AB3,7,21
1An Act to repeal 351.07 (2) (b), 939.32 (1) (b), 939.50 (1) (bc), 939.50 (3) (bc),
2939.615 (7) (c), 939.622, 939.625, 939.63 (2), 939.635, 939.64, 939.641, 939.646,
3939.647, 939.648, 940.09 (1b), 940.19 (3), 940.195 (3), 940.25 (1b), 940.285 (2)
4(b) 3., 941.29 (2m), 941.296 (3), 943.23 (1m), 943.23 (1r), 946.42 (4), 946.425 (2),
5948.02 (3m), 948.025 (2m), 948.03 (5), 948.35, 948.36, 948.605 (4), 961.41 (1)
6(cm) 5., 961.41 (1) (d) 5., 961.41 (1) (d) 6., 961.41 (1) (e) 5., 961.41 (1) (e) 6., 961.41
7(1) (em), 961.41 (1m) (cm) 5., 961.41 (1m) (d) 5., 961.41 (1m) (d) 6., 961.41 (1m)
8(e) 5., 961.41 (1m) (e) 6., 961.41 (1m) (em), 961.41 (2) (c), 961.41 (3g) (a) 2.,
9961.41 (3g) (a) 3., 961.41 (3g) (dm), 961.438, 961.46 (2), 961.46 (3), 961.465,
10961.48 (2), 961.48 (4), 961.49 (2), 961.49 (3), 961.492, 973.01 (2) (b) 2. and 973.03
11(3) (e) 3.;
to renumber 351.07 (2) (a);
to renumber and amend 49.95 (1),
12125.075 (2), 302.11 (7) (a), 302.113 (9) (a), 302.114 (9) (a), 939.63 (1), 943.20 (3)
13(d) 2., 948.025 (1), 948.025 (2), 961.41 (1) (cm) 1., 961.41 (1m) (cm) 1., 961.41 (3g)
14(a) 1., 961.46 (1), 961.48 (1), 961.49 (1), 971.17 (1), 973.01 (2) (b) 6., 973.01 (2)
1(c) and 973.01 (2) (d);
to amend 6.18, 11.61 (1) (a), 11.61 (1) (b), 12.60 (1) (a),
213.05, 13.06, 13.69 (6m), 15.01 (2), 23.33 (13) (cg), 26.14 (8), 29.971 (1) (c), 29.971
3(1m) (c), 29.971 (11m) (a), 29.971 (11p) (a), 30.80 (2g) (b), 30.80 (2g) (c), 30.80
4(2g) (d), 30.80 (3m), 36.25 (6) (d), 47.03 (3) (d), 48.355 (2d) (b) 3., 48.415 (9m) (b)
52., 48.417 (1) (d), 48.57 (3p) (g) 2., 48.685 (1) (c), 48.685 (5) (bm) 2., 48.685 (5)
6(bm) 3., 48.685 (5) (bm) 4., 49.127 (8) (a) 2., 49.127 (8) (b) 2., 49.127 (8) (c), 49.141
7(7) (a), 49.141 (7) (b), 49.141 (9) (a), 49.141 (9) (b), 49.141 (10) (b), 49.195 (3n)
8(k), 49.195 (3n) (r), 49.49 (1) (b) 1., 49.49 (2) (a), 49.49 (2) (b), 49.49 (3), 49.49
9(3m) (b), 49.49 (4) (b), 50.065 (1) (e) 1., 51.15 (12), 55.06 (11) (am), 66.1207 (1)
10(b), 66.1207 (1) (c), 69.24 (1) (intro.), 70.47 (18) (a), 71.83 (2) (b), 86.192 (4), 97.43
11(4), 97.45 (2), 100.171 (7) (b), 100.2095 (6) (d), 100.26 (2), 100.26 (5), 100.26 (7),
12101.143 (10) (b), 101.9204 (2), 101.94 (8) (b), 102.835 (11), 102.835 (18), 102.85
13(3), 108.225 (11), 108.225 (18), 110.07 (5) (a), 114.20 (18) (c), 115.31 (2g), 118.19
14(4) (a), 125.085 (3) (a) 2., 125.105 (2) (b), 125.66 (3), 125.68 (12) (b), 125.68 (12)
15(c), 132.20 (2), 133.03 (1), 133.03 (2), 134.05 (4), 134.16, 134.20 (1) (intro.),
16134.205 (4), 134.58, 139.44 (1), 139.44 (1m), 139.44 (2), 139.44 (8) (c), 139.85 (1),
17139.95 (2), 139.95 (3), 146.345 (3), 146.35 (5), 146.60 (9) (am), 146.70 (10) (a),
18154.15 (2), 154.29 (2), 166.20 (11) (b), 167.10 (9) (g), 175.20 (3), 180.0129 (2),
19181.0129 (2), 185.825, 201.09 (2), 214.93, 215.02 (6) (b), 215.12, 215.21 (21),
20218.21 (7), 220.06 (2), 221.0625 (2) (intro.), 221.0636 (2), 221.0637 (2), 221.1004
21(2), 253.06 (4) (b), 285.87 (2) (b), 291.97 (2) (b) (intro.), 291.97 (2) (c) 1. and 2.,
22299.53 (4) (c) 2., 301.035 (2), 301.035 (4), 301.048 (2) (bm) 1. a., 301.26 (4) (cm)
231., 301.45 (6) (a) 2., 302.045 (3), 302.095 (2), 302.11 (1g) (a) 2., 302.11 (1p), 302.11
24(1z), 302.11 (3), 302.11 (7) (b), 302.11 (7) (d), 302.113 (2), 302.113 (4), 302.113 (7),
25302.113 (9) (b), 302.113 (9) (c), 302.114 (4), 302.114 (5) (f), 302.114 (6) (b),
1302.114 (6) (c), 302.114 (9) (b), 302.114 (9) (bm), 302.114 (9) (c), 302.33 (1),
2303.065 (1) (b) 1., 303.08 (1) (intro.), 303.08 (2), 303.08 (5) (intro.), 303.08 (6),
3303.08 (12), 304.06 (1) (b), 304.071 (2), 304.11 (3), 341.605 (3), 342.06 (2),
4342.065 (4) (b), 342.155 (4) (b), 342.156 (6) (b), 342.30 (3) (a), 342.32 (3), 343.31
5(1) (i), 343.31 (3) (d) (intro.), 344.48 (2), 346.17 (3) (a), 346.17 (3) (b), 346.17 (3)
6(c), 346.17 (3) (d), 346.175 (1) (a), 346.175 (1) (b), 346.175 (4) (b), 346.175 (4) (c),
7346.175 (4) (d), 346.175 (5) (intro.), 346.175 (5) (a), 346.65 (2) (e), 346.65 (5),
8346.74 (5) (b), 346.74 (5) (c), 346.74 (5) (d), 350.11 (2m), 446.07, 447.09, 450.11
9(9) (b), 450.14 (5), 450.15 (2), 551.58 (1), 552.19 (1), 553.52 (1), 553.52 (2), 562.13
10(3), 562.13 (4), 565.50 (2), 565.50 (3), 601.64 (4), 641.19 (4) (a), 641.19 (4) (b),
11753.061 (2m), 765.30 (1) (intro.), 765.30 (2) (intro.), 767.242 (8), 768.07, 783.07,
12801.50 (5), 908.08 (1), 911.01 (4) (c), 938.208 (1) (a), 938.34 (4h) (a), 938.34 (4m)
13(b) 1., 938.355 (2d) (b) 3., 938.355 (4) (b), 938.78 (3), 939.22 (21) (d), 939.30 (1),
14939.30 (2), 939.32 (1) (intro.), 939.50 (1) (intro.), 939.50 (2), 939.50 (3) (c), 939.50
15(3) (d), 939.50 (3) (e), 939.615 (7) (b) 2., 939.62 (1) (a), 939.62 (1) (b), 939.62 (1)
16(c), 939.62 (2m) (a) 2m. a., 939.62 (2m) (a) 2m. b., 939.623 (2), 939.624 (2),
17939.632 (1) (e) 1., 939.632 (2), 939.645 (2), 939.72 (1), 939.75 (1), 940.02 (2)
18(intro.), 940.03, 940.04 (1), 940.04 (2) (intro.), 940.04 (4), 940.06 (1), 940.06 (2),
19940.07, 940.08 (1), 940.08 (2), 940.09 (1) (intro.), 940.10 (1), 940.10 (2), 940.11
20(1), 940.11 (2), 940.12, 940.15 (2), 940.15 (5), 940.15 (6), 940.19 (2), 940.19 (4),
21940.19 (5), 940.19 (6) (intro.), 940.195 (2), 940.195 (4), 940.195 (5), 940.195 (6),
22940.20 (1), 940.20 (1m), 940.20 (2), 940.20 (2m) (b), 940.20 (3), 940.20 (4), 940.20
23(5) (b), 940.20 (6) (b) (intro.), 940.20 (7) (b), 940.201 (2) (intro.), 940.203 (2)
24(intro.), 940.205 (2) (intro.), 940.207 (2) (intro.), 940.21, 940.22 (2), 940.225 (2)
25(intro.), 940.225 (3), 940.23 (1) (a), 940.23 (1) (b), 940.23 (2) (a), 940.23 (2) (b),
1940.24 (1), 940.24 (2), 940.25 (1) (intro.), 940.285 (2) (b) 1g., 940.285 (2) (b) 1m.,
2940.285 (2) (b) 1r., 940.285 (2) (b) 2., 940.29, 940.295 (3) (b) 1g., 940.295 (3) (b)
31m., 940.295 (3) (b) 1r., 940.295 (3) (b) 2., 940.295 (3) (b) 3., 940.30, 940.305 (1),
4940.305 (2), 940.31 (1) (intro.), 940.31 (2) (a), 940.31 (2) (b), 940.32 (2) (intro.),
5940.32 (2m), 940.32 (3) (intro.), 940.32 (3m) (intro.), 940.43 (intro.), 940.45
6(intro.), 941.11 (intro.), 941.12 (1), 941.20 (2) (intro.), 941.20 (3) (a) (intro.),
7941.21, 941.235 (1), 941.26 (2) (a), 941.26 (2) (b), 941.26 (2) (e), 941.26 (2) (f),
8941.26 (2) (g), 941.26 (4) (d), 941.26 (4) (e), 941.28 (3), 941.29 (2) (intro.), 941.295
9(1), 941.296 (2) (intro.), 941.298 (2), 941.30 (1), 941.30 (2), 941.31 (1), 941.31 (2)
10(b), 941.315 (3) (intro.), 941.32, 941.325, 941.327 (2) (b) 1., 941.327 (2) (b) 2.,
11941.327 (2) (b) 3., 941.327 (2) (b) 4., 941.327 (3), 941.37 (3), 941.37 (4), 941.38
12(1) (b) 4., 941.38 (2), 943.01 (2) (intro.), 943.01 (2g) (intro.), 943.011 (2) (intro.),
13943.012 (intro.), 943.013 (2) (intro.), 943.014 (2), 943.015 (2) (intro.), 943.017 (2)
14(intro.), 943.017 (2m) (b) (intro.), 943.02 (1) (intro.), 943.03, 943.04, 943.06 (2),
15943.07 (1), 943.07 (2), 943.10 (1) (intro.), 943.10 (2) (intro.), 943.12, 943.20 (3)
16(b), 943.20 (3) (c), 943.20 (3) (d) (intro.), 943.20 (3) (d) 1., 943.20 (3) (d) 3., 943.20
17(3) (d) 4., 943.201 (2), 943.205 (3), 943.207 (3m) (b) (intro.), 943.207 (3m) (c)
18(intro.), 943.208 (2) (b), 943.208 (2) (c), 943.209 (2) (b), 943.209 (2) (c), 943.21 (3)
19(b), 943.23 (1g), 943.23 (2), 943.23 (3), 943.23 (4m), 943.23 (5), 943.24 (2), 943.25
20(1), 943.25 (2) (intro.), 943.26 (2), 943.27, 943.28 (2), 943.28 (3), 943.28 (4),
21943.30 (1), 943.30 (2), 943.30 (3), 943.30 (4), 943.30 (5) (b), 943.31, 943.32 (1)
22(intro.), 943.32 (2), 943.34 (1) (b), 943.34 (1) (c), 943.38 (1) (intro.), 943.38 (2),
23943.39 (intro.), 943.395 (2) (b), 943.40 (intro.), 943.41 (8) (b), 943.41 (8) (c),
24943.45 (3) (c), 943.45 (3) (d), 943.455 (4) (c), 943.455 (4) (d), 943.46 (4) (c), 943.46
25(4) (d), 943.47 (3) (c), 943.47 (3) (d), 943.49 (2) (b) 2., 943.50 (4) (b), 943.50 (4)
1(c), 943.60 (1), 943.61 (5) (b), 943.61 (5) (c), 943.62 (4) (b), 943.62 (4) (c), 943.70
2(2) (b) 2., 943.70 (2) (b) 3., 943.70 (2) (b) 4., 943.70 (3) (b) 2., 943.70 (3) (b) 3.,
3943.70 (3) (b) 4., 943.75 (2), 943.75 (2m), 944.05 (1) (intro.), 944.06, 944.16
4(intro.), 944.205 (2) (intro.), 944.21 (5) (c), 944.21 (5) (e), 944.32, 944.33 (2),
5944.34 (intro.), 945.03 (1m) (intro.), 945.05 (1) (intro.), 945.08 (1), 946.02 (1)
6(intro.), 946.03 (1) (intro.), 946.03 (2), 946.05 (1), 946.10 (intro.), 946.11 (1)
7(intro.), 946.12 (intro.), 946.13 (1) (intro.), 946.14, 946.15 (1), 946.15 (3), 946.31
8(1) (intro.), 946.32 (1) (intro.), 946.41 (2m) (intro.), 946.415 (2) (intro.), 946.42
9(3) (intro.), 946.425 (1), 946.425 (1m) (b), 946.425 (1r) (b), 946.43 (1m) (intro.),
10946.43 (2m) (a) (intro.), 946.44 (1) (intro.), 946.44 (1g), 946.44 (1m), 946.47 (1)
11(intro.), 946.48 (1), 946.49 (1) (b), 946.49 (2), 946.60 (1), 946.60 (2), 946.61 (1)
12(intro.), 946.64, 946.65 (1), 946.68 (1r) (a), 946.68 (1r) (b), 946.68 (1r) (c), 946.69
13(2) (intro.), 946.70 (2), 946.72 (1), 946.74 (2), 946.76, 946.82 (4), 946.84 (1),
14946.85 (1), 947.013 (1t), 947.013 (1v), 947.013 (1x) (intro.), 947.015, 948.02 (2),
15948.02 (3), 948.03 (2) (a), 948.03 (2) (b), 948.03 (2) (c), 948.03 (3) (a), 948.03 (3)
16(b), 948.03 (3) (c), 948.03 (4) (a), 948.03 (4) (b), 948.04 (1), 948.04 (2), 948.05 (1)
17(intro.), 948.05 (1m), 948.05 (2), 948.055 (2) (a), 948.055 (2) (b), 948.06 (intro.),
18948.07 (intro.), 948.08, 948.095 (2) (intro.), 948.11 (2) (a), 948.11 (2) (am), 948.12
19(intro.), 948.13 (2), 948.20, 948.21 (1), 948.22 (2), 948.23, 948.24 (1) (intro.),
20948.30 (1) (intro.), 948.30 (2) (intro.), 948.31 (1) (b), 948.31 (2), 948.31 (3)
21(intro.), 948.40 (4) (a), 948.40 (4) (b), 948.51 (3) (b), 948.60 (2) (b), 948.60 (2) (c),
22948.605 (2) (a), 948.605 (3) (a), 948.61 (2) (b), 948.62 (1) (a), 948.62 (1) (b), 948.62
23(1) (c), 949.03 (1) (b), 950.04 (1v) (g), 951.18 (1), 951.18 (2), 951.18 (2m), 961.41
24(1) (intro.), 961.41 (1) (a), 961.41 (1) (b), 961.41 (1) (cm) (intro.), 961.41 (1) (cm)
252., 961.41 (1) (cm) 3., 961.41 (1) (cm) 4., 961.41 (1) (d) (intro.), 961.41 (1) (d) 1.,
1961.41 (1) (d) 2., 961.41 (1) (d) 3., 961.41 (1) (d) 4., 961.41 (1) (e) (intro.), 961.41
2(1) (e) 1., 961.41 (1) (e) 2., 961.41 (1) (e) 3., 961.41 (1) (e) 4., 961.41 (1) (f) (intro.),
3961.41 (1) (f) 1., 961.41 (1) (f) 2., 961.41 (1) (f) 3., 961.41 (1) (g) (intro.), 961.41
4(1) (g) 1., 961.41 (1) (g) 2., 961.41 (1) (g) 3., 961.41 (1) (h) (intro.), 961.41 (1) (h)
51., 961.41 (1) (h) 2., 961.41 (1) (h) 3., 961.41 (1) (i), 961.41 (1) (j), 961.41 (1m)
6(intro.), 961.41 (1m) (a), 961.41 (1m) (b), 961.41 (1m) (cm) (intro.), 961.41 (1m)
7(cm) 2., 961.41 (1m) (cm) 3., 961.41 (1m) (cm) 4., 961.41 (1m) (d) (intro.), 961.41
8(1m) (d) 1., 961.41 (1m) (d) 2., 961.41 (1m) (d) 3., 961.41 (1m) (d) 4., 961.41 (1m)
9(e) (intro.), 961.41 (1m) (e) 1., 961.41 (1m) (e) 2., 961.41 (1m) (e) 3., 961.41 (1m)
10(e) 4., 961.41 (1m) (f) (intro.), 961.41 (1m) (f) 1., 961.41 (1m) (f) 2., 961.41 (1m)
11(f) 3., 961.41 (1m) (g) (intro.), 961.41 (1m) (g) 1., 961.41 (1m) (g) 2., 961.41 (1m)
12(g) 3., 961.41 (1m) (h) (intro.), 961.41 (1m) (h) 1., 961.41 (1m) (h) 2., 961.41 (1m)
13(h) 3., 961.41 (1m) (i), 961.41 (1m) (j), 961.41 (1n) (c), 961.41 (1q), 961.41 (1r),
14961.41 (2) (intro.), 961.41 (2) (a), 961.41 (2) (b), 961.41 (2) (cm), 961.41 (2) (d),
15961.41 (3g) (b), 961.41 (3g) (c), 961.41 (3g) (d), 961.41 (3g) (e), 961.41 (3g) (f),
16961.41 (4) (am) 3., 961.42 (2), 961.43 (2), 961.437 (4) (a), 961.437 (4) (b), 961.455
17(1), 961.455 (3), 961.472 (2), 961.48 (2m) (a), 961.48 (3), 961.55 (1) (d) 3., 961.573
18(3), 961.574 (3), 961.575 (3), 967.04 (9), 968.255 (1) (a) 2., 968.31 (1) (intro.),
19968.34 (3), 968.43 (3), 969.08 (10) (a), 969.08 (10) (b), 971.365 (1) (a), 971.365
20(1) (b), 971.365 (1) (c), 971.365 (2), 972.15 (2c), 973.01 (1), 973.01 (2) (intro.),
21973.01 (2) (a), 973.01 (2) (b) (intro.), 973.01 (2) (b) 3., 973.01 (2) (b) 4., 973.01 (2)
22(b) 5., 973.01 (4), 973.01 (6), 973.0135 (1) (b) 2., 973.03 (3) (e) 1. and 2., 973.032
23(4) (c) 2., 973.09 (2) (b) 1., 973.155 (1) (b), 977.06 (2) (b) and 978.13 (1) (c);
to
24repeal and recreate 944.15 (title), 961.41 (1) (im) and 961.41 (1m) (im);
to
25create 13.525, 15.105 (27), 19.42 (10) (o), 19.42 (13) (n), 20.505 (4) (dr), 20.505
1(4) (mr), 20.923 (4) (b) 7., 20.923 (6) (hr), 49.95 (1) (e) and (f), 125.075 (2) (b),
2227.01 (13) (sm), 230.08 (2) (L) 6., 230.08 (2) (of), 302.11 (7) (ag), 302.11 (7) (e),
3302.113 (7m), 302.113 (8m), 302.113 (9) (ag), 302.113 (9) (at), 302.113 (9) (d),
4302.113 (9) (e), 302.113 (9) (f), 302.113 (9) (g), 302.113 (9g), 302.114 (8m),
5302.114 (9) (ag), 302.114 (9) (d), 302.114 (9) (e), 302.114 (9) (f), 346.04 (2t),
6346.04 (4), 346.17 (2t), 801.50 (5c), 939.32 (1) (bm), 939.32 (1g), 939.32 (1m),
7939.32 (2) (title), 939.32 (3) (title), 939.50 (1) (f), 939.50 (1) (g), 939.50 (1) (h),
8939.50 (1) (i), 939.50 (3) (f), 939.50 (3) (g), 939.50 (3) (h), 939.50 (3) (i), 940.09
9(1c), 943.20 (3) (bm), 943.23 (3m), 943.34 (1) (bm), 943.50 (4) (bm), 946.50 (5d),
10946.50 (5h), 946.50 (5p), 946.50 (5t), 948.025 (1) (b), 948.025 (2) (a), 948.51 (3)
11(c), 948.62 (1) (bm), 950.04 (1v) (nt), 961.41 (1) (cm) 1g., 961.41 (1) (h) 4., 961.41
12(1) (h) 5., 961.41 (1m) (cm) 1g., 961.41 (1m) (h) 4., 961.41 (1m) (h) 5., 961.48 (1)
13(a) and (b), 971.17 (1) (b), 971.17 (1) (d), 973.01 (2) (b) 6m., 973.01 (2) (b) 7.,
14973.01 (2) (b) 8., 973.01 (2) (b) 9., 973.01 (2) (b) 10. a. and b., 973.01 (2) (c) 2.,
15973.01 (2) (d) 1. to 6., 973.017, 973.15 (2m), 973.30 and 977.05 (4) (jm) of the
16statutes; and
to affect 1997 Wisconsin Act 283, section
454 (1) (f);
relating to:
17classification and elements of felony offenses and certain misdemeanor
18offenses; criminal sentences and commitments; modification of a bifurcated
19sentence in certain cases; revocation of extended supervision; the creation of a
20sentencing commission and temporary sentencing guidelines; making an
21appropriation; and providing penalties.
This bill does the following with respect to criminal offenses and penalties for
them:
2. Classification of felonies. The bill places felony offenses that are classified
under current law into the new felony classes, with the exception of a few classified
felony offenses that are reduced to misdemeanor offenses. In addition, the bill places
unclassified felony offenses into the new felony classes, with the exception of certain
unclassified felony offenses that are reduced to misdemeanor offenses and offenses
that are felonies only because of the application of a penalty enhancer.
As a general rule, the bill places a felony offense into a felony class based on the
amount of time that a person who is given a maximum sentence for the offense under
current law would serve in prison before being released on parole under the
mandatory release law (see below, item 1 under The structure of felony sentences,
item 1). However, in some cases a felony is placed in a higher or lower felony class
than the one based on the current mandatory release date for a maximum sentence
under current law. For those felony offenses that are reduced to misdemeanor
offenses under the bill, the new penalty for the offense is a fine of not more than
$10,000 or imprisonment of not more than nine months or both.
3. Felony murder. Under current law, a person commits felony murder if he or
she causes the death of another while committing or attempting to commit certain
felonies (such as sexual assault, arson or armed robbery). If a person commits felony
murder, the maximum period of imprisonment for the felony the person committed
or attempted to commit is increased by not more 20 years. This bill provides that the
maximum period of imprisonment for the felony the person committed or attempted
to commit is increased by not more 15 years.
4. Changes to the crime of carjacking. Under current law, a person is guilty of
carjacking if he or she intentionally takes any vehicle without the consent of the
owner while possessing a dangerous weapon and by using or threatening the use of
force or the weapon against another. This bill classifies every carjacking offense as
a Class C felony, including an offense resulting in a person's death (currently a Class
A felony), and adds carjacking to the list of offenses subject to the felony murder
statute (see item 4 above, Felony murder).
5. Increase in certain misdemeanor penalties. The bill increases penalties for
a few misdemeanor offenses by classifying them as felony offenses. The
misdemeanor offenses that are changed to felony offenses by the bill (and the
classification into which the offense is placed) are as follows:
a) Stalking (Class I felony).
b) Criminal damage to railroad property (Class I felony).
c) Possession of a firearm in a school zone (Class I felony).
d) Discharge of a firearm in a school zone (Class G felony).
6. Elimination of certain minimum penalty provisions. Current law requires
a court to impose a minimum sentence of imprisonment in certain cases. In other
cases current law specifies a minimum sentence of imprisonment but also allows a
court, in the exercise of its discretion, to impose a lesser sentence of imprisonment
or no imprisonment at all. For the most part, this bill eliminates both mandatory and
presumptive minimum prison sentences for felony offenses. The bill, however, does
not eliminate mandatory prison sentence requirements for Class A felonies, which
carry a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment (see below, Sentences of life
imprisonment), nor does it change the persistent repeater penalty enhancers (often
called the "three strikes, you're out" and "two strikes, you're out" laws), which require
a sentence of life imprisonment without possibility of release. It also does not change
the requirement that a person be given a minimum sentence of imprisonment if he
or she is convicted of a repeat serious sex crime or a repeat violent crime, though the
bill provides that, instead of a minimum sentence of five years, the court must impose
a bifurcated sentence that includes a minimum term of confinement in prison of
three years and six months (see below, The structure of felony sentences, item 2,
for a description of bifurcated sentences). In addition, the bill does not change the
minimum mandatory sentence of six months for fifth and subsequent offenses of
operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
7. Elimination of mandatory consecutive sentences. Under current law, a court
sentencing a person convicted of a crime generally may provide that any sentence
imposed run concurrent with or consecutive to any other sentence imposed at the
same time or any sentence imposed previously. However, a court must impose a
consecutive sentence if the person was convicted of certain escape offenses,
possession or discharge of a firearm in a school zone, using or possessing a handgun
and armor-piercing bullet while committing another crime, or violating conditions
of lifetime supervision by committing another crime. This bill eliminates the
requirement that consecutive sentences be imposed in these cases. The bill also
imposes new requirements relating to bifurcated sentences and sentences imposed
under current law that are ordered to run consecutively to each other (see below, The
structure of felony sentences, item 3-C).
In addition, under current law, if a person violates certain prohibitions relating
to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and, at the time of the offense, a child
under the age of 16 is in the vehicle, the penalties for the offense double. This bill
retains this penalty enhancer for most of the offenses involving operating a motor
vehicle while intoxicated, but the bill eliminates the enhancer for the crimes of
homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
1. The structure of prison sentences for felony offenses committed before
December 31, 1999. If a person commits a felony before December 31, 1999, and is
sentenced to prison, the person will usually have three possible ways of being
released from prison on parole: discretionary parole granted by the parole
commission (for which a person is usually eligible after serving 25% of the sentence
or six months, whichever is greater); mandatory release on parole (usually granted
automatically after the person serves two-thirds of the sentence); or special action
parole release by the secretary of corrections (a program designed to relieve prison
crowding). However, the person could be subject to more restrictive discretionary
parole eligibility provisions or to restrictions on mandatory release under certain
circumstances (for example, if the person has one or more prior convictions for
certain serious felonies).
3. The changes made by this bill. This bill makes the following changes relating
to the imposition of bifurcated sentences:
G) The bill creates a procedure by which certain older prisoners who have been
given a bifurcated sentence may petition the sentencing court for a modification of
the terms of the sentence. The procedure is available to prisoners who are 65 years
of age or older and have served at least five years of the term of confinement in prison
portion of their bifurcated sentence and to prisoners who are 60 years of age or older
and have served at least ten years of the term of confinement in prison portion of the
bifurcated sentence.
H) The bill specifies that, if a misdemeanor offender may be sentenced to prison
because of the application of a sentence enhancer and the court decides to sentence
the person to prison, the court must impose a bifurcated sentence. In sentencing a
person to prison in such a case, the term of confinement in prison portion of the
sentence may not constitute more than 75% of the total bifurcated sentence.
If a person is sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime committed on or after
December 31, 1999, he or she is not eligible for parole. Instead, the court who is
sentencing the person to life imprisonment must do one of the following: 1) provide
that the person is eligible for release to extended supervision after serving 20 years;
2) set a date on which the person becomes eligible for extended supervision, as long
as that date requires the person to serve at least 20 years; or 3) provide that the
person is not eligible for extended supervision. If the court provides that the person
is eligible for extended supervision, the person may petition the sentencing court for
release to extended supervision on or after the extended supervision eligibility date.
A person sentenced to life who is released to extended supervision is on extended
supervision for the remainder of his or her life and, like a person on extended
supervision under a bifurcated sentence (see above, The structure of felony
sentences, item 2-C), may have his or her extended supervision revoked in an
administrative proceeding and be returned to prison if he or she violates a condition
of extended supervision or a rule promulgated by DOC relating to extended
supervision. A person returned to prison after a revocation of extended supervision
may not petition for rerelease to extended supervision until he or she has served a
period of time back in prison. The time period, which must be at least five years, is
determined by an administrative law judge or, if the person waived a revocation
hearing, by DOC.