs, and legislation for improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice and corrections systems.
    (e) The committee may study other topics assigned by the legislative council or as directed by the committee chair.
    (f) The committee consists of fifteen (15) members appointed as follows:
        (1) Two (2) members of the senate, who may not be members of the same political party, to be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate.
        (2) Two (2) members of the house of representatives, who may not be members of the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
        (3) The chief justice of the supreme court or the chief justice's designee.
        (4) The commissioner of the department of correction or the commissioner's designee.
        (5) The director of the Indiana criminal justice institute or the

director's designee.
        (6) The executive director of the prosecuting attorneys council or the executive director's designee.
        (7) The executive director of the public defenders council or the executive director's designee.
        (8) One (1) person with experience in administering community corrections programs to be appointed by the governor.
        (9) One (1) person with experience in administering probation programs to be appointed by the governor.
        (10) Two (2) judges who exercise juvenile jurisdiction to be appointed by the governor.
        (11) Two (2) judges who exercise criminal jurisdiction to be appointed by the governor.
    (g) The chairman of the legislative council shall appoint a legislative member of the committee to serve as chair of the committee. Whenever there is a new chairman of the legislative council, the new chairman may remove the chair of the committee and appoint another chair.
    (h) If a legislative member of the committee ceases to be a member of the chamber from which the member was appointed, the member also ceases to be a member of the committee.
    (i) A legislative member of the committee may be removed at any time by the appointing authority who appointed the legislative member.
    (j) If a vacancy exists on the committee, the appointing authority who appointed the former member whose position is vacant shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.
    (k) The committee shall submit a final report of the results of its study to the legislative council before November 1, 2001.
    (l) The Indiana criminal justice institute shall provide staff support to the committee.
    (m) Each member of the committee is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and travel allowances paid to individuals who serve as legislative and lay members, respectively, of interim study committees established by the legislative council.
    (n) The affirmative votes of a majority of the members appointed to the committee are required for the committee to take action on any measure, including the final report.
    (o) This SECTION expires December 31, 2001.